Booked a 2017 Dall sheep hunt in the Yukon back in 2015..... and now August is fast approaching. 10 day hunt 8/9-8/19. This thread will be a diary of sorts. Flights, hotel before/after hunt all booked. Now in the "getting ready" stage. Which is half the fun. Carrying my Sako Finnlight in .300 WSM (.30 cal because I will have a grizzly tag) - it prints little groups with the 180 grain TSXs I wanted to use. So all good there.

As always, my pool table has become a gear table for the hunt. Not all of this will make the cut, but if it made it this far it's definitely in the running:



I've lost 20 lbs since New Years - that's 20 lbs I won't have to hump up the Pelly mountains. Exercising now and intensifying it as the hunt draws near. At my age (53) a balance between good exercise but not hurting oneself is called for, especially with my hinky back which forced me to give up running a few years ago.

Speaking of a few years ago, here's me 11 years ago on my last trip to the Yukon for Fannin (Stone's) sheep:


I now weigh the same, but unfortunately have added some miles since then.

Anyway, hope some of you might enjoy going along on this adventure with me.

Looking forward to this.

Watching!

Already got 2 pieces of good news re: flights.
1)Kept checking and re-checking until I was allowed to use the same # of CC miles as a domestic round trip ticket. Whoo!
2)Airline recently upgraded me to first class on the flights up (DFW to Vancouver and Vancouver to Whitehorse). Whoo-hoo!

Had a heckuva time exploring all the flight options. What it all boiled down to was that there is one late flight daily (8:00 PM) from Vancouver to Whitehorse. You can get to Vancouver numerous ways with two legs of flying, but the only direct flight that worked leaves DFW at 7:00 AM and at arrives at 10:00 AM or so.

Result: a long day sitting in the Vancouver airport. May make a quick trip into the city but likely will just stay put (I've seen it twice before).

Going with Tim Mervyn's outfit. Wonderful family operation with consistent success for their hunters on nice rams. Some clients hunt from cabins and some ride out on horses and spike hunt in the mountains. Guessing he has me penciled in the latter category since he told me to bring my sleeping bag, pad, and tent. Which is fine with me.

Here's a few "Christmas cards" showing all the rams taken each year:

I'll be watching. Good luck!

Have a safe trip

Would appreciate any gear "hacks" that you guys have found to be useful on your hunts.

Examples of a couple of mine are Starbucks Via instant coffee packets and a lightweight "buff"/silk scarf for both cold and sun protection. Both are lifesavers for me.

I also use trekking poles and have found them to be lifesavers while climbing. Some prefer them, some use one, and some don't like them at all.

Good luck with your hunt NP.

Subscribing..... On the "To Do List" for sure.

I didn't do coffee but do use mtn ops yeti as me energy drink replacement.

Bucees has a rub called "carnivore blk" I'm adding it to what I call my "meat eater" pull out. Aka spices, etc.
For back county meat.

As far as trekking poles. Texas company called Pacemaker Stix, is a bargain

Thanks Bobo I knew you'd have some good ones. Please add any more that come to you.

One key some may not know on international travel is to have Form 4473s listing all your rifles, scopes, cameras, and optics with their serial #s. They can be obtained online, print them off, list all your serialized gear, and take it to a U.S. Customs office for signing and stamping by an officer. This form proves you owned/took the gear in with you and didn't buy it in the country visited. Canadian customs doesn't care but I have had more trouble with U.S. Customs on the return trip than anyone else. Go figure. This form cuts through all the red tape.

Good luck, be safe and great hunting Take plenty of pics!

Have a great trip. Enjoy every moment and remember it's already successful.

MOLESKIN



Drop him before he rolls down the mountain... if possible

Been there done that! Only so much to see in Vancouver airport= a long day of boredom!

Tim and Jen are good people, I would hunt with them again anytime! Have fun and I'll be waiting for pictures!

My only advice I can add is; find a horse, and spend sometime riding before you go! And if your knees start hurting while in the saddle lengthen your stirrups!

Oh don't forget gorilla tape wrapped lighters. Insta fix everything but including hotspots

Had that one BOBO.

AJ I'll take that beauty no questions asked!

Good luck! I will be in the brooks range for Caribou next year as well as BC for moose. Im counting down the days and it seems like the days are crawling by.

I don't go anywhere in the backcountry without Leukotape. I religiously put it on day one where I am prone to getting hotspots. From a 3 day 50 mile alpine backpacking trip to 9 day hunts It hasn't let me down yet.

I'll second the trekking poles. Huge fan. I am partial to Leki's but....

I like Gear Aids Tenacious tape over duct tape. To me it seems to have better adhesive for cloth repairs that will be exposed to rain (personal rain gear, rain fly, tent etc). Plus it comes in small size rolls.

For chaffing prevention and moisture absorption I like using the single use packets of 2Toms Blister Shield. Very lightweight, dump it where you want it and you are good to go.

Thanks for sharing. We will be watching, and Have a good safe trip.

X2


Good luck brother!

GAT works to good on skin. The blk gorilla tape works a whole lot better then duck tape. But also wont eat your skin

Ha!!

Don't forget lip balm, doubles for anti chafing