Big Horn Comeback

At one time, bighorn sheep were widespread throughout the West. But, during westward expansion in the 1800's,  populations underwent huge declines due to a number of factors including unregulated hunting, competition with livestock for forage, and diseases transmitted from domestic sheep. By the early 1900s, bighorn sheep were extinct in many parts of their former range.

Today wild sheep are back due to transplants by wildlife agencies, From from South Dakota, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to name a few. Also,tightly regulated hunting, and habitat conservation are making an impact.  Many people are able to enjoy the results of this recovery.  However, disease continues to undermine decades of work to restore herds in prime bighorn sheep habitat like Hells Canyon of the Snake River, where populations are only a fraction of what they could be.

A new video on Idaho Fish and Game's website explains how wildlife biologists have expanded their efforts to understand these diseases with the hope of one day helping wild sheep repopulate the western landscape. 

The video is available at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/video-sheep-research.

Hunters contribute funding to this research by bidding on auction tags and buying a chance at a bighorn sheep lottery tag. These efforts combined have raised 2.9 million dollars since 1998 for bighorn sheep restoration including disease research, transplants, and habitat conservation.

Hunters interested in bidding for the ultimate bighorn sheep hunt can attend the Wild Sheep Foundation Banquet and Auction in Reno, NV from January 21-23, or bid online beginning January 23 at 7 p.m. PST.  Online bids will be taken at http://www.onlinehuntingauctions.com/IDAHO-BIGHORN-SHEEP-PERMIT_i23890809.

This year's auction tag is valid for use in all open bighorn sheep hunt areas throughout Idaho, except Hunt Area 11 of Hells Canyon.

Idaho will also offer one bighorn lottery tag to be drawn in late July 2016.  The lottery tag is valid in all open bighorn sheep hunt areas, including Hunt Area 11 in Hells Canyon, which is nationally known for producing world-class rams.  Idaho Wild Sheep handles the raffle, and tickets are on sale now.  More information and raffle application can be found at http://www.idahowildsheep.org.

There is no limit to the number of tickets purchased per individual.  Applications are also available on page 26 of the Idaho 2015 and 2016 Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat Seasons and Rules booklet. 

For a closer look at Idaho's bighorn sheep and restoration work, go to https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/video-sheep-conservation.