Sheep and mountain goat hunts are the ultimate … hands down. And you don’t have to be a gazillionaire to do it - we’ll investigate this in a minute. But why is the pursuit of these dwellers of the high alpine so incredible? My answer would include something about the excitement of the final approach - your heartbeat is in your ears. Staying out of sight/making sure not to skyline yourself, getting the target animal in your scope, calming down and locking-in on a solid rest is essential. Having this much intensity on one pull of the trigger, knowing that if you whiff, you’ll be absolutely crushed. Ah, but sending a perfectly placed bullet and watching that majestic ram or that beautiful big white billy, perched high on his cliff, fall from your scope – it’s hard to explain the joy, relief and sense of accomplishment one feels. Now, imagine drawing one of these coveted permits! Here at WTA TAGS, we draw these incredible tags every year for our clients. Again, you don’t have to be a gazillionaire to hunt sheep and goats. However, finding an affordable hunt in this category of big-game is hardly possible if you don’t apply. If drawn, you too can hunt these magnificent high-mountain survivors for a fraction of the normal price. Let’s break it down: Rocky Mountain Bighorn (Ovis canadensis canadensis) – • WTA TAGS STATE APPLICATION SERVICES – Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming • BEST STATES TO APPLY – Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico • SUMMARY – Considered by most the most difficult of the four North American wild sheep species to obtain – particularly rams with trophy-class horns. The guaranteed tag Albertan adventures come with the lowest success rates of all the North American guided sheep hunts and are extremely expensive ($40,000+). Furthermore, trophy-class rams in Alberta are an anomaly. WTA TAGS offers application services for the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in nine states. One strategy is to apply in every state - wherever a non-resident tag is available. However, most of our clients elect to apply in only the best states that offer the largest number of non-resident permits and/or where preferable point systems, or lack of a point system, are in place. Drawing a Rocky tag in the lower 48 not only typically offers trophy class opportunities but is also a much more affordable trophy class adventure. If drawn, you can expect to pay less than $10,000 for a fully guided experience for a trophy class ram. Desert Bighorn (Ovis canadensis nelsoni / mexicanna) – • WTA TAGS STATE APPLICATION SERVICES – Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas • BEST STATES TO APPLY – Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico • SUMMARY – In pursuing a sheep slam (Rocky, Desert, Stone, Dall), the Desert bighorn is often the last ram to be hunted. With limited tags and the high cost of guided hunts in the country of Mexico ($55,000+), this ram is not easy to obtain. The states of Arizona and Nevada offer non-residents the highest allotment of Desert tags, and anybody needing this species should be applying here. New Mexico should also be considered. With WTA TAGS floating the tag fee and the enormous rams being produced in The Land of Enchantment, it’s hard not to apply! Drawing a Desert bighorn tag in the lower 48 offers trophy-class opportunities as well as a more affordable adventure. If drawn, you can expect to pay less than $10,000 for a fully guided experience for a trophy class ram. Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) – • WTA TAGS STATE APPLICATION SERVICES – Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,Washington, Wyoming • BEST STATES TO APPLY – Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana • SUMMARY – Where sheep stop on the mountainside, the mountain goat is just getting started. These cliff dwellers in the clouds are abso- lutely incredible. Goats also make stunning mounts – no trophy room is complete without a mountain goat! WTA TAGS offers application services for mountain goats in nine states. For applicants wanting to hire an outfitter, if drawn, apply in Alaska. With fantastic drawing odds and deeply discounted guided hunts offered in the draw units, Alaska is, by far, your best bet. For the DIY guys out there or for the guys who want to experience a goat hunt in the lower 48, Idaho is your best chance at drawing a tag, but applying in Colorado and Montana should also be strongly considered as ample non-resident tags are available. The mountain goat is a top-tier North American big game species and hunting them offers a world-class adventure. Apply! Apply! Apply! WTA TAGS can help you get started in the world of sheep and mountain goat hunting. To get things rolling, all it takes is a phone call. Let’s discuss your demographic information and, most of all, your hunting goals and aspirations. We can then zero in on a personalized application portfolio that makes sense for you. Remember the WTA TAGS application service fees are waived for your kids under 19 years of age, and the fees for female adult applicants are discounted by 50%. Every year WTA TAGS puts smiles on clients’ faces when we inform them that they just drew the tag-of-a-lifetime. Will you be our next call? Not if you don’t apply. You’ve got to be in it to win it – APPLY APPLY APPLY! Give us a call today at 1-888-805-5400 and get started today! 10 @worldwidetrophyadventures @TrophyAdventures youtube.com/worldwidetrophy ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN, DESERT BIGHORN & MOUNTAIN GOAT – THE ULTIMATE! BY ERIC PAWLAK WTA TAGS DIRECTOR
