Ram Tracks
Spring Newsletter 2014
Volume 35 Issue 1
Wild Sheep Foundation - Midwest Chapter Officers and Directors PRESIDENT Curt Babler (‘17) 24846 Fondant Ave Wyoming, MN 55025 (651) 490-9395 cbabler@vetteaction.com VICE PRESIDENT Scott Olson (‘16) 22743 171st Street Big Lake, MN 55309 (763) 263-0015 pullbanger@aol.com
TREASURER Andy Otte (‘16) 2630 270th Street East Randolph, MN 55065 (507) 301-8655 crisbickman.otte@gmail.com 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 (‘17) 201 Craig Tracy, MN 56175 (507) 829-2304 coulterj@iw.net
Rod Garland (‘16) 43433 N Trevor Road Antioch, IL 60002 (847) 612-4408 jrodgarland@gmail.com
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Presidents Message
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2014 Banquet
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2014 Auction Results
Loren Kohnen (‘17) 22755 Winchester Trail Corcoran, MN 55340 763-498-8321 mtrowst76@aol.com
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North America 29 Completed
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F.N.A.W.S. Completed
Scott Olson (‘16) 22743 171st Street Big Lake, MN 55309 (763) 263-0015 pullbanger@aol.com
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How Sweet It Is
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New Zealand Escape
Steve Powelson (‘15) 2607 Hulett Court Faribault, MN 55021 507-334-7413 powie_s@yahoo.com
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South Dakota Update
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North Dakota Update
Al Holland (‘17) 11933 Highway 65 NE Blaine, MN 55434 (763) 755-8680 al.holland.b5b0@statefarm.com
Matt Rippentrop (‘16) PO Box 74 Oelrichs, SD 57763 (307) 389-1216 mattrippentrop@hotmail.com
by Curt Babler
Ladies Event by Charlotte Babler
by Steve Bruggeman by Joshua Spies
by Loren Kohnen
by Steve Bruggemann
by John Kanta
by Brett Weidmann
Dave Swenson (‘15) 955 McDonald Lane Hudson, WI 54016 (715) 386-8772 david.swenson@att.net
Ron Vollrath (‘17) 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
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.
Snow, rain, more rain, one may mistake the Midwest for Seattle this year! At least the mosquitoes are only the size of C130’s. How about that banquet we had this past March? Over sold, great auction items, and another great end result! So far for 2014 we have put over $300,000.00 on the ground in funding mainly because of two very successful banquet and fundraisers. We will continue to put forth a great banquet as we see the states wildlife budgets are getting squeezed tighter and tighter each year! The sheep deserve to have the opportunity to succeed and we can’t let the lack of funding be the cause of a decline! To do this we will need your continued support! I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our exhibitors, auction donors, auction buyers, banquet sponsors, banquet attendees and all of our volunteers. It is not possible to put on a show like ours without a lot of devoted individuals, which included your Board of Directors! Take a look at page 5 as those individuals are the key to success along with their spouses. I for one thank my wife, Charlotte for her taking on the ladies wine event, orchestrating all the volunteers and for excusing my glazed over look come banquet time.
Our chapter was a sponsor on the first Thinhorn Summit, held in Vancouver British Columbia. Nearly 70 people interested in Dall’s and Stone’s sheep conservation and management participated in the first-ever multijurisdictional Thinhorn Sheep (THS) Summit near Vancouver, British Columbia in April 2014. Our goal was to assemble diverse stakeholders responsible for, dependent on, and interested in THS in Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. A further goal was to advance the level of communication, cooperation, and commitment of diverse stakeholders, to benefit THS conservation. Discussions and interactions over the two-day summit strengthened collaboration and provided tangible action items and strategies to enhance conservation of THS. Banquet - March 21, 2015 is the date of our 2015 banquet and fundraiser! Mark your calendar as we just witnessed 400 is a sellout and you will want to make sure you are in attendance as we will again have great times available for you to purchase, not to mention buy raffles on. If you have any specific items you would like to see on the live auction I would like to hear about it! After all we want to make sure we have what you are looking for on the list! Board of Directors - Your board elected its officers at our last board meeting. I was elected to be your President, Scott Olson as Vice President, Andy Otte as Treasurer, and Brian Helm as Secretary. If you have a desire to participate as a board member, please feel free to give me a call as I’d like hear from you! 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! Doesn’t your outfitter deserve the publicity? Curt
We were lucky enough to have the entire Board of Directors from National Wild Sheep Foundation at our banquet as they had their two-day board meeting right here in Minneapolis. Thanks goes to the Board for considering the Twin Cities when their March board meeting was being scheduled. It was an honor we hope repeats itself. Funding - Check out the update by North Dakota Game and Fish biologist Brett Weidmann on page 23 for information on the transplant that brought 24 sheep from the famous Cadomine mine to North Dakota, in the same area as the Montana Missouri Breaks rams call home. Can you say Super Sheep? I also see that North Dakota has raised its bighorn tag allotment by one again! That is something we all can be proud of! Great job Brett! Our job is easy when we get to work with dedicated individuals like yourself! Page 3
Another successful weekend at our WOW! 2014 banquet is in the books and it was another year with outstanding results! Thank you first to all of our donors! Without their donations, we do not have a fundraiser! Secondly, thank you to all who helped SELL OUT our banquet! I cannot tell you how enthusiastic the Board of Directors were when we were getting the counts from Patti Murry and the counts kept going up and up and up! Excellent turnout for our Friday night conservation social with updates from Nebraska’s Laura McHale and Micah Ellstrom, updates on South Dakota from Tom Kirschenmann, and WSF Conservation Director Kevin Hurley with an overview of all sheep on a North America. Congratulations to all our raffle winners! Raffles again were a huge draw, from our 15 gun raffle, electronics, sheep camp, bows, and of course the ladies raffle! A special thank you goes out to our sponsors! The Mutual Fund Store was our main banquet sponsor this past year! Thank you to Tom’s Taxidermy and J & K Taxidermy for being raffle sponsors as well! Their sponsorship was very beneficial for both parties so if you would like to become a sponsor like The Mutual Fund Store, Tom’s Taxidermy, and J&K Taxidermy please feel free to contact Curt Babler for more information on available items. But don’t wait too long as some of the key items are usually the first to be taken! Listed in the next few pages are all the live auction donors and winners. Please think about supporting our donors the next time you book a hunt and tell them the Midwest Chapter sent you! Thank you to everyone who donated or purchased a live or silent auction item, and also thanks to those of you who filled the raffle bins with your raffle tickets. Over 25 exhibitors and many taxidermy displays filled the rooms and hallways around the banquet hall. The silent auction again had some very unique items which is always fun to be bidding on! If you know an outfitter or product manufacturer tell them about our show! We are always looking to help new exhibitors! So, THANK YOU to everyone who attended and/or participated at the fundraiser! Our chapter is able to fund important sheep and hunter related causes because all of you took time out of your busy lives to spend the weekend with us. We certainly hope to see all of you at our next fundraiser on March 21, 2015!
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Banquet, Auction, and Fundraiser! WSF-Midwest thanks the committee chairs, co-chairs and the dozens of volunteers who helped make our banquet the success it was! COMMITTEE CHAIR CO-CHAIR
Fundraiser
Curt Babler
Hotel Al Holland Live Auction
Mike Bouton
Dave Swenson
Silent Auction
Dave Swenson
Dave Swenson
Taxidermy Display
Steve Powelson
Raffles
Mike Bouton
Scott Olson
Master of Ceremonies Curt Babler Gun Raffle
Al Holland
Mike Bouton
Signage Curt Babler Banquet Seating
Cris Otte
Endowment Fund
Curt Babler
Exhibitor Booths
Andy Otte
Ladies Functions
Charlotte Babler
Andy Otte
Life Member Plaques Patti Murry Advertising
Al Holland
Registration
Patti Murry
On-line Registration
Brian Helm
Power Point
Brian Helm
Point-of-Sale
Brian Helm
Event Sponsors
Curt Babler
Merchandise
Curt Babler
Pizza Party
Al Holland
Shuttle Curt Babler
SPONSORS The Mutual Fund Store Tom’s Taxidermy J & K Taxidermy Page 5
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2014 LIVE AUCTION RESULTS Wild Sheep Foundation – Midwest Chapter Life Membership Donor: WSF-Midwest Buyer: Doug Sayer Buyer: Scott Hauer Sitka Gear Donor: WSF-Midwest Buyer: Ronald Lehner Pheasant Hunt and Sporting Clays Donor: Wings North Buyer: Oscar Carlson Handmade Quilt Donor: Danelle Shipman Buyer: Scott Olson Cow Elk Hunt Donor: Trails West Outfitters Buyer: Dan Brandl Alaskan Fishing Trip Donor: Bristol Bay Retreat Buyer: Steve Erickson Mule Deer Hunt in Wyoming Donor: 7D Ranch Outfitting Buyer: Stuart Mauney Bahamas Bonefishing Trip Donor: David Denies Buyer: John Babler South African Safari Donor: Mike and Karen Helbing Buyer: Leo Jewett Deer Sized Shoulder Mount Donor: Dale Selby, Wildlife Taxidermy Buyer: Leo Jewett Elk Hunt in Western Montana Donor: Continental Divide Outfitters Buyer: Kyle Shoman Turkey Hunt in Wyoming Donor: Hidden Valley Ranch Buyer: Jeff Graner Pagato Lake Outpost Camp Trip Donor: Lawrence Bay Lodge Buyer: Jeff Lindgren Page 10
Jerry Johnson Knives Donor: Jerry Johnson Buyer: John Babler Buyer: Rod Stockdill Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Stay Donor: Winspire Buyer: Howard Deters Buyer: Dave Klein WSF “2015 Sheep Show” Couple Registration Donor: Wild Sheep Foundation Buyer: Oscar Carlson Roosevelt Elk and Blacktail Deer Hunt Donor: Twisted Horn Outfitters Buyer: Brad Vollrath “The Warrior” Giclee Donor: Joshua Spies Buyer: Phillip Wagner Argentina Dove Hunt Donor: Frontera Wingshooting Buyer: Travis Davidsavor Whitetail Deer Hunt in Northern Wisconsin Donor: Superior Guides and Outfitters Buyer: Adam Millburn $2,000 Credit – Trophy Room Donor: Wild Images in Motion Buyer: Jerry Gross Alberta Spring Bear Hunt Donor: Sherwood Outfitters Buyer: Gary Bartsch Limpopo Safari Hunt Donor: Ngwarati Safaris Buyer: Leo Jewett Musky Fishing in Northern WI Donor: Dave Brown Buyer: Adam Millburn Mathews Reezen Bow Donor: WSF - Midwest Buyer: Scott Hauer
Table for 10 at 2015 WSF-Midwest Banquet Donor: WSF – Midwest Buyer: Terry Hauer Buyer: Trace Mullen Waterfowl Hunt in Alberta Donor: Three Rivers Adventures Buyer: Gregg Boeke Oak Wine Barrel Wine Cabinet Donor: Dennis & Renee Peterson Buyer: Steve Bruggeman Endowment Rifle Donor: Roger Van Raden Buyer: Adam Millburn Buyer: Oscar Carlson Kuiu Gear Donor: WSF - Midwest Buyer: Brian Smith Buyer: Tom McConnell WSF “2015 Sheep Show” Single Registration Donor: Wild Sheep Foundation Buyer: Scott Olson Wyoming Governor’s Shiras Moose License Donor: Wyoming Game and Fish and North American Moose Foundation Buyer: Chase Fulcher Christensen Arms with Huskemaw Scope Donor: Mike Bouton Buyer: Kevin Mclain Bob Marshall Wilderness Guided Elk/ Deer Hunt Donor: Lazy J Bar O Outfitters Buyer: Doug Sayer Colorado Predator Control Coyote Hides Donor: Carl Hanson Buyer: Jim Spies Buyer: Mike Keith Buyer: Ronald Lehner Buyer: Scott Teigen Buyer: Terry Mick
Archery Elk Hunt in Colorado Donor: Eagle Mountain Outfitters Buyer: Gerald Schmidt
Mid-Asian Ibex Hunt Donor: Asian Mountain Outfitters Buyer: Trace Mullen
Warthog, Impala and Blue Wildebeest Hunt in South Africa Donor: Bosveld Jacobs Safaris Buyer: Adam Millburn
Life Membership to National Wild Sheep Foundation Donor: Wild Sheep Foundation Buyer: Terry Mick
Taxidermy Certificate Donor: Wild Images in Motion Buyer: Ronald Lehner
Mountain Lion Hunt in B.C. Donor: Shadow Mountain Outfitters Buyer: Todd Meyer
Stone Sheep Bronze Donor: Doug Eck Studios Buyer: Jay Link
Pencil Drawing Donor: Taylor Hall Buyer: Steve Bruggeman
Hacienda Cerritos Get-Away Donor: Cerritos Beach Resorts Buyer: Leon Spencer
Rifle Donor: Roger Van Raden Buyer: James Johns
Nebraska Combination License – Antelope, Deer, 2 Turkeys Donor: Nebraska Game & Parks Buyer: Trace Mullen
Private Cabin Use Donor: Don Dusick Buyer: Jeff Lindgren
“Flushing Pheasants” Print Donor: Joshua Spies Buyer: David Currier Whitetail Hunt in Saskatchewan Donor: Elusive Saskatchewan Whitetail Outfitters Buyer: Mike Bergeron 14K Garnet and Diamond Necklace and Earrings Donor: Singleton & Moss Buyer: Wade Johnson North Dakota Bighorn Sheep License Donor: North Dakota Game & Fish Buyer: Peter Kaindle Argentina Dove Shooting Package Donor: David Denies Buyer: Jim Kobe Fishing Trip on Reindeer Lake Donor: Lawrence Bay Lodge Buyer: Larry Meyer Fur Jacket Donor: Paparazzi Fur Buyer: Todd Meyer
Mule Deer Hunt in Colorado Donor: Carl Hanson Buyer: Greg Johnson South Dakota Bighorn Sheep Tag Donor: SD Game, Fish & Parks Buyer: Jeff Demaske Fairmont Banff Springs Trip Donor: Winspire Buyer: Oscar Carlson Buyer: Adam Millburn Buyer: Joel Terwey Gun Safe Donor: Reed Custom Gun Safes Buyer: Rick Krause Grizzly/Moose Hunt in Alaska Donor: Lazy J Bar O Outfitters Buyer: Cody Shoman Taxidermy Certificate Donor: Barr Taxidermy Buyer: Terry Mick
Spring Merriams Turkey Hunt in South Dakota and Wyoming Donor: Western Gateway Outfitters Buyer: Mark Farnam Buyer: Roger Van Raden Buyer: Wade Johnson “Lucky Strike” Bronze Donor: Masterpiece Investments Buyer: Louis Rupp African Safari Donor: Africa Sport Hunting Buyer: Roger Pearson Wyoming Governor’s Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep License Donor: Wyoming Game & Fish Buyer: Anonymous Long Range Shooting School Donor: Lazy J Bar O Outfitters Buyer: Marc Chiodo Caribou Hunt Donor: Shesley River Outfitters Buyer: Jeff Graner Steelhead Fishing on the Clearwater River, Idaho Donor: Clearwater River Company Buyer: Kevin Hurley West Texas Aoudad Hunt Donor: Point Blank Hunts Buyer: John Svihel Woodland Creation Donor: Mille Locke Buyer: Greg Powers Dall Sheep Hunt Donor: Rampage Alaska Buyer: Tyler Tomesh Chocolate Lab Puppy Donor: Piddle Creek Kennels Buyer: Jay Mittelstaedt
“The Warrior” Giclee Donor: Joshua Spies Buyer: Joe Currier
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Ladies Wine Event by Charlotte Babler
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the ladies that attended our wine event! I was thrilled when Bill Coy agreed to host this years event and those of you that were there know why he is so highly sought after! Bill’s knowledge of wine, and the countries in which the grapes grow, was second only to his ability to entertain while teaching! Bill’s samples of wine were fantastic and a few made it on my favorites list. I appreciate the time, effort and knowledge Bill shared with us as his information was truely impressive. For those of you that missed out on last year’s event, please stay tuned to our next anouncement on next years event!
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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 14
North American 29 - Completed by Steve Bruggemann Shoreview, MN
I had a great hunt with Jim and Adrian Fink at their Blackstone Outfitter camp in the Yukon. This is a well run family operation with lots of game, nice camps and good people. I was fortunate to take my first Barren Ground Caribou just before dark on the fourth day of the hunt in a wind driven snow storm. This caribou completed my North American 29 with a MuzzleLoader. Several days later the Porcupine herd began it’s Migration into their area and I was able to take another fine bull. There are few sights in nature as amazing as a Caribou migration and I felt very fortunate to witness it in the Yukon last fall.
F.N.A.W.S Finished
by Joshua Spies Watertown, SD
Just finished up my FNAWS with this 11 or 12 year old Desert Sheep from Carmen Island. I hunted with Sergio Jimenez of Mexico Hunts. Great hunt with awesome staff and wonderful accommodations.
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How Sweet It Is By Loren Kohnen, Corcoran, MN
It finally happened! After applying for six years, Ron Vollrath and I drew a permit from the federal government to hunt Marco Polo sheep in Tajikistan. We decided to hire Safari Outfitters from Cody, Wyoming. On the way to Tajikistan, we meet the third hunter to be in our party. John Svihel, from Foley, MN, has previously hunted many times in Asia and Africa. Upon arriving in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, we were met by Sasha, our representative from Safari Outfitters. Sasha would accompany us on the hunt to make sure we had all the correct paperwork, permits, transportation and introductions to the guides. After a total of twenty hours on the road, we reached the Hot Springs Camp. We met the guides and staff and had a good meal and waited for morning to start our hunt. Morning came with a hearty breakfast and off we went to begin the Marco Polo hunt. Three different vehicles for three hunters departed in three different directions. We started seeing sheep almost immediately. What a sight to see! One hundred and fifty to two hundred Marco Polo sheep lined out heading down a ten mile long valley. Most of the sheep were ewes and lambs with the rams in their separate groups. I couldn’t believe it but after about three hours of viewing many nice rams, I saw the one I liked. The guides said about 450 yards. I lined up my Bordan 300 W.S.M. and upon squeezing the trigger, my one and only shot found its mark and I had a beautiful Marco Polo from on top of the world, 16,500 feet in elevation! Pictures were taken and we headed back to camp. After about 3 ½ hours Ron came into camp with another beautiful ram. John waited two more days to get his heavy based ram. Hot Springs camp was great. Great staff, food, and accommodations. Our only concern was the elevation, going from 850 feet to 16,500 feet in elevation which required medication that worked out perfectly. Page 16
Please join us at the 36th Annual Spring Banquet and Fundraiser Saturday, March 21, 2015 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
In Rememberance
Wild Sheep Foundation-Midwest Life Member and Past Donor
Allan “Toby” Coleman February 25, 1945 - June 4, 2014 Page 17
New Zealand Escape Steve and Jackie Bruggeman joined up with Oscar and Val Carlson to escape the wet spring and headed down to Gary and Louise Herbert’s lodge. Steve has this to report: “We hunted with Gary Herbert out of his beautiful lodge which is a two hour drive northeast of Queenstown, New Zealand. After 10 days of rain and snow the weather finally cleared and we had a great hunting day taking two beautiful Tahr high up in the rugged mountains. Gary and his wife, Louise, have a beautiful new lodge, fantastic meals and a great hunting area. This is also a great hunt to take your wife along, as they have all kinds of activities for non-hunters to spend their days while the hunters are up in the mountains. We were fortunate that Val and Jackie joined us on this adventure and they really enjoyed the trip as well.
Oscar Carlson with his Chamois
Oscar and Steve with their Paradise Ducks Page 18
Jackie Bruggemann and her Red Stag taken with one shot at 160 YDS after a two mile stalk that ended with crawling the last 60 yards thru a muddy swamp.
Oscar with his Tahr
Oscar and Steve with Steve’s Tahr
Welcome our newest Life Members Roger Kenner Leeds, ND
Don Wingert, West Des Moines, IA
Jeff Lindgren Shakopee, MN
Marc Hansen Chester Springs, PA
Steve Mealman Lakeville, MN
Brett K. Jefferson Sparks, NV
Kyle Meintzer Reno, NV
Doug Sayer Pocatello, ID
Andy Otte Randolph, MN
Scott Hauer Shakopee, MN
2015 Banquet Sponsorships Available! We are now accepting sponsoorship for the following items for out 2015 Banquet and Fundraiser. Our Chapters mission is to “Put sheep on the mountains�. This is a chance to give back to the sheep and give our midwest sheep life-changing opportunities. Events like our fundraiser raise funds for our transplants, disease rechearch, studies, youth, and other projects from the various state game agencies when their funds are not available. We have become an integrial part of bolstering the hunting opportunities not only in the Midwest but in all sheep states. Supporting us helps us generate more funds for future projects, thus giving you and your kids additional opportunities! We would be grateful if you could support our banquet and fundraiser. We anticipate over 300 people attending this event, with many of those very state organizations present. If you support us, we will include you in all marketing materials, to our website and plan on recognizing your organization at our event. For more information please contact Curt Babler @ 651-490-9395! Some of the items available are Auction Book Sheep Camp Gun Raffles Ladies Raffle
Registration Pizza Party Saturday Evening Banquet Friday Conservation Social Page 19
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Population Parameters of Bighorn Sheep Inhabiting Elk of South Dakota and Wyoming: Project Update Submitted By: Brynn Parr, Graduate Student, South Dakota State University; Dr. Jonathan Jenks, Distinguished Professor, South Dakota State University; John Kanta, Regional Wildlife Manager, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks; Joe Sandrini, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Wyoming Game & Fish; Dan Thompson, Trophy Game Biologist Wyoming Game & Fish
Prior to the predicted onset of lambing, radio-collared sheep were located a minimum of three times weekly, as time allowed. Visuals were obtained during each relocation effort and vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) were monitored to determine if a ewe had lambed. Beginning April 14, radio-collared sheep were located daily. Entering lambing season, 18 of the 20 deployed VITs were working properly. All twenty of the collared ewes were pregnant based on ultrasonography at capture and blood collected from the ewes at capture and sent to the lab to test for pregnancy.
19 April. Each lamb captured was collared, sexed, and weighed. VITs were recovered, birth sites were marked with a nail and a GPS location, and pictures were taken to document the birth site.
A total of 15 lambs were radio collared. Two VITs were expelled prior to the lambing season; both VITs were retrieved. Three of the remaining 18 VITs became halfexpelled during the lambing season. These ewes were then monitored daily until parturition occurred. Two additional VITs were completely expelled during the lambing season but prematurely to parturition. Daily attempts were made to monitor these ewes. The first lamb was located on 14 April via an expelled VIT; upon obtaining a visual of the ewe and lamb, both sheep ran away from the technician. We collared the first lamb on A lamb becomes as small as possible prior to capture, trying to avoid detection.
The VIT success rate for 2014 was 75%. Success was recorded when the VIT was retained through parturition and the lamb was successfully caught and collared. Four VITs failed due to premature expulsion (20%), and one VIT was retained through parturition but we were unable to capture the lamb (5%). A lamb watches as technicians leave the area. Page 20
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Twelve of the 15 collared lambs were born between 19 April and 3 May and three late lambs were born on 31 May, 1 June, and 4 June. Average lamb weight was 11.44 pounds (5.2 kg). The sex ratio of lambs at birth was 3:2 (9 males to 6 females). To date, seven of the collared lambs are still alive. Two lamb deaths were caused by predators (one lion, one coyote), and cause of death for 4 lambs were not able to be determined in the field. These lamb carcasses have been sent to the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab for testing. Two of the lambs were abandoned, which likely was caused by capture. We have returned to all sites of lambs born prior to 5 May to collect habitat data. Visual obstruction, canopy cover, stand age, and slope were measured at each of these sites. For each site marked during the lambing season, a random site was generated. These random sites were sampled as well. These data will be used to determine characteristics of birth and bed site selection by ewes. These data will help delineate potential lambing areas in the future, for Elk Mountain and for other sheep herds as well. We will return to the remaining sites within the next week. Two of last year’s lamb collars were recovered in May. We tracked in on both collars and in both cases the collar was found lying on the ground with the material ripped apart. These two collars were on yearling rams that have successfully been recruited into the Elk Mountain bighorn sheep herd. There are currently 5 collared mature rams, 20 collared mature ewes, 2 collared yearling ewes, and 7 collared lambs being monitored on Elk Mountain.
A lamb returns to its hiding location following capture. Page 21
North Dakota Game & Fish By Brett Wiedmann - Big Game Management Biologist The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2013 bighorn sheep survey revealed a minimum of 293 bighorn sheep in western North Dakota, virtually unchanged from 2012’s count of 297. In total, we counted 85 rams, 159 ewes and 49 lambs. Not included are 24 bighorn sheep introduced from Alberta in February, and approximately 30 bighorns in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The count in the northern badlands was the highest on record, beating the previous record set in 2012, but the southern badlands population declined 15 percent. Rams and lambs showed a slight decline, but adult ewes increased. About 75 percent of lambs counted during last summer’s survey survived the winter, which is about average, but the recruitment rate of 37 percent was above average. We count and classify all bighorn sheep in late summer, and then recount lambs the following March, as they approach one year of age, to determine recruitment. We were encouraged by another year of healthy numbers of lambs because it is indicative of a healthy population. Moreover, adult mortality was low last winter, and thus far it appears a good crop of lambs has hit the ground during May 2014. Game and Fish allocated five bighorn sheep hunting licenses for 2014, one more than 2013. During February 2014, we translocated 24 bighorn sheep (2 males, 22 females) from Luscar Mine, Alberta to the badlands of North Dakota. The Alberta bighorns stayed very near the release site until April when they began to explore a bit more. Two females were killed by cougars and one female died from unknown causes (non-predation) since the release. Mortality rates of translocated stock can be higher than normal the first year, but we will continue to keep a close eye on their status as telemetry flights are made weekly. Interestingly, all the Alberta bighorns have moved about 7 miles from the release site and are now co-mingling with Montana Breaks bighorns that we introduced in 2007. Most of the Alberta females should be bred by Breaks rams during next year’s rut, so it will be interesting to see what happens when these the two “super sheep” cross. Thanks again to everyone who assisted with last year’s translocation: Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Bighorn Technologies, Luscar Mine, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, ND Board of Animal Health, U.S. and Canadian Customs, numerous ND Game and Fish personnel, Todd Nordeen (NEGP), Mike Cox (NDOW), and of course everyone at Wild Sheep Foundation – Midwest Chapter for funding most of the project.
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