Which state is best for hunting big horn sheep?

[slayer1]

I have always wanted to try my hand at this. I do not know a lot about it or where even to start my research. Any of you guys had experience hunting the big horn? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Charlie Lamb]

Any state where you can draw a permit!! And that's not a smart ass answer.

[slayer1]

Is there any of the sheep species that the tags are easy to draw? Anybody know where I can read up on it?

[robtattoo]

Get in touch with Curtis Kellar (littlefeather) about possbly hunting his lease in West Texas. It's OTC tags, but it is NOT easy hunting. He has a few really nice sheep on that lease, interspersed with a fair few goats but the sheep are as wary as anything! Really good fun trying to get up close & personal with them!

[wingnut]

Sheep are probably easiest to draw in Alaska and that's tough.  I'd check with some outfitters up there and start putting in.  I'm too old and fat to even think about hunting sheep or goats.

LOL

Mike

[Walt Francis]

What Charlie said.

[Roughcountry]

One pretty good research book is Quest For Giant Bighorns by Duncan Gilchrist.
It lists the states and provinces that hold bighorns
What Charlie said is really true, here in Oregon we can only draw the tag once in our lifetime and must choose a unit with California or Rocky Mt bighorn. If we want to get the other we would have to buy the governors tag or win the lottery tag.
Montana has some giant Rocky mt.rams, not sure about any Calif's. BC has both as does Washington. Idaho has both I believe.
Wyoming has the largest number of Rocky Mt sheep but is not known for the largest rams at present. Although a 200 inch ram was tacken there in the late 1800's

The most sought after Calif. tags right now is the John Day River drainage in Oregon. Its growing some hugh rams that out score a lot of Rocky mt rams.

If you have a little spare change you could go to one of the SCI or FANAWS banquets and pick up a governors tag. They go for 50,000 to 90,000 bucks  :(  
I drew a tag after applying 2 years, but I have friends who have not drawn for over 30 years.

The other route is thru a outfitter but is pretty spendy.

[Missouri Sherpa]

First thing you need is a big pile of cash because the tags are spendy. It would be an expensive hunt to do by yourself to get a good camp into sheep country to be able to stay there for as long as it might take to get one by yourself, and thats in today's dollars. Second  thing you need is a lot of time on your hands because you most likely will be waiting for many years to draw a sheep tag in some state as a nonresident hunter.    By the time you draw a tag, assuming you are not too old and decrepit to go by then, there is no telling how much the tag and logistics of the hunt will cost by then.  If you have a bigger pile of money you can look into a guided outfitted hunt in Canada or Alaska, or maybe move to Alaska so you can hunt as a resident.   I do more than okay financially but the cost of an outfitted guided sheep hunt in BC gives me pause.  I will probably not spend the cost of a guided sheep hunt to go hunting elk and deer over the rest of my life.
I have wanted to go on a sheep hunt for as long as I have been hunting and at age 51 I am beginning to wonder if it will ever happen.  I am still able to pull a packstring of horses into the high country to hunt elk but I am not sure I can even do a sheep hunt now.  As long as I can spend 2-3 weeks hunting elk and mule deer every fall I will resign myself to be happy doing that.  I still put in for Wyoming and Utah sheep tags and collect points but doubt I will ever draw.  Odds are long, around 1-2% chance of drawing in the Wyoming random draw for most units.  You are younger than me and may draw a tag someday if you keep after it.  Start saving your money now if you think you will ever go.  Good luck.

[Steve O]

Not that expensive to do it on your own; see here:

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=049593

Archry only tags are easier to draw than any weapon tags in states they are offered.

Excellent source of information is the Grand Slam Club...www.wildsheep.org and fnaws.

I would say the best state to bowhunt would be NM, followed by MT, then CO.

No bighorns in Alaska.

Very slim odds to draw a tag, but impossible if you don't apply.

[knife river]

Bighorn ram odds are long in every state and province.  The chances for a ewe tag are much better, though.  Not the same, I realize, but without very deep pockets it may be the only other option.  The meat is good and the hunt would put you in some great country!

[Steve O]

Ewe tags cost the same as ram tags to the best of my knowledge.

[Littlemans-Grampa]

Slayer1, Colorado has a few BigHorn Sheep roaming the country side. It is a draw license and the cost for the tag will run you $1,716 + application fee + habitat fee + Search&Rescue. You could get more info at Colorado DOW.
Good Luck.
Muz

[eagle24]

Come to Alabama, there is no limit on them here.  :D  


Sorry, I was reading the thread and could'nt help myself.

[knife river]

SteveO, you're probably correct in the price of the tags being the same.  The point I tried to make was that there are many more ewe tags available than ram tags.  I suspect there are a lot less applications for ewes than rams, too, which would greatly increase the odds of drawing a tag.

[Steve O]

Woody,

That is true.  BUT if you are trying to get a ram tag, you WILL burn up your points drawing the ewe tag, unless you draw it on 2nd chioce in CO.  Points DO help...

[Chad Lewis]

CO most likely has the best odds if you want to bowhunt them. There are some good units outside the normal every day S32, S12 rams. I drew a tag the first year I could (most likely my last) so you never know.

One day I will move to BC, and then, maybe I could some day hunt another ram.

Good Luck

[Jack Shanks]

Slayer1,

 I guess it all boils down to how bad do you want to go and how much you are willing to pay. You can buy a Bighorn hunt in Alberta or BC for around $20-25K right now. You could apply in some of the western states all your life and never draw a tag. In Colorado you must apply for a tag for three years before you are even eligible to enter the drawing for a tag[correct me if I'm wrong on that one Steve] In three years who knows if this will still be true as regulations seem to be constantly changing and even hard tags to draw are becomming harder.

[Chad Lewis]

Jack,

You're right on the Colorado deal. You must put in for three years for preference points only. On your fourth year, you are in  the bucket so to speak. For NRs there are some pretty good odds all things considered. Example, 1 tag, 10 people putting in.

[Jeff Holchin]

Assuming that you don't have a money tree in the back yard, would "settle" for a chance at a ewe, and don't need a guide, go for a Colorado ewe archery tag.  You could be bowhunting sheep in a couple of years, especially if you apply for a ewe tag as the first choice in one of the less popular units.  In my case I am building points for a ram tag but was lucky enough to draw the ewe tag as a second choice in only my second year of trying.  Total cost for my 10 day ewe bowhunt this year was about $4000, including ewe tag (I added a deer tag at about $300), scouting trip, transportation, gear, etc.  It was one of my best hunts, I plan to do it again with my son in a few years as I'll start putting his name in the hat too.

[Jack Shanks]

Chad,

 I had no idea odds were that great! I have only been putting in for two years for sheep though. On the other hand, I do have 14 preference points in Colorado for elk and not sure when I will try to apply for a tag. Sheep and goats have all my interest at the present time so everything else has been put on the back burner.