I first hunted Dall Sheep two years ago in the Brooks Range, and connected on a nice sheep with double brooms. I decided at that time that I had to go back, and did some research and ended up with Stan Steven's MacKenzie Mountain Outfitters. I leave the 23rd of July, and if my math is correct that's about four months away. The first sheep hunt was just a dream, with the only distraction being that I took the smallest sheep in the camp. I had prepared extensively, lost about twenty pounds, and was in the best shape of my 44 year old life. It was a little bit of a let down in the physical exertion department. That is, I was "smoked in" in Bettles for several days of my hunt, and when I did finally get on the mountain, a griz chased a ram right to us, kaboom, hunt over, back on the horse, back to the plane, back to the house. Oh yeah, shot two wolves, loved that!
I think this year will be different, as I've read the stories of hunters who have been on Stevens' hunts, AND I have a ram on the wall, and will not settle for one smaller. Anyway, the time has come for me to get into "Dall Hunt" shape, so wish me luck on the Lean Quisine/Gym program. I think I have all the gear, but frequently end up on trips like these with alot extra. Who else is sheep hunting this year, where? Any gear questions or advice?
Don

Sheep shape?

Lean quisine is the wrong way to do it.

Your total weight isn't what is slowing you down.

I weigh 250 pounds and am 5'11. I swim 900 meters 5 days a week and can run and climb with the best of them.

Eat healthy not over fatty food, that is nutriionally sound.

Don:
My partner & I are headed to the Brooks in Aug. for 2 weeks. If you have any ram head on the wall, it's a trophy to be very proud of. Don't denigrate your efforts in the slightest. Sheep hunting is one of those activities where if you have to explain it to someone, then they wouldn't understand it. My wife's like that although she fully supports and encourages all of my outdoor activities. My point of view is that you better do as much of it as you can while you're physically able because if you don't, you'll regret it later when you're too old. This will be about my 6th trip to the Brooks & I like it better than any of the other mountain ranges I've been to.
I told my partner that since he's never taken a ram, he could have the 1st chance but I wanted 1st chance on a grizzly. Used to be that grizzly season opened on Sep't. 1, but now it's on opening day of sheep season - how convenient. I never liked the prospect of being in the Brooks much past Labor Day. I just love it up there. The best of luck to you.
Bear in Fairbanks

D99, actually the "lean quisine" was just a short hand method to express less caloric intake, but I disagree from my personal experience. The loss of 20lbs through calorie reduction and exercise is an amazing exercise in rejuvination. I do, though, realize that the loss of twenty pounds over a four month period is not likely a lasting weight loss. I'm hoping to pare my 6' body down to 180ish from my 196ish current weight.

Bear, thanks for the well wishes, I hunted with Mike McCann in 2005 in the Brooks, and had a great time.

Hey Don good luck to you on your Sheep hunt!
And I must agree with "Bear" that a Sheep on the wall is a trophy no matter its size.
I got a Bighorn Sheep several years ago and have been applying for Desert Sheep in several states ever since, I'll be hunting Sheep if I can draw a tag.
When I drew my Bighorn tag I was lucky enough to live within a 2 hour drive of my Sheep area so I was able to be there a lot to scout, that scouting and the type of work I do and hobbies I pursue keep me in good shape and I live at 6800' elevation and play up to 14,000' elevation doesn't hurt either. I realize that not everyone has those advantages.
If you want to get lean there is a work out and eating program that I highly recommend. Get a book by Bill Phillips called "Body for Life" read it and follow it fairly closely and you will lose fat and get in great shape real fast.
I've figured out on several strenuous hunts and climbing trips that while I'm out there I need to eat right to keep my stamina at its peak. For me I know I need to eat a balance of healthy "carbs" and protein several times a day in medium sized portions. For me it is a breakfast in the morning, a mid morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and a dinner. But remember none of these should be a high sugar "sweet treat" kind of snack. For me I eat a lot of meat (salami) cheese, crackers and trail mix with natural fruit in it. Try this diet out and see how it works and modify it for your own tastes but remember balancing the diet is the trick for most people, Equal amounts of protein (meat) carbs and vegetable-fruit with plenty of water.
I'm no expert but I know this works for me and should work for a lot of people.
Good luck on your diet and sheep hunt!

Stone sheep with Scoop Lake Outfitters in August. Go Stone sheep hunting soon-prices are about to go into the even-more-absurd statosphere, ala Mexican desert sheep hunting.

If everything goes right I should be hunting:

Desert bighorns in Nevada.
Rocky mountain bighorns in Idaho.
California bighorns in Oregon.
Rockies in New Mexico.
Desert's in Arizona.

But I'm not going to hold my breath!

Seriously though, I have drawn one Bighorn tag in Oregon for Rockies.
The rest I will have to wait for decades of preference points to accumulate, or luck of the draw.

I'm entering the draw for desert bighorn for the third time only, so I need a lot of good juju!

But Alberta's bighorns are waiting! Sheep shape is around the corner, I've never been climbing earlier than this year!


Frans

Don,

I'm in the same boat. I'm leaving at the end of Aug for Stone Sheep and Mt. Goat in BC. I REALLY need to lose 20 lbs before I go. I've been getting up at 5:30 4 mornings a week to lift some weights and spend some time on the elipticale trainer. My endurance is going up some, but due to my love of "snacks", the weight isn't dropping.

We need to get together before it gets too hot and hike to the top of Blood Mtn one morning. That would probably motivate me to lay off the ice cream and cookies.

Glenn

My wife and I are headed into the Chugach mountains on the 8th to hunt Dall rams and we are flying in with Mike Meekins. Hopefully we can find 2 legal rams before the season starts and that they are still around when the season opens. Wild sheep meat is the best game meat I have ever eaten and it's been a while since i've had some. If we get 2 I will be in sheep heaven!