In my time in the mountains, I have walked up many Bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. I have never killed one.
Apon looking at the package prices for outfitters in Alaska, and BC, it appears my dreams will never be realized.

Since in these threads, I come across threads that are about foot hunting these animals, I want to now how you do it.
It seems that in Alaska, you need to book with a master guide, as well as in Canada. Unless I'm missing something, that puts the price up around 5K for a spike camp hunt. Not a good value to me.
Can any of you advise me on how to participate in a more value focused way? I'd love to backpack it with a simple guide for a modest cash investment.

ClimberGreg,
Check out my comments in the Big Game section on Montana's unlimited sheep districts. The hunts are harder than woodpecker lips, but oh so much fun.

Look to Montana or Idaho for self-guided hunts for goats.

In order to hunt Dall sheep, goat or brown/grizzly bears in Alaska non-resident hunters must be guided or accompanied by an Alaska resident relative who is at least in the second degree of kin. A guided backpack sheep hunt in Alaska is going to run about $8000 minimum. They go up to about $11,000, the higher priced hunts would tend to be fly in hunts. The demand for legal rams in Alaska is very high. There are a lot of non-resident and residents (like me) looking for them. There is probably no hunt that is more physically demanding than backpack hunting Dall sheep in Alaska. Good luck.

Forrest Bowers

If you're looking for a good value mountain hunt, fly to New Zealand and hunt Tahr and Chamois for relatively little money. Public land access, no trophy fees. You can do it unguided if you think you can manage it. Food for thought.

BTW - I haven't done this but have been seriously thinking about it for some time.

- stu

Stu (or anyone else with info)
I have heard more than once that it is possible to do DIY hunts in New Zealand. I would like to investigate the particular details of doing this. Can anyone suggest a websie or a couple of references to this idea/subject?

I'd start with a look at the Australia and New Zealand forum on this very site! The general information about importing a rifle to NZ has been covered before (it's actually very simple). There are also some hunt reports around that should point you to the general locations you need to look at. That should get you started.

- stu

Stu,
Thanks, why didn't I think of the AR forum? Duh---------. It seems that guided hunts in NZ are resonably priced in comparison to other places, but I like to do my own thing if possible. Sounds like you might have "been there, done that".

Yellowstone,
Actually I've never been to NZ and don't want to give the impression I've done this already.
Been thinking about it a while. Just haven't got around to it yet.

Sending you a PM as well.
- stu

Stu,
I'll check the email when I get home tonight. Time difference in Switzerland will be late for you, but I'll get back to you.
Best Regards,
Yellowstone

As yellowstone said there are two unlimited sheep districts in Montana. One is area 300 and the other is 500. area 300 has a 10 day season and 2 sheep limit. Area 500 season is over a month long and 3 rams can be taken. There are some outfitters that take hunters in these areas. I hunted with Mike Lovely out of Big Timber. I never saw a sheep my whole 10 days hunting and he did not do any pre-season scouting as promised. I would not reccommend him. ANother outfitter is named Monte and he hunts in the 300 area and gets $10,000 for his hunt. You'll definately put some miles on your boots and the scenery is spectacular. Lots of cutthroats to cook over fires also. Sheep are few and far between. Jack Atcheson no longer guides for these areas. Fish and Game can be helpful in telling you what maps you'll need.

Twilla,
Check your PM's. I finally got around to reading them. Sorry for the delay.

ClimberGreg, have you considered an aoudad sheep hunt? A free-range aoudad hunt in the Palo Duro Canyon area or in the Trans- Pecos area of Texas can be very similar to desert bighorn hunting. It's tough hunting with handsome trophies if you can get within range. A guided hunt on a quality ranch would run about $3,500.

My interests are strictly Native North American.
I have a wonderful collection of every upland game bird east of the rockies.
I've put together a plan for the coming year, and while it is expensive to implement, I might get lucky. When a state demands full payment up front for entry into a lottery, the odds improve considerably.