June 2015 - Montana Wild Sheep Foundation

Welcome to
WildSheep
Spring 2015 | Volume 23, Issue 2
SPRING 2015 | 1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
President’s Message..........................................3
May 2015 Montana Wild Sheep Foundation News...5
The SHEEPHUNTER..............................................6
Mountain Goat Hunt of a Lifetime.........................10
2014 Montana Big Horn Sheep Population.........14
Reprint of WSF eNews...........................................16
Photo Gallery..........................................................17
All contributed material will be published at the discretion of the Editorial Board of Montana WSF. The Editorial Board consists of the editor of the newsletter, the
executive director of the chapter, and the president of the
chapter.
Cover photo and photo on page 15 are courtesy of Steve
Kline of Superior, Montana.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Weatherly, Executive Director
2001 35th Avenue, Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 531-5015 [email protected]
Brian Solan, President
855 Wolf Road, Helena, MT 59602
(406) 461-7432 [email protected]
Shane Clouse, Vice President
5779 US Highway 93 North, Florence, MT 59833
(406) 370-4487 [email protected]
Max Bauer Jr., Treasurer
5074 Gardner Lane, Florence, MT 59833
(406) 532-5120 [email protected]
Jeff Mortensen, Secretary
886 Wierda Way, Manhattan, MT 59741
(406) 282-7098 [email protected]
Jack Chambers
3208 Paul Lane, Missoula, MT 59803
(406) 251-4082 [email protected]
Visit us online at www.montanawsf.org!
While there, visit the Photo Gallery page. If you
would like to have a picture posted to this page,
email ([email protected]) your name, the
photo (jpeg format preferred) along with a brief
one to two sentence description of the hunt.
You can also visit us on Facebook!
The Montana Chapter of
the Wild Sheep Foundation will give a reward of
up to $1000 for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of cases involving the illegal taking of bighorn sheep in the State of Montana. If
you have information of any illegal act, contact
1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668).
2 | WILD SHEEP
Mike Colpo
PO Box 1753, Big Timber, MT 59011
(406) 350-1880 [email protected]
Tom Carlsen
68 Lost Trail, Clancy, MT 59634
(406) 461-6742 [email protected]
Bruce Sterling
66 Sterling Drive, Thompson Falls, MT 59873
(406) 274-6023 [email protected]
Justin Spring
993 Juniper Lane, Alberton, MT 59820
(406) 830-6134 [email protected]
NEWSLETTER EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Traci Ulberg
Meetings Northwest, LLC
(406) 273-7224
[email protected]
Contact us at:
Montana Wild Sheep Foundation
PO Box 17731
Missoula, MT 59808
President’s Message
T
he anticipation is killing me. I am guessing that most of you are also anxiously anticipating the Montana
Sheep draw results. Daydreaming at work about chasing rams and spending time in the high country. Soon
enough, the draw results will be posted and those fortunate enough to have a sheep tag will be researching
maps, looking at google earth and making phone calls to family and friends to share in the experience of a bighorn
sheep hunt. I can’t wait to start hearing who drew the tags and then the harvest stories and photos that will follow.
The primary goal of the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation is to “put more sheep on the mountain” so more people
can have that truly special opportunity to hunt bighorn sheep.
As many of you know, bighorn sheep numbers in Montana are struggling. Our permit numbers have steadily decreased over the past 10 years and we seem to be losing the battle on the disease front. More and more incidents
with domestic and wild sheep conflicts are popping up around the state. The temptation may be to throw up your
hands and assume that someone else will figure out a solution, but the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation must lead
the charge with “boots on the ground” in this fight. Our organization is entirely volunteer and all of our members and
leadership are passionate about bighorn sheep. Let’s double down on our efforts and get Montana bighorns to make
the turn back to positive growth. Please consider volunteering on a committee, donating funds or even running for a
board position to get involved. You can contact me anytime at the email and phone number listed below.
Annual Fundraiser Recap
As many of you who were in attendance witnessed, we had a very successful annual fundraiser event in Helena. It
was one of our largest events ever and we completely packed the Colonial Inn. We had more sheep mounts than ever
before and it really set the stage for the weekend. It was a great event to raise money for conservation and to “put
more sheep on the mountain”. We heard some great presentations from Tony Bynum on Outdoor Photography, Jack
Atcheson Jr. on International Hunting and Hunting the Montana Unlimited Units and a great keynote speech from
Gray Thornton, President of the Wild Sheep Foundation. As many of you heard from Gray, the National Wild Sheep
Foundation is relocating to Bozeman, MT! This certainly will raise the profile of bighorn sheep in Montana and we
are looking forward to more
coordinated conservation
efforts for bighorn sheep.
In addition to all of the
fundraising events and
seminars, we also held
our annual Youth Event at
Montana WILD. We had
over 375 youth come out
for the event! Our volunteers manned booths
that exposed kids to pellet shooting, aging bighorn
sheep, sheep conservation,
walleye fishing, archery
shooting, bear awareness,
poaching awareness and an
electronic shooting booth.
We also had some great
partners to put this event on
SPRING 2015 | 3
President’s message continued...
...
including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Montana WILD
Montana Bowhunters Association
Be Bear Aware
Boone & Crockett Club
Helena Walleyes Unlimited
Joe & Debby Perry
Montana Outdoor Legacy Foundation
Montana Outfitters and Guides Association
Smith Wildlife Artistry
Wild Sheep Foundation
Because of the success of the 2015 annual event in
Helena, we
are going back for another round! Mark your calendars as the
date has been set for March 18-19, 2016 at the Colonial Inn in Helena. We will have a fresh lineup of seminars,
another youth event at the Montana WILD facility and a great time raising money for bighorn sheep! If anyone has
donations or suggestions for next year’s event, please give me a call or send an email.
In addition to our annual fundraiser event, we have several other events that we will be sponsoring or participating in.
Please consider volunteering or simply coming out to support the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation. We will update
all activities and events through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/MontanaWildSheepFoundation, so get
connected and LIKE the page. Here is a list of upcoming events:
July 30, 2015 – Helena Outdoor Festival at Montana WILD Facility, Helena, MT. Come out for family outdoor
activities!
August 11, 2015 – Ales for Bighorn Sheep at Lewis & Clark Brewery, Helena, MT. Come out and have a beer
or two to support bighorn sheep in Montana! A portion of all beer sold will be donated directly to the Montana Wild
Sheep Foundation.
Brian Solan
Montana Wild Sheep Foundation President
[email protected]
406-461-7432
4 | WILD SHEEP
May 2015 Montana Wild Sheep Foundation News
Montana wild sheep continue to struggle with disease issues.
by Brian Solan, President, Montana WSF & Jim Weatherly, Executive Director, Montana WSF
The following information is a summary of activities and news from across the state:
•
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has closed Hunting District 305 (South Yellowstone). This herd
is suffering from a die-off that started shortly after they were observed in the same pasture as a recently introduced domestic sheep herd. The Montana Chapter and FWP biologists both tried unsuccessfully to get the
domestics removed when they were introduced into this area.
•
The Fish and Wildlife Commission also closed Hunting District 122 (Clark Fork Cutoff). This herd suffered
a die-off and decreased from 123 sheep in 2012, to 18 sheep counted this spring. The sheep numbers began
decreasing shortly after private land in this hunting district was leased to a domestic sheep producer. The
Montana Wild Sheep Foundation and Montana FWP biologists contacted this domestic producer in an attempt
to get the domestics removed. The owner indicated he did not believe the science about disease transmission
was valid. The HD 122 sheep are part of a meta population that interacts with the sheep in HD 121, 123 and
124. The sheep numbers in HD 121 are at an all-time low.
•
The Montana Wild Sheep Foundation, other conservation organizations and the Montana FWP have combined
their resources in the past to protect wild sheep habitat especially where domestic sheep might be introduced.
This was accomplished through purchase of fee title to land and/or conservation easements. The 2015 Montana Legislature passed House Bill 403 which included authorization for FWP to spend $460,000 from the
bighorn sheep auction tag and $10,668,000 from Habitat Montana funds for the purposes of land leasing,
easement purchase or development agreements. It prohibits FWP from purchasing fee title to lands beyond
those purchases currently under negotiation. This legislative action removed another land owner right to sell
private property.
•
The Montana Wild Sheep Foundation and the Wild Sheep Foundation have both submitted comments in
support of the proposed Tendoy area bighorn sheep depopulation and restocking Environmental Assessment
(EA). This EA intends to use sportsmen to depopulate this herd that has been continually plagued by disease
issues. After this depopulation effort, the herd will be restocked with healthy sheep.
•
The Montana Wild Sheep Foundation has recently agreed to fund or participate in the following projects:
•
•
•
•
•
Priscilla Peak and Cutoff habitat burn projects with the US Forest Service to improve wild sheep habitat
(HD 121 & 122).
Wisherd-Blackfoot conservation easement (HD 282) with Five Valleys Land Trust to protect land used by
wild sheep in the Blackfoot River drainage from the introduction of domestic sheep or goats.
Lazy J Cross conservation easement (HD 270) with Bitterroot Land Trust to prohibit domestic sheep or
goats from 1,080 acre ranch in the East Fork of the Bitterroot River.
Sponsorship of a grant request to purchase lands adjacent to the Garrity Wildlife Management Area west
of Anaconda, Montana to protect wildlife habitat from development and to maintain wildlife corridors.
The board of directors will nominate members to run for the board at their next regular meeting. If you are
interested in running for one of the three year terms contact a board member and express your interest.
SPRING 2015 | 5
The SHEEPHUNTER
by Dennis Hellman
I
had been applying for a sheep tag for 15 years. When the notification came from FWP that I had drawn a tag in
area 423, I immediately decided I would get a guided hunt for this once in a lifetime experience.
It was overcast and 30 degrees on the morning of 18 November, 2014 when I climbed into the saddle of Ike, a grey
gelding. We were heading up the trail on an 18 mile ride to the Cabin Creek Hunting Camp in the Bob Marshall
Wilderness to begin my bighorn sheep hunt. I was following Josh Carlbom my outfitter and guide. He was pulling
five head of mules. Four
of them had pack saddles
but only two of them had
a load. One was carrying
my duffle and the other had
paniers with Josh’s and my
daypacks. He was taking
in extra mules because the
six elk hunters in the hunting camp were to come out
tomorrow after seven days
in camp. Josh needed the
extra mules to pack out elk.
He had ridden out from
Cabin Creek to home base,
Sun Canyon Lodge, the day
before to pick me up.
The ride started out pleasant
enough. We had gone about
one half mile when Josh
pointed out a Bighorn ram
looking down at us from
about 200 yards up the side
of a steep rocky slope. I
said “he looks pretty good”.
Josh said we could do much
better and if after seven days
we don’t get anything else
we would shoot him on our
way out. The trail followed
the Sun River. About a mile
from our starting point was
the Gibson Dam. It was a
concrete arch dam built in
the 1930’s for irrigation. It
was a smaller model of the
Hoover Dam in Nevada.
6 | WILD SHEEP
The canyon walls where the dam was located were almost straight up and the dam was 200 feet tall. As the
trail crested the top side of the dam, the wind funneling through the canyon hit us. It was cold and felt like
it would knock you from the saddle. The trail then ran
for about seven miles along the edge of the reservoir.
There was no beach! The trail had been blasted out of
the side of the cliff, and was about four feet wide with
loose rocks. It was straight up on one side and almost
straight down on the other side. The water level was
way down in the reservoir so it was about 150 from the
edge of the trail to the water. If you were to go over
the edge and didn’t die on the way down you wouldn’t
last too long when you broke through the ice at the end
of your fall. The water was obviously cold. Ike was
a sure-footed horse although he kept my adrenaline
up by walking on the outside of the trail. The only
thing you could do was to trust your horse because
you couldn’t get off or turn around. Every time we
came around a turn in the cliff the wind would hit us
again. I never got cold though (must have been the
adrenaline).
We finally came to the end of the cliffs and Josh and
I climbed down from the saddle and walked for a
while. It was level but the wind kicked up again and
we were walking against it (who said hunting is not
fun). When the trail started into the trees we mounted
back up and rode for about a mile when Josh stopped
and pointed up toward the rocks. We had left the trees
and were in an open grassy area. There were quite
a few bighorn ewes and kids feeding out in the open
about 1000 yards away. Above them in the rocks were
a number of rams.
Josh headed up the trail and motioned for me to follow. We rode another half mile to where the trees
started again and tied up the stock. I grabbed my rifle
and Josh his daypack and we headed back down the
trail. We climbed up the opposite slope from where
the sheep were. We sat down and Josh pulled out
lunch. We got out our binoculars and Josh’s spotting
scope. There were two big rams, a number of younger rams and a couple of ewes up in the rocks about
a half mile away. The big rams were laying down.
Occasionally one would get up and go after one of
the ewes. The ewe would reject him and he would lie
down again. We watched this activity for about 30
minutes. I asked Josh if we were going to go up in
the rocks after the rams. He said “No, the rams will
be coming down to the ewes”. I was glad to hear that.
It would have been a tough climb of about two miles
to go around and over the rocks so we could approach
the rams from above. The rams were in the rut and a
couple of the younger rams started coming down and
chasing ewes. The whole group kept moving closer
to us. Josh asked me if I could make a 300 yard shot.
I said “of course”. We watched the sheep for about
two hours. The mature rams finally did work their
way down to where the ewes were feeding. There
were about eight decent rams now located in a bowl
within the draw where all the sheep were feeding. The
larger rams were pushing each other around and butting heads. The two that were most interesting kept
chasing ewes in and out of the bowl. They would disappear from view for 15 minutes then reappear and
harass the younger rams. They would then chase ewes
into the bowl again. Two of the younger rams chased
some ewes within 100 yards of us. I asked Josh if
either of them were “shooters”. He replied “They are
maybe Monday shooters” (it was Tuesday).
We had been watching them for about two hours and
I told Josh “I don’t think I can make a 300 yard shot
anymore”. He replied ”I noticed you were starting to shake from the cold.” Josh then said “If the
sheep won’t come any closer then we will get closer
to them”. I thought we were going to pull a big stalk
by going up and around the rocks but Josh had other
ideas. He motioned for me to follow and we walk out
in the open, down the slope, through the draw and up
the hill straight toward the sheep. Before we got to the
crest of the hill where the bowl was, Josh told me “The
sheep are all over the other side of this hill. When we
get to the top pretend you don’t see the sheep. Don’t
try to hide and don’t make eye contact”.
We topped the crest and there were sheep all around
SPRING 2015 | 7
The SHEEPHUNTER continued from page 7
us. Some of them were within 25 yards. A couple of
the ewes and kids started running but stopped when
we didn’t pay any attention to them. There were
about 40 head of sheep. What a sight! It was almost
surreal. There were seven rams in one little group
about 50 yards from us and there was one single good
looking ram lying down facing us at about 100 yards.
Josh had his binoculars out and was checking all of
them over. He was describing the attributes of the different rams to me. I got my binoculars out to follow
along with him. Just standing there and looking at
those heads that close up was a spiritual experience.
How could you get any closer to nature? I was starting to get nervous because I was sure they would all
start running at any minute when Josh said “Can you
make a running shot?” Before I could answer he said
“Just kidding they aren’t going anywhere.” Josh kept
comparing the ram that was lying down to another big
one who was in the group of rams. The one ram in
the group had nice full curl horns with wide flaring
sharp tips but the bases of the horns were not too big
around. The ram that was lying down had horn bases
that were really big around but the tips were broomed
off. The mature rams broom off the tips of their horns
on the rocks because the horns start to obstruct their
peripheral vision.
After about 15 minutes of watching the rams push
each other around (one ram came up behind another
and kicked his front foot straight up and into the testicles of another) Josh said “take the big one that is lying down. I said I don’t want to shoot him in the chest
because he was facing us and I didn’t want to ruin the
trophy. He said “Well, just walk around to the side
for a clear shot.” I started to go around to the side of
him when he stood up and started walking toward the
group of rams. He got up to the rams and started to
push them around. He was only about 50 yards away
at the time. I sat down on a rock and turned my scope
down to its lowest power because he was so close. I
had to wait for about five minutes for him to step clear
of the other sheep. It was a long five minutes. I was
shooting my 25-06 with 115 gr Barnes X bullets (the
old standby antelope rifle). I put a round right behind
8 | WILD SHEEP
the shoulder and he immediately reared up and ran a
short distance on his hind legs. He was headed down
hill and ended up about 50 yards down the slope. The
rest of the sheep ran a short distance then stopped.
The other large ram that I had been considering came
back to see what was going on. After staring at the
dead ram for a while, he turned and walked away. He
probably realized he was now “THE BIGHORN”.
Josh came down, congratulated me on the shot and
caped, gutted and quartered the sheep. He told me he
was going to go up and get the stock. He came back
about 45 minutes later leading the two saddle horses
and the pack mules. He packed the head and quarters
on a couple of mules and we headed up the trail toward the hunting camp.
It was about a four hour ride to Cabin Creek Hunting Camp and we would be making the last two hours
in the dark. Josh said there was another set of cliffs
to ride but at least we made it past them before it got
dark. After riding the cliff trail, we entered a wide
valley. There were elk tracks everywhere. Instead
of one trail there were now four or five parallel trails.
The ground was frozen with a couple of inches of
snow covering it. The trails were about six inches
deep. After it got dark it started getting real cold and
it seemed to be taking forever to get to camp. Riding
in the dark takes away some of your depth perception
and you don’t seem to ever get anyplace.
I finally smelled wood smoke and knew we were getting close. We went through some trees and I saw
the glorious lit up wall tents. Dismounting after four
cold hours in the saddle and trying to walk was a bit
of a chore because my knees wouldn’t bend. One of
the guides came over and took my horse, pointed out
the cook tent and told me to go get something to eat.
I approached the cook tent and the cook (a little old
lady with a gravelly voice) and one of the elk hunters
were standing outside smoking. The cook said “You
have to be our sheep hunter. We were expecting you
hours ago. Go in and get warmed by the cook stove.”
I entered the tent and two of the elk hunters exclaimed
As the other four hunters and two guides
filtered in they all exclaimed “You’re the
SHEEPHUNTER!”
“You are THE SHEEPHUNTER! We have been waiting to meet you.” Being the sheep hunter is an honor;
a rare position. The bighorn sheep license is on a lottery. I had been applying for 15 years straight. There
were three tags drawn for this area.
The camp knew I had to have killed a sheep and wanted to see it. It was well below zero and so they were
satisfied to see the pictures on my cell phone rather
than go outside. There were only two hunters and one
guide in the cook tent. As the other four hunters and
two guides filtered in they all exclaimed “You’re the
SHEEPHUNTER!” They all wanted the hunt story
and of course, had to tell me their stories. The six
hunters had been in the hunting camp for six days,
were finished hunting and were scheduled to ride back
out the next day.
Josh came and told me my gear was in one of the
tents. I was sharing the tent with a father and son from
Washington who had both killed elk. The wall tent
had a canvas floor, three cots and a sheet metal wood
stove. Luckily, one or the other had to get up during
the night with some regularity so they kept the stove
stoked with wood. It dropped to well below zero that
night. I had bought a new sleeping bag that was rated
to minus 20 degrees. It was nice and warm on the
stove side but my cot was close to the wall and that
side was a mite chilly.
We got up in the dark the next morning because the
elk hunters were going to ride out that day and they
wanted to be on the trail at daybreak. Josh told me I
could stay at the camp if I wanted since I had booked
a seven day hunt. The only two people remaining in
camp were the cook and the wrangler. The cook rode
in at the beginning of the hunting season and didn’t
come back out until the end of the season (ten weeks)
because she didn’t like riding the cliff trails. She told
me last year when it was time to ride out there was two
feet of snow on the trail. The lead horses had to constantly lunge to get through the snow. I can’t imagine
riding the cliff trails under those conditions. I decided
I would ride back out with the elk hunters. I couldn’t
wait for another five days to show off my sheep to my
wife and friends.
We mounted up when it got light. We were to be followed by the pack string. The guides had loaded all
the hunters’ gear, my sheep, four elk, six deer and a
wolf on the mules. The pack string had 20 mules. It
was quite impressive. I would have loved to have a
picture of that string traveling the cliff trail.
The ride out was long and uneventful. I wasn’t looking forward to riding the cliff trails again but it was
easier than when I come in. I had learned to trust my
horse, Ike. The guy riding in front of me was riding a
big bay that kept slipping on the loose rocks. I guess
he was a good horse since he hadn’t fallen off the cliff
yet. The rider rode the cliff trails with his outside boot
out of the stirrup. He told me he was prepared to dismount if that horse went off the side of the cliff. I
decided if my horse went off the side I wouldn’t be
able to get off fast enough because I was too bundled
up against the cold. It was hard enough to dismount
on the level ground much less on a narrow cliff trail.
My ram was seven years old. I am having the head
mounted. The horns measured 16 inches around at the
base and 36 inches in length. It won’t make the record
books but it is a trophy to me.
I had the meat processed. It was all cut into steaks
and summer sausage made from the scraps. The meat
is rich dark red meat without any gammy taste.
It was a short but memorable experience. The only
thing I missed out on was the experience of spending
more time in the hunting camp. I would love to go on
another hunt with Josh’s outfit, Sun Canyon Outfitters. I think every hunter needs to go on a guided hunt
in the wilderness at least once.
SPRING 2015 | 9
Mountain Goat Hunt of a Lifetime
by Shane Clouse
L
ast June I found out I had
drawn the Mountain Goat
hunt of a lifetime in area
240 along the west side of the Bitterroot valley. What a marvelous
state we live in that provides such
an abundance of wildlife that I
drew a tag for a mountain goat
within ten miles of my home!
We did our homework and took
6 scouting trips up several drainages to look for goats. It was a
crisp morning September 13, 2014
when we loaded the horses in the
trailer to prepare for our pack trip
into the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. There was no one at the trailhead when we arrived. Once we
had all the horses and mules loaded
the parking lot was packed with
rock climbers and day hikers. We
set off on the trail without a hitch.
After three miles we had the trail
and the wilderness to ourselves. It
took most of the day to make it to
our camp 11 miles back into the
wilderness, but the view was priceless and well worth the hard work.
Once our camp was set we settled
in to make a plan for our scouting
trip the next day. It’s nearly impossible to find the goats from below
so we trekked two miles up hill to
get to the top of the rocky crags
along the Idaho/Montana border.
Just when I thought there were no
goats to be found I spotted three
billies walking out of the mist, in a
pristine draw at the top of a granite
rock slide. I immediately saw the
goat I wanted. I backed out of the
area and met up with my father-inlaw Tom Powers and great friend
Lyle Hockensmidt. We had an ex-
10 | WILD SHEEP
What a marvelous state we live in that provides such an
abundance of wildlife that I drew a tag for a mountain goat
within ten miles of my home.
cited walk back to camp and a slightly restless night
as I dreamed of the hunt the next morning. We arose
at dawn on September 15th of opening day and set off
along the same path we took the morning before. Our
muscles protested a bit for the first mile of the 2500 foot
climb from our base camp. Once we reached the top
it took an hour of scouting to find the goats. They had
moved into another draw and met up with their small
herd of six. I didn’t feel good about the shot at that
point as I couldn’t tell exactly which goat I was looking at. We let them feed off into a rock slide out of site
and I began to feel impending doom when we couldn’t
find them for two more hours. I decided to scale up a
small cliff and over the top of a pinnacle to get to a spot
where I thought we could see the goats. After sliding
down a steep draw on our backsides we mounted an
enormous boulder with an ancient and lonely larch tree
growing out of its center. Two more steps to the edge
of the boulder and we realized we were directly on top
of the goats less than 10 yards away. To my amazement they scrambled up the rocks towards us. It all
happened too fast. One goat came within twenty feet
of me as I rushed to release my gun from my pack.
I’ve never holstered my rifle in my pack before, but
the terrain made it mandatory that you have two free
hands to climb the rocks. It’s not an easy task with a
Lyle Hockensmidt and Shane Clouse
Tom Powers
SPRING 2015 | 11
Mountain Goat Hunt of a Lifetime continued from page 11
30 lb. day pack climbing vertically! After what seemed
like forever I got my rifle out and racked in a shell. All
three billies, two nannies, and two kids took off like
a rocket. This time there was no mistaking my target
and I took the large billy with one shot. He measured
was
lifetime.
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12 | WILD SHEEP
full body cape and boned out all of the meat for the
pack back to camp. There were many photos taken
and we thanked our creator for such an amazing animal
taken in some of the most beautiful country on earth.
It was a trip of a lifetime and a true blessing to share it
with two of my great friends.
Craig Phillips
Thomas Falls, MT
John Lewton
Whitehall, MT
Robert M. Anderson
Rockwell, TX
Fred & Joe Boyer
Fairmont Hot Springs, MT
Missoula Chapter Ducks Unlimited
Missoula, MT
Seldon Seen LLC Outfitters,
Rex Radtke
Hall, MT
Game Trails Wildlife Studio, Steve Brett
Florence, MT
Nick Kaufman
Missoula, MT
Hunting GPS Maps
Matt Seidel
Out of Africa in Montana Gallery
Bozeman, MT
Jack & Bonnie Chambers
Missoula, MT
Outdoor Expeditions, Pat Gilchrist
Hamilton, MT
Joe & Deb Perry
Brady, MT
Paul Cockrell
Hamilton, MT
Steve Kline
Superior, MT
Stoneydale Press, Dale Burk
Stevensvill, MT
Willie’s Distillery Inc.
Ennis, MT
SPRING 2015 | 13
2014 Montana Bighorn Sheep Population
as of December 31, 2014
HD
Est. Pop. Name
Status
100
101
102
121
122
123
124
203
210
212
213
216
250
261
270
283
300
301
302
303
304
305
315
340
380
381
421
422
423
424
441
455
482
500
501
502
503
85
25
50
65
18
100
325
140
140
40
100
210
90
40
130
25
55
165
280
35
40
40
50
75
45
65
400
Open
Closed
Open
Open
Closed
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
die-off in progress
Closed
Unlimited
Open
Open
Unlimited
Closed
Closed
Open
Open
Open
Closed
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Closed
Open
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Open
100
545
140
140
45
140
14 | WILD SHEEP
Kootenai Falls
Ural-Tweed
Galton Range
North Clark Fk.
Clark Fk. Cutoff
Cabinet Mtns.
Paradise
Petty Creek
John Long Range
Garrison
South Flint Range
West Rock Cr.
West Fk. Bitterroot
Skalkaho
East Fk. Bitterroot
Lower Blackfoot
Gallatin-Yellowstone
Spanish Peaks
Hilgards
South Absaroka
Hyalite
South Yellowstone
Tendoy Mtns.
Highland
Radersburg
Sleeping Giant
Deep Creek
Castle Reef
Gibson Lake North
Ford Creek
N. Fk Birch Cr.-Teton
Gates of the Mtns.
Fergus
Boulder
Beartooth Mtns.
Hellroaring
Pryor Mtns.
**
***
**
HD
Est. Pop. Name
Status
620
622
680
Others:
75
380
645
Little Rockies
Middle Missouri Breaks
Chouteau-Blaine-Phillips
Open
Open
Open
150
195
35
35
50
50
110
90
550
Wildhorse Island
Bison Range
Hog Heaven
Birdtail Hills
Greenhorns
Blue Hills
Rocky Boy
YNP
GNP
Total
*
**
***
6318
Includes HDs 421, 422, 423, 424 & 441
Number per spring 2015 aerial survey
Per March 2015 estimate
These tables represent the estimated wild sheep population in Montana on December 31, 2014 with a few
changes to hunting districts that experienced dieoffs and were closed by the FWP Commission since January
1, 2015.
SPRING 2015 | 15
16 | WILD SHEEP
Photo Gallery
Frank Maestri HD 421
Randy Jump HD 203
Nancy Swanson HD 340
SPRING 2015 | 17
Photo Gallery continued
Mark Patterson HD 482
Glen Coclough HD 213
Faron Stevens HD 120
18 | WILD SHEEP
Richard Stewart HD 441
Jim Farrington HD 124
Julianne Royer HD 482
SPRING 2015 | 19
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MISSOULA, MT
PERMIT NO.74
Montana Wild Sheep Foundation
PO Box 17731
Missoula, MT 59808
Advertising Rates
Business Card
(3 3/4” x 2 “) - $25/yr
1/8 page
(3 3/4” x 2 1/2”) - $25/yr
1/4 page
(3 3/4” x 5”) - $50/yr
1/2 page
(7 1/2” x 5”) - $100/yr
Membership Information
Interested in becoming a member? Simply complete the below form and return with payment.
Name:______________________________________
Phone:__________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________________________________
Email:______________________________________
Select category (one only please per form) and membership length:
Youth
1 year - $15.00
3 year - $35.00
Regular
1 year - $30.00
3 year - $80.00
Family
1 year - $50.00
3 year - $120.00
Life - $350.00
Corporate (1 year only) - $100.00
20 | WILD SHEEP
Mail this form and dues to:
Montana Chapter WSF
PO Box 17731
Missoula, MT 59808