Back in the 1950s and ‘6os, hunts in Alaska and the Canadian Rockies were often safari-style. In those days, hunts could last 21 to 28 days, and outfitters packed huge horse strings of tents, gear, and support staff for long treks into the wilderness. Hunters usually sought multiple species such as sheep, goat, moose, bear, caribou, and wolverine, and a lucky sportsman could bag one of each. In some areas, you purchased a tag after you downed your animal, which kept the larder wide open. Today, some hunts offer the chance for a combo on two animals, possibly three, yet those good ole days are gone — or perhaps not. One outfitter takes three hunters per year into the Alaska Brooks Range for Dall sheep, grizzly, caribou, and wolf, and you can take one of each (but you must buy the license first). Here are more details from the booking agent:
The outfitter takes only three hunters per year. He guides all of these hunts personally with the assistance of a packer. That is two backs to carry gear meat, etc. His hunts are all backpack hunts. What is very important is that he has a large, exclusive Federal concession in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He is the only guide permitted to conduct hunts in this area that is approximately two million acres. The area is extremely remote, on the north side of the Brooks Range, with healthy numbers of sheep, caribou, grizzly bears, and wolves. Clients can hunt grizzly, caribou and wolf on all three of his hunts and have an excellent opportunity to harvest these additional species if you get a sheep early. All of his hunters, with one exception, have seen sheep, caribou, and wolves on their trips.
He has been guiding sheep hunters for 15 years and in business, in this area for five. He has provided 90% opportunity for harvest of large, adult rams in my current area. His current hunts, due to their length and the quality of animals, have become more of a trophy hunt than just a hunt for a legal ram. They typically see 5–10 legal rams on a hunt and harvest a mature animal around 10 years old with an average horn length of 37″. The smallest sheep have been a heavy broomed, 9-year- old 35″ ram, with the largest being 44″.
For more information, e-mail Keith Atcheson at office@atcheson.com.
