Canadian Sheep Hunting 101

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Northern Shooter

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As someone who has become recently enthralled by the world of sheep hunting, I'm trying to gather as much information as possible to one day fulfill this dream as a prospective sheep hunter.

I'm looking to hear from those who have hunted them and what the experience was like. How physically exerting was the hunt? Were you successful? Would you do it again?

The first thing that stands out is the costs, holy crap I didn't know hunting any one game animal could be this expensive. Is there any such thing as a cost effective way to hunt sheep in Canada without paying the minimum guide price? The cheapest I'm currently seeing on bookyourhunt is $88,000!

It looks like 3 of the 4 North American sheep species reside in Canada, those being Rocky Mountain Bighorn, Dall's Sheep and Stone's sheep.

Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and NWT all have seasons for sheep species in Canada.

As someone who doesn't live in one of the above regions, what is the best way to go about hunting sheep sometime in my lifetime? Is it best to bite the bullet and pay the fees for an Outfitter?

Is it possible to DIY hunt or purchase tags as a Non-Resident in one of these regions? I'm trying to convince my AB hunter buddy to take up sheep hunting as I believe I can hunt with him under the Hunter Host program without having to dish out 6 figures.
 
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Looks like BC you're going to have to go with a guide. I had typed up a big post about the Permit to Accompany system, but while getting you details on that I realized that they are not accepting PTA applications for sheep in any region of BC currently.

If sheep hunting is that high on your list, I'd honestly look at moving to BC or another place with sheep tags over the counter. Only takes 6 months to get residency IIRC, and that would give you the ability to buy tags. A quick google suggests there are California Bighorn in addition to the 3 species you already mentioned in BC, but I'm not sure if there are huntable populations of them. GOABC lists 4 species of sheep under "species to hunt" (scroll down for the list): https://www.goabc.org/california-bighorn-sheep/
 
Suther said:
Looks like BC you're going to have to go with a guide. I had typed up a big post about the Permit to Accompany system, but while getting you details on that I realized that they are not accepting PTA applications for sheep in any region of BC currently.

If sheep hunting is that high on your list, I'd honestly look at moving to BC or another place with sheep tags over the counter. Only takes 6 months to get residency IIRC, and that would give you the ability to buy tags. A quick google suggests there are California Bighorn in addition to the 3 species you already mentioned in BC, but I'm not sure if there are huntable populations of them. GOABC lists 4 species of sheep under "species to hunt" (scroll down for the list): https://www.goabc.org/california-bighorn-sheep/
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Several people have now recommended the moving option and I'm all for it to get the hell out of Ontario, just need to convince the wife. That might have to be my end game.
 
Northern Shooter said:
Several people have now recommended the moving option and I'm all for it to get the hell out of Ontario, just need to convince the wife. That might have to be my end game.
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ya I was going to suggest a permit to accompany but then also realized they aren't giving them for sheep.
I am applying for a permit this year for a friend who used to hunt with me when he lived here but his business is in Moronto for the past few years.
We won't be hunting sheep though.
Big Horn sheep hunting was the reason I got into hunting in the first place and I hunted hard the first 5 years until a workplace injury ended those pursuits.
I covered a lot of country near the fraser in region 3 and 5 back then. Even rafted across the thompson a few times in hot pursuit of rams we had spotted from the pull out near shaw springs. Used to stay at that campsite along the hwy for steelhead and sheep hunting, rafting across every morning to hike to the top. I was in very good shape before my work accident.
Anyways...... there are huntable populations in region 3 for sure. If you move here to BC , shoot me a message and I can elaborate. ;)
 
45ACPKING said:
ya I was going to suggest a permit to accompany but then also realized they aren't giving them for sheep.
I am applying for a permit this year for a friend who used to hunt with me when he lived here but his business is in Moronto for the past few years.
We won't be hunting sheep though.
Big Horn sheep hunting was the reason I got into hunting in the first place and I hunted hard the first 5 years until a workplace injury ended those pursuits.
I covered a lot of country near the fraser in region 3 and 5 back then. Even rafted across the thompson a few times in hot pursuit of rams we had spotted from the pull out near shaw springs. Used to stay at that campsite along the hwy for steelhead and sheep hunting, rafting across every morning to hike to the top. I was in very good shape before my work accident.
Anyways...... there are huntable populations in region 3 for sure. If you move here to BC , shoot me a message and I can elaborate. ;)
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That sounds like a good time, were you successful on any of those hunts?
 
Northern Shooter said:
That sounds like a good time, were you successful on any of those hunts?
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I was not able to connect with a legal ram but the guy that mentored me harvested 2 nice legal rams in those years I went with him. 7 trips total so not a ton of experience for me but i know a few good areas if i were to ever go again. I always see them where they can't be hunted too LOL
I've been hunting thru my devices for pictures but coming up empty..... they are here somewhere
 
What about the California bighorn sheep?

One of the nicest.. and rarest..

Best of luck with your new addiction. It’ll take over your life.
 
Fitness levels are the same as any alpinist would need. Cardio is critical for altitude oxygenation. Legs and knees are going to be screaming continuously because of climbing and scrambling with even a light daypack. There are other threads on CGN from sheep hunters.
 
My last sheep hunt was a short trip to the thompson river valley.... got to be 20 years ago now.
This fishing tackle rep we knew kept a trailer at Shaw Springs year round for the river fishing seasons back in the days before the place burned down.
This was several years after my workplace injuries and I shouldn't have gone but I did anyways. It was late season and freezing and the rocks of the river were the slipperiest thing you have ever tried to walk on in your life LOL. We got the raft into the water and my partner, globally renowned fly fisherman, steelheader, Elk hunter, outdoorsman, Scott Baker- McGarva , masterfully worked the raft across the turbulent and narrow crossing. It killed me... every part of that trip LOL. Scott is a machine and was hard to keep up with but he offered to take me sheep hunting so I could not refuse. I won't tell the whole tale but it was an incredible 3 days but it wiped me right out physically going up and over those peaks. I'd like to experience a Sheep hunt in northern BC or Yukon but as you say..... many tens of 10's of thousands of dollars and that is usually a US dollar quote.
 
So I've been putting together a list of all the pricing that I've been able to find, posted below for anyone else that is interested. All prices in CDN for 2024.

Outfitter Name, Province, Species, Length of Hunt, Price $.

Big Nine Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 10 Day, $34,000-$54,000
Gana River Outfitters, NWT, Dall Sheep, 10 Days, $46,250.
South Nahanni Outfitters, Yukon, Dall Sheep, 8 Day, $68,000.
Ceasar Lake Outfitters, Yukon, Dall Sheep, 10 Days, $71,000.
Sawtooth Outfitters, British Columbia, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 10 days, $76,000.
Midnight Sun Outfitting, Yukon, Dall/Fannin, 10 Days, $81,000.
Darryl and Joyce, Cody and Shelby Sword, British Columbia, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 12 Days, $88,618.
Garrett Brothers Outfitting, Alberta, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 10 Days, $95,000
Scoop Lake Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 13 Days, $95,435.
Tuchodi River Outfitters, Alberta, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 10 Days, $97,000
Tombstone Outfitters, Yukon, Dall/Fannin, 10 days, $102,000.
Carter Outfitting, Alberta, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 12 Days, $105,000
Steven and Stefanie, British Columbia, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 14 Days, $109,068.
Tuchodi River Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 14 Days, $115,000
Stone and Folding Mountain Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 14 Days, $115,000
Dustin Roe, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 10 Days, $170,419.

I came across many more online that don't seem to advertise pricing on the websites, ie "call for pricing info". It seems like in general the "cheapest" sheep hunts in Canada are located in both the Yukon and NWT, however they all cost big money.

If you know of any additional outfitters and their current pricing, please feel free to add to the list.
 
Northern Shooter said:
So I've been putting together a list of all the pricing that I've been able to find, posted below for anyone else that is interested. All prices in CDN for 2024.

Outfitter Name, Province, Species, Length of Hunt, Price $.

Big Nine Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 10 Day, $34,000-$54,000
Gana River Outfitters, NWT, Dall Sheep, 10 Days, $46,250.
South Nahanni Outfitters, Yukon, Dall Sheep, 8 Day, $68,000.
Ceasar Lake Outfitters, Yukon, Dall Sheep, 10 Days, $71,000.
Sawtooth Outfitters, British Columbia, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 10 days, $76,000.
Midnight Sun Outfitting, Yukon, Dall/Fannin, 10 Days, $81,000.
Darryl and Joyce, Cody and Shelby Sword, British Columbia, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 12 Days, $88,618.
Garrett Brothers Outfitting, Alberta, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 10 Days, $95,000
Scoop Lake Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 13 Days, $95,435.
Tuchodi River Outfitters, Alberta, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 10 Days, $97,000
Tombstone Outfitters, Yukon, Dall/Fannin, 10 days, $102,000.
Carter Outfitting, Alberta, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 12 Days, $105,000
Steven and Stefanie, British Columbia, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, 14 Days, $109,068.
Tuchodi River Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 14 Days, $115,000
Stone and Folding Mountain Outfitters, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 14 Days, $115,000
Dustin Roe, British Columbia, Stone's Sheep, 10 Days, $170,419.

I came across many more online that don't seem to advertise pricing on the websites, ie "call for pricing info". It seems like in general the "cheapest" sheep hunts in Canada are located in both the Yukon and NWT, however they all cost big money.

If you know of any additional outfitters and their current pricing, please feel free to add to the list.
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There was a sheep guide on the MeatEater podcast who was saying how he was basically forced to raise his prices over the years to avoid being seen as a "cheap" option because nobody wants to book a cheap sheep hunt, so I suspect you won't be finding much cheaper than the Big Nine Outfitters price, and if you do you'll have to ask yourself WHY is it so cheap?... I'm 99% sure the guide was Buck Bowden out of Alaska, I think hes been on at least two episodes of the podcast and I'm not sure which episode this was in though.

Crazy that 10 days can cost up to 170k though! Thats more than the average Canadian makes in 2 years!
 
that is simply Boolsheet!!

i cannot even begin to comprehend paying that much to hunt a animal. even if i was hunting it for 365 days

If you wanna get DIY in some mountanous terrain, cost you a Plane Ticket...... New Zealand.... Himilayan tahr..... mountain goat of the South.


really do-able for less than $10k all inclusive.... rental vans, permits are free but process, plane ticket, diesel......... man o man what are you guys waiting for.

hell, ill guide yas for less than the accomodation :p
 
A friend of mine guided in Yukon. Not sure which species, but several of his clients were 'gentlemen of means' from Mainland China. These guys flew to Vancouver for a week or two, picked up their pre-bought rifles, had some range time, gathered their supplies, porters, assistants, and cooks, and chartered flights to Whitehorse. There they'd get their rental vehicles, and meet up with the guide. Camp fire conversation was sometimes a little strained when it got around to what the clients did. At least one admitted he was military, and it was clear he was very familiar with Canada. He had a strong knowledge of places and courses my friend had been on - not personal details, but well briefed on what was taught and how long.

When my friend got the clients on their animals, they were good shots. He didn't have to pack much more than his daypack and personal gear. The assistants brought everything there was down off the hill. And to top it off, the tip was the man's very fine bolt action. He couldn't take it home with him.
 
The higher your fitness level, the more effective you’ll be in the mountains with a pack on. If you’re inexperienced with alpine travel and hunting, get as fit as you possibly can… then get in better shape. And depending on where you reside, time to adjust to altitude doesn’t hurt.

The prices for outfitted sheep hunts have gotten insane. As an AB Res Hunter- with the limited Eastern Slopes sheep habitat, high pressure, low success rates, (even outfitters) and overall condition of our sheep herd, I’d say the prices are way out of wack. In reality, Alberta probably shouldn’t have outfitted Non-Res sheep hunts anymore.
 
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