Ive been trying to figure out a way to do a goat or sheep hunt for a long time. Watching Randy's Nevada sheep video re-kindled that desire. I usually come away from researching goat and sheep hunts that I dont have enough money and/or am not lucky enough to draw a tag. I've looked at Montanas unlimited sheep tag areas but think the low odds in combination with the fact that I've never set foot in any of those units makes the odds of success rather abysmal.

What are your experiences with sheep or goat hunting? I'd prefer DIY mainly because I'm cheap and really want to retire some day. My other thought is to simply save for an outfitted hunt but I'm 55 now, can't see a hunt before age 60 - if I want to continue to hunt elk in 2 states every year.

Mr. B

I'm ready! Since you live in Tn and I in SW Ark, you can pick me up in L R on the way.


Seriously I'd love to hunt sheep or goats if the terrain isn't too rugged. My health won't allow me to hunt under RIGOROUS circumstances.
Dessert Sheep or Goats in lower altitudes would be GREAT. I wish I had experience to share with you but unfortunately I'm in the same boat you are.

In years past I always wanted to hunt Stone Sheep. I like their coats/colors better than the others.
However, since you hunt Elk in 2 States I don't think "I" would give that up to sheep/goats.

Good Luck in you quest.

Jerry

DIY in the lower 48? Depending on your point situation and application methods, A sheep hunt takes large amounts of luck, both in drawing and then hunting successfully that far from home. Goat hunts generally don't have the insane drawing odds that Sheep do, Nor are they as expensive if guided.

You have two choices, pay the money for guided Alaska or Canada,

Or pray for a draw hunt down here.

Sheep is by far more expensive than goat regardless of where.

At your age (and being cheap) skip one or two Elk hunts one year and go guided in Ca for goat.....

Seems like we're just talking about this, and that's half the fun of it, otherwise you'd be more committed to the cause.

I've been lucky enough to have been on 3 sheep hunts, proof it can happen to anyone, so never lose the dream......

But the fact of the matter is, if you really to want go, it will require time (as in an unknown number of years) or money,

Your choice........

tic toc tic toc..........................

b.c and alaska have large populations of sheep and goats, if u are a non-resident you have to be guided.
you may need 10-20 years of preference points in the lower 48.
i did dall in alaska and mtn goat in b.c as i would have been way to old if i waited to accumulate the necessary points.
good luck on finding the right hunt!

I don’t guess I realized goats were easier to draw. I was planning on applying for a sheep point but will probably change it to goat in that case.



I’ve heard those units are extremely rugged on top of it all. If it was a little less expensive I’d go just with the hopes of spotting some sheep. But for the price they’re asking combined with the stories I’ve heard about long sheepless hunts, I’ll pass.

+1 what Anie said.. He would of been waaay to old to get enough points in the lower 48. He he...

I was in the same boat as you concerning sheep. Last year the sheep hunting gods smiled upon me and I drew a NR tag in Oregon, pure luck as there are no preference points there for sheep. I put a fair bit of effort into scouting and killed a nice ram opening day. To be honest, the hunt itself wasn't particularly demanding, but incredibly rewarding, definitely the highlight of my hunting career!

Anyway, if I were in your shoes, I'd keep applying for tags here in the lower 48 but start saving for a guided hunt in AK or Canada. Goats are less expensive than sheep from what I understand so you might start there. You say you hunt elk out of state in 2 states. That's a fair chunk of change you could be putting towards a sheep/goat hunt. By prioritizing your wants, saving the money shouldn't be too difficult. Another option for a mountain hunt without spending your entire retirement savings would be a tahr/chamois hunt in New Zealand.

You can't win if you don't play... Good luck!

I was lucky enough to have moved to within 100 miles or so of Montana's unlimited sheep tag areas back when those tags were not a big deal, and very few bought them. I bought my first unlimited ram tag in 1979 for $25, and did a solo, DIY hunt in the Absaroka Wilderness east of Gardiner. I didn't see any sheep, but I did shoot one of my best 6x6 bull elk. I continued to buy an unlimited ram tag most years until the late 90s when FWP changed the rules to that an unlimited tag had to be your first choice in the sheep drawings. During that time I did DIY (many of which were solo) hunts in at least 6 of the unlimited units, and hunted multiple years in some of the units. I end up killing 3 of my own rams and finished another ram that another hunter had wounded and lost. I used my horses on most of those hunts.

On my last unlimited ram hunt, I saw a great ram the afternoon before the season opened. When the sun rose on opening morning, the basin that I had seen the ram in was literally crawling with other hunters, their camps, an outfitter with his hunters, horses, and packer, a Montana Game Warden, and Yellowstone Park rangers. I never saw that big ram again.

In 1975 and 1978 I also drew 2 Montana mountain goat tags. On both hunts, although the seasons opened in early September, but I waited until November to hunt because their hair is much longer and thicker then. I went DIY, solo on both hunts. On the first hunt, I blew a stalk on a billy, then got snowed out, and didn't go back. My second goat tag was in one of the unlimited sheep areas, so I carried my sheep tag in September and October more in case I saw a ram while I was scouting goats rather than actually hunting a ram. I didn't see any sheep. I went back in for my goat on the 14th on November. The temperature was -15* F when I started up the mountain, and the snow was crotch deep when I got up to my billy. That was another DIY, solo hunt. I completely skinned out my billy where I shot him, and drug the whole carcass down off the mountain. I have applied for another Montana goat tag for every year since then (40 years) without drawing one.

Your mentioned Randy Newberg in your original post. I talked to him a couple of weeks ago when he was preparing for an Alaskan Dall sheep hunt. A day or two ago, he posted a picture of his ram that "was the end of his 44 year quest."

What are you saying about anie ? Nodick !

Oh! That’s noduck !




Jerry

This.

DIY would be cheapest, but with pretty crappy odds of getting to go in the first place. Goat or Dall in AK would be within the realm of "saving-up-for." People older than us have made it up those mountains, so keep eatin' right & keep your body in motion while you save.

Is your work/family situation flexible enough to throw your name in the ring for cancellation hunts with several outfitters? I've heard of some significant discounts offered on these hunts.

FWIW, a while back I mentioned to Ready that I'd like to do a bighorn hunt before I lose my cartilage & motivation, but I'd need to tell 2 or 3 offspring that they'd be taking a couple semesters off from college because I'd appropriated their schooling funds. He suggested that every time I'm tempted to buy something on the classifieds here, that I, instead, take those funds immediately to the bank and deposit them into a new savings account called, "Sheep Hunt, 20_ _". I'm getting a little closer to that hunt now.

I'm sure we could have a whole 'nother (and interesting, at that) thread about what we might sell/forego to save for a dream hunt. Or, have we flogged Dave Ramsey enough in the Hunters Campfire section?

I can't wait to read your hunt write-up in a couple years. You can do this!

FC

I bit the bullet and went guided in Alaska. Didn't hunt elk that year for the first time in many years. But it was well worth that tradeoff, you can hunt elk every year. Do it before you get too old, a sheep guide will wear you out.

Incidental to the 270/280 AI thread, we found ourselves looking at spending the night down on the river waiting for our pickup in an area fairly covered with bear tracks and sh**. With two bloody packs stuffed with sheep meat and a cape. I was carrying a .260 loaded with 123 grain bullets but found myself wishing I had my .280 AI instead, loaded with some of those 175 partitions that "no one shoots." It would have been perfect for that kind of hunt loaded with light, flat-shooting bullets for sheep and heavy bullets for anything else.

Luckily for us our ride got there before dark and we didn't have to camp there.

DIY sheep and goat hunts are quite the memorable experiences. I've been on two sheep and one goat hunt with a pard, but I never had a tag. Great time and memories. That said, it takes a lot of planning (points) in most state and luck (all states). If you can stomach the $150 license fee, ID is a complete random draw and in some units the odds aren't horrible, yet far from good. My suggestion would be that if a sheep or goat hunt is high on the priority list, I'd put in for ID while saving as for a guided hunt elsewhere.

This is my understanding as well.....you’d best bring your “A” game in those areas!

Very interesting comments guys. I think it confirms what I found as well - bring a boatload of luck for DIY draw hunt in lower 48 or a cash for a guided AK/CN trip. I was hoping someone had solved the riddle <G>

FC - I put 3.5 kids through college (one is still playing around) so doing a guided hunt wasn't in the cards till they were finished. I'm starting to look harder at a couple of guided hunts but am having a hard time swallowing $20k for some of the sheep hunts. I have a little side Fidelity account that has significant cash in it and is invested well. My default plan is to use that account for a couple of hunts I would struggle to do DIY. I've looked at the early withdrawal penalty and that sucks unless you wait until your old/decrepit. Plus there's the significant other factor. It will likely cost me a 2 week stint touring around Europe. I'll pay that price for a chance to do a good sheep hunt.

I had the chance to do an Alaskan Dall sheep hunt when I was in college for the cost of airfare. My room mate family moved to AK a couple years before we met in college. Wish I would have done that trip.......

Looks like I'm dong the "save for sheep/goat hunt in 20__". I thought that is where we'd get to but thought I'd ask and discuss.

Smoke - I'm with you on the grizzly thing. I just got back from Glacier and we ran into a sow with 2 sub-adult cubs at ~ 50 yards. Two things. First she reacted interestingly. The 2 cubs actually came a bit closer to is but she stood staring at us for several minutes. I could tell she was trying to decide if we posed a threat. We backed on out slowly and did the exit stage left from the old Yogi Bear cartoon (see what I did there Second, she was a lot bigger than I'd imagined a sow grizzly to be. A couple days previous we saw a big boar in the same area as another sow and 2 cubs. He was significantly bigger than the sow. I was impressed with the size of them. We also ran into various piles of grizzly residue. Some of it was big enough to be furniture.......

All this said, my 280 AI is my main LR weapon. Looking at the grizzlys I dont think I'll be over-gunned.

i will give my 2 cents......1st sheep...desert, 1st time i put in so it can happen....mid twenties.....2 different hunts brooks range, 2 sheep..2 grizzles..1 moose...could have had another but same size as 1st one, so passed.....1 hunt out of cold bay ak brown bear

took me 23 years to draw mt moose....13 years goat.....going on 28 years no bighorn............worked my ass off to go to ak, but was younger, now going on 59.......worked weekends, all i did was work to pay for it.......so dave ramsey wont like this......borrow the money and go while you can......get a credit card and go....work and pay it off.

dont wait till you are getting to old to go ....or you are old enough to where it is hard to get around......you live once....bob

I think that is actually a decent idea. I don't have much debt - a little bit left on my mortgage. Hmmmm.....

HELOC!

You can borrow enough for a sheep hunt AND a trip to Europe.

See - aren’t you glad you came to us?

FC

also work out a deal with the outfitter, that you can take , say a grizzly or a moose.....if you want.....on a trophy fee only, that way if you see something, you know what it will cost up front. wolves should be free..

it will be money well spent.....spend the time and get the right outfit....i still think of my hunts....bob

Bwinters, you're a few years older than me, but I'm already questioning if some of these sheep and goat hunts are too tough for me. Bottom line: you should do these hunts as soon as you can. The older you get, the tougher these hunts become and you'll be wishing that you had done them sooner. Especially when your knees are begging for mercy on the face of a mountain.

I did my first sheep and goat hunt when I was 28 here in CO DIY. I drew both licenses the same year. I hunted hard for the entire season. Took one of the biggest goats ever to come out of my area to this day, but never found a ram that I wanted to pull the trigger on. I've been on two other DIY sheep hunts over the last 20 years here in CO and each got successively harder. One hunt was not mine, I just tagged along. I've been on one other DIY goat hunt, about 10 years ago here in CO and that was tougher than I would have thought it would be. Needless to say, I still have not killed a bighorn and I've only got one goat to my credit.

I did a guided Dall sheep hunt in AK about 14 years ago in the Alaskan range and it was a tough hunt. I think I could still probably do it now, but it would not be easy by any stretch. Fortune smiled on me and I shot my ram on the first day. I would love to go back and do another one of these hunts, but like you, I still have kids in school and other priorities take over. I've been thinking maybe about a goat hunt these days since I know it won't be too long before I won't be able to do that type of hunt anymore. I have a friend who is an outfitter in AK that has some pretty nice areas for goats and I've been thinking of going with him. I can pass on his name to you if you're interested. Sometimes he'll reduce his rate for guys in situations like yours, i.e. you aren't a millionaire.

Personally, I'd forgo the elk hunting for a year or two and concentrate on these hunts. Get a guide where your chances of success are going to be higher. The DIY route is nice from a financial standpoint, but the logistics are tough and success is questionable in most instances.

I would be interested in your buddy's name/outfit.

Drew a sheep tag after 21 years of applying... Sept. 1 is the big day!!!

I drew goat in WY the first time I applied. No points needed. But I talked to folks that had applied for 15 years and never drawn. 280 some people applied for 2 tags in that unit. Not great odds but possible. I was 57 and overweight. Lost 30 pounds by hiking 240 miles that summer. Had an outfitter booked for elk that took me for goat at no additional charge because he wanted to hunt goat and it was the same unit as elk.
Got my goat and decided sheep in the Yukon was possible if I kept up my physical condition. I was already saving for a Yukon moose hunt, and in 2013 went for my sheep at age 59. Expensive but worth it. The Yukon experience is beyond dreams.
Went back last year at age 63 for my Yukon moose. Paid for it over 4 years with my bonus from work and part of my severance when I retired. Again, worth it. Saw multiple bulls every day and took a 65" wide beast.
You may have to give up something to get something more. I still took a hunt every year while I saved, but not two. Age becomes as much mental as physical. I had cancer surgery in February and I am back to hiking 3 miles a day. Going to MT in October for DYI deer and antelope. Don't give up.

Congrats W C H > Good Luck


Jerry

WOODY

You probably ought to buy a LOTTERY ticket. Enjoyed the read.

Maybe you could post a story or 2 of your hunts. I'd be interested.


Jerry

What are some the elevations folks are hunting goats out west (Montana etc).

I'm assuming fairly high, but have no idea.


I do know I enjoyed hunting them at 4000 feet in SE Alaska.

sh.....mine was about
10000.....I can glass goats from my house...….8500 to almost 11000......bob......edit..my house is around 5200

Yeah, walking at 11000 feet is a lot tougher than 4000.

When I was in Montana, we had a guy booked for the unlimited sheep area. We packed up the horses and hauled him to the trail head. He took one look and changed his mind. He was on his way home that afternoon. I'm sure he did the right thing for him.

Seriously, you're not getting any younger and it's only money. I apply for goat and sheep tags every year. One day I'll draw. I save for a couple of years and do a guided goat hunt because that's what i want to hunt. I know I'll never afford sheep. So far I've shot 3 DIY and 2 guided. I'm 47 and want to do at least one more DIY and one more guided.

It's all about priorities. You want to hunt a hard to draw animal, it's going to cost you. I buy a truck every 10-12 years. I don't eat out. I don't have a boat. I don't have a 4 wheeler. I spend all that on hunting.

You're not getting any younger so what are you going to do? Keep getting older and wishing you'd have seen goat country, or go do it?

I watched my Grandfather, who loved sheep hunting in the old days, work till he was too old to physically do anything. As he was dying, he told me he greatly regretted thinking work was more important than life. I took that message to heart. It's only money. I've found all kinds of ways to finance my hunting around the world. I plan to die broke but happy.

I'm buying 'it's only money' sentiment. My retirement is in great shape, I dont have any debt beside a bit of mortgage left (5-6 years), and all the kids out of college (almost).

So..... let's discuss goat and sheep outfitters. I'm seeing prices for goat hunts ranging from $4000 to $10,000; sheep hunts seem to start at $7500 and go to a gazillion depending on sheep. I'd think bighorn or Dall sheep be the most 'affordable'. Good outfitters? Prices?

Thank you for all the thoughts so far.

bw,
My Yukon sheep hunt was a little over $20,000 total, outfitter fee, flights, overnights in Whitehorse, tips, tags, etc. It's likely $5000 more now. My outfitter only takes 4 to 5 sheep hunters per year and has been 100% for over 10 years. Pay once and get your sheep rather than two or more cheaper hunts in AK. Also consider putting in for the sheep foundation raffle, auctions go for big dollars but the raffle may pay off. Another option is to put in for the WY super tag every year.

jwall,
I've posted picture filled hunt journals on my big hunts here. Photobucket may have my pictures hosed at this point but I will PM you some links

There is no OTC sheep for 7500, Not even close.
Bighorn will start at 25, Dall at 17.

I'd just move to Alaska for 5 years.

Yes, I got the PM and THANKS.

I'll get into them DURING the heat today. Now to sweat before it gets hot.

Thnx

Jerry

x2, good luck and make sure you post a write up with pics!

Pretty good suggestion. Glad I scratched my mountain hunting itch when I was a res. Problem is the itch keeps coming back 😀

Be prepared...Mr Woody’s write ups are some the fire’s best.

Hey Tom ( Slim > grin)

I agree about Mr. Woody's posts. I 'may'? have read those and forgotten but I don't know. I'm looking forward to the details.
Woody has posted some pix of Very Nice WT recently so I'm quite interested.

I've just come in from some projects and 'fixin' to eat and R&R this afternoon.

Jerry

I hear ya. Though blacktails are what I miss.

Blacktails in the high country are the best of both worlds IMO. Ive seen some of the most spectacular high country vistas while chasing blacktails and...gasp, black bears. I remember one bear we put a failed stalk on was the same elevation as a mature billy and only a couple hundred yards away. You dont have to have a sheep or goat tag to hunt the high country, there are other more afforable venues to wet your whistle.

I've hunted and killed goats with 2 different outfitters in BC and have hunted with several more for other animals but could have hunted goat. All have been great except one. There are lots of BC outfitters. Most great. Some not so much. My next goat hunt will be with Brian Glaicar at http://www.monasheeoutfitting.com/mountain_goat.html#anchor
I've killed moose and wolf with him and both my kids have killed bear there. I've goat hunted as a side hunt but without the intention of shooting anything. He has lots of goats and almost no resident hunters at all. He only does a few goat hunts a year. He has some good areas for us guys who have slowed a bit in the step.

I would also hunt goat in BC with anyone whose last name is Leuenberger. It is a large family that now owns 4 or 5 different outfitting areas. I've hunted with many of them and trust them to provide a great hunt. Also, if I ever do get enough money to hunt sheep, it will most definitely be with a Leuenberger. Many a day I've spent watching sheep in their areas, wishing I had the bankroll. If I suddenly come across some cash, I'll give Steven a call at http://ramcreek.ca/index.php/hunts/rams.php for bighorn, or hunt with one of his nephews or son farther north for dall/stone.

Well, I scratched my itch there, but it's like a nasty mosquito bite that just keeps itching. Drew three Kodiak goat tags and my wife drew one, plus went with several friends for their goat. Just wish I'd got a dall while there.

I have the same regret. Killed a goat on the Kenai via a DIY hunt, been on two sheep hunts. One in the Talkeetnas that produced a couple 7/8 curls, but no shooters and one in the wrangles in which we blew the best Ram out of there about 4 hrs before the opener. He never returned and I never got a sheep. ‘Twas fun chasing them though...

Thanks guys. I have home work.....

I put in for goat and sheep every year here in WA. Have no illusions that I’ll ever draw.

For what some of the guided hunts cost in BC and Alaska, I’d fly to New Zealand and hunt Tahr DIY, and then party for a couple weeks while there. Still probably save a few grand. Damn some of those hunts are expensive.

Great thread.

I cannot add much to what has already been said. It’s all about priorities. I have been on 3 sheep hunts - two in Canada and one draw desert BH hunt in AZ. I have put in religiously for almost 20 years in multiple states but never really expected to draw - what a great shock that was! I now lack the Rocky for my slam.

Honestly, your draw chances are slim, certainly nothing you can count on. I would save for a BC goat or Yukon Dall hunt. Just my 2 cents. The hunts were all a financial sacrifice, but I have never regretted a penny that was spent. There is nothing like it.

Good luck!!

Cbeard

New Member - Post 1.

WELCOME and a good first post.

uh oh — Texas ? Never mind


Jerry

I drew a NW Montana goat tag, resident, at age 64. I trained from the day that I received notice of drawing. I walked, ran, hiked uncounted miles and climbed the football field bleachers with my pack loaded to simulate the weight. I ate well to reduce weight and ad muscle. I did take a nice 9” Billy after three arduous, hair raising days of mountain climbing. Let me tell you it kicked my old butt. Yet, it was one of the most fullfilling hunts of my lifetime. Now, you have stated that your age is 55 I believe. Well, you ain’t getting any younger. It is difficult to draw either a goat or sheep tag in the lower 48. I h@ve been putting in for A resident sheep tag in MT for ages.....no luck! Therefore, I whole heartedly suggest if a sheep or goat hunt is on your to do list, get with it and spend the $$$$$. Yes, it is expensive. But, there ain’t no ATM machines in hell!
Have you considered an Aoudad hunt in TX. Also, there are over the counter tags to be had for Aoudad in SW New Mexico for good diy hunts. Have done both successfully. The TX hunt was on a private ranch that I had to pay a trespass fee. Both, one and done.
There has been great suggestions to this post. In hope they will answer your question and desire to hunt both. Good luck in your adventure quest. MTG

I just got pictures from a Dall and Stone that one of the Leuenbergers I mentioned above took this summer. I won't post them here as I don't know who the hunters are, but if interested PM me. I know there are lots of good sheep outfitters in BC and the Territories, but I don't know many I'd trust with my $40K+ hunt.

ALLLLLLLright ! W C H Congrats

Way To Go ! Will be waiting for STORY !

Sweet!! Look forward to the details....

I have a goat permit this year. Probably won't get to use it. I'm old and know where they are, but
the wife won't go with, while complaining she isn't going caribou hunting, and insisting on a moose hunt next year.

The goats and caribou are in the same country.... both on permit. Sheep too, on general hunt...

Wimmin!

x2...Congrats and will be looking for a write-up. Lots of character in those curls...

Wy - very, very nice! Story and pics..................... <G>

BW, it's taken me ten years of saving as well as selling off some guns to pay for next years AK Dall hunt. Although I put in for Mt. sheep/goat every year at 51 don't know if 'll ever draw.
Unlike others I'm not willing to give up my other yearly western hunts ( all DIY) with my kids and friends, you never know when it will be your last.
In the end it's been a life long dream that will only get harder and more expensive as I age so I figured it's time to make it happen, Yes it's a lot of money for us normal folks, but once you have it booked it keeps a person motivated as you know it's going to happen, so as they say, just do it while you can, worry about the money later!

Best motivator to get/stay in shape there is.......