NAME:  Ovis Dalli
LOCATION:  Brooks Range, Alaska
TYPE:  13 Day Backpacking Treks
HUNTS:  Season: August 10th - September 20th

Hunting Dall's Sheep With Dave Marsh

I hunt Dall’s sheep in my exclusive 795,000 acre guide use area (25A) located in the heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I have been doing this professionally in the Brooks Range since 1994 and have an intimate knowledge of the animals and country we will be hunting. We’ll typically fly in a Cessna 185 or Helio Courier out of Fairbanks which is about 3 hours flight time from my hunting camp. This should give you some idea of how remote this area is! The significant bush flight expense, in and out, is included in the price of the trip.

During your stay, you will traverse some of the most rugged wilderness in North America, perhaps the world, and it demands that you are well equipped and in tip top shape physically and mentally. This experience is exhilarating to be sure but also unforgiving. This having been said, I will expect you to begin (or continue) a conditioning program that builds stamina and cardiovascular health. Just the hardiest of souls should consider a hunt of this magnitude and I am adamant about my plans to share this quest with only the most enthusiastic and dedicated hunters interested.

Once in ANWR we’ll establish a base camp of sorts at the edge of a landing strip and fairly close to a water source. It will
consist of a large dome tent that will serve as our kitchen and sleeping quarters while there and excess storage while you are away spiking. Food during the entire hunt is backpack fare mostly consisting of freeze-dried meals or things prepared with boiled water. This is supplemented daily with various high energy snacks and we generally enjoy meals that are somewhat more substantial when we are all together back at base camp at the end of the hunt.

Good rams are acquired by getting back into some really rough country since the big boys like the seclusion of dead ends and are most often found where you doubt a sheep could survive. We access this country by loading up with provisions and living out of spike camps for the entirety of the trip. Nearly all hunting is done from the bottom by following drainages and scrutinizing the terrain as we go. Occasionally we’ll climb blind but generally it’s because we’ve spotted our game and we will only ascend based on our overall chances for success.

A legal ram must be full curl or broomed on both horns. Eight year old sheep are also legal but we never shoot for age so it is very important for us to view potential trophies for a length of time and/or several angles to make a proper determination. Over the years, my dedicated assistant guides and I have consistently put clients within reasonable shooting distance of good rams despite the demands associated with this hard country and fully expect this trend to continue. Each sheep hunt is led by a long standing assistant guide who may be supported by additional staff on these highly successful 13 day hunts. Hunts include wolf and caribou whereas a grizzly bear may be possible as an upgrade.