40" Dall Sheep

AAA's 40 Inch Rams

AAA's 40 Inch Rams

I have added a new photo page to the blog titled AAA Outfitters Guides and Packers to highlight the many outstanding guides and packers that worked for us over the years.  They are mainly the ones before my retirement.  Also, AAA’s marketing video is back on the blog so if you haven’t watched it you may find it interesting.  Hope you enjoy the story, video and photos of our staff.

When Brent and I formed AAA Alaskan Outfitters we had more combined sheep hunting experience than any other guide operation in Alaska.  Pair that with our newly acquired Wrangell Mountain sheep area and we had just the right recipe for success.  During our first season Brent and I were 100% successful guiding six sheep hunters with the first two hunters taking a 40 ¼” and a 39 incher.  We had an overall average of 38”.  Over the next twenty-one years we harvested 106 rams with an average horn length of 37”.  Fourteen of those rams were over 40” and another thirteen over 39” which was just a little over 25% of our rams.  There was no other guide operation in Alaska with a record like that.  I doubt if anyone nowadays could take an average of 5 rams and have a 37” average horn length.

The 40 Incher

The 40 Incher

Most hunters have a goal when looking for a trophy animal.  Everyone would like a Boone and Crockett but that is hard to achieve.  However, looking for a special trophy that might or might not make the record book is still a goal that is obtainable.  Like a 10 foot brown bear, 9 inch Billy goat or a 60 inch moose.   For Dall sheep it is a 40 incher.  That was my goal after I took my second ram in 1967.  I ended up taking three sheep 40” or better.  Follow along on my quest for the magic 40 incher.