LivingTheDream
AH legend
I have just returned from a 12 day hunt Sheep Hunt with Ruby Range, this was my second trip with them and I am not going to be doing a full day by day report since this trip was kind of personal for me. This trip was 5 years in the making and a lot can happen in 5 years (like a global pandemic). I can tell you that sheep hunts are special, and this one was no exception, I can’t tell you how many times I felt blessed just to be in the Yukon and one of the last truly remote wild places on earth. With that being said I wanted to give a bit of a review, and also discuss some of my gear for anyone that might be considering this hunt.
Outfitter: Ruby Range Outfitters. I can’t say enough good things. Ross Elliott is one of the best outfitters I have ever met and you would be hard pressed to find anyone who is as hard working and as down to earth as he is. He is still guiding sheep, and I am not sure how young he is (I am not going to call him old, since he could walk my ass into the ground) but you can tell he still has a passion and love for sheep hunting and sheep conservation. My guide was his son, Dustin, and he was my guide on my first hunt. There is no one I would rather have as a sheep guide then Dustin. He is extremely hard working, in shape, hunts hard and understands your capabilities. He is also brilliant on a horse and knows the area, there was never a point I doubted him and knew that as long as I listened to him, I would get my sheep. It was like hunting with an old friend. They have great horses and if you have horses you have luxury, I was able to sleep in my own personal 2 person tent, had eggs for breakfast and almost every night we ate meat. These little extras make a big difference when you are grinding out a hunt and help with recovery when you are physically pushing yourself. They also have base camps and cabins strategically placed throughout the concession, so on move days you usually get to sleep on a foam mattress in a cabin, which is really nice. Most importantly, I think we saw sheep 5 of the 7 days I was hunting, just seeing sheep even if they’re not shooters does help keep you motivated. Bottom line the sheep are there.
Equipment: I used my 270wsm Nosler M48 with a Huskemaw scope, 1 shot to confirm it was sighted in, and 1 shot for my sheep. It performed flawlessly. I had a Harris Bipod, and there is no way I would use another brand. I got some lightweight beanbags (2 ounces each) to use as a rest and they were money. My pack was the KUIU Pro 6000, and it is little heavier than the previous version, but I love the design, not a super big fan of the gun carrier attachment, but it worked and did a fairly good job, it kept my rifle protected, just seems awkward. I wore Sitka Ascent pants, and they were great, as was the KUIU guide jacket. I think the KUIU guide jacket is almost a must for this type of hunt. I had Lowa Bighorn boots (now discontinued) but they performed great, I just got new insoles put in them and I didn’t have a single blister. Darn Tough socks were exceptional, I tried the KUIU socks but would not recommend them, Darn Toughs are just better. KUIU rain gear was necessary, and performed exceptionally well. Shirts were Sitka, and were a variety of layers, and they just plain work. I had Black Diamond trekking sticks and they did the job and survived some abuse, they are well made. I would bring a bigger water bottle next time, but you don’t need a filter.
Training: Stairmaster, Stairmaster, Stairmaster. Honestly, I was slow in the rocks, and being on the East Coast there is no way I could imitate that. But I could keep going and didn’t get sore, to me that is a win. Walking up hills with 50lbs in your pack for 1 to 2 hours, 1 to 2 times a week is a big help as well. Also, if you have a tall office building, just go up and down the stairs for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Unfortunately there is no magic formula, just keep climbing.
Conclusion: After a hard mental and physical hunt, I was able to climb into some tough finger cliffs and got a beautiful 9 year old ram on Day 7. From the Float planes, to riding horses across the alpine in the dark, to catching some artic grayling this trip was everything I could have asked for and I left thinking, how can I get back here just one more time. I would recommend Ruby Range in a heartbeat!
Outfitter: Ruby Range Outfitters. I can’t say enough good things. Ross Elliott is one of the best outfitters I have ever met and you would be hard pressed to find anyone who is as hard working and as down to earth as he is. He is still guiding sheep, and I am not sure how young he is (I am not going to call him old, since he could walk my ass into the ground) but you can tell he still has a passion and love for sheep hunting and sheep conservation. My guide was his son, Dustin, and he was my guide on my first hunt. There is no one I would rather have as a sheep guide then Dustin. He is extremely hard working, in shape, hunts hard and understands your capabilities. He is also brilliant on a horse and knows the area, there was never a point I doubted him and knew that as long as I listened to him, I would get my sheep. It was like hunting with an old friend. They have great horses and if you have horses you have luxury, I was able to sleep in my own personal 2 person tent, had eggs for breakfast and almost every night we ate meat. These little extras make a big difference when you are grinding out a hunt and help with recovery when you are physically pushing yourself. They also have base camps and cabins strategically placed throughout the concession, so on move days you usually get to sleep on a foam mattress in a cabin, which is really nice. Most importantly, I think we saw sheep 5 of the 7 days I was hunting, just seeing sheep even if they’re not shooters does help keep you motivated. Bottom line the sheep are there.
Equipment: I used my 270wsm Nosler M48 with a Huskemaw scope, 1 shot to confirm it was sighted in, and 1 shot for my sheep. It performed flawlessly. I had a Harris Bipod, and there is no way I would use another brand. I got some lightweight beanbags (2 ounces each) to use as a rest and they were money. My pack was the KUIU Pro 6000, and it is little heavier than the previous version, but I love the design, not a super big fan of the gun carrier attachment, but it worked and did a fairly good job, it kept my rifle protected, just seems awkward. I wore Sitka Ascent pants, and they were great, as was the KUIU guide jacket. I think the KUIU guide jacket is almost a must for this type of hunt. I had Lowa Bighorn boots (now discontinued) but they performed great, I just got new insoles put in them and I didn’t have a single blister. Darn Tough socks were exceptional, I tried the KUIU socks but would not recommend them, Darn Toughs are just better. KUIU rain gear was necessary, and performed exceptionally well. Shirts were Sitka, and were a variety of layers, and they just plain work. I had Black Diamond trekking sticks and they did the job and survived some abuse, they are well made. I would bring a bigger water bottle next time, but you don’t need a filter.
Training: Stairmaster, Stairmaster, Stairmaster. Honestly, I was slow in the rocks, and being on the East Coast there is no way I could imitate that. But I could keep going and didn’t get sore, to me that is a win. Walking up hills with 50lbs in your pack for 1 to 2 hours, 1 to 2 times a week is a big help as well. Also, if you have a tall office building, just go up and down the stairs for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Unfortunately there is no magic formula, just keep climbing.
Conclusion: After a hard mental and physical hunt, I was able to climb into some tough finger cliffs and got a beautiful 9 year old ram on Day 7. From the Float planes, to riding horses across the alpine in the dark, to catching some artic grayling this trip was everything I could have asked for and I left thinking, how can I get back here just one more time. I would recommend Ruby Range in a heartbeat!
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