Three Desert Bighorn Hunts

A Publication for the Oregon Chapter of the FNAWS
Winter 2007
Volume Seven ~ Issue One
Three Desert Bighorn Hunts
Last year Stew Stone bought the Vizcaino Biosphere Desert
Sheep Hunt in Baja California. He was excited, yes, very
excited about buying that tag and now, after the hunt is over,
we know why. Three friends, Stew and fellow member Dennis Pahlisch of Bend plus Scott Limmer each bought Biosphere
Tags in 2006. Dennis purchased his at the National FNAWS
auction, Scott got his at the Minnesota FNAWS auction and
Stew, of course, bought his at the Oregon FNAWS auction.
The intent was for all three hunters to go to Mexico and hunt
together. As it turned out, each hunter finished his Grand Slam
by getting a Desert Bighorn, although Stew started out 2006
with a half slam and had to bag his Rocky Mountain Bighorn in
the fall of 2006 to make that possible. (See the story on Stew’s
Rocky Mountain Bighorn elsewhere in this newsletter.)
All three hunters were successful. Each shot a beautiful ram.
Equally important, when the hunters purchased their hunts,
90% of the monies raised go back to the Biosphere for sheep
and habitat conservation. These three hunter/conservationists
are responsible for sending more than $150,000 back to Mexico
and wildlife conservation. Yes, hunters “put sheep on the
mountain.”
For the complete story, please go to the Oregon FNAWS website, www.oregonfnaws.org. In Stew’s own words you can read
about a truly wonderful hunt with two friends and his son. And
there’s a bunch more pictures as well.
In This Issue:
Presidents Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2007 Convention Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hells Canyon Restoration . . . . . . . . . . .
Balance Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Great Year for Hunters . . . . . . . . . . .
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Membership Drive . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Winter 2007
Sheep Fever Journal
Volume Seven ~ Issue one
Presidents Message ~ February 2007
I would like to thank all that made the trek to Salt
Lake City, Utah, to the National FNAWS/ Mule Deer
Foundation get together. I was unable to attend this
year but understand that it was an enjoyable and
valuable event, with many interesting activities. I especially want to thank the volunteers who readily and
unselfishly remained behind and manned the Oregon
FNAWS booth! While on that subject, I would also
like to thank the volunteers who manned the Oregon
FNAWS booth at the Portland and Redmond Sports
shows inclusively. Great job!
I want to thank the folks on the ’07 Leadership Team,
the individuals that The Board of Directors elected at
the Winter Meeting and will lead the way and effectively manage the Chapter’s business. I very much
appreciate your “stepping up” to the many challenges
that we as an organization, face.
“Stepping Up”, is the action of putting away the excuses like, “I’m too busy”, “I don’t have time”, or “My
schedule won’t allow it”, and moving ahead with the
task, project, or detail, and finishing the chore ahead
of schedule and in a manner in which we can all be
proud of!! We have a number of folks in the organization that have in the past and are currently “Stepping
Stew’s 3/4 Slam Hunt
Stew Stone is no quitter. It took him five
hunts over seven years and 81 actual hunt
days to finally get his Rocky Mountain
Bighorn. That gave Stew three of the four
subspecies necessary for the sheep Grand
Slam. He shot the animal in the wilderness
area above Salmon, Idaho near the Bighorn
Crags. (After 80 days a normal person would
take up knitting.)
Stew purchased the Idaho Governor’s Tag and
after only seven days’ hunting he had a 12½
year-old ram that measured 34 inches with 14
inch bases. He’s a beauty!
For Stew’s full story on bagging a Rocky
Mountain Bighorn plus a few more pictures,
please go to www.oregonfnaws.org. Also in
this issue is “Three Desert Bighorn Hunts,”
Stew’s story about sheep hunting in Baja.
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Up”, for the good of the organization, for all of us! I
thank you for your work ethic, your vision, and your
enthusiasm!
Larry Jacobs has done a superb job in bringing all of
the stakeholders together in the Payette Forest Plan
appeal process. Meetings in Lewiston, Id. over the
past six months have been really valuable to a successful outcome! I would like to encourage all of you
to participate in the “Hands On Projects”, scheduled
this year. I would also like to encourage each of you
to actively recruit one new friend or acquaintance,
to OR-FNAWS, by introducing them to our newsletter, bringing them to our banquet, or sponsoring their
membership! Recruiting new members must be a top
priority for 2007. We need more folks that are really
interested in hunting, actively participating in our programs, and actively supporting our mission of “putting
sheep on the mountain.”
When the Leadership Team contacts you for input or
assistance, please cooperate with us!
Thanks to all of you who have been and continue to
be an active part of the solutions!
George
Winter 2007
Sheep Fever Journal
Volume Seven ~ Issue one
The 2007 Convention at Salt Lake City
There were a number of people from the Oregon Chapter that attended the convention in Salt Lake. Mike and Ruthie Boethin,
Larry Jacobs, Jim and Peg Peterson, Don and Linda South, Larry and Jane Hunts, Sam and Bev Mason, Tom and Connie Thomsen
plus Jon and Jake Thomsen, Stew Stone, Tom Peterson, Brent and Carole Tannock, Vic Coggins, Alden Glidden and Don Whittaker.
While the numbers aren’t in it is rumored that the convention was a huge financial success. A record amount for wildlife and conservation. There were lots of booths, many outfitters and hunts available, a couple of good auctions and great entertainment. Fun
was had by all. Sam Mason won a rifle in one of the big raffles so his hot streak continues.
Tom Thomsen investigating another hunt
while at the FNAWS Convention in Salt Lake.
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Winter 2007
Sheep Fever Journal
Volume Seven ~ Issue one
Mike Boethin Performs Transplant
No, Mike is not a surgeon. But he was on a sheep transplant
on both the Deschutes River and John Day River drainages that
captured sheep and transplanted them to near French Glen in
Harney County. He was one of 30 or so workers that were putting sheep on a “new” mountain last December 5th.
After eating way too much at the Moro Café, Mike and a team
led by ODFW’s Rod Klus set up base camp about 10 miles
from town. Their job was to receive sheep coming in with the
helicopter, draw blood, vaccinate, put on radio collars and look
at their teeth and mouths. While doing this Mike and the team
were to keep the sheep as calm as possible, maintain low body
temperatures and report to a vet if a sheep’s temp rose. And
they had to remain quiet by using hand signals if possible. Not
exactly like branding calves.
As a first-timer Mike said he was in awe of the whole process.
“As we await the helicopter I think about our mission and what
it’s like to be part of a transplant project. I’ll never forget the
experience just like I’ll never forget my first sheep hunt in
1993. But now I get to give something back to the wild sheep
thanks to the ODFW, Oregon FNAWS, OHA and the other
organizations involved. Get involved and help put sheep on the
mountain.” Well said, Mike.
Look for the next project, a guzzler installation in the Owyhee/
Leslie Gulch area. Called the Doe Island Project, the installation will occur May 4, 5, 6 of this year. Contact Mike at
541-385-8808 or [email protected].
Hells Canyon Sheep Restoration
From Francis Cassirer and Vic Coggins, ODFW
The Hells Canyon Initiative is attempting to restore self-sustaining bighorn populations to suitable habitat in the Hells
Canyon area. As of the end of 2005 there were approximately
900 sheep spread over 8900 sq. mi. in Hells Canyon.
Population Density
State
Oregon
Idaho
Washington
Totals
Sq. Miles
4200
3200
1500
8900
Approx.
No. of Sheep
500
200
200
900
Sheep
Square/Mile
0.11
0.06
0.10
0.10
From 1997 to 2005, 224 sheep were radio collared and monitored twice a month, all in an effort to document ewe productivity and causes and rates of adult/lamb mortality. The major
causes of mortality? Pneumonia and cougar predation.
In fact, pneumonia is the single factor most limiting population growth. The disease is sporadic but chronic and can cause
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population growth to be highly variable among various herds.
The total number of sheep in Hells Canyon experienced a substantial die-off in the mid 90’s. This disease-caused reduction
is shown in the line graph below.
The future direction of the Hells Canyon Initiative will include
increased emphasis on disease research and management and
an integration of laboratory and field studies.
Note: The above was taken from the Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep Restoration file.
Winter 2007
Sheep Fever Journal
Oregon FNAWS Balance Sheet
(As of 12/31/2006)
Assets
Current Assets
Operating
Projects
Total Current Assets
Long Term Assets
Disease Research
Emergency Fund
Life Member Reserve
Long Term Project Reserve
Total Long Term Assets
Fixed Assets
Furniture, Fixtures, Machinery, (net)
Permanent Equipment
Total Fixed Assets
Total Assets
Liabilities and Equity
Short and Long Term Liabilities
Un-funded Project Commitments
Equity
Total Liabilities and Equity
$15,200
92,887
5,000
22,887
23,716
39,063
6,961
3,512
Volume Seven ~ Issue one
Some Things Are Not Right
By Tom Thomsen
90,666
In 1996 I was lucky enough to draw a sheep tag on my first
try. I didn’t know sheep from hockey pucks but my son
talked me into applying so I did. I was actually irritated
when I found out I had drawn a tag in the Steens; I didn’t
have the time. I hired a guide (Not a very good one, it
turned out.) and went hunting. Long story short, I shot a ram
that I would not have shot knowing what I know now. It was
not huge. It scores 1341st amongst all California Bighorns
shot in Oregon. But that one hunt did give me sheep fever.
10,473
======
$209,226
Six years later my wife Connie put in for a tag at my urging.
She was reluctant but went ahead anyway. Well, she also
drew a tag the first time she applied. She hunted the West
John Day Unit and shot one that is currently 22nd on the alltime California Bighorn list.
$108, 087
$49,934
159,292
=======
$209,226
Note: Monies available for Projects is $92,887 shown in Current Assets less the Project Commitments of $49,934 or $42,953 available.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for her. But I wish people
would quit telling me how much bigger hers is.
To see the list of successful hunters in 2006 as well as the
long-term lists for both Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and
California Bighorn Sheep please go to the website www.
oregonfnaws.org and click on Hunt Records. The information was provided by ODFW.
An Update on Goats
From Vic Coggins
Mountain goat restoration in Oregon began in 1950 with five
goats from Washington. The goats were released into the Wallowa Mountains of Eastern Oregon. In the 1980’s 33 more
goats were released into the Wallowas and another 21 were
released into the Elkhorn Mountains.
Since 2000, 102 goats have been released to five different
sites—Hat Point, Cornucopia, PO Saddle, Eagle Creek and
Menaha. All of these transplants seem to have been successful because Oregon now has an estimated population of 690
animals, which includes a small but very important herd of 15
in the Strawberry Mountains of Grant County.
Through the years, hunters have harvested 60 animals. Because
of the difficulty in differentiating males and females, 13 were
nannies.
Future objectives for mountain goats are to establish populations
of goats in all suitable habitats, to monitor those herds and their
health and to focus research on the needs of local populations.
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Winter 2007
Sheep Fever Journal
Volume Seven ~ Issue one
A Great Year for
Sheep Hunters
Sheep hunters in Oregon had a good year in 2006. Eighty-eight
hunters had tags and the right to hunt either California Bighorn
or Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Of the 88 tag holders, 81
were successful. Four of the successful hunters were members
of either the Umatilla or Warm Springs Indian tribes.
Oregon Chapter of
Foundation for North
American Wild Sheep
8th Annual Banquet &
Fund-raiser
Saturday April 21, 2007
Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center
Redmond
~ Live Auctions
~ Silent Auctions
~ Rack of Guns
~ Raffles for all ages
Oregon’s Access & Habitat statewide Elk Hunt. Need
not be present to bid. Bidding to start at 7 p.m., April
21, 2007. Hunt anywhere in the state from September
1st to November 30th. 8 p.m. Live Auction - Our 2nd
annual Desert Sheep permit for the Mexico Vizcaino
Biosphere. Hunting on the Baja. Contact Larry Jacobs
for all the details at (503) 784-1358.
Click onto our website at www.oregonfnaws.org.
Make a reservation for the banquet, and learn more
about Oregon FNAWS. Support our wildlife conservation community. Join our organization today, and
make a difference for our future.
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Successful hunters included John Amistoso, the Auction Tag
Holder, who bagged a 171 4/8 California Bighorn, a very
nice trophy. As noted in the last issue of this newsletter, Alan
Brown killed a huge 179 4/8 California Bighorn in the Aldrich
Mountains near Dayville in Grant County. A second hunter in
the Aldrich Mountains, Greg Marshall, connected on a 174 4/8
ram. Bet that area doesn’t get ignored in the future.
The lower John Day River area continues to produce nice rams.
Ralph Thomas, Phil Sherrel and Kim Woodward all nailed rams
in the 174 plus range.
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep produce higher scoring
trophies and 2006 was no exception. Although there were no
monster 200 plus rams scored this year there were definitely
some nice ones. J Simmons hunted in the Wenaha unit and
bagged the biggest, a ram that was 7 ½ years old and scored
183 3/8. M. Pettit and E. Hoffman also brought home some
nice trophies at 181 3/8 and 178 4/8 respectively.
Congratulations to all successful hunters. What a great experience. More extensive records can be found on the Oregon
FNAWS website. Just go to www.oregonfnaws.org and click
on Hunt Records. While you’re at it, join both Oregon FNAWS
and the National FNAWS, www.fnaws.org, and help put more
sheep in the mountains where they belong.
Poacher Strikes in Leslie Gulch
The Oregon State Police is looking forward to catching some
idiot who killed a bighorn ram, took the head and left the carcass to rot. The sheep in Leslie Gulch and the Owyhees have
enough problems without illegal hunters taking a toll. Even
one sheep lost can have an impact on a struggling herd. Oregon
FNAWS and OHA have added funds to the Oregon State Police
TIP reward program in an effort to bring the culprit to justice.
The reward for information leading to an arrest should be as
high as $10,000. String ‘em up, I say.
Remember the sheep that was poached in Lake County? As I
understand it, a warrant has been issued but the *@#% has fled
the country.
Sheep Fever Journal
Winter 2007
Volume Seven ~ Issue one
Tim Lawton Bags a Bighorn
Calendar of Events
Tim Lawton shot a beautiful bighorn, his first, in Eastern Oregon. It is always a thrill to “win the lottery” and get a tag and
Tim was definitely thrilled. We don’t know the score of the
ram but he’s a perfect example of a dark old ram. To read the
full story about Tim’s hunt and what it meant to him, please go
to our website, www.oregonfnaws.org and click on News and
then Member Hunts. With any luck this story and others will
be available by the time the newsletter is out.
Oregon FNAWS Banquet, Redmond
Apr. 21, 2007
Board Meeting, Redmond
Apr. 22, 2007
Doe Island Guzzler Project, Owyhee
May 4, 5, 6, 2007
Deadline for Controlled Hunt Tags and License
May 15, 2007
Summer Board Meeting, The Dalles
July 13, 14, 15, 2007
Sheep Orientation Day, The Dalles
July 14, 2007
National FNAWS Convention
Feb. 6 to 9, 2008
Safari Club International Convention
Jan. 23 to 26, 2008
WWW.OREGONFNAWS.ORG
Hey, take a look at the website. We have added a few items and updated others. You can see hunt records for
both California and Rocky Mountain Bighorns, past issues of this newsletter, updated links to other chapters and
Nat’l FNAWS and plus information about Mountain Goats. If you have any ideas or suggestions please forward to:
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Share your SHEEP FEVER JOURNAL newsletter with friends, and encourage them to become members of Oregon
FNAWS. For every 3 new members who mention your name when signing up for any type of membership, you will
receive a one year membership extension FREE! or a golf shirt with the FNAWS logo or $35 in raffle tickets at the next
fundraiser, your choice. This offer will end at the 8th annual banquet and fundraiser in April or May of 2007. Take this
opportunity to help Oregon FNAWS grow.
OR-FNAWS Membership Application (Please Print)
Checks Payable to: OR-FNAWS
Name
Mailing Address
City
Phone
State
Zip
Email
VISA MC
AX
Annual $30
Credit Card Number
Credit Card Charge for $
Your Signature
Family $55
Life $500
Expiration Date
Check Enclosed for $
Send application to: Membership Committee Oregon FNAWS,
c/o Linda South P.O. Box 1088, North Plains, Oregon 97133
FOR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT LINDA SOUTH at [email protected]
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Oregon Chapter Foundation for
North American Wild Sheep
Executive Board
President
George Houston
Vice President
Mike Boethin
Secretary
Robert Welsh
Vice President
Kevin Carling
Treasurer
Liane Vest
Board Members
Nick Berg
George Houston
Brent Tannock
Mike Boethin
Larry Jacobs
Connie Thomsen
Kevin Carlin
Tom Liming
Tom Thomsen
Vic Coggins
Tom Petersen
Oregon FNAWS
P.O. Box 1088
North Plains, Oregon 97133
Liane Vest
Dave Geelan
Don Pillar
Troy Vest
Larry Hunts
Don South
Stan Washington
Jane Hunts
Linda South
Robert Welsh