Well it's finally time for me to start doing research on Dall Sheep outfitters. I'm starting to save up and will be ready sometime in 2019, 2020, or 2021 depending on the cost of the hunt. I've already contacted a few outfitters and have heard back from a couple but I know its the busy season for them. I'm hoping anyone on here who's done a Dall hunt can provide me some feedback on who they used and the cost of the hunt (if you don't mind me asking). I'm just trying to get the process started so I can start narrowing down the gigantic list of outfitters out there to really start digging and planning. Thanks!
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Dall Sheep Research Advice needed
- Thread starter Ltsheets
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
David Dickson out of Whitehorse, Yukon. 3rd gen. outfitter. I took a dandy 14 yr. old ram with him. Price is irrelevant b/c it was over 20 yrs. ago. I think you'll find most Dall outfitters are priced similarly. If they are much cheaper, there is usually a reason and mostly not a good reason. A hunt a few years down the road yet, will likely run about $25k, all inclusive, which includes your airfare, licenses, tips, etc.
Who?
I met kickerson wife they r awesome people and wouldn't hesitate going with them either ;-)
GA Sheephunter
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2017
- Messages
- 114
Leaning canada but not ruling out AK. Also, considering saving an extra year and chasing stone.
I researched last year (2016) for several months before booking my hunt for 2018. I talked to several outfitters in Alaska as well as Canada.
I booked in Canada for a couple of reasons:
1. There was an opening for a hunt with sheep, caribou & moose on a single hunt, whereas in Alaska it was only Sheep & Grizz. Moose would be a separate trip. While Canada may be a little more expensive, I view the opportunity to knock multiple species off my list in a single trip as a value. I know grizz are highly prized, I just personally don't have a desire to kill a bear. I like headgear.
2. It seems there is less pressure due to the nature of the concessions that the outfitters have in Canada....they have exclusive rights to certain pieces of land so they are able to pass on 9 & 10 yr old rams because they know no one else is going to kill them. The outfitter I am going with has over 6000 square miles in their concession and have had this same piece since the 80s I believe. In Alaska you are hunting often the same public spaces as anyone else who has the means to get there so quality animals are harder to find.
I am not trying to disrespect or ding Alaska in any way. Every outfitter I talked to in Alaska made me feel like they would show me the hunt of a lifetime, and I believe it. Canada just lined up better with my personal goals and also had an opening on the exact hunt I was looking for.
3. I am taking my wife and it was important to me to have a base camp where if we tagged out early, there was stuff to do unsupervised (fish, hike, etc.), and we were welcome to relax and maximize the opportunity to be away vs. being bored/lingering or being rushed out. Many outfitters I talked to basically said if you tag out early, you typically go home, or that we would be bored. When I asked about staying for the rest of the days they were all agreeable to that, but I could tell for many, it's not what they wanted or are set up for. Others were like yeah we can take you to fish or do this or that but we will have to fly you to those places and it will be $5K more, etc...
If you google "alaska dall sheep hunting" and "canada dall sheep hunting", I called all of those. You should also think about Horseback vs. Backpack
If you have not joined Wildsheepfoundation, I would do that. You will get a couple issues of "Wild Sheep" per year. Great magazine and you will see the ads for the more established outfitters there.
As for price, I would say 25K is not all inclusive. By the time you add up all the flights, charter flight, licenses, gratiuties, I'd say it's more like 30K+ right now for a Canadian dall sheep by the time you get home. Recommend you also compare how many days of hunting you are getting as well as the other details I mention above in #3. Pretty sure every outfitter I talked to had a slightly different situation, so it is really hard to make fair comparisons in my opinion.
Last edited:
I hunted with Arctic Red River Outfitters in the NWT this July. my first ever sheep hunt. I had done a lot of research into outfitters as well. I looked into AK. But was turned off to it because of reports of a lot of pressure and long hunts seeing sub-legal Rams. So I looked at Canada. The only down side I could see was traveling into a foreign country while having a gun. Which turned out to be no problem as long as your paperwork is in order. It was a lot of flights to get there, but Alaska might be the same.
It is an awesome experience. You won't be sorry you went.
It is an awesome experience. You won't be sorry you went.
I guess I should finish my story.
We flew into Norman Wells on the morning of the 13th. 2 days before season. We immediately went to base camp from there. And within 2 hours we were in a supercub going to our hunting spot. We hiked a short distance the first day and made camp. Hike and hike and hike and hike and no good rams. Day 5 passed on a 8-9 year old Broomed ram that was really heavy. Hike and hike and hike some more and come up empty. Day 9 we were moving camp and came across a small ram. We kept moving and found he was with another Ram. He was a good one. So 9 days of busting butt ended with a good shot and my first ram on the ground. 155"+ beauty.
Be warned that Tavis is old school. He doesn't like long range stuff. So be prepared to get close.
We flew into Norman Wells on the morning of the 13th. 2 days before season. We immediately went to base camp from there. And within 2 hours we were in a supercub going to our hunting spot. We hiked a short distance the first day and made camp. Hike and hike and hike and hike and no good rams. Day 5 passed on a 8-9 year old Broomed ram that was really heavy. Hike and hike and hike some more and come up empty. Day 9 we were moving camp and came across a small ram. We kept moving and found he was with another Ram. He was a good one. So 9 days of busting butt ended with a good shot and my first ram on the ground. 155"+ beauty.
Be warned that Tavis is old school. He doesn't like long range stuff. So be prepared to get close.
I hunted with Hidden Alaska Guides and outfitters two years ago and harvested a nice Sheep and Grizz. My buddy is hunting there now. Talked to him by sat phone this afternoon. He got a grizz and is on two good sheep. They killed a 43" 41" and a 37" so far. They seen one bigger then the 43". Hopefully my buddy gets his sheep tomorrow. The Sheep hunts are $15500. His camps are not fancy just your basic tent camp. He doesn't have many caribou in his area. They might kill one a year. Real good grizzly pop. and lots of black bears. He hunts the Alaska mountain range. Mike Bolden is a good outfitter with a good area.
