Available Alaska Dall Sheep Hunts --- Search HF Aventures
*Guide Required* While Alaska offers vast landscapes for those lucky enough to afford a guided hunt, the stark reality is that even with top-notch fitness and a skilled guide, there may simply be no legal rams within reach in a particular area. Alaska’s Dall sheep population remains in a concerning state of decline. For non-residents, who must hire a guide for what might be a once-in-a-lifetime hunt, expectations must be tempered to reflect these challenging conditions. Even experienced outfitters, who once showcased big rams and impressive success rates, now face the bitter truth brought on by unforgiving winters. Those past success stories may no longer be an accurate reflection of the future. Alaska’s state-level management maintains that “full curl, 8-year-old” hunting practices aren’t causing harm to the overall sheep population, but the debate around sheep hunting is deeply rooted in social tensions – how permits should be distributed, who should hunt and how often, and the increasing pressure of competition for a dwindling resource.
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Dall sheep hunts have never been as costly as they are today. Outfitters face skyrocketing expenses to cover fuel, travel, insurance, guide wages, flights, food, and more. This dynamic coupled with the demand for sheep hunts has pushed hunt prices to nearly three times what they were just a decade ago. It’s crucial to understand that outfitters cannot simply move to areas with better sheep populations or available legal rams. In Alaska, federal land use programs strictly control where outfitters can operate, with limited, segmented areas allocated by the Commercial Services Board. This is unlike other western states where guides have more flexibility to relocate. Conflicts between federal and state management, local and statewide interests, and guides versus resident hunters continue all across the state. Federal overreach by subsistence boards has amplified these tensions, moving hunting pressure to other parts of the state, crowding already stressed sheep populations, and creating more in-field conflicts.
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Dall Sheep season runs from August 10th to September 30th depending on season and location.
Harvest rates remain bleak statewide. Nonresident harvest remains at under 50%, and preliminary data for 2024 suggests similar figures with many sub-legal rams being harvested. Resident success in the general season barely reached 15% in 2023, even with the reduced number of hunters in the field. The following table provides insights into the most popular general season units, helping hunters make informed decisions about where to hunt or which outfitter to choose. Remember, Alaska imposes a restriction of one ram per non-resident every four regulatory years, regardless of whether it’s from a draw unit or over-the-counter area. Residents may hunt and harvest Dall sheep every year.
The draw permits for sheep aren’t about ensuring trophy hunts but rather limiting hunter numbers. Only one area, the Tok Management Area, is designated for trophy management. Severe permit cuts in recent years have reduced the chances of hunting there, with only one guided non-resident permit available in the draw this year. The Chugach Mountains in units 13 and 14 are known for their impressive deep curl horns, but keep in mind, overall sheep numbers are extremely low here as well.
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If the goal is simply to pursue a legal ram with a seasoned guide, there are plenty of hunts across Alaska that don’t require a draw permit if one does not want to consider Canada. However, whether one enters the draw or opts for an over-the-counter hunt, expect guided Alaska hunts to cost between $30,000 and $46,000. Alaska Dall sheep hunting has become a daunting pursuit — physically, emotionally, and financially — and prospective hunters must be prepared for a reality far from the romanticized ideal of the past.
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Alaska’s application deadline is 5 p.m. (akst) on December 15, 2023.
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| UP-FRONT FEES | |
| Annual Hunting License | $160 |
| Application Fee (each choice) | $5 |
| LOCKING-TAG FEES (Purchase Before Hunt) | |
| Dall Sheep Tag (Guide Required) | $850 |
| Brown/Grizzly Bear Tag (Guide Required) | $1,000 |
| Moose Tag | $800 |
| Caribou Tag | $650 |
| Black Bear Tag | $450 |
| Wolf Tag | $60 |
| Wolverine Tag | $350 |
Alaska Dall Sheep Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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