Dall sheep prices?

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by valu

Going to Wsf in Reno.
Anyone else going?
PM me, we can have a beer....

I'm going. Can't wait.

[Sealclubber]

Originally Posted by duncan4

Whatever you do. DO NOT book with redstone outta the NWT. The outfitter is a scam artist if I ever met one. He's made millions screwing over innocent hunters like us.! Do not go to redstone

Yeah the kind of guy who would cheat on his wife with his sons girlfriend then marry her as soon as the ink is dry on the divorce papers is probably not a wise choice for an outfitter... True story.

[Double Shovel]

Originally Posted by Sealclubber

Yeah the kind of guy who would cheat on his wife with his sons girlfriend then marry her as soon as the ink is dry on the divorce papers is probably not a wise choice for an outfitter... True story.

Sure it might be true but how many have had good experiences there. I know them both and they are good people to me. I have been there twice and yes Dave can run a tight ship but I can assure you he has great game and the last two years I was there, there have been good guides,horses,food and accommodations, anything more than that your looking for a spa. Bringing someone's personal life into the mix I don't think is called for. Out of eight sheep outfitters in the NWT I am sure you can find something wrong with all of them an I am sure they have all had personal issues that don't need to be public. I can tell you some stories about other outfitters up there that have had a brush with the law or crossed the line but doesn't need to be public. Lets keep the topic on track and not let it get stupid like other posts
All in all I think anywhere in the NWT has great sheep and are priced close. Do your homework and figure out what kind of hunt you want,backpack,horseback or helicopter, the Mckenzies are a nice place

[grinr]

Yea c'mon guys,really,what does his personal life have to do with anything?
That's almost as absurd as saying that a crack smokin' drunk couldn't effectively run a city of 3 million.

[Tundra Monkey]

Good post DS.

Thanx for the chuckle Grinr!!!

[.300ultramag]

Hey guys, lets not forget the 2 most important factors going into a sheep hunt, physical conditioning and mental determination. Some guys throw in the towel after one rough day, regardless of the outfitter.

We booked with BPO in the Yukon for late August. They are the most expensive in the Yukon, but they have taken a ram that goes into the top 3 in the Yukon every year for the last 6 years I believe. They have a reputation of running a no BS operation and following the rules.

The fact they operate in one of the most remote and beautiful mountain ranges in all of North America is a bonus.

[Lr1000]

So I've narrowed it down to 4 outfitters. 3 in NWT and 1 in Yukon. What are some good questions to ask them to ensure you get the hunt you dream of? I can think of a few but I have never been on a guided hunt and could use some advise from guys that have been there and know what to ask that might narrow it down to that one.

[Duk Dog]

I'm sure you've already asked the obvious questions, so I'd say focus your questions around the experience you personally hope to have. Do you care how you get into camp? (helicopter, super cub, float plane, horseback, backpack, argo/atv, boat) Once you are in your camp what sort of hunting do you want? (backpack, horseback, etc) If circumstances call for it are they able to relocate you if need be? If so is there an extra charge for it? Do you want to be on the move and tenting? Do you want a cabin/camp to come back to? Ram wise whats important to you? A number on a tape or score sheet, an old ram, possibility at a Fannin, the overall experience or something else? Are there add on species you'd like the possibility of hunting? You get the idea, focus on the experience you hope to get out of it.

[Ryry4]

It's always good to know exactly what your costs will be. Sure the sheep hunt may be $20,000 but what about everything else? Tags, license, charter into camp, etc, etc. May be a $25,000 hunt and you didn't expect the extras.

Quality of guides is key, are you getting someone that's been with the outfit for a few years and knows what a true 40" looks like or some kid that's a rookie? If you're on horseback quality of horses and if you've got a wrangler coming along. Get some trophy pics from the last couple years. Talk to some guys that have hunted with the outfitter, especially guys that didn't get an animal. If they're happy and didn't make a kill, that says a lot too.

[.300ultramag]

If one of the outfitters on your list is Ram Head in the nwt, my hunting partner went with them this last fall for a Dall and a Caribou, and I am sure he wouldn't mind passing on his opinion if you wanted it

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by .300ultramag

If one of the outfitters on your list is Ram Head in the nwt, my hunting partner went with them this last fall for a Dall and a Caribou, and I am sure he wouldn't mind passing on his opinion if you wanted it

We saw Redstone's wranglers on their way out when we were going in this year. It did not sound like they had a good sheep year from the brief conversation we had.

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

We saw Redstone's wranglers on their way out when we were going in this year. It did not sound like they had a good sheep year from the brief conversation we had.

I think there were a lot of outfits like that this year. Too friggin' hot up there.

[Lr1000]

The outfitters I believe I've narrowed it down to is arctic red, BPO and ram head. By the research I have done it doesn't sound like I could go wrong with either one of them.

[Ryry4]

From what I've heard you can't go wrong with that group. Personally I hunted with Nahanni Butte in 2009 and have nothing but good to say about the Lancaster clan. They recently purchased NWT Outfitters and will be operating up there this fall if I recall correctly.

[getasheep]

I'm glad you started this thread. I've been watching closely as I think my first guided hunt is going to be a Dall as well. I've contacted one outfitter so far and he is booking in to 2018. Are the ones you've mentioned booking that far out as well?

[Jameson340]

Originally Posted by Lr1000

The outfitters I believe I've narrowed it down to is arctic red, BPO and ram head. By the research I have done it doesn't sound like I could go wrong with either one of them.

my vote goes to arctic red, top notch. No helicopters or argo's there, 100% pure backpack hunting.

[Lr1000]

Originally Posted by getasheep

I'm glad you started this thread. I've been watching closely as I think my first guided hunt is going to be a Dall as well. I've contacted one outfitter so far and he is booking in to 2018. Are the ones you've mentioned booking that far out as well?

So far I've heard back from all three. Two have spots in 2015 and one still has spots for the last hunt in 2014. I'm looking into booking for 2015 or 16. A good friend of mine is also interested in going at the same time as me. Also my dad has dreamed of a Yukon moose his whole life. So we might do a big group on which ever year works.

[Double Shovel]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

We saw Redstone's wranglers on their way out when we were going in this year. It did not sound like they had a good sheep year from the brief conversation we had.

I was there for just about a month this year. It sounded like that was the case early on and they figured the heat was the issue. When I got there and went out and about, there were eight rams killed in nine days (last of August,early Sept). There was one 40" but I believe the average sheep length was 35". We seen lots of caribou, the biggest one if I remember correctly was around 370 but a lot of nice bulls. One book moose. A few of the early sheep hunters did not get their sheep though.
When it came time for helicopter-ing out and around, there were rams seen and sheep on the hills in quite a few places.

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by Jameson340

my vote goes to arctic red, top notch. No helicopters or argo's there, 100% pure backpack hunting.

They are heli specialists dude

I do not believe any outfitter in the NWT offers Argo hunts.

[huntin]

Originally Posted by Lr1000

The outfitters I believe I've narrowed it down to is arctic red, BPO and ram head. By the research I have done it doesn't sound like I could go wrong with either one of them.

with artic red you will enjoy the food if you get any time in base camp. I've also heard about random pies falling from the skies

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by huntin

with artic red you will enjoy the food if you get any time in base camp. I've also heard about random pies falling from the skies

That would be awesome


I just reread my post from yesterday and it could be construed as a knock on the use of heli's up here. My personal view is that they are THE BEST way to access these mts....well, horse is pretty close!!

In no means did I mean to slag ARRO. Quite the contrary, I really like their area!!!! All of the outfitters in there are good imo. They've all been at it a long time. You will find bad hunt reports on all of them. Those one's seem to get more internet press than all of the good hunts. It is hunting and crap happens....when a guys into it for $25k it can get heated when things don't go as expected/described.

[Roughneck Country]

Originally Posted by Lr1000

What are fair prices to be paying for a Dall sheep hunt? Looking at outfitters prices can very $6-8000. I understand you get what you pay for.

From what i have found you can go for $12-15K in Alaska but its kind of sketchy there (first hand experience on this one)

Yukon/NWT your in the $22K range for a single species dall hunt. If I ever do a dall hunt again it will be with a Yukon or NWT outfit. I'm leaning towards Arctic Red at this point because I also want one of those giant mountain caribou they have.

From the looks of things trophy quality is not typically as good on average in Alaska compared to the Yukon or NWT as well. I will post a pic of my finished dall mount from Alaska when Marco is finished with it.

[Jameson340]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

They are heli specialists dude

I do not believe any outfitter in the NWT offers Argo hunts.

didn't see any heli's up there while I was there. Just super cubs, and yeah they dropped fresh pies and pizza for us on the hunt it was awesome, best food that far north, or probably anywhere for that matter.

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by Jameson340

didn't see any heli's up there while I was there. Just super cubs, and yeah they dropped fresh pies and pizza for us on the hunt it was awesome, best food that far north, or probably anywhere for that matter.

Maybe they have changed with the new owners but they were still using heli's for the first few seasons under the new owners. Maybe they've dropped it and are flying their own fixed wing. Last time that I saw it with my own eyes would have been 4 seasons ago. Pretty sure that was the year that we met the young Foss fella on his way out.

Those food drops would be the est

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by Jameson340

didn't see any heli's up there while I was there. Just super cubs, and yeah they dropped fresh pies and pizza for us on the hunt it was awesome, best food that far north, or probably anywhere for that matter.

I can top that. I had steak and ice cream fly into sheep camp when I was hunting stones last August.

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

I just reread my post from yesterday and it could be construed as a knock on the use of heli's up here. My personal view is that they are THE BEST way to access these mts....well, horse is pretty close!!

X2.

Choppers are by far the best way to pack a big slobber nose moose out of the bush too if you ask me.

[Elk Hunter17]

I wish arctic red had a heli when I shot my moose, we packed if 3 miles to the closest strip. It was the hardest thing I've ever done hunting!!

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by Elk Hunter17

I wish arctic red had a heli when I shot my moose, we packed if 3 miles to the closest strip. It was the hardest thing I've ever done hunting!!

HaHa....I had two in my Argo this year. 10 miles or so back to camp.....had a little brake fade but other than that it was all good

[Jameson340]

Originally Posted by Ryry4

I can top that. I had steak and ice cream fly into sheep camp when I was hunting stones last August.

Frig...ice cream would have hit the spot too hahaha. Got to say the best though was the sheep ribs over the fire, god im hungry now.

[Tundra Monkey]

We did Chinese and Beer


First and only time I hung out with a pilot and he didn't drink