Alaska Dall sheep guide concentrates on big rams

One of our favorite registered guides in Alaska operates only in areas where his hunters have a good chance of taking trophy-class rams. You can apply for a tag to hunt a limited-tag unit, or you can hunt a national preserve where he and a partner are the only guides licensed to take sheep hunters. They prefer to take one hunter a year but will take two hunters who know each other.

Both hunts require you to be in excellent backpacking condition. You'll hunt sheep about 10 miles over rough terrain from the landing strip. The guide plans on a day to a day and a half of hiking to reach the sheep. You can hunt as many as 10 days before hiking back out.

No sheep hunters will be taken this year because the guide and his partner are taking caribou hunters. They report having scouted for sheep a great deal and know where the big rams are.

"My partner got a 38 1/2-incher and a 41 1/2-incher in the area where you can hunt with an over-the-counter tag," he said. "The bigger ram was with another 41-incher that was virtually as big, and that was two years ago. We haven't taken a hunter since. There are some really big rams in our area because they're isolated and hardly ever hunted.

"This is magnificent country. It's quite open, and you'll see grizzlies and caribou."

You may take a grizzly for an additional harvest fee.

"I have to emphasize that this is not a hunt for an out-of-shape or overweight hunter," the guide said. "You really need to be in great shape to handle this hunt and enjoy it."

Click on any photo to see a larger image.

Dall sheep hunt booked for 2012. Hunts are available in 2013.

Hunt SH4408
Hunt, hunter:guide ratio	Price per person, guide:hunter ratio
10 hunting days, 2x1	$11,800
10 hunting days, 1x1	$13,800
Grizzly	Additional $4,000 harvest fee
Season	Additional animals
Aug. 10 till mid-Sept.	Grizzly in season. Most grizzlies are 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 foot square and max out at about 8 feet.
Hunter success	Hunter success and trophy size
The guide has had virtually 100 percent hunter success for many years. If a hunter can hike well and shoot well, he should have good opportunities to fill his tag on a big ram.	Hunters in these trophy areas often take 36 to 37-inch rams, but you're hunting for bigger rams in the 38 to 41-inch category, and many hunters have taken them.
Licenses	Lodging and meals
Some areas require you to draw a tag. December application deadline. The other area allows hunters to take rams with an over-the-counter tag. Click here for latest prices	You'll be spike camping, sleeping in a backpack tent and eating freeze-dried and other meals that are easy to pack. Hunters are required to carry their share of supples and food.