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 A safari for the majestic
Dall Ram is surely one of the most exciting
adventures that Alaska Big Game Hunting has
to offer. This is an animal that is not only
beautiful but also possesses the physical
agility to climb and feed on seemingly
impossible mountain cliffs. Any little patch
of earth clinging to the side of a mountain
that grows the alpine sedges and herbs is
home to these monarchs. They are also
blessed with fantastic eyesight and the
uncanny ability to sense your presence and
vanish into the misty crags. Combine these
traits with the Dall's majestic high
mountain habitat replete with pristine
lakes, alpine meadows full of beautiful
fragile Arctic flowers, hanging glaciers,
and breathtaking panoramic views and you
have the makings of an incredible world
class hunting experience.
An eight year old Dall Ram will generally
have full curl horns which will normally
measure from 32 to 35 inches around the
curl. In the Alaska Mountain Range
surrounding Rainy Pass,
 the full curl Rams
traditionally have tight curls with
spectacular flaring horns. Mature Rams of 9
to 10 years will average around 37 to 39
inches. Rams of 10 to 12 years have the
capacity of breaking the magical 40 inch
barrier. The Sheep in this area do have the
genetics and have produced many sets of
horns measuring well over 42 inches.
In some areas of Alaska the Sheep population
can always be found in a fairly small range.
They are born, live and die within a few
square miles. However, in the Alaska Range
the Sheep move a great deal from range to
range and can be found in different areas
from one year to the next year. Before the
hunting season, which starts on August 10,
the hunting area is flown and some scouting
is done to locate huntable populations of
Rams.
The traditional hunt from Rainy Pass Lodge
is done with the use horses. Weather
permitting, the guide and the hunter will
start from the Lodge the day before the hunt
is to begin. The first day of their hunt
will find them in Sheep country with a
small, mobile tent camp. The fly camp
includes a high quality tent that is
constructed to keep you dry in the worst of
weather conditions. For safety, each camp
has a basic first aid kit and a means of
communicating with the Lodge or an airplane
flying over head which regularly checks on
the camp. The guide will have good quality
binoculars and a spotting scope for looking
over Sheep that are seen at a distance. It
is important for the hunter to also have a
good pair of binoculars because a lot of
time will be spent glassing for Sheep and
other big game animals. This is a great
hunting experience as the guide and hunter
are mobile and can move through some
outstanding Sheep habitat in pursuit of
their trophy. Most of this area is also good
for Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Caribou, Wolf,
and the occasional Wolverine.
An occasional camp is also dropped with the
use of a super cub airplane. Generally this
is done when some good Rams are located and
it is difficult to move horses into position
to take advantage of the situation. The
super cub will drop the camp and hunters on
a high gravel bar as close to the Rams as
possible. Usually a day will be required to
get into position to hunt and the walk will
average from two to five miles. A good back
pack is a necessity as the hunter will be
required to carry a sleeping bag and pad and
all personal items. The guide will be
carrying his personal gear in addition to
the fly camp and food. You don't have to be
a champion athlete but do schedule some
regular exercises that include hiking with
some weight in your pack, and other
exercises such as deep knee bends, long
walks to break in your boots, and even some
light running. It will make your hunting
experience so much more enjoyable.
Your guide is experienced and will do
everything he can to add to the pleasure of
your hunt. He will go at the speed that is
most comfortable for you, whether it be
leisurely or at a strenuous pace. How
difficult is a Sheep hunt in the Alaskan
Range? Sheep hunting is always difficult but
the terrain found in these mountains allows
for good access with the use of a
 horse. One
hunt comes to mind. Luigi was an experienced
hunter who hailed from Italy. He had waited
too long for his Alaskan hunting adventure
and was in his mid seventies. In addition,
his health was failing and he needed
assistance in almost everything he did. This
would be a hunt doomed for failure and he
was repeatedly told that a Sheep hunt was
far too strenuous for him. However, at his
insistence he and his guide left the Lodge
early in the morning heading into Canyon
Creek.
As luck would have it they soon located a
full curl Ram that was a reasonable stalk,
even for Luigi. Luigi had another problem
that morning which afflicts many hunters and
is called Sheep fever. After a nice stalk
and several unsuccessful shots both he and
his guide dejectedly headed back down the
trail. Again, lady luck would shine on them.
His Ram had spooked over the top of the
mountain and intercepted them on the other
side as they rode down the trail. This time
Luigi was successful in collecting a
fantastic trophy.
One thing is certain, the Dall Ram provides
a wonderful hunting adventure. When one
gazes upon that mounted trophy hanging on
the wall or reviews the photos from the past
hunt, many thrilling experiences are
relived. |
