Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Early August Dall and Grizzly combo?

Any downside to Hunting the 7th-18ish for these species.

Concentrating on grizzly 1st and then Dall 2nd.

Yes

Elaborate?

If a grizzly is really what you want I would go later in the year and forget the idea of going after sheep. If you equally want both I would go after sheep first.

Also a lot of early season grizz hides look like [bleep].

I realize the bear hides get thicker later in the year, unfortunately my time frame is limited.

What’s your priority?
I’m a sheep hunter - so I would chase sheep first ... having said that, with those dates (if they are concrete) you could chase grizz for two days on the front end.
Much is going to depend on your guide/outfitter (as you know.) Also, don’t forget to factor same day airborne into your planning...

AK, The outfitter I'm talking to suggested exactly that, chase griz for a couple days before sheep opens.

I realize the hide will be hit-or-miss that time of the year.

Likely its the Brooks Range so the hide is good to go. Get in position for the sheep first. But nail the Griz as an animal of opportunity.

Talkeetna hunt.

I would not consider a "Ring-counting" hunt...

Sitka, not sure I understand the reference.

A number of dall sheep hunts in the Talkeetna area are run in areas of very marginal sheep hunting and they count annual rings on the sheep to hope to find one they can convince themselves is legal (8 rings) instead of a full curl. Hunters have shown up thinking their sheep was legal only to find it was not. It is difficult to count rings at any distance and I have seen them fail to get it right in hand in the office.

There were some very nice rams that came out of the Talkeetnas this year.
From my interactions with the the OP, I suspect he has done his research with regards to his outfitter.
And the same thing can occur in any range ...

I absolutely agree with what you are saying... however there is some history there.

I saw at least two spectacular rams from there this fall, but neither would be touchable on a tight calendar.

Gotcha, that's where I thought you were headed.

I have done my research, and the guide has a stellar reputation.

The nature of my work dictates that I book an early August hunt

There are good guides out of Talkeetna and you should be good there.

As to bear hide quality... fur will likely be very short, but uniform.

The bear would be a bonus, I had originally just intended to hunt sheep.

With that mindset, you will have a great trip.
It’s a magical time of year ...

+1

I'd listen to what Sitka says, he absolutely knows what he is talking about.

When I hunted grizz in the spring, I asked my guide about hunting them in the fall.

His suggestion was don't.

I agree with everyone saying hunt sheep, and kill a grizz as an opportunity animal