Last week got back from my Alaska Dall Sheep hunt. No I didn't tag out. Yes it is hunting. No I didn't make any mistakes or even get an opportunity. Yes it was the most challenging hunt I've ever done physically and mentally. Yes I will be going back.

I have had this hunt booked for 30 months. There were a few cheaper hunts in Alaska, but took recommendation of my hunt broker that Majestic Mountain Outfitters was the best option for honesty, experience, opportunity, and quality. Although I didn't tag out I still agree 100%. We were weathered out of hunting 7 of 11 days and remaining days just had 2 full days and 2 part days. The Outfitter is letting me come back 2017 and I'm first on list if someone cancels 2016 for a fair deal. Hunts aren't guaranteed! Often hunters miss or can't handle the hiking, but I simply didn't get an opportunity and did everything the guides asked of me.

http://www.majesticmountainoutfitters.com

In the 2 full and 2 part days of hunting we covered 65 miles (10 more miles moving camps) and GPS recorded 25,000 feet of elevation climb. 90% of miles either creek bed rocks and water crossings or sunken mud trails with cross root hurdles. 10% actual climbing best being Muskeg that has great grip and soft all the way to Puckerbrush that fights you every step or shale 1 step forward slide 2 steps back. Our longest day we left camp at 4 am and got back 10 pm 25 total miles. Next part day we did 15 miles.

We had 3 different Ram stalks:

Ram #1 - turned out not to be legal, wasn't full curl or broomed.



Ram #2 - got within 1,200 yards and group of 9 Rams busted over the mountain. lead Ram was huge double broomed, big mass and body. Either the wind had circled on us or more likely we had seen fresh wolf sign coming up the creek and had pushed wolves into them. This was our 25 mile day, we continued up over this range to glance down the other side.



Ram #3 - this was the most heartbreaking. we spotted the Ram 3-4 miles away from camp and made a stalk almost to the peak within 150 yards. The guide was busted when raising his scope to double check if legal. He took a long time analyzing and Ram finally ran over next mountain. Can't second guess the guide, it was probably borderline legal, going up higher on the peak our wind might have been wrong, and farther away if he tried to use spotting scope the harder to determine if legal. here was Ram through the spotting scope from camp.



I was in pretty good shape and did everything the guides asked of me. Never thought it would be so tough though, much harder than any of the marathons I did etc. The long hikes not bad as the really steep stuff towards the peaks. You can max out your heartrate and VO2 pretty quick every 10-20 steps. Luckily little 30-60 second rest I would recover and do it again.

I would recommend this outfitter if looking for a challenging, high opportunity, high quality hunt found in the Wrangells. If you are looking for easier sheep hunt consider something in the Brooks Range which is an older mountain range and easier terrain. You can also find some outfitters that use horses. This outfitter doesn't use horses for the hunters, so daily you need to hike 5 miles from any camp just to get into the sheep country and then back again at night.

Logistics were commercial DFW to Seattle to Fairbanks, drive 3.5 hours to Tok, Cessna 206 100 miles to sand bar, and then Super Cub into base camp.

My tent at base camp.



The hunt.

Looks like a great time and rough on the ankles.

hang in there it took me a couple of tries.

Well that makes sense on where you've been.

Rick was going to be up here for a few days and we where going to come over and drink all your whiskey.

Sounds like a great hunt. I think I'd rather not tag out first go...that way I can keep coming back and hunting more and more.

Love the pics.

What a workout, you at least earned a hat for that !! BTW, see any rocks

Hang in there - it will happen! Wow, what beautiful country and what a great hunt. Those are some mountains!

Very Nice!

my ankles are pretty fragile, but with the boots I didn't have any issues. now the bottoms of my feet were killing end of day. hard to keep them dry even with gators and wiggy's. I'm going to try an aftermarket insert for more cushioning next time. knees held up great this year, which was my weak point last year in Idaho.



that's what I'm telling myself now, I will get 2x the experience for 1.5x the price. this is one of those once in a lifetime hunts, I don't want to get multiple Dall's in my life, just one enough.



multiple Booners!

That's what I like about sheep hunting....you gotta EARN your ram. I'm betting you'll score next time.

If it makes you feel better, I didn't kill my first brown bear until the 32nd day of hunting over three different hunts.

Thanks for sharing.

When I hunted Chamois in Germany, I did a hike up in the mountains before the hunt, which gave my feet a beating. When I got back I bought a pair of mountaineering boots that solved the problem. Mountaineering boots have heavy stiff soles for a reason anything less and the rocks beat up the feet.

I'm wearing the Cabelas Mendl Alaskan Hunters which is about the only one they recommend besides Lowa's. They have tried them all and the only shoes that can handle the terrain and wet of 600 miles they do in their fall guide season. I bought mine in January and broke them in hard. First time I wore soaked them in bath tub with my feet in them and then wore for 12 hours hiking my Oklahoma property. I then tried to wear them at least once a week.

I did notice the stock insole is paper thin and below that is solid metal plate. I am going to experiment with a runners insole to see if it cushions a little better. So much is required of shoes this type of hunting solid bottoms, water proof, comfortable, ankle support, and no blisters.

I need to find this ranch owner named Shane in Texas, he's a frequent hunter up there with them sheep, moose, and bear. I will have to get his last name, wonder if he's on THF.

I never saw any Bear, but everyone else in camp did. I did see several Moose, a lone HUGE Caribou up on mountain top, and a Wolverine. A bunch of fresh wolf sign, but never saw any. We were allowed to shoot 10 wolves for free if we saw them.

They had 6 Sheep hunters this year. 3 for the first hunt all tagged out including a 40"+. My hunt Ryan tagged out and I didn't. There was one remaining hunter after us that would be locked out of mountains because of the weather at first, but it was supposed to melt and if creeks didn't get too high he would have 20 days to get a sheep.

Only 33", but nice past full curl spiral outwards.



Big mass broomed sheep that fell off a cliff.



Big 40"+ This hunter had to make two trips to get his ram.



Ryan's 38" that was way past full curl.

Those are nice rams!

Great pics and story. Congrats to the hunters.

Nice Rams. Looks like they were well earned. Hope your next trip get one for your wall.

Sounds like a heck of an adventure......

just got notified, there was a cancel! I'm booked for next year same hunt and guide I had this year. very excited.