Summer 2013 Volume 34 Issue 2
C
Guy Tillet
Ram Tracks
Summer Newsletter 2013
Volume 34 Issue 2
Wild Sheep Foundation - Midwest Chapter Officers and Directors PRESIDENT Curt Babler (‘14) 24846 Fondant Ave Wyoming, MN 55025 (651) 490-9395 cbabler@vetteaction.com VICE PRESIDENT Al Holland (‘14) 11933 Highway 65 NE Blaine, MN 55434 (763) 755-8680 al.holland.b5b0@statefarm.com TREASURER Andy Otte (‘16) 2630 270th Street East Randolph, MN 55065 (507) 301-8655 andyandcris@hughes.net SECRETARY Brian Helm (‘15) 1910 Stowe Avenue Arden Hills, MN 55112-7826 (651) 631-9273 blhelm@visi.com DIRECTORS Mike Bouton (‘16) 675 Blue Pine Lane Boise, ID. 83709 phone: 208-949-4510 mikebouton@hotmail.com John Coulter (‘14) 201 Craig Tracy, MN 56175 (507) 829-2304 coulterj@iw.net
3
Presidents Message
4
New Mexico Elk
5
“The Sheep Show”
6 7
Banquet Information
8
Iceland Muskox
Rod Garland (‘16) 43433 N Trevor Road Antioch, IL 60002 (847) 612-4408 jrodgarland@gmail.com Loren Kohnen (‘16) 22755 Winchester Trail Corcoran, MN 55340 763-498-8321 mtrowst76@aol.com Scott Olson (‘16) 22743 171st Street Big Lake, MN 55309 (763) 263-0015 pullbanger@aol.com
by Curt Babler
by John Babler
Two Old Warriors by Loren Kohnen
by Oscar Carlson
9 10
Funding Update
11
Alpine Ibex
Matt Rippentrop (‘16) PO Box 74 Oelrichs, SD 57763 (307) 389-1216 mattrippentrop@hotmail.com
14
2014 Banquet Information
15
2014 Youth Waterhole
Dave Swenson (‘15) 955 McDonald Lane Hudson, WI 54016 (715) 386-8772 david.swenson@att.net
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South Dakota Update
18
North Dakota Update
Steve Powelson (‘15) 2607 Hulett Court Faribault, MN 55021 507-334-7413 powie_s@yahoo.com
Ron Vollrath (‘14) 705 Northwood Drive Delano, MN 55328 (763) 972-1280
WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION - MIDWEST Office Headquarters Patti J. Murry, Executive Director 307 Division Street, Northfield, MN 55057 (507) 645-8811, (507) 645-9291 - fax patti.murry@gmail.com
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In this issue
From Russia, with Love by John Arens
by Dave Currier
by John Kanta
by Brett Wiedmann
MISSION STATEMENT To enhance, expand and preserve wild sheep populations; to educate the public about wild sheep and conservation efforts surrounding wildlife; to encourage lawful hunting and protecting hunters’ rights; and to encourage youth participation in hunting.
j
Greeting, Hunting seasons in the high country are drawing to a close and it is with a heavy heart that I report the loss of your Board Member and Past President Jerry Mariska. Jerry was a great individual that served on our board in all capacities and was first to jump in and lend a hand. He will be missed.
If you did not participate please mark your calendars for March 22, 2014 as that will be the date of our next banquet and fundraiser. With 400 a sellout you will need to make sure you get yourself and your friends and family members registered early as I would hate to see you not being able to see what WOW factors will be created once again! We are adding a few items to next year’s show to help UP the WOW factor once again. Ladies Wine Tasting - Guys if you are reading this make sure to tell your better half that this year the Ladies function will be back! We heard it from the ladies that they missed the event and we want to make sure we keep our banquet fun for all!
February 22, 2014 - Moose Foundation - Roseville Radisson
Youth Waterhole - During our last auction we again raised funds to send some youth to Arizona on a waterhole project to give back and help keep sheep on the mountain! Having a daughter that participated last year, I can tell you this experience is something that allows a group of teens the ability to put “shoulder to plow” and give back to wildlife and create lifelong friendships with others from around the Nation. If you know of a youth that would like to participate in our next waterhole please nominate them and send your reason why you feel they would enjoy spending a week, starting February 22 in the deserts of Arizona. Submit the information to the office in Northfield as the youths will cherish the experience!
March 1, 2014 - Greater Dakotah SCI Banquet Ramkota Hotel & Convention Center Rapid City, SD
Next Newsletter - Get your photos in! No need to be an award winning writer to send in a photo or two of your recent success!
March 7-9, 2014 - Minnesota Deer Classic - Blaine Sports Complex
Until our next issue, shoot straight and I’ll see you in camp!
Funding - Where does the money go? This year, with our outstanding banquet, we were able to put a cumulative amount of $348,328.50 on the ground in transplants, restoration, disease, and predator management all with the goal of putting more sheep on the mountain! A few of the projects are, Nebraska capture and relocate of bighorn sheep within the state, North Dakota population supplement from Alberta, capture and collars expenses in South Dakota, population enhancement in South Dakota, disease research University of Washington. I know I am excited for the recent influx of sheep coming into the Midwest. These do not come without their own individual challenges, so hats off to those individuals involved in these processes.
Curt
Looking at the calendar, it shows the start of the sport show season again! The Midwest Chapter will be attending the following shows this year; January 22-25, 2014 The Sheep Show - Reno-Sparks Convention Center
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New Mexico Elk
by John Babler Mahtomedi, MN Answering the phone in mid-August I heard “How would you like to hunt the elk rut in New Mexico?” The voice on the other end was good friend and WSF member Lanny Rominger. I said, “Absolutely”! After being blanked on the late January season in Colorado I needed a call like that. “Tell me how this is going to happen” I asked. He simply said’ “I have an old friend and rancher in north eastern New Mexico that has an opening and great elk, all you need to do is buy a license, a plane ticket and show up on September 30th. NE New Mexico”? There are no elk up there I thought, but knowing Lanny was from New Mexico I figured he knew what he was talking about. So I followed instructions and used the New Mexico Game and Fish web site and bought my license the same week and started getting my gear together. Lanny suggested I leave my rifle at home and use one of his for ease in travel and I thought that was a great idea. He also said he would pick me up and tag along on the hunt for fun. My September 30th flight allowed me to arrive in Albuquerque early afternoon. Lanny picked me up at the airport and we traveled NE for about 3 hours to a small town called Wagon Mound. The ranch covers about 11 square miles and the ranch house was built only a few years ago. I thought to myself, beds, showers, hot meals. Just the kind of hunt an old man can enjoy. But what kind of game is out there? I was introduced to my guide James that afternoon and he said if I would like we could do a little scouting yet that evening. “Of course” I said yes so we climbed into a pickup and headed for high ground. The ranch was rolling with parks and juniper and the owner has won several awards for land enhancement that happens to be his passion. That evening we glassed at least 80 head of elk with bulls in attendance, one was a 7x7. So the morning looked promising. James, my guide, just happened to be a superb caller both with his bull call and cow calls. Needless to say, he was successful in calling into range 5 different bulls for me in the first 3 days and they were all nice 6x6 bulls one of which stood at 51 yards. I just got weak on the 3rd evening and couldn’t pass on the heavy looking bull, looking at us at 225yds, so I touched off Lanny’s Lazzeroni 8.59 Galaxy and the bull dropped in his tracks. The extended drought that part of New Mexico experienced this year had an effect on the last growth of horn on the bulls as the splits were all on the weak side. Most bulls would have been 25 points bigger in a normal year. A bull wounded and lost in a previous year was found while I was there and it scored 401+ so there are great genes in that country and I am booked again for next year. Not sure if I can convince Lanny to tag along again next year but he was great to have along in camp and his stories of past experiences kept us all entertained.
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JANUARY 22ND - 25TH
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wildsheepfoundation.org
facebook.com/wildsheepfoundation Page 5
Banquet & Fundraiser 1 Day ONLY!!! March 22, 2014
Doors open at 10 AM Pizza Party @ NOON! Afternoon Auction @ 1:00 PM Ladies Function @ 2:00 PM Banquet Dinner @ 5:30 PM Evening Auction @ 6:30 PM Registration before February 15th, 2014 $50 Child Registration (age 12 and under) $25
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Come visit with friends, exhibitors & outfitters! Minneapolis Marriott Southwest - Minnetonka, MN
Be a part of the greatest Mountain hunting show in the Midwest! Page 4
Two Old Warrior Hunters Looking for Two Old Warrior Sheep by Loren Kohnen, Corcoran, MN This was my second time to Russia, this time for Kamchatka snow sheep. This trip found long-time hunting partner, Ron Vollrath and I flying to Anchorage and then to Petropavlovsk Kamchatka being met there by a representative of Safari Outfitters (Sasha). He would be our interpreter. On this trip there would be a total of five hunters. Each hunter would have his own guide. The other three people were Don from South Carolina, Richard from Florida and John from Alaska, all long-time sheep and goat hunters. Richard would be hunting with Ron and me. Things went well at the airport, then a five hour trip to where we met the helicopter for the twenty minute flight into camp. There we were met by three guides and one cook. The camp was well prepared for us. There was a tent for each hunter. We started seeing sheep immediately from camp. The next morning all the guides and hunters started climbing. In five hours we all were at the top. Everyone said fog was moving in, but we were above the clouds. The main guide saw some rams about three-fourths of a mile from where we were. He asked Richard to go with him and make a try for a nice ram. We waited for quite some time. Then we heard two shots and we were hoping the rest of the sheep would move past us. This didn’t happen. Fog or clouds moved in so we headed down the mountain to camp. Later Richard and two guides came into the camp with a beautiful ram. Now, it would be Ron and my turn for great rams. After a day’s rest it was time to start climbing over a mountain into a high valley and set up spike camp for three guides and two hunters. No more climbing up in the morning and down in the evening. We set up tents and had an early bite to eat. On the other side of the valley the head guide thought we should have a good chance for the rams. After about a two and a half or three hour climb, the guides glassed the area. They spotted seven rams. There were two beautiful rams. Ron took the first shot and got a perfect ram. I was second and got a beautiful old warrior ram. We got back to
camp tired and late. The next morning we loaded up and headed back to the base camp. Sasha, the other hunters, and the cook were there to congratulate us. Sasha had some news. The next day we had to move all the camp out because a bad storm was headed our way. The helicopter could not fly to get us out for possibly many days. But early the next morning we all were flown out and were met by the two other hunters at the landing area. They also were successful. I want to thank Safari Outfitters for providing a great hunt and taking care of all the details. I also want to thank Sasha for making sure we had all of our documents ready, taking care of the language barrier, helping us all get through customs and for just being a great guy. Thanks also to all the guides and the cook at camp, and Jim Borden for building a great rifle that Ron and I use on all our hunts.
WILD
SHEEP
Foundation
Midwest Chapter
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Iceland/Greenland Musk Ox, Reindeer and Fishing Trip by Oscar Carlson
camp that evening. We arrived too late to hunt reindeer but we had just enough time to fish for Arctic Char. We grabbed our spinning reels and went to the mouth of a little river that was close by
On August 25, a friend of mine and I headed for Greenland on a musk ox and reindeer hunt. To get to Greenland, we first had to fly to Iceland where we stayed for an extra day to fish Atlantic Salmon. On the 26th, we spent all day fishing on the West Ranga River, which was a couple of hours from Reykjavik. I had to use a 14’ two handed fly rod, which was something I had never used before. It took a while but I finally got the hang of it and ended up catching four beautiful Atlantic Salmon in the range of 24 to 28 inches. I’ve included a picture. On August 27, we flew into Greenland and after a couple of boat rides we ended up in our reindeer
and draining into the ocean. The mouth of the river was full of Char and within one hour, I had caught a dozen of them. Some had beautiful coloration. The next day my friend got a very nice reindeer, however, I kept comparing the horns with some of the caribou I have taken and just could not get myself to shoot because the horns never stacked up to some of the caribou I was accustomed to seeing. The horn structure is very similar but they are a lot smaller and more irregular than caribou. On the last day, I did take a reindeer that had very nice tops but weak in the shovel and bez area. After a few days, we left the reindeer camp and took about a 4 ½ hour boat ride to arrive at the musk ox camp. The next day we started out real early and again my friend took his musk ox by 9:00 in the morning. By noon I started hunting for my musk ox. We found one very large old bull but just as I was ready to shoot, he turned his head and I could see he only had one horn. Obviously, I pulled off from him at the last second and backtracked to
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another real good bull that we had seen earlier. We were able to get close enough for a good shot to end the hunt. It ended up being a very, very nice bull. We booked this hunting and fishing trip through Lax-Á located in Iceland. The camps, guides and food were outstanding.
2013 Funding by Wild Sheep Foundation–Midwest Chapter North Dakota Game & Fish - $75,000.00 Wild Sheep Foundation - $45,000.00 South Dakota Game Fish & Parks - $113,628.50 Washington State University - $6,000.00 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - $12,800 Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming - $76,000.00 Minnesota Youth Shooting Foundation - $4,000.00 Nevada Department of Wildlife - $2,500.00 Various Youth donations - $21,000.00 This is a total of $348,328.50 that has been funded so far in 2013 by the Wild Sheep Foundation – Midwest Chapter. Because of our loyal members, we are able to continue funding in an effort to keep putting sheep on the mountains – forever!
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From Russia, with Love by John Arens, , MN
base camp and met the locals and a few of our hunting guides. The next morning we headed to the gun range where Kim shot our rifle and found it to be spot on. We set off to the huge and beautiful Caucasus mountains where Mount Elbrus (the highest mountain in Europe and Russia) was in the range next to us.
We prepared for what some say is the most difficult My wife Kimberly asked me some time ago, “Is there hunt and climbing in hunting. any place you have not seen that is on your bucket list”? My answer “Russia” As we pushed upward we made it 2/3 of the way to the top and this is where we would pitch our tent. We didn’t Kim surprised me at the Wild Sheep Foundationsleep much as we were on such an incline and we set off Midwest banquet and auction by bidding on a Russian to climb the balance of the mountain at 3am. Kuban Tur hunt for September 2013. We located two Tur and we positioned Kim in her shooting position to wait out the Tur that were climbing their way to us. Mother nature then did what she does best in these moments. Snow and fog moved in and eliminated her opportunity to pull the trigger. The We flew into Moscow met our interupter Alexi and decent back to base camp was miserable with every spent one night there, before we took the fast train to small calculated step our legs were burning. St Petersburg. We arranged tours and loved the this beautiful city. We regrouped at basecamp and the next day set off with a new set of local guides and back up we went. This We took the train back to Moscow and were headed on accent was much higher than we had previously gone a three hour flight to Vladikavkaz. We arrived at our and this proved to be the keys to successfully taking The months passed quickly before our Russian visas arrived. The paperwork and red tape was more extensive than any other place we have hunted before.
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two Tur on the mountain across a small glacier from our position. The shot was further than I was comfortable but after carefull calculations the Tur piled up on the glacier below. We celebrated with the Russian drink of choice vodka and began the 15,000 foot decent then return to basecamp.
Russian army leave Chechnya.
Back in Vladikavkaz we toured the school where 156 children and 148 adults were massacred in the 2004 By terrorists demanding the
The following day began our long return home, with only one major glitch with the rifle in New York. We enjoyed our visit to Russia and the hunt was an awesome experience, but it’s great to be home.
Alpine Ibex - Swiss Style by Dave Currier Fargo, ND
I had the pleasure of hunting the Alpine Ibex in the Swiss Alps this past Sept. with Joe Jacob Point Blank Hunts. The weather was awesome and enjoyed the unique opportunity to be in the Alps! I was lucky to have found this old large Ibex by glassing the Alps with my guide Phlippie. Once we located this monarch I was able to stock and harvest it at 74yds! The Ibex fell about 400 yds down the cliff he was standing on. Switzerland will be one of my more memorable hunts. This hunt is a must do! You need to be in SHEEP SHAPE!!
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In Memory
Wild Sheep Foundation-Midwest Chapter Life Member, Past President, and Board Member
Jerry Mariska February 17, 1949 - September 10, 2013
Jerry Paul Mariska, age 64 of Waseca, died on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato. Born on February 17, 1949 in Faribault, Minnesota he was the son of Norbert and Rosie (Stangler) Mariska. Jerry graduated from Waterville-Elysian High School in 1967 and later attended Winona State University and Mankato State University. Jerry worked in the blacktopping business for thirty years. The majority of those years he owned and operated M & W Blacktopping with his brother. On January 22, 1981 he married Maureen Beaver in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2002 he began operating a tree growing business and continued this business until his death. Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time in the outdoors and working with his trees. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Waterville, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Waterville Sportsmans Club, and served on the board of directors of the Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation. Jerry is survived by his wife, Maureen of Waseca; one daughter, Leona (Lenny) Dohmen of Dennison; mother, Rosie Mariska of Morristown; siblings, Judy (Larry) Hagen of Waseca, Sue Cutts (Dave Schwirtz) of Waterville, Tom (Pat) Mariska of Waterville, Kathie (Dean) Strehlau of Stillwater, Connie Hiller (Tim Hardwig) of Bemidji. He is also survived by brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Kevin (Sue) Beaver and Bevan Beaver all of Perth, Australia. He was preceded in death by his father, Norbert Mariska, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ron and Pearl Beaver, and brother-in-law, Howard Stuempert.
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Chapter Endowment Gilcee Y L N
O
d e t i lity m bi i L ila a v A
0 5
2 $
“The Warrior� Call the WSF-Midwest Office to get yours! 507-645-8811
100% goes to the endowment fund
From the original painting of the same name the bighorn depicted in this gilcee symbolizes the sheep of South Dakota. Battered, but strong and ready for the next obstacle they come upon.100% of the funds generated from these unframed gilcees will go into the Chapters endowment fund. Joshua Spies graduated from South Dakota State University in 1996 with a degree in Fine Arts. His list of awards and recognitions is extensive, including the 2007 and 2011 Dallas Safari Club Artist of the Year award and the appearance of his paintings in two major motion pictures. This Gilcee is only available from the Midwest Chapter as 100% of the funds are directly deposited into the Chapters Endowment fund. Page 9
Please join us at the 35th Annual Spring Banquet and Fundraiser Saturday, March 22, 2014 Minneapolis Marriott SW – Minnetonka, MN
Two fabulous Live Auctions * Great Food * Huge Silent Auction Seminars * Raffles * Special Ladies Event Many Outfitters and Exhibitors * Awesome Taxidermist Display
Tentative Schedule of Events
Friday, March 21, 2014 Social Hour 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm Saturday, March 22, 2014 Taxidermy Display, Outfitter and Exhibitor Booths Open 10:00AM Pizza Party 12:00PM Afternoon Auction 1:00PM Many fun events, seminars and raffle drawings throughout afternoon Ladies Wine Tasting 2:00PM Gala Saturday Night Banquet and Auction 5:30PM – 8:30PM Visit with Outfitters and Donors 8:30PM – 11:00PM To register, fill out the enclosed Registration Form and mail to: Patti Murry, Wild Sheep Foundation-Midwest Chapter 307 Division Street, Northfield, MN 55057 or register online at www.fnawsmnwi.org
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Make your hotel reservation by calling the Marriott at 952-935-5500 or make your reservations by following the link on our website: fnawsmnwi.org. For the $85/night room rate, make sure you mention you are with the Wild Sheep Foundation.
2014 Youth Waterhole Experience WILD
SHEEP
Foundation
Nominate a youth of your choice!
Midwest Chapter
Attention Members!! Once again your chapter, the Wild Sheep Foundation Midwest Chapter, will choose 14 young people to participate in a waterhole project. It is now time for you to nominate a youth to participate in a 5 day youth waterhole experience in Arizona! Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society has selected 2/22/2014 project - Catchment 689 near Newman Peak, 37B will be the location for our youth to roll up their sleeves and get dirty in the desert! What better way to teach our youth about “giving back” than having them participate in a waterhole event! We especially want to encourage you to select a youth that ordinarily would not be able to take part in a project like this. Our Chapter will provide air transportation from Mpls-St. Paul International Airport to Arizona, ground transportation to the waterhole site, food, lodging, and a return flight from Arizona to MSP. If you were at our banquet this last spring you witnessed a great video by Taylor Hall documenting her trip and the special times and life long friendships she developed in 2012.
Requirements for this youth event 1. Deadline for entries - December 25th 2013 2. All Entries must be sent to WSF-Midwest Chapter Office Youth REQUIRMENTS 3. Youth must be in Grades 8-12 in the 2013-2014 school year. 4. Boys and Girls may participate 5. Both the selected youth and parent(s) will be required to sign a release for WSF-Midwest and Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, releasing them of any liability in case of an accident during any part of the project, or while traveling to and from the project destination. 6. Youth must be able to provide sleeping bag, personal gear and clothing. Send in your nominations and give your kids or Grandkids an experience they will remember for years to come!!
Member Produced Auction Items! Do you or anyone of your family members have a hiden talent? Do you have a natural gift? This year we are featuring items produced by the membership. Here is an opportunity to showoff your talent along with give back to the chapter! All monies generated will benifit the Chapter’s endowment fund! Contact Curt Babler to learn more! 651-490-9395
Corporate or individual sponsorships for the following banquet and fundraiser items
Ladies Wine Tasting Auction Books Youth Raffle Contact Curt Babler for more information! Help us “Keep Sheep On The Mountain”
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South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Population Parameters of Bighorn Sheep Inhabiting the Elk Mountain Region of South Dakota and Wyoming Submitted by Brynn Parr, South Dakota State University
During January and February 2013, a drop net and helicopter capture resulted in a total of 32 bighorn sheep being captured: 22 ewes, 7 adult rams, and 3 juvenile rams. One ewe was killed by a mountain lion in April, prior to lambing. An adult ram was killed by a mountain lion in May. In early September, one ewe was found dead with an undetermined cause of death. Samples from this ewe are currently undergoing testing at the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab in Laramie, Wyoming. A second ewe was also found dead in early September, but the cause of death is unknown. This results in a total of 19 collared ewes and 7 collared rams currently on air. Lambing season during the 2013 season lasted from 22 April through 16 May. A total of 16 lambs were located and collared through the successful use of the vaginal implant transmitters. Four lambs were lost to predation: bobcat (1), coyote (1), unknown feline (1), and unknown predator (1); two lambs were lost to starvation, one lamb was lost to reticulorumentis, and one lamb was censored from the data after being abandoned at three days of age. After four months, a single collared lamb slipped his collar, resulting in seven lamb collars currently on air. Each collared sheep will continue to be relocated weekly. A helicopter capture is tentatively being planned for February of 2014 to recapture all collared ewes. The ewes will be tested for pregnancy, and all pregnant ewes will be followed next spring in order to capture the lambs.
Mountain Goat Transplant September 2 – 5, 2013 Submitted by John Kanta, SD Game, Fish and Parks A crew of four SDGFP personnel in two trucks with trailers loaded with wooden boxes to haul mountain goats left for Beaver, UT on September 2. The goal was to capture and translocate 20 – 30 mountain goats from the Tushar Mountains in UT to the Black Hills of SD. The main objective of the transplant is to increase genetic diversity in the mountain goat population here in SD. The capture began at 6:30AM on September 4. Mountain goats were captured with netguns from helicopters. Helicopter capture at this site was difficult because of the high elevation (10,000 to 12,000ft) testing the performance of the helicopter. All mountain goats captured had blood drawn and were swabbed in the throat and nose to test for disease. Mountain goats were also measured and provided vaccinations. Yearling and adult mountain goats were fitted with radio collars and mountain goat kids were ear tagged. After being processed, the goats were loaded into the wooden boxes in preparation for their trip to SD. Ice blocks and wood shavings were placed in each box to help cool and comfort the goats. A total of 22 mountain goats were captured and loaded for transplant to SD. At 9:00PM on September 4 the trucks left for SD. All 22 mountain goats survived the 15 hour ride to SD. The goats were released at the Needles in the Black Hills on September 5. SDGFP biologists will be monitoring the goats for survival and transplant success. The marked goats will also be used to develop an aerial survey for the Black Hills. To date there has been one mortality on an adult nanny. The cause of death is likely capture related. A HUGE thank you to the Midwest Wild Sheep Foundation and the Greater Dacotah Chapter of the Safari Club International for donating money to cover radio collar and capture costs!!
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North Dakota Game & Fish by Brett P. Wiedmann
The 2013 summer survey showed a minimum of 299 bighorn sheep, unchanged from last year and only 17 animals below 2008’s record summer survey. Even though results from this summer’s survey indicated the bighorn sheep population in western North Dakota remains steady, we were concerned about another decline in the number of adult rams, which was 11 percent below last year and 21 percent below the record observed in 2009. Annual survival of adult rams is typically very high, so we need to figure out why our ram population is continuing to decline despite reductions in hunting licenses. Survey results revealed 79 rams, 155 ewes and 65 lambs – a record 258 in the northern badlands (an increase of seven from last year’s record) and 41 in the southern badlands (down seven). Bighorn sheep numbers increased again in the northern badlands but continue to struggle south of the Interstate. A record 64 lambs were observed in the north, but only one in the south; however, despite poor results in the southern badlands, the total number of lambs observed this summer surpassed the previous record of 60 in 2008! The summer survey does not include approximately 30 bighorn sheep that inhabit the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Annual bighorn sheep survey statistics are not recorded using a calendar year, but instead are done over a 12-month period beginning each April and ending the following March. Each summer, Game and Fish Department biologists count and classify all bighorn sheep, a process that takes nearly six weeks to complete as biologists locate each bighorn herd in the badlands by tracking radio-marked animals from an airplane, and then hike into each group to record demographic data using a spotting scope and binoculars. Biologists then complete the annual survey by recounting lambs in March to determine lamb recruitment, or lambs that survive the first winter. North Dakota’s bighorn sheep hunting season opens Oct. 25 and continues through Nov. 7. Four licenses were issued this year, the same as in 2012. I am happy to report that we were granted permission from Alberta Fish and Wildlife to receive 25 bighorn sheep from Luscar Mine during February 2014. As you may know, the Cadomin bighorns that were recently translocated to Nebraska have done very well, so we hope the same holds true for North Dakota. Plans are to release the bighorns from Alberta into unoccupied habitat where a large burn occurred in 2004. The purchaser of North Dakota’s 2012 auction license, Roger Kenner, has graciously allowed us to use two of his large goose-neck trailers for the trip at no cost. Funding that was dedicated for transplant work in North Dakota in 2007 by WSF – Midwest should cover most of the costs of the transplant. Thanks again to everyone at WSF – Midwest!
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