If you're looking for a real big game adventure, Dall Sheep Hunting is definitely a big game hunt of a lifetime. I have been guided by different by Dall sheep hunters for the past ten years and I have met just about every kind of hunter one can ever imagine. From the men who lost 40 pounds on their training before the hunt, to the men that simply think too much of their own abilities before coming into the sheep country. Guides just simply care about your success. Dall sheep hunting experience every shape, size and mindset. All of the sweat and hard work will be worthwhile when you finally connect on the trophy that you've always dreamed about, taken in the true spirit of fair chase. You will come as a client, but you'll leave as a friend.
The physical capacity of the hunters should be the first thing to be considered from the very beginning. Basically, the physical demands if sheep hunting are pretty well understood. Few guides tend to think that hunting is such an easy game. Having said this, it's vital for any hunters to get in shape and have a good mindset for hunting.
However, for my past fifteen years, I have yet to see a client give up because of any physical disability. A few of them give out physically during the particular stage but I have never had any hunter with physical disability that caused them to quit and go home. This is opposite to mental breakdown. It all boils down in the mind.
My first experience began as a packer. During the day one of my hunting adventure, my client started to break down in the middle of our hunt. And not only refusing to go on for the final 200 hundred yards, but insisting that we return to stay in the camp and to be completely off the mountain. Occasionally, this kind of situations of less determined hunters. Why then that happened? Because the slope was about 65 degrees with tall grasses everywhere, which I can see is a good location for hunting these ram. The weather is good and the afternoon just started. We had too much time for that big hunt but the client was very convinced that we will get stucked in the mountains until midnight. Nonsense thought sticks to his mind and there was no way we could change it to continue for a couple more yards.
This hunter had perfectly insufficient mind preparation to carry him through. I can see that he had something in his mind that he was mentally not prepared of. Surely, in the middle of your game, you wouldn't like to frustrate yourself for that ram of a lifetime. Of course, aside from the things that you need to bring with you, like the most important weapon , your Gun, it is very important to be mentally ready.
I always have my Zeiss Conquest Scope mounted to my rifle. It gives me the shot where I want it to be. Probably all hunters realize how helpful scopes are. This classic, all-purpose scope with excellent light gathering ability offers wide fields of view and brilliant, contrasted images in poor light. Perfect for shotguns, muzzleloaders, and center fire rifles. I have my Zeiss Conquest Scope for many years and it's just working perfectly fine.
Now, you might ask logically, "How do I get that good mindset for that hunt?" The first thing that I would suggest is do your homework first. When planning for a hunt, it is a must for any hunter to search and study the hunting location and the animal to hunt. You need to learn the terrain, typical stalk scenario, weather and delays or any potential problems that might occur. Knowledge on what you do and engage yourself into is very important. And having a critical mind is helpful too. In cases like this, surprises can give you a bad feeling thus it creates a lot of distractions which then delays success. However, you can limit this by knowing the basics. Knowledge is power. The more informed you are, the less fear you will feel while in the hunt.
Here are some expectations that might be helpful turning your mindset positively for that big hunt of your life:
1. Do not be overly comfortable in the field but rather prepare for the worst things like small tents, heavy packs and not so good food.2. Expect to be physically fit all the time, perhaps to the point like forcing yourself beyond when you think you cannot go on. 3. Weathers changes from time to time. Be prepared.4. Be ready to remain focus until the end of the game. Don't be surprised by an apparent lack of hope because Alaska is huge and less game population as compared to many western states. 5. Expect that rams are found in difficult places. Most of the time, they are in places where we can't get into. Have the patience to wait.6. Expect everything to be a lot heavier than when you are at home.7. When you expect steep slopes, expect steeper slopes, dangerous footing, rock slides and prepare yourself to go where you normally do not go.8. Expect crossing a stream that runs less than 30 degrees could have soak your underwear.9. And finally, expect that even on you last da y, chance may come your way and nothing but failure has haunted you for the whole game.
These are just some expectations that might help you become mentally prepare for the hunt. It can overcome a lot of struggles- it can defeat any physical drawbacks or failure. Put this in your mindset, and start the call rolling!
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