Sheep and mountain goat hunts are the ultimate…hands down. Why is the pursuit of these high alpine dwellers 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. It’s a lot of intensity for one pull of the trigger, knowing that if you whiff, you’ll be absolutely crushed. But sending a perfectly placed bullet and watching that majestic ram or that beautiful big white billy that was perched high on his cliff fall from your scope…it’s hard to explain the joy, relief, and sense of accomplishment!
Imagine drawing one of these coveted permits! Here at WTA TAGS, we draw these incredible tags every year for our clients. You don’t have to be a gazillionaire to hunt sheep and goats. But finding an affordable hunt in this category of big game is impossible if you don’t apply. If drawn, you 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 many to be the most difficult of the four North American wild sheep species to obtain, particularly rams with trophy-class horns. The guaranteed tags of Alberta, due to increasing demand, come with a higher price tag ($40,000+) and the lowest success rates of all North American guided sheep hunts. WTA TAGS offers application services for the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in 9 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 no point systems are in place. Drawing a Rocky tag in the lower 48 typically offers trophy-class opportunities at a much more affordable price point. 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 Service: 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 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 absolutely incredible. Goats also make stunning mounts. No trophy room is complete without a mountain goat. WTA TAGS offers application services for mountain goats in 9 states. Applicants who plan to hire an outfitter if they draw should apply in Alaska. With fantastic draw odds and deeply discounted guided hunts offered in the draw units, Alaska is your best bet by far. For the DIY guys 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.
WTA TAGS can help you get started in the world of sheep and mountain goat hunting. All it takes is a phone call to get rolling. Let’s discuss your demographic information and, most of all, your hunting goals and aspirations. Then we can zero in on a personalized application portfolio that makes sense for you. Remember, the WTA TAGS application service fees are waived for kids under 19 years old, and the fees for female applicants are discounted by 50%.
Every year WTA TAGS puts smiles on the faces of our clients when we inform them about drawing the tag of a lifetime. Will you be our next call? Not if you don’t apply! You’ve gotta be in it to win it. Apply! Apply! Apply! Give us a call today at 1-800-755-8247 and get started.
Once-in-a-Lifetime Bighorn Sheep Tag Drawn through WTA TAGS
One of the best calls for a WTA TAGS consultant to make is the successful draw of a tag. Jeremy Ivie, WTA Consultant, was able to make this call, and the icing on the cake was that it was for a youth tag on a once-in-a-lifetime Bighorn Sheep hunt. WTA was able to capture this unforgettable sheep hunt for Michael and son Gavin as they traveled to New Mexico in search of a Bighorn Sheep.
