Booked for 2009-2010 Dall sheep

[norsepeak]

Just confirmed a spot for 2010, but I'm at the top of the list for a cancellation for 2009, so hopefully I'll be Dall sheep hunting in August '09.  Should be an awsome hunt, small outfitter, only does backpack hunts in the Brooks Range.  Can't wait, Dall has been on the top of the "things to do before I die" list for a while.  Anyone else do a Dall hunt? 

[270Shooter]

Man that will be such a fun hunt. Hope you can go next year and post up lots of pics .

[Falcon]

NP

PM sent.

Here is a pick from my 07 hunt in the Alaska Range with my 2 guides.

[andrew_12gauge]

i hate you, that is one of my dream hunts, some day though, in the meantime good luck to ya kill a 40 incher

[norsepeak]

Falcon,

Looks like a nice ram.  I'm very excited about this trip, the outfitter said that in his area, he has some spots that he knows are some bruiser rams, but since it's all backpack, he's never had a client that could make it back to those areas.  He said after a few days they are all sore and tired and just shoot the first legal ram they see.  I told him that I want to just hike staight to those types of places and not even look at sheep 'till we get there.  I want a buiser!

[actionshooter]

Right on!! Thats one of my dream hunts! How did you choose the outfitter?

[Bighorse]

I gotta laugh.........hike strait through for five days in the Brooks range means five days out too.  I know were all tough hunter types but there is very little that prepares one for that.  I find that it's often the mind that starts to fade before the body.  Things get real dicey when both go. 

You'll see sheep without even trying durring a five day approach.  About day three you'll be ready to drop the pin on a nice one.

There is a reason Alaskans all agree that any ram is a nice ram.  Your from Washington so maybe that rule doesn't apply.

Good luck!   

Congrats on your booking.  I had to move to Alaska because I prefer to hunt the mountain game every year.

[Vek]

Yep, sounds like you'll have to keep the blinders on for the hike in.  Trust your guide, but do some homework on your own so that you know what you're looking at, and looking for. 

Make sure your feet and lower legs are tough as hell before you go - that means lots of hiking with weight off-trail on steep stuff.  I can't emphasize that enough.  Focus on making your lower legs and feet tough, and your conditioning will take care of itself.  You won't regret being over-prepared. 

[norsepeak]

I know what you mean about being prepared.  That time of year I'm usually hiking 20-30 miles a week anyway scouting for upcoming clients for our own business, so I think I should be in good shape physically, but I'm sure it'll be a challenge to pass up nice rams holding out for a bruiser.  The nice thing about this outfitters camps is we'll be hiking in with nearly empty packs because he has all the gear already stored back in the back country, so coming back out will just be sheep in the packs and we all know the coming out loaded with a trophy makes the pack "feel" light.  (at least until we get back to base camp and then die for two days....)

I chose the outfitter based on recommendations from the awsome folks at Carter's and from talking with him for almost an hour on the phone, and many emails and pictures and from his references. (oh yeah and the price was right!)