I'll be in "sheep shape." I will be just fine with a backpacking style hunt but am open to other styles. I love Barbary sheep hunting here in NM, have done a rocky mountain ewe hunt above timberline, and will be learning to guide ibex this year...all in NM. I'm planning on staying in as good of shape as I can for sheep hunting so that I can take advantage of a cancellation hunt potentially if I find one of them before I'm booked with an outfit.
I'm more concerned with success rates on rams than making sure I kill a giant, though I'd obviously love a blend of both!
What do you want and what are you able to do?
Paul Claus to Riley Pitts. There are a range of guides that offer different experiences. Ultima Thule Outfitters is like the Eiger Sanction. They have areas for the very rich and flat-footed but if you want a top guided sheep you better take a Mountain Trip Intro of Mountaineering class to get ready for the Cathedrals. Steve Johnson is also in this vein. Riley Pitts is a superb outfitter who hires top guides in an area with lots of sheep that is not as murderous. Dave Morris, Henry Tiffany, Ron Warren and Dave Marsh are also of that set. They don't take many hunters but they get them on good sheep.