This topic is one I am pondering as a result of old man time reminding me that hunting dreams are just that, dreams, until you make them a reality. Maybe winter is taking its toll on me or the lack of exercise in tax season allows more aches and pains to take temporary residence in my sedentary joints. Whatever the reason, this winter has been a lot of time investigating how I get these “dream hunts” to become reality.
My greatest hunting dream is Mountain Caribou. Not sure why an article I read at age 10 still lingers in my mind the way it does, but that article is the origin of Mountain Caribou being a dream hunt. I have been researching the logistics over the last few years and I think that next year I’m going to do it. Yeah, it will require an outfitter, but such is the reality for what many of us have as our dream hunt(s).
My worry has been that after decades of thinking about Mountain Caribou, will it be one of those hunts where I spend the considerable money and time to go there, shoot a bull, and have the feeling of, “Uh, that wasn’t all I had dreamed it to be.” I hope not.
My research and talking to lots of people tell me that it can be either, depending on how you approach it. I intend to find out. Dustin Roe who was on our podcast last year acquired a new territory that has some great Mountain Caribou. What he explained to me of how they do it and the work required, the adventure aspect will be there, no matter the outcome of the hunt.
Next on my list of “Do this before health is gone,” is Dall Sheep. I was all set to fly into the Brooks Range and hunt Dall sheep with my Grandpa, an Alaska resident, in 2000. Unfortunately, a few days before the hunt, he had to cancel. Shortly thereafter, his health started down the long slope of time and we never made it there before he passed away in 2009.
Here is Grandpa's last ram. Longest horn was 39”.
Now, unexpectedly, I have a chance to go to Alaska and hunt sheep. The reason it is on my list now is the realization we never get any younger, and in this case, the price is right. I’ve been briefed by the outfitter that it has a high chance of low success, thus the low price. But, it would be a sheep hunt, nonetheless. And, it has some interesting aspects that are more appealing to me and my hunting style. Add to that the fact we will already be in Alaska in August for filming and the convenience/cost savings to add this to the end of our trip makes it even better.
Curious if any of you have entered that time in your lives where you decided, for whatever reasons, that you were going to stop dreaming and start doing. I’ve been so occupied with building our platforms and immersed in the hunting that is required for those platforms that it seems I’ve probably let more time pass by than I should have when making these dream hunts a reality. Time to correct that in the next few years.
My greatest hunting dream is Mountain Caribou. Not sure why an article I read at age 10 still lingers in my mind the way it does, but that article is the origin of Mountain Caribou being a dream hunt. I have been researching the logistics over the last few years and I think that next year I’m going to do it. Yeah, it will require an outfitter, but such is the reality for what many of us have as our dream hunt(s).
My worry has been that after decades of thinking about Mountain Caribou, will it be one of those hunts where I spend the considerable money and time to go there, shoot a bull, and have the feeling of, “Uh, that wasn’t all I had dreamed it to be.” I hope not.
My research and talking to lots of people tell me that it can be either, depending on how you approach it. I intend to find out. Dustin Roe who was on our podcast last year acquired a new territory that has some great Mountain Caribou. What he explained to me of how they do it and the work required, the adventure aspect will be there, no matter the outcome of the hunt.
Next on my list of “Do this before health is gone,” is Dall Sheep. I was all set to fly into the Brooks Range and hunt Dall sheep with my Grandpa, an Alaska resident, in 2000. Unfortunately, a few days before the hunt, he had to cancel. Shortly thereafter, his health started down the long slope of time and we never made it there before he passed away in 2009.
Here is Grandpa's last ram. Longest horn was 39”.
Now, unexpectedly, I have a chance to go to Alaska and hunt sheep. The reason it is on my list now is the realization we never get any younger, and in this case, the price is right. I’ve been briefed by the outfitter that it has a high chance of low success, thus the low price. But, it would be a sheep hunt, nonetheless. And, it has some interesting aspects that are more appealing to me and my hunting style. Add to that the fact we will already be in Alaska in August for filming and the convenience/cost savings to add this to the end of our trip makes it even better.
Curious if any of you have entered that time in your lives where you decided, for whatever reasons, that you were going to stop dreaming and start doing. I’ve been so occupied with building our platforms and immersed in the hunting that is required for those platforms that it seems I’ve probably let more time pass by than I should have when making these dream hunts a reality. Time to correct that in the next few years.
Can't wait to see the thread on the hunt.
