So I'm 42 and financially we are just getting around to the point where I can take a DIY trip every year. I went on an elk hunt OTC hunt this year. I'm rambling. I really want to hunt sheep. I know the draws are draws but what states offer best draw odds? I've also heard stories that MT offers an OTC sheep hunt? Help a guy dream fellas.
Sheep!!!!!
- Thread starter NHK9
- Start date
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Look up some of my earlier posts on the subject. If you are just starting (as in few or no points) you are FAR better off saving your money for a hunt up north.
MT offers unlimited sheep tags in a few areas. They shut the hunt down when the quota is reached. Generally low population density and very tough country. You'd really want to do your research and might need to commit to a multi year plan to learn an area and finally harvest. I've hunted just north of some of that country, it is big and unforgiving.
A few other thoughts, what about saving some $ and booking a Dall Sheep hunt? or Snow Sheep in Russia perhaps. An Aoudad hunt is another good way to chase sheep.
You can always hope for a tags in draws with very poor odds with the rest of us... Starting now, you might look for totally random draws or at least Bonus point draws or research the lottery pay per ticket options. You'd be waaaaay behind the curve in preference point states.
A few other thoughts, what about saving some $ and booking a Dall Sheep hunt? or Snow Sheep in Russia perhaps. An Aoudad hunt is another good way to chase sheep.
You can always hope for a tags in draws with very poor odds with the rest of us... Starting now, you might look for totally random draws or at least Bonus point draws or research the lottery pay per ticket options. You'd be waaaaay behind the curve in preference point states.
NDHunter
Veteran member
Yea I'd say it's pointless to start building points. Maybe buy a few raffle tickets here and there. As the previous two guys mentioned, you're probably best off saving up and going to Canada or Alaska. You could build points in CO with the intention of trying to draw the archery tag but that is damn tough hunt. Overall, getting a sheep tag is just damn tough in the lower 48.
Gotcha. So when I say financially at a point in our lives, I mean DIY hunt's. My wife just chsuckled when I said Russia. Canada is feasible tho. Thanks for the start.
Gotcha. So when I say financially at a point in our lives, I mean DIY hunt's. My wife just chsuckled when I said Russia. Canada is feasible tho. Thanks for the start. pool
NDHunter
Veteran member
You could do a ewe hunt. I know that isn't the same as hunting for a ram but you could easily draw some ewe tags.
For a little prospective, I'm 32 with 5 points in a few states and I honestly think if I can pull one sheep tag in my life, I'll be doing good.
For a little prospective, I'm 32 with 5 points in a few states and I honestly think if I can pull one sheep tag in my life, I'll be doing good.
Shane13
Active Member
Texas has a drawing for 1 desert bighorn per year. There is also a raffle (drawing that allows you to buy more than one entry) for a Grand Slam, which is mule deer, whitetail, antelope and desert bighorn. So there are 2 desert sheep tags available by drawing per year. There is a "loyalty point" system for the desert bighorn drawing. You get your name in the hat one additional time for each point you have. But it is possible to get drawn the very first year you enter. They don't draw only from the entrants that have the most points. There is no point system for the Grand Slam raffle, because you can buy all the entries you want each year ($10 each) for that one.
I lucked out and drew the desert bighorn hunt 3 years ago. I intend to be the first guy to draw it a 2nd time, and I am planning to draw the Grand Slam one of these days as well.
But if I never draw another sheep permit in my life, I'll still die happy. I got to share an incredible hunt with my son.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DTSXVuZqrk&list=PLAfhYudWkdBfAlj_BJ2aBNSlDOcEjhNGd
I lucked out and drew the desert bighorn hunt 3 years ago. I intend to be the first guy to draw it a 2nd time, and I am planning to draw the Grand Slam one of these days as well.
But if I never draw another sheep permit in my life, I'll still die happy. I got to share an incredible hunt with my son.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DTSXVuZqrk&list=PLAfhYudWkdBfAlj_BJ2aBNSlDOcEjhNGd
Well there goes the plan to stop in AK for Moose, Bear and Caribou, on the way to Russia... Now that you have softened her up with the Russia red herring, go for the close with a MarcoPolo hunt in one of the stans, its closer for you.
Alabama
Veteran member
Russia might actually be cheaper lol. You won't be going on any DIY sheep hunts in Canada because the law requires a guide unless you're a resident. Cali bighorns are running 25k+, RM bighorns 30k+ stone sheep 35k+ and Dall's in Yukon 18k+ in NW territories are 20k+. Definitely not cheap to chase sheep anywhere. Alaska hunts are running from 13k to 20k now. I'm sure there are some cheaper but you probably won't have a very good experience. The only DIY guaranteed sheep hunt is unlimited units in Montana and like it was said earlier, you will have to commit multiple years to learn an area to be successful. Good luck! I'm dying to hunt them as well.
Alabama
Veteran member
And Barbary sheep (Aoudad) in TX or NM is also very doable. I plan to hunt them in NM if I ever get drawn.
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
To give you an idea of the odds in Montana I have put in for 37 years in a row for moose and sheep. Still no permit for either of these!! Took me 33 years to draw a mountain goat tag. Besides the regular draw, you can also buy as many Super Tag chances for several different species in Montana at $5.00 a pop with no limit on the chances. You can purchase as many as you like. I usually don't go crazy, but I'll buy one for elk, mule deer, sheep, moose, and goat. If you do draw one of the Super Tags, you can hunt ANY unit in the state that is OPEN for that particular species. As stated about the unlimited areas, they are rough and on your own I would say might take a couple years of hunting to kind of figure a spot out. You could always get the tag because you are guaranteed being drawn and then book an outfitter. Jack Atcheson Jr. out of Butte Montana has an excellent reputation for the unlimited areas and his hunters have taken some really nice rams from those districts. I'm wishing years ago I should have maybe gone this route. At least I would be able to say I hunted a ram whether I got one or not. Best of luck deciding.
Took me 33 years to draw a mountain goat tag. Besides the regular draw, you can also buy as many Super Tag chances for several different species in Montana at $5.00 a pop with no limit on the chances. You can purchase as many as you like. I usually don't go crazy, but I'll buy one for elk, mule deer, sheep, moose, and goat. If you do draw one of the Super Tags, you can hunt ANY unit in the state that is OPEN for that particular species. As stated about the unlimited areas, they are rough and on your own I would say might take a couple years of hunting to kind of figure a spot out. You could always get the tag because you are guaranteed being drawn and then book an outfitter. Jack Atcheson Jr. out of Butte Montana has an excellent reputation for the unlimited areas and his hunters have taken some really nice rams from those districts. I'm wishing years ago I should have maybe gone this route. At least I would be able to say I hunted a ram whether I got one or not. Best of luck deciding.luckynv
Active Member
There was an excellent write up in last year's(I think Last Year, could have been 2014) Wild Sheep Foundation magazine on the head of WSF that hunted with his friend Jack Atcheson and scored on a sheep in one of the unlimited areas in Montana. The 5 areas are right around the north entrance of Yellowstone. It looks intriguing until you really start looking at the logistics. Can you relocate to Alaska? After waiting long enough to become a resident no guide "required" for Dall. Still need to draw for premium units but I am almost sure there are some units over the counter. Tough hunts and minimum age limits. good luck and God bless
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Don't apply for anything where your cost to apply divided by your draw odds ≥ $10000 or you are gambling. The large majority of people who do draw such a tag will then invest another $7K in a guide bringing the total to $17K which then rivals the price of a sheep hunt up north.
Example of a poor investment:
$20 raffle ticket or application fee with 0.1% odds (1:1000) = $20,000 per tag drawn
Example of a poor investment:
$20 raffle ticket or application fee with 0.1% odds (1:1000) = $20,000 per tag drawn
I'm looking into the option of selling my first born as we speak. I'm liking the MT option at least I get to get into the country with a chance, Thanks for the info guys.
Musket Man
Veteran member
The quota for the unlimited tags usually gets filled the first couple days. I think you would need to get there early and scout all you could to have a chance at filling your tag. I am thinking about trying it some year. Idaho is an option too. With no points system you would atleast have some chance of drawing.
wannabehunter
New Member
Here are a few left on the hoof in Wyoming.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ny2q5daeFWR1ZqRnhSWDhuUVk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ny2q5daeFWR1ZqRnhSWDhuUVk/view?usp=sharing
Dakota Kid
Member
I did a sheep hunt in the Tendoys of Montana last year, and it was awesome. I didn't get a ram but I did get a ewe with my bow! I will be doing hunts like that again in the future as it was very satisfying and the least expensive sheep hunt I will probably ever go on!