When I told outfitter Kevin Mattice of my plans to cancel, he assured me that pre-season scouting, plus the availability of aircraft, would allow him to put me in striking distance of a sheep. He was right. When I arrived, there were three fixed-wing craft on hand and two helicopters. All things considered, it was the most sophisticated and the least physical sheep hunt I have ever taken. Once my sheep was down, my guide used a satellite phone to call for pickup. The chopper that responded took me and every scrap of meat from my sheep back to camp.
Mattice charges premium prices for his hunts, but in my estimation, they are worth it. The Mackenzie Mountains harbor some giant sheep. And lest anyone fear that the use of aircraft is getting out of hand, I can vouch for the fact that Mattice is conducting his hunts legally and according to the rules of fair chase. The most important use of the aircraft comes after your game is down. They allow the outfit to salvage every scrap of meat. Enjoy!
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