Sheep hunting

[Gentry]

I was wondering how many of you are sheep hunters or put in for sheep tags. If so what states do you apply for and how long have you been applying? this next year will be my 13th year of applying here in Montana and I am hoping it is lucky 13 I hunt the Missouri river brakes for elk and have seen some thumper rams over the years and have put some stalks on some world class rams just for the fun of doing it and have wished more then once I had a tag. I have never applied for a sheep tag in any other state then Montana but would like to start putting in for stone sheep But I also know how expesive they can be to hunt. Do they also go by a point system for drawing? if so I would like to start getting points but would hate to draw one before I had the funds saved up?

[Prairie Drifter]

I hunted the breaks 3 years ago for a ewe. Saw some MONSTER rams.

[Prairie Drifter]

oops double post

[JimB]

You don't "put in" for stone sheep.You hire an outfitter,buy the license and go hunting.You should be able to go for $40,000.You might even get one.

[Steve O]

Jim is right; Stone sheep are OTC.  I have a Stone from the Yukon, but that was with a rifle.  I hunted in CO for the whole season in 2007 with my recurve but did not connect.  I did write up a story on TradGang here:

  Colorado Bighorn Hunt

I have applied like you for 13 years in MT, WY, ID, CO, UT, NM, AZ , and NV.  Odds are terrible, but the only way you   CAN'T draw is if you don't apply.

Sheep hunting is the only thing I have done, that while I was doing it said many times, "I am never doing this again!", but as soon as it was over was trying to figure out a way to do just that ASAP    

There are NO "good odds" to draw a sheep tag.  You just have to put your blinders on and put in.  You have the best odds as a resident in MT.  You could up them quite a bit by putting in for a unit other than the Breaks.  CO archery only would be the next best.  Idaho   sounds like it would be good odds, but is about the only place you could apply and NOT have any NR tags drawn.

[Jack Shanks]

I got into the sheep points game way too late in life. I applied in several states but the 10K in up front license, tag money and the $1000 non refundable each year I was throwing away seemed like too much of a waste. I dropped out after a few years and went on a guided sheep hunt in Alaska.

[Gentry]

I always wondered about the stones looks like I need to set up a savings for a tag like I got going for brown bear. As far as putting in for some where other then the breaks I just cant do it. There are areas I know way to good and I would hate to lose all my points and have to wait 7 years before I could start all over. I know there are people that have been applying for 20 or 30 years and never draw but I have a feeling my time is coming. I may start putting in for tags in other states though.

[Gentry]

Jack where did you go in Alaska? I have also thought about going after a dall It would be the cheapest next to me drawing a tag in state.

[Jim Wright]

Since you are from MT. you may have ruled it out but there are still unlimited permit areas near Yellowstone Park in the Beartooth Wilderness Area. I lived in Billings in 1973&74 and scouted/hunted the area quite a bit. It is high, rough and has some very inaccesible portions. The numbers of sheep and quality of the rams does not match the draw units but it  remains I believe the only opportunity for a permit without a draw. I still have topo maps and remain familiar with portions of the area, if I can help you contact me. By the way I have hunted Dall Sheep a couple of times in Alaska's Talkeetna Mountain Range as well.

[ozy clint]

as a foriegner who only dreams of hunting sheep but would start putting in for ballots if i could afford it, how do they draw these things? is it transparent or is it a boys club? i don't know how you locals can stand waiting a lifetime just to get one hunt when you might need a lifetime of hunts to get a sheep with a trad bow.

[chinook907]

In Alaska it's good news/bad news for a non-resident.  Good news, much of the State is OTC. Bad news, you need to hire a guide.  Per your question, as a resident, I put in for some draw areas every year, but also some years go after them in open areas.

[Gentry]

Jim I grew up in that area and love it I dont put in for that area only because I dont want to lose what I have built up. but have also put in for goats over that way.

Ozzy with Montana you would draw a tag of a Life time the first time you put in and maybe even twice and then you might put in for 30 years and never draw. it is all about luck. If you get lucky and draw and want a tag along let me know if nothing else I am good at packing out animals.........

[sheephunter]

A little tip for anyone applying for tags in CO. If you go to the Colorado Division of Wildlife home page, get into the big game section and look for statistics and through some searching in there you can see EXACTLY how many people applied for what areas and that includes the non-resident tag numbers. Some are set aside for non-residents only and this can show what your best odds to draw are.

[sheephunter]

By some set aside I mean tags for certain units, not the units themselves.

[Jack Shanks]

Gentry,

I hunted the Chugach Mountain range. That area went to a draw for sheep the next year after I hunted there. I believe only 10% of the tags go to non residents now.

ozy clint,

Well said. I realized I don't have that many lifetimes left.

[TDHunter]

I took a nice full curl Stone Sheep in BC. But I live here so my total cost was very little ,around 200-300 bucks including gas and food.  
Got it with a 52lb checkmate recurve on day 7 in the mountains.
Shot at 5-7 yds.