They are certainly iconic for Alaska and it takes a hell of an effort even just to get to where they live, which is indeed some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. They are also some of the best tasting game meat on the planet, tasting much more like the finest of venison than any domestic breed of sheep.
Aside from possibly New Zealand Tahr, chasing Dall Sheep is THE most demanding hunting I've ever experienced, and I too have yet to knock one of my own down.
The Most difficult part for me is that there is no really effective way to train for it outside of intense hiking with a large pack. The endurance required and the muscle groups utilized are all encompassing. Side hilling, scree slopes, insane vertical incline, a heavy pack....it's got it all and you will use every muscle in your body right down to freakish little ankle muscles you didn't even know you had. Not to mention hauling around the unwieldy addition of what is very likely an insanely expensive firearm and scope. A treadmill and some weights are not even close to enough.
And even beyond that, it takes a serious mental and psychological commitment to continue at all costs. And should that falter, there is no cabin to run back to. No ride home. Only what is likely a 10-15 mile hike through steep terrain, terrible alder thickets, hoardes of mosquitoes, and shitty swamps. Add a little classic Alaskan late summer rain and wind and it can get unpleasant/dangerous very quickly.
Beyond that still, if you should be so lucky as to get within range of an animal who's entire purpose in life is to evade danger in unscalable terrain with no cover that you don't have a prayer of moving silently in, you then have the added difficulty of properly evaluating whether an animal is legal to shoot, which is possibly more difficult to accurately surmise than any animal out there.
AND should you get lucky enough to be confident in that decision, you will still have to make what will likely be a shot pushing 300 yards or more, on a steep incline, totally out of breath, and while your heart pounds with adrenaline.
Then your pack doubles in weight for the aforementioned hike out, often pushing 100lbs or more, and you now have the ethical and moral obligation to take care of that game meat, keeping it cool, dry, and safe with the second half of your hike out likely being in bear country and notoriously shitty weather.
Getting into "sheep shape" both mentally and physically, is a months/years long affair. In my opinion there is no animal more difficult animal to harvest in Alaska, and I'd put it up against very few others in the world.
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