WILD SHEEP Spring 2022

Spring 2022

VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 1

the journal of the mounta in hunter a nd committed conservationist

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CONTENTS the journal of the mountain hunter and committed conservationist

Departments: 10 14 20 22 26 74 86 90 96 98 100 126 188 192 196 198 202 207 210

President’s Message Chair’s Corner Biologist’s Corner Ensuring the Future Legislative Affairs Tools of the Trade WSF Ambassadors - Part I Basecamp Dispatches Chapters & Affiliates List Chapters & Affiliates Banquets Chapters & Affiliates News Conservation Education Sheep Shorts Adventure Profiles <1 Club® Kicked Out Last Sheep Camp Travel & Gear Advertiser’s Index On the Adventure Trail

Special Sections: 124 Sheep Shop 130 2022 Convention Section 176 2022 Convention Awards

Features:

30

A “Pro-Bono” Mid-Asian Ibex Hunt

30

by Alexander Sharif

Sustainable game conservation and the opportunity to experience it firsthand.

44

California Bighorn Dream Hunt

44

by Dave Turchanski

Making use of Cali tag to round out a full FNAWS.

50

Today’s Sheep Rifle

by Craig Boddington

50

The sheep rifle of today has changed lock, stock and barrel...and then some.

62

Promise And Sacrifice

by Ashley McEnroe

Taking one for the team for a first-ever ram.

62 On the Cover:

Photo by Carter Riecks. “I was in Paradise, Montana on a unit 124 sheep tag that a good friend of mine, Dave Meehan, drew after 31 years of putting in. While driving around glassing rams we came upon a field with about 50 sheep in it. This lamb was apart from the group on its own, so I started shooting it with the camera. As I was doing so, the magpie flew in and landed on the back of the lamb. It stayed there for about two seconds, and luckily, out of the three pictures I captured, this happened to be one of them. I instantly pulled it up on my computer and I was thrilled!”

SPRING 2022 ~

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®

the journal of the mounta in hunter a nd committed conservationist

Official publication of The

Wild Sheep Foundation

WSF World Headquarters: 412 Pronghorn Trail • Bozeman, MT 59718 • 406-404-8750 Cody Office: 1285 Sheridan Avenue, Suites 260/275 • Cody, WY 82414 USA • 406-404-8750

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

CHAIRMAN: Peregrine L. Wolff, DVM • falcolupus@gmail.com.. Term Expires 2025 VICE CHAIR: Glen Landrus • ramslamvideo@gmail.com............ Term Expires 2025 TREASURER: Charlie Kelly • azsheepguy@gmail.com................ Term Expires 2023 SECRETARY: Larry Jacobs • lljacobs4@aol.com....................... Term Expires 2024 Tony Caligiuri • tcal@boytharness.com..................................... Term Expires 2024 Jann Demaske • demaskes@msn.com....................................... Term Expires 2022 Wayne Henderson • henappram@hotmail.com............................ Term Expires 2023 Brett Jefferson, PLS, WRS • bkj.h2o.4dbs@gmail.com................. Term Expires 2022 Glen Pyne, DVM • pawsnclaws@sbcglobal.net............................ Term Expires 2023 Emilio Rangel W. • emiliorw@me.com..................................... Term Expires 2024 Kyle Stelter • kylestelter@gmail.com........................................ Term Expires 2024 PRESIDENT & CEO Gray N. Thornton • gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org

HEADQUARTERS STAFF PRESIDENT & CEO - EDITOR IN CHIEF, WILD SHEEP® MAGAZINE:

Gray N. Thornton • gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org Kevin Hurley, Vice President of Conservation —Thinhorn Programs Lead khurley@wildsheepfoundation.org Kurt Alt, Conservation Director Montana & International Sheep & Goat Program Lead kalt@wildsheepfoundation.org Terry Ziehl, Finance Director tziehl@wildsheepfoundation.org Kim Nieters, Auction & Awards Director knieters@wildsheepfoundation.org Keith Balfourd, Director of Marketing & Communications keith@WildSheepFoundation.org Paige Culver, Development Manager pculver@wildsheepfoundation.org

Maddie Pennaz, Membership Manager/<1 Clubs Manager mpennaz@wildsheepfoundation.org Megan Costanza, Banquets & Events Manager mconstanza@wildsheepfoundation.org Mike Aiazzi, Expo, Exhibits & Store Manager maiazzi@wildsheepfoundation.org Hannah Stewart, Expo & Membership Assistant hstewart@wildsheepfoundation.org

CONTRACT

Greg Schildwachter, Lobbyist greg@watershedresults.com Washington, DC Ashley McEnroe, Staff Writer aoliverio@gmail.com

CONSULTANTS

Shane Mahoney, Special Conservation Consultant shane@conservationvisions.com

Dr. Ryan Brock, Youth Education Coordinator rbrock@wildsheepfoundation.org Reno, NV

PRODUCTION STAFF Gray N. Thornton, Editor in Chief Scott Morrison, Editor Ashley McEnroe, Field Editor/Staff Writer Craig Boddington, Contributor Andrew McKean, Contributor

Contributing photos, articles, stories, and research pertaining to wild sheep or the interests of the members of WSF are always welcome. Contributed material will be published at the editor’s discretion. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish materials to be returned.

DISCLAIMER While Wild Sheep Foundation strives to attract quality advertisers and donors, it cannot be responsible for the ultimate quality of the products which they may present to our members and buyers. Neither the Wild Sheep Foundation nor its Officers or Directors is a guarantor of your satisfaction with the products it makes available to you. Our dedication is to the wild sheep of the world and not to policing our advertisers or donors. We cannot, under the law, reject an advertiser or donation simply because of a prior complaint from a dissatisfied consumer.

We will strive to make available quality merchandise and hunts, but without warranty or guarantee.

WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION®, WSF®, FOUNDATION FOR NORTH AMERICAN WILD SHEEP®, FNAWS®, WILD SHEEP® MAGAZINE, PUTTING AND KEEPING WILD SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN®, PUTTING AND KEEPING SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN®, THE SHEEP SHOW®, SHEEP WEEK®, MARCO POLO SOCIETY®, <1 CLUB®, <1iCLUB®, MOUNTAIN HUNTER HALL OF FAME®, and the CHADWICK RAM SOCIETY® and their respective logos are registered trademarks and cannot be used, commissioned, or otherwise represented without permission of the Wild Sheep Foundation. WOMEN HUNT PROGRAM™, WOMEN HUNT™, and WH™ are registered trademarks of the Wild Sheep Foundation.

Wild Sheep® (USPS# 009-460) is published quarterly

by Wild Sheep Foundation, 412 Pronghorn Trail, Bozeman, MT 59718 Morrison Creative Company, Inc. Magazine Design/Production Yellowstone Graphics Graphics/Design

Advertising & Editorial Submissions Wild Sheep Foundation Headquarters 412 Pronghorn Trail, Bozeman, MT 59718 ATTN: Editor

For more information on submission guidelines, meetings and convention information, and service, conservation and hunting award criteria, please visit our website at www.wildsheepfoundation.org. All membership dues include $28/year for a subscription to Wild Sheep® magazine.

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA, IN CONJUNCTION WITH MORRISON CREATIVE COMPANY, INC. OF LIVINGSTON, MT.

4 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

The tradition began on a November weekend at Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, in 1974. Thirteen wild sheep enthusiasts passed the time by sharing stories about their encounters with the majestic mountain creatures.

After realizing how fortunate they were to have all shared such incredible experiences, they decided it was time to give something back. They forged FNAWS so men and women everywhere could get more involved in the positive management of wild sheep. It was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Iowa on September 14, 1977, and began accepting paid memberships in 1978 as more people joined the cause.

The commitment and noble spirit of FNAWS quickly helped the foundation become the fastest-growing wildlife conservation organization of its kind.

GRAND SLAM® is a registered trademark of Grand Slam Club/Ovis. Used with permission.

Ken Nowicki, Field Editor Greg Schildwachter, Columnist Legislative Watch Wayne van Zwoll, Contributor

CONTACT THE PUBLICATION

The Wild Sheep Foundation’s mission is to enhance wild sheep populations, promote scientific wildlife management, and educate the public and youth on sustainable use and the conservation benefits of hunting while promoting the interests of the hunter.

Periodical Postage Rate is paid at Bozeman, MT 59718 and additional mailing offices.

Subscription Price $28.00 All membership dues include $28/year for a subscription to Wild Sheep® Magazine Postmaster: Send address correction to Wild Sheep Foundation, 412 Pronghorn Trail, Bozeman, MT, 59718

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 5

MISSION STATEMENT VISION Our desired future state

To be the best managed, most respected and most influential conservation organization in the world for the benefit of wild sheep worldwide.

PURPOSE Why we exist

To Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®

MISSION What we do

We enhance wild sheep populations, promote scientific wildlife management, and educate the public and youth on sustainable use and the conservation benefits of hunting while promoting the interests of the hunter.

VALUES The principles that guide us

Honesty Integrity Respect for Others Hunting Ethics

Teamwork Positive Attitude Respect for Wildlife

Accountability Stewardship Loyalty

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

by Gray N. Thornton President & CEO

A

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

fter the past two years of craziness and a nearly two-year hiatus of an in-person event, I’m thrilled to report our recent 2022 Sheep Show® and Sheep Week®convention and experience was a resounding success. More than anything, on behalf of our staff and board of directors, I want to thank our exceptional membership, our exhibitors, donors, sponsors, ambassadors, attendees, and buyers for showing up, braving the uncertainty, and demonstrating once again that the WSF family is second to none!

Thank you!

Make no mistake, WSF and our industry friends hosting in-person events faced unbelievable and incredible challenges this year— both foreseen and unforeseen. In many ways the virtual 2021 world was less uncertain. For 2022 we all forged ahead wondering what the world, the pandemic, and the politics surrounding it would throw our way.

Last minute cancellations, lack of vendor staff, supply chain issues, lack of product, and all of this due to illness, or fear of illness, were the norm. Loss of key contractors, new faces both internal and external, plus a rustiness of host and hosted played a part. Uncertainty and angst over mandates—to mask or not to mask— was a constant debate. Some could not believe WSF would not mandate vaccinations to attend, while others were angry that masks were required.

We knew early that we could not make all happy, but we forged ahead regardless, in the comfort that our membership and the WSF family would prevail…and they and you did.

Thank you!

Just before the show season 10 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

launched in early January with the DSC convention, the Omicron “variant” was a fear, and as feared, had an impact. Major European as well as other companies backed out of the shows. We all scrambled to reconfigure halls but soldiered on. By SCI’s convention, I was calling the back-to-back-to-back-to-back super spreader shows “Herd Immunity for our Community.”

The fact is, however, that our collective base memberships showed up. While it appears all of us (DSC, WSF, SHOT, SCI, & GSCO) had slight drops in overall attendance, those who attended came to enjoy, to support our organizations, and support financially the passion we have for hunting and conservation.

This support at the Sheep Show® was demonstrated in the incredible auction, raffle sales and appeals giving.

Riding high on the nine new permit records set in 2021 at our virtual event, eleven new records and one tie were set in 2022 in Reno! Incredibly, the records were not on a magnitude of 10-20% higher than previous years, as some were 50-100% higher. And, the support kept going. As I write this in early March, several of our Chapters and Affiliates events have seen similar record support. The 2021 record Nebraska permit sale was just topped at IA FNAWS at $330,000!

This is a 57% increase over the prior record. Well done IA FNAWS and thank you to all the bidders to date!

At Sheep Week® we recognized some exceptional conservationists with our special awards, some exceptional hunters and hunting accomplishments at our Ram/FNAWS/Mountain Monarch Awards, and the back-inperson, prestigious Conklin Award

presented Friday night by Dr. Bradford Black of the Conklin Foundation. Be sure to check on the awards section of this issue.

Our Thursday, Friday, and Saturday banquets and conservation auctions were packed with near, or at prepandemic attendance, and our Ladies Luncheon and Life Member Breakfast set new attendance records.

We moved the <1 Club® Beer Reception and hunt drawings to a larger hall and packed it with an energetic crowd of over 1,500 hopeful to be drawn for a sheep or goat hunt or just enjoy the excitement of watching others win. Of course, they also enjoyed the bottomless pints of Blue Moon beer generously donated by Blue Moon and New West Distributing. By 6 PM, six lucky folks had won a dream sheep or goat hunt.

But it did not end there. The first drawn for the <1 Club® does not need to be present…the second and third drawn do. Before we kicked off the Friday Legacy Night Gala, <1 Club® Committee chair Justin Phillips and <1 Club® Manager Maddie Pennaz had connected with first drawn, Eric Best, who advised that he actually got kicked out with a desert ram on a cancellation hunt in Baja. So they went to the second drawn, Melissa Foltz, who also advised that she too had just been kicked out drawing a Nevada permit. So the third drawn, John King, won, benefitting from the honesty and integrity of the prior “winners.”

It is so heartening to see this level of character within our membership.

Thank you Eric and Melissa for your honesty. You are an inspiration to us all. In appreciation, we are sending these two “honest winners” a new

Mark V rifle in a caliber of their choice from our friends at Weatherby, Inc. A heartfelt thanks to all of our <1 Club® donors, sponsors and underwriters for making this program such a success. Check out our <1 Club® summary on page 146 of this issue and watch this year as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the <1 Club® set for 2023!

The support of the WSF membership is also demonstrated by their support for our donor direct appeals with 100% of the proceeds directed to fund wild sheep conservation, restoration, and other programs. Launched in 2013, our Take One Put One Back (TOPOB) program that asks those who have taken a sheep to “put one back” has raised $1.422 Million, with 100% of

15

$

those dollars directed or committed to on the mountain conservation to put wild sheep on the mountain, or keep them there. This year (to date) an incredible $225,000 was raised by generous TOPOB donations by donors noted on page 91.

In addition, an appeal was launched with the help of the First Lady of Indiana, Janet Holcomb, for Women Hunt™—and $12,820 was raised for this exceptional program. WSF thanks these and all of our appeal donors!

Finally, I want to thank our WSF ambassadors for their help in promoting Sheep Week® and all it entails. Check out these fine members of the family on pages 86.

While the 2022 Sheep Show® is behind us, we have a great deal in store over the next few months of this

fiscal year, including numerous C&A banquets through June, and our May Thinhorn Summit III in Whitehorse, YT, and C&A Summit in San Antonio. I hope to see you at one or more of these events this spring!

Thank you again. It is a privilege to serve this foundation and membership. WS

Gray N. Thornton President & CEO, Wild Sheep Foundation

Editor-in-Chief, Wild Sheep® magazine Summit Life Member Chadwick Ram Society® Member Legacy Society Member

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CHAIR’S CORNER

by Peregrine L. Wolff, DVM Chair

YOU HAVE DONE A LOT FOR WILD SHEEP, BUT THEY STILL NEED YOUR HELP

I

stepped into the position of chair of the board during the peak of the first COVID wave which immediately required a change in how business at WSF and with the board was done. I didn’t realize it at the time, but we were embarking on an adaptive management journey.

Adaptive management is defined as a “robust decision-making process in the face of uncertainty.” The aim is to reduce uncertainty over time via monitoring your program and then using that information to assess and adjust future objectives and progress.

This process involves ‘Iterative decision-making’ or evaluating results and adjusting your actions based on what you have just learned.

Although adaptive management had its origins in natural resource management, it is not commonly employed in many state wildlife management agencies.

Every hunt that you go on, involves adaptive management. You use it to deal with the uncertainties that you know you will constantly encounter. For example, you plan to get to camp at 10 AM on day one and be on the mountain glassing for rams at noon. A weather front is forecasted to move into the area the night before you plan to leave. By monitoring the updates on the storm, you determine that the route you had planned to take to base camp is no longer accessible and you must use another route. If you still want to be glassing for rams at noon, you now need to leave three hours earlier to

14 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

accommodate the new route.

This process is exactly what WSF staff employed in 2021 and 2022 to deliver two excellent, but different, WSF conventions. The staff and the board studied the best information that was available to deliver a virtual conference in 2021, then used the knowledge gained from that experience, coupled with the latest updates on limits to public gatherings, mask mandates, border closures, emerging novel strains and most importantly, WSF members eagerness for an in-person convention, to bring us Sheep Week® 2022. During the week, staff used adaptive management principles to implement their plan, monitor the results and then use that information to assess and adjust the plan, then implement a new plan, and then start the process all over again.

Let’s now look at why adaptive management is necessary for the conservation of wild sheep.

Conserving or recovering a species is a management effort with a high amount of uncertainty and where adaptive management is highly effective. There are many dynamic, factors, meaning those characterized by constant change, that affect populations of wild sheep. For instance, habitats for wild sheep are impacted by the presence of predators, climate fluctuation, and how human use impacts that habitat. Populations can fluctuate in relation to habitat dynamics, in addition to disease, as well as active

management programs such as hunting or translocations. Another layer of uncertainty is added when we understand that not all populations react the same to these dynamic factors, and that some factors such as the organisms involved in causing disease are involved in their own microscopic adaptive management exercise to ensure their survival.

The effective use of adaptive management requires good data that is monitored and assessed frequently.

Checking local weather updates, or the latest state restrictions on wearing masks, are safe, cheap and can be accessed in real-time allowing an immediate assessment and change in objectives. In contrast, gathering information on mountain ungulate populations can take years, usually involves bureaucracy, large expense, and danger to those conducting the work. Scientists interpreting the information may have varying opinions on what that data means, or by the time it is organized and interpreted and shared the situation on the mountain has changed.

It is hard to set objectives, monitor, assess and adjust, at the pace needed to effectively manage wild sheep populations in the face of increasing impacts. However, we need to employ the nimbleness of an adaptive management process now more than ever before. The challenges facing wild sheep are increasing each year. For decades, disease has been the primary impediment to recovery and conservation of

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bighorn populations. Could climate impacts such as prolonged drought in the West, changing snow, and rain patterns in the North, or public attitudes or government policies towards public land use, and hunting eclipse disease as a bigger problem for wild sheep conservation range wide?

We don’t know, but we do know that we need ongoing high-quality data to effectively use an adaptive management approach to address these challenges.

Thanks to the generosity of sheep hunters and the many conservation

and education programs implemented through WSF and the chapters and affiliates, wild sheep managers have had the funding to collect high quality data and answer many questions. However, many gaps remain as new ones are being discovered that impact our decisions on how best to conserve wild sheep.

To ensure that your children’s children can carry on your legacy of a hunter conservationist, I encourage you to understand and further engage in the many programs to ensure a future for wild sheep through WSF

and your local chapter or affiliates.

Ask how these programs will support an adaptive management process, and if they don’t, ask why not. Every member can make a difference to the conservation of wild sheep, all you need to do is ask how. WS Respectfully,

Peregrine L. Wolff, DVM Chair, Wild Sheep Foundation

®

JERRY HERROD

MAY 3-5, 2022 • WHITEHORSE, YT

FOR SUMMIT INFORMATION CONTACT Kevin Hurley: 406.404.8753 • khurley@wildsheepfoundation.org | Megan Costanza: 406.404.8769 • mcostanza@wildsheepfoundation.org

16 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

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WILD S HEEP® 17

FOR THE FULL LIST OF CRS MEMBERS SCAN ME

LIST UPDATED QUARTERLY

YOU CAN HELP WSF PUT AND KEEP WILD SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN BY JOINING THE CHADWICK RAM SOCIETY! In 2013 the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) launched a legacy campaign, Ensuring the Future of Wild Sheep, that includes tax and estate planning opportunities, counsel and advice, major gifts, and giving societies to raise the funds required to ensure the future of the wild sheep resource by directing even more dollars to wild sheep restoration, repatriation and conservation. Our vision is to build a series of funds from which a targeted annual offtake of ~4% will allow WSF to direct 100% of our convention fundraising to mission programs. Our goal is $5 to $6 million annually in mission focused Grant-In-Aid and other funding to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain.” With your help we can achieve this vision and goal.

The Marco Polo Society was established in 2008 as WSF’s premier giving society. To compliment the Marco Polo Society and expand this giving concept to ALL WSF members and wild sheep advocates, WSF created a new giving society in the fall of 2013 – the Chadwick Ram Society with five

benefactor levels enabling tax-deductible, donor directed gifts from $250 to $5,000 per year to mission areas of the donor’s desire. Donations can be made to the WSLF Endowment Fund, WSF Conservation Fund, our annual Convention and/or Area of Greatest Need to fund specific programs and initiatives. Chadwick Ram Society members are recognized with an embroidered badge displaying their Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum benefactor level.

Members may also “upgrade” their benefactor levels within the Chadwick Ram Society as well as to the Marco Polo Society.

For more information on the Chadwick Ram Society, the Marco Polo Society or the Ensuring the Future of Wild Sheep campaign, contact WSF President & CEO, Gray N. Thornton, Development Manager, Paige Culver, or visit our website.

We cordially invite you to join the Chadwick Ram Society and help Ensure the Future of Wild Sheep!

The Chadwick Ram Society®, Marco Polo Society®, Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain®, The Sheep Show® and Sheep Week® are registered trademarks of the Wild Sheep Foundation

18 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

(List is current as of press time)

WSF SALUTES

THE 2022 NEW/UPGRADE CHADWICK RAM SOCIETY MEMBERS ®

CRS MEMBERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHA ORDER BY BENEFACTOR LEVEL

PLATINUM - $50,000 George and Grace Vandenberg (CO)

SILVER - $10,000 Kemp Copeland (TX) Jeff Geiger (OH) Dan & Jessica Kluth (ID) Zachary McDermott (WY) Craig & Laureen Nakamoto (IA) Michael Opitz (WA) Greg Pope (WY) Steven Quisenberry (VA) Jeremy & Jessica Tripp (ID)

BRONZE - $5,000 Aaron & Amy Burkhart (MN) Alan Day (OR) Paul & Tami Hanson (WA) Shad & April Hulse (UT) James Lewis (AK) Christopher & Kari Loomis (MT) Robert E. Mays, Jr. (NV) Jerry Remaklus (AZ) Mike Schmillen (MN) J.T. “Skip” Tubbs (MT)

COPPER - $2,500 Michael Avery (LA) Jason Gentz (MN) AD Hancock (FL) Charles W. Hartford (CA) Scott Homrich (MI) Anthony & Chris Lingenfelter (CA) Brendon McCarney (AK) Kenneth Mee (CA) Shawn Nelson (WY) Laura Pettett (CO) Alan Shultz (CA) Jay Stanford (AK)

Sheep Family Snapshots LARRY & JOANNE MCGOVERN

My name is Larry McGovern. I have lived in Billings, MT for 35 years and have been a member of the Wild Sheep Foundation since my first sheep hunt in Alaska in 1989.

I have watched the progress of the Wild Sheep Foundation most closely since the arrival of Gray Thornton, CEO. It’s been a rocket ride to be sure. The progress of this organization is remarkable. The staff is as good as it gets. I am honored and proud to be part of this group of conservationists.

STEVE “QUIZ” QUISENBERRY

As a young man, my days in the field were primarily hunting the east coast and my conservation focus was on bird and deer habitat.

As my hunting world expanded westward, I

became educated on the variety of huntable species and the survivorship of those species.

This led me to the discovery of and membership in the Wild Sheep Foundation and several state chapters of the WSF. What I found was a community of passionate conservationists facing some of the toughest environmental and biological challenges on behalf of wild sheep.

As I became more educated, I realized what the well-being of these animals truly requires. The survivorship and replenishment of wild sheep herds isn’t measured in short history. It is measured in decades. The WSF understands this at every level necessary to achieve their Mission and I can tell you that their culture mirrors that

I became interested in the Chadwick Ram Society as soon as I heard about it. My wife, also a Summit Life Member of the Wild Sheep Foundation, and I became members of the Chadwick Ram Society and are both impressed with the accomplishments of this society.

The Chadwick Ram Society is one of the many opportunities to support the mission of the Wild Sheep Foundation for its members, as we are and will always be.

Mission. WSF is relentless in the pursuit of wild sheep conservation. There came a time when I realized I needed to become more invested in the Mission; the kind of involvement that spans generations. As I investigated different vehicles to accomplish this, I found the Chadwick Ram Society. I challenge you to become engaged with the Wild Sheep Foundation. At whatever level you are comfortable with.

Let’s keep wild sheep on the mountain!

-WSF Chadwick Society Member -WSF Summit Life Member -ECWSF BOD and Pinnacle Life Member -WYWSF Ramshead Society Life Member

To Join/Upgrade contact: Paige Culver • 406.404.8758 • pculver@wildsheepfoundation.org SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 19

BIOLOGIST’S CORNER

by Kevin Hurley Vice President for Conservation

TEST AND REMOVE: WHAT’S THAT ALL ABOUT?

L

ike many disciplines, professional wildlife biologists rely heavily on published literature, advice and counsel from their peers, and their own curiosity, inquiries, and experiences. Wild sheep managers fall into this category and learn much from their colleagues, as each jurisdiction deals with its own unique, but sometimes shared, wild sheep management challenges.

Over the past four-plus decades, I’ve tried to stay current on research findings, technical reports, published manuscripts, project summaries and other summary documents, as wild sheep researchers, managers and advocates strive to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.” Anymore, it’s a luxury to find time to read scientific journals, trying to glean some pearls of wisdom from so many talented wildlife professionals. But, it is an important component of this profession.

In the wake of our January 2022 Sheep Show® in Reno, many state, provincial, territorial and tribal/First Nation wildlife departments captured and sampled hundreds of wild sheep during winter 2021-2022, with particular focus on capturing and testing animals for the troublesome respiratory pathogens that continue to plague wild sheep populations, across the West.

Based largely on work pioneered in Hell’s Canyon along the Idaho/ Oregon/Washington borders over the past several years, then replicated in Custer State Park in western

20 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

South Dakota and other locations, wild sheep managers, university researchers, wildlife veterinarians and wild sheep volunteer conservationists continue to investigate different options, to identify, then hopefully reduce or eliminate Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi) from infected bighorn sheep herds.

A June 2021 daylong ZOOM workshop attended by nearly 200 interested persons facilitated information and data sharing from case studies in several jurisdictions that had repeatedly captured and sampled individual wild sheep with known markings (e.g., radiocollars, eartags), and that had an established pathogen profile from prior capture work.

Based on what is known, what has been published, and what has been shared in the wild sheep community, there seems to be growing consensus that intentional removal of chronically-Movi-infected wild sheep from various bighorn sub-herds has led to an apparent “bump” in survival and recruitment of young lambs.

Like many other things, time will tell if that boost in lamb survival is ephemeral, or can be sustained over multiple years.

Great investigative, hands-on work is being conducted along the Fraser River in southern British Columbia, where a multi-year effort is sampling hundreds of bighorn sheep. In the tri-state region of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, more than 250 bighorns have been captured/sampled

this winter across a wide geographic span, from the lower Salmon River, to at least five herds in Oregon, and additional herds in central Washington.

Project results are being analyzed, shared and published, as wildlife veterinarians, academic researchers and state, provincial and tribal/First Nation managers try to expand their collective tool-box, all in an effort to enhance wild sheep herd health.

It may sound harsh to some, but removal of a few chronically-infected animals may very well improve overall herd health in struggling bighorn populations.

Thanks to all the wildlife professionals taking part in these studies and thanks to all the wild sheep conservation organizations that are helping sponsor this work!

Speaking of wildlife professionals, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge, congratulate and thank three of our WSF award recipients during Sheep Show® 2022. Recognizing their career accomplishments to date, Dr. Frances Cassirer of Idaho Department of Fish & Game was presented the “State Statesman Award”, Dr. Mary VanderKop of the Yukon Territory received the “Federal Statesman Award”, and Dr. Helen Schwantje of British Columbia was inducted into the WSF Wild Sheep Biologist’s Wall of Fame. Congrats to these three outstanding wildlife professionals! WS

MPS Reception - Reno, NV - 2022

T

he Marco Polo Society® (MPS) is the Wild Sheep Foundation’s premier major giving “society” whose members have given and/or pledged a minimum of $100,000 to the Foundation. Gifts are donor-directed, tax-deductible and can be made to the WSLF Endowment Fund, WSF Conservation Fund, or Area of Greatest Need. Additionally, funds may be allocated to specific grant-inaid, education or advocacy initiatives and programs. The $100,000

pledge can be contributed in annual installments up to a maximum of 10 years.

Since its inception in 2008, more than $7.5 million in MPS gifts/ pledges have been directed to WSF and mission programs. WSF’s objective is 100 Marco Polo Society members resulting in a $10 million major gift campaign.

WSF SALUTES OUR MARCO POLO SOCIETY® MEMBERS TO DATE - Alphabetical Order Shane & Angela Alexander (TN) Lee & Penny Anderson (FL) Anonymous Anonymous Stanford & Pamela Atwood (CA) John & Jane Babler (MN) Scott & Erica Barry (MI) Brian & Debbie Benyo (OH) Gary Bogner (MI) Dan & Kathy Boone (TX) Jerry & Amy Brenner (NC) Steve & Jackie Bruggeman (MN) Peter & Wendy Burchfield (PA) Tony & Virginia Caligiuri (IA) Ron & Billi Carey (AB) Oscar & Valerie Carlson (MN) Walt & Joan Coram (TX) Guinn & Betsy Crousen (TX) Denis & Diane Dale (AB) Dean & Paige Darby (MI) Monty & Becky Davis (TX) Jeff & Jann Demaske (CO) Chris & Jaimie Dianda (NV) Mike & Julie Dianda (NV) Mark & Janice Dickson (CA)

Billy Dunbar (AK) The Fiedeldey Family (OH) Ronald S. Gabriel, MD (CA) Brian and Susan Ham (AZ) Marc & Cheryl Hansen (PA) Jim & Sue Hens (NY) Tom & Denise Hoffman (NY) Steve & Jill Hornady (NE) Larry & Jane Hunts (OR) Kevin Hurley (ID) Ross & Nicole Jackson (CO) Scott Jesseman (IL) Kaan & Nurgul Karakaya (TUR) George & Kelly Lawrence (WA) Doug & Dana Leech (WV) Thomas Lemmerholz (GER) Jeff Lindgren (MN) Paul Mattes (MI) Kyle & Joanne Meintzer (NV) Craig & Therese Mueller (ID) Richard & Linda Murphy (NM) The Olmstead Family (BC) Mark & Gabriela Peterson (MI) Ron & Vicki Pomeroy (WY) Larry & Brenda Potterfield (MO)

Paige Culver - Development Manager 406.404.8758 or pculver@wildsheepfoundation.org

Rancho La Palmosa (MEX) Joni & Gary W. Raba (TX) Terry Rathert (TX) Gary & Yvonne Rigotti (OR) Christopher Ring (TX) Kevin & Janine Rinke (MI) Alan & Barbara Sackman (NY) Doug & Shelly Sayer (ID) Roger Segebrecht (WI) Kip & Sue Slaugh (UT) Kevin & Tuesdy Small (CA) J. Alain Smith (WA) Mike Snider (MI) Daryll & Shauna Southwick (CO) Brandon & Kristi Stokes (OR) Jelindo & Sandee Tiberti (NV) Matt Tomseth (OR) Tim & Ruth Van Der Weide (IA) Ken & Anna Vorisek (AK) Craig West (NC) Steven & Ardyce Whisler (MT) Clayton & Modesta Williams (TX) Russ & Debi Young (TX) Gary & Penny Young (WV) Alan Young (YT)

Gray N. Thornton - President & CEO 406.404.8750 or gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org

The Marco Polo Society® Ensuring the Future of Wild Sheep

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 21

ENSURING THE FUTURE

by Paige Culver WSF Development Manager

W

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

ith any luck, the title of this article will encapsulate the feelings of everyone who was able to make it back to Reno this year. (It may also unintentionally result in that song being stuck in your head for the rest of the day… I’m sorry about that part.) The last two years of uncertainty and frustration had all of us longing for some semblance of familiarity. This year we were determined, despite additional challenges, to have our Sheep Family reunion—also known as Sheep Show®.

As usual, the WSF staff were steady and steeled for whatever obstacles would head our way and we marched forward knowing that the prize would be the gathering of old friends, making new ones, and raising money for wild sheep. Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or in the White House, apparently) the supply chain and labor shortages will come as no surprise to you. While the challenges we face seem to change from year to year, the one thing that remains a constant is our members’ willingness to show up in a major way. You show up for us, one another, and for wild sheep. The evening banquets were a blast, as usual, and together we were once again able to pull off one of the greatest conservation expos in the world and raise some serious dollars for wild sheep conservation. We are blown away by the commitment of our membership to the cause.

In addition to auctions, raffles, etc. our Marco Polo Society membership hit a milestone 75-member mark! This fiscal year we

22 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

have added six new $100,000 dollar Marco Polo Society donors! We are getting so close to our 100-member goal for MPS. This giving society alone is now solely responsible for contributing $7.5 million to mission and program funding! WOW! We cordially invite you to be one of the FINAL 25 members in this 100-member campaign. (See full MPS listing on page 21) Our Chadwick Ram Society welcomed several new members and benefited from MANY upgrades from existing members. The Chadwick Ram Society has benefactor levels ranging from a $2,500 commitment or $250 annually for 10 years on up to a $50,000 commitment or $5,000 annually over a 10-year period. The pledge total from CRS members alone has reached a whopping ~$3.1 million dollars, of which, more than $2 million has been received and put toward “Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain®!” Our Chadwick Ram Society exclusive sheep hunt drawing will take place again this year on June 30th! We are so lucky to be working with our friends at Sierra El Alamo on this year’s CRS sheep hunt. The 2022 CRS winner will win a fully guided one-on-one hunt with Sierra El Alamo. (Full CRS listing can be found on page 18, flier for CRS drawing on page187.)

Finally, we added three new members to our Legacy Society.

Legacy Society members pledge a gift or bequest by remembering WSF in their will or estate planning. These

dedicated members are integral to our ability to continue to do critical conservation work in perpetuity, guaranteeing that WSF will be around for generations to come.

The accolades don’t stop there!

This year we had an anonymous donor step forward, pledging to match up to $100,000 in contributions to the Endowment Fund! Our membership answered that challenge in full force, and through this matching campaign alone, we were able to put ~$220,000 into our Endowment Fund within the short span of a few months.

This year’s Sheep Show®, although very different, has been like so many in years past; full of smiling faces, great stories, gut wrenching laughter, a handful of tears, but most importantly, a coming together under the same banner for the benefit of wild sheep and wild places. I love this Sheep Family.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for continuing to show up for each other, for us and supporting our efforts to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.” WS

For more information on the Wild Sheep Foundation’s giving societies or to make a donation, please contact WSF Development Manager, Paige Culver at 406-404-8758 or pculver@ wildsheepfoundation.org.

WSF’s Legacy Society recognizes individuals, families and foundations making testamentary bequests or contributions of major gifts, gift annuities or other charitable-giving instruments. Since inception of the Ensuring the Future of Wild Sheep (ETFOWS) campaign, 42 Legacy Society members have been recognized through WSF’s Legacy Society for contributions or pledges of future gifts.

Anonymous Anonymous Lee & Penny Anderson Jack, Jr. & Cindy Atcheson Derek W.O. Berry Mike Borel Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Rick & Heather Carosone Dr. Robert W. & Cynthia Cassell David & Sona Combs Monty & Becky Davis Howard & Mary Deters Doug & Patty Dreeszen Buddy DuVall

Bequests made through the New Beginnings Campaign* or other bequests may be recognized through the Legacy Society by contacting WSF. For more information on the Legacy Society or Estate Planning resources available through WSF, please contact Paige Culver at 406.404.8758 or PCulver@WildSheepFoundation.org.

Tom Grimes Eric & Sue Hansen Robert & Arlene Hanson Dr. Paul F. & Kathy J. Havey John R. & Mary Ann Justus Blair A. & Victoria M. Kenewell Robert M. Martin, Jr. Roger McCosker Kyle & Joanne Meintzer Chuck Middleton David Mode Brad R. Plaga Robert L. & J.P. Puette Kevin & Janine Rinke

Lanny Rominger Louis & Pauline Rupp SCI Foundation - Hunter Legacy Fund (HLF-100) Roger Segebrecht Kasie and Jason Sheridan Tim & Roxane Shinabarger Steve & Sue Skold Curt & Marcia Thompson Gray & Renée Thornton Jim Travis Tim & Ruth Van Der Weide The Estate of Robert B. Johnson Wayne W. Webber The William H. Donner Foundation, Inc

*New Beginnings Campaign was the FNAWS Capital Endowment Campaign conducted 1998-2003.

NEED ONE MORE SHEEP TO COMPLETE YOUR F.N.A.W.S.?

Bernie Fiedeldey has once again generously offered to match donations (up to $25,000) to the “1 MORE FOR 4” drawing for a FREE sheep hunt of qualified individuals needing one more ram to complete their Four North American Wild Sheep (F.N.A.W.S.) 2022 1MF4 SPONSORS Bernie Fiedeldey Darin & Tonya Fiedeldey Charles & Denise Swanson Darla Fiedeldey Kevin Gilbert

Leon Phillips Jeff Haynie Midwest Chapter WSF Kris Kohlhoff Richard Pierce

Renee Snider David & Sona Combs Kip & Sue Slaugh Washington WSF Eastern Chapter WSF

You can help keep the tradition going for the 2023 Convention “1 MORE FOR 4” Drawing and have your contribution matched by Bernie (up to $25,000.)

Our sincere appreciation to Bernie Fiedeldey and the “1 MORE FOR 4” participants for making this drawing and hunt of a lifetime possible!

For more Information Contact: Paige Culver: 406.404.8758 • PCulver@wildsheepfoundation.org

Scott Clark onstage with Denise Swanson shortly after winning the 2022 One More for Four Drawing SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 23

My son Chantz and I would like to thank

CABOT PITTS AT ALASKA WILD WIND ADVENTURES for the Dall sheep Hunt of a lifetime! The one of my NAWS I wanted to better!!!

He did it in spades!!! Thank you Cabot!!

E ric Do dd

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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

by Greg Schildwachter WSF Lobbyist

T

THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF 2022

his is the last year of the 117th Congress. It will take us to the mid-point of the Biden Administration’s term. “Mid-term” years are a good time to assess the agenda because time is short for final action on issues.

The possibilities for final passage of bills in Congress narrow as the days pass, and the Administration begins to bear down on the issues that will define their time in office. The entire House and one third of the Senate will stand for election in November.

Presidential campaigns will begin to form soon after.

Your policy agenda is based on your conservation agenda. The most recent version is the WSF Conservation Vision 2025. Goal #1 is to enhance wild sheep habitat.

The highest policy objective for Goal #1 is to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Disease is one of the “special factors” that together with food, water, shelter and space define habitat quality.

Advancing toward this objective through policy is a tough slog, but necessary. We could use—and have proposed—that the Forest Service create a new coordinator position because it is hard for us, woolgrowers, and the agency itself, even to know when and where a grazing permit or forest plan is being revised. When we can more clearly line these up, we can deploy our strengths in solutionoriented, science-based, self-funded working relationships with agencies and woolgrowers. We are also pursuing changes in law, regulation and other policy to make this winning

26 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

formula the standard operating procedure.

Mitigating invasive weeds and developing water sources are other important policy issues. Wilderness Area rules and practices have been obstacles to both. As we have overcome some of them, we have gathered the best ideas for improving wilderness rules to make it easier.

We are promoting these ideas with the sponsors of new wilderness designations.

Many other active issues also contribute to CV2025 goals.

On the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, our success in protecting the joint management authority of FWS and the Air Force has fallen into a lull. We are still building the ideal cooperative program that includes NDOW and tribes.

The US Sheep Experiment Station has moved to step two in the direction of a new mission for that facility.

The most immediate risks of disease transmission have been addressed and we are now advocating in partnership with woolgrowers for a broader research agenda.

We are teamed with effective partners on several bills that would reopen hunting on the Castle Mountains National Monument, eliminate unfair permitting rules for film crews on Federal land and improve the Qualified Volunteer Program by which hunters can participate in wildlife population control interventions.

The November 2021 “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” opened several opportunities that will begin

to ripen in the remainder of this year. This bill committed significant funding to conservation. The most direct effect for wild sheep will be funding for highway crossing projects and some flexibility for the Forest Service to resume efforts on issues other than fire.

As more crossing projects proceed, we may see renewed momentum on the larger issue of migration corridors. USDA Farm Production and Conservation, led by Undersecretary Robert Bonnie, is developing a program to bring a share of the Farm Bill’s $60 billion conservation program to bear on migration habitats. This may help boost the commitment of the Forest Service. USDA’s focus is likely to be in Wyoming. Compared to the wide-ranging Department of Interior program which focused on a few species, the USDA program will be narrow geographically, but for a wider range of activities and species.

Either way, this initiative is a base to build on.

Longer-term developments are also in play, such as the Administration’s “America the Beautiful” initiative (which is headed in a positive direction) and the push for wind and solar energy (which may incidentally make wildlife a stronger consideration in the early steps of energy project development on Federal land).

Your Legislative Affairs Committee is homing in to complete work on as many of these as possible. We are eager to have your ideas and help in advancing the agenda. WS

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W BUILT TO HUNT | PO Box 250, Cedar City, UT 84721 | 435-865-1020 | www.huntinfool.com SPRING 2022 ~

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$100 PER TICKET LIMTED TO 2,500 TICKETS PER ITEM

Drawing held after last ticket for each prize are sold

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NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN

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ORIGINAL AND REBUILD SPECS: • 1996 Land Rover Defender 110 Five Door Wagon (Factory built in UK for the United Nations - Left Hand Drive) • TD300 (diesel) engine • 5 speed manual transmission • Full-time 4WD FULL GROUND UP RESTORATION: (Matching, original serial numbers - complete frame to chassis rebuild) • Body completely restored, sand blasted, riveted and TIG welded • Electro Galvanized Chassis • Complete Engine & Transmission rebuild • New coil over suspension, drive train, prop shaft, brake system, instrumentation, interior, tires, snorkel and every other nut, bolt, cap, rivet, and screw!

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This hunt is an all-inclusive package, includes permitting, is guided

by English-speaking guides and all in-country ground travel and services, including round trip economy air travel, $5,000 USD in guide tip money, and $2,500 for in-country incidentals, plus expert assistance with import permitting and other planning needs.

The tradition of hunting in Mongolia spans over eight centuries, back to when Genghis Khan ruled the largest empire on Earth. This tradition has changed very little over those hundreds of years. It is a land of an ancient culture of nomadic horsemen and unspoiled wilderness at the World’s apex, and above all, friendly people. As Mongolia has existed, the tradition of welcoming the traveler has been an essential element of their heritage.

INCLUSIONS • R/T economy airfare Meeting and Greeting - pickup & transportation in Ulaanbaatar city • Airport VIP lounge fee • Domestic Flights & in-country travel & lodging • All ground transportation (airport-to-airport service) for the duration of your hunt • State Veterinary certificate & export documentation • English speaking interpreter 1x1 • Experienced professional hunter(s) accompanied by skillful tracker(s) 1x1 • Ger Lodging & meals at camp, camp staff services • Unlimited bottled water, soft drinks, and alcohol drinks in moderation • Ger lodge and tent accommodation • Trophy skinning and preparation $5,000 in guide tips $2,500 for incidentals • Community fees and field care of the trophies OUTFITTER: Muugi Dori of Zevhunting.com DATES: July - September 2022. This hunt cannot be delayed?

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A “PRO BONO” MID-ASIAN IBEX HUNT

BY ALEXANDER SHARIF PHOTOS BY DARRYN EPP 30 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

A SUCCESSFUL TAJIKISTAN CONSERVATION STORY

W

hen it comes to implementing a sustainable game conservation program, there are typically two approaches. The approach here in North America is from the top down, and by that, I mean the involvement of the government agencies which in turn employ wildlife biologists who understand game population

management strategies and put them in place every year after considering variables such as winter mortality, feed availability, aerial surveys and male to female/juvenile ratios etc.

The alternative approach is for landowners to take things into their own hands and determine quotas, harvestable species, etc,. as present in many parts of Africa and even

Europe. While healthy habitat for wildlife is the key to robust wildlife populations and a balanced ecosystem, let’s also not discount the fact that for local people who share that same habitat, access to wildlife is often the only means of securing the necessities of life.

In Central Asia and many other parts of the world however, the

The view looking south from our base camp—the magnificent Hindu-Kush range. The visible peak is called “Tirich Mir” which in Wakhi language translates to “King of darkness”! She sits proudly at 7,708 m (25, 288 ft) above sea level.

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 31

governments often do not have the resources to instill and enforce such measures to the extent we see here in North America—and the same applies to landowners in certain cases.

The other part of the equation is the big question of who should

benefit from a conservation program?

Should it be just the wildlife, a handful of individuals who have the power and the connections in the government, or a whole community? There is no one answer to this question, but what is crucial is that the wildlife itself should take

The spectacular Pamir mountains are truly the roof of the world!

32 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

precedence and receive the most protection/benefit—and with that comes the benefits for the supporting community.

Roll back the clock to the 2015 Sheep Show® in Reno. As I was perusing the convention halls, I came across a booth from a group

Most of the proceeds from the hunters go back directly to the hosting village. of passionate wildlife biologists who told me they had started a community-based hunting program in Tajikistan that will not only provide protection for the ibex/sheep that act as a robust prey source for the snow leopard, but one that has also benefited the local communities

that are hosting and implementing the program. I am a skeptic by nature, but took note.

In the months that followed, the more I read and researched, the more I got interested in their cause. Over the years to come, I established a healthy dialogue

with their program director Khalil Karimov and understood that this is the type of grass-roots organization I would like to hunt with and support in my pursuit of a Mid-Asian ibex in Tajikistan. In a country like Tajikistan, the needs of the wildlife and the local people that share the same landscape should be the bedrock of a sustainable-use conservation program.

Khalil, a graduate of the University of Vienna in wildlife ecology/ management and his Tajik/Kyrgyz colleagues started ANCOT, an NGO, in 2009. They realized that creating sustainable community-based hunting is the best way to ensure that the game is protected through an incentive for the locals to stop killing the game animals for sustenance and instead reap the financial benefits brought in from the funds donated by the foreign hunters. This was a model that had worked in many parts of Africa, so why not in Central Asia? They currently manage four concessions throughout Tajikistan: Yaguti Darshay, Parcham, Borgut and Yuz Palang. These concessions are all in the southern Pamirs.

Each concession has a director in charge with a team of guides, porters, shikaris, skinners, cooks, etc. They do not deal with volume, and the tags/hunts are limited through government regulations— but what they do and the way the hunts are carried out is the real McCoy. Most of the proceeds from the hunters go back directly to the hosting village. In some instances, funds are used to build schools, buy school supplies, provide solar panels, purchase coal and flour, and the list goes on. In North America, SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 33

The Pamir Highway can get tricky; travel only during daylight!

the rewards of good conservation programs result in citizen access to the wildlife resources. The same reward is also occurring in Tajikistan for conservancies that are managed under the ANCOT umbrella.

In short, if you want to experience a real mountain hunt where you will get to spend time with locals, stay in their homes, eat their food and be guided by them, then booking a hunt with ANCOT is your passport. My good friend Jack Atcheson, Jr. has been involved with ANCOT since its inception and acts as their sole agent in the U.S. Jack is also very passionate about their programs and promotes it widely. You can also book directly with ANCOT, and they also have agents in Europe (Fairhunt.net).

Now to our hunt this past November….

My longtime pal Carl Tatarin and I decided to book with ANCOT for a Mid-Asian ibex hunt back in June of 2021. With COVID still looming around the globe and creating uncertainty, we delayed buying our 34 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

travel tickets until mid-October.

Also knowing how passionate and active my friend Darryn Epp is about conservation, I extended the invite to him. It took him a couple of weeks, but he accepted my invitation to join our group—not with his rifle this time—but with his carefully packed series of powerful digital cameras, his array of lenses and his knowledge of photography. This addition to our team was a gift because we all know how a few distinct and powerful images can create curiosity and inspire readers.

We left Calgary on November 2nd, arriving in the capital Dushanbe in early morning hours of Nov 4th.

After the CIP clearance (well worth the $70), we were greeted by our facilitator Mustafo and other staff from ANCOT, and right away, were on our way to the southern Pamirs.

Before embarking on this trip, we all had a trifle of concern over the current security situation with Afghanistan as the two countries share a very long border separated

by the “Panj” river, and a good 500 kms of it was along our route. We were soon to discover that this was a non-issue and the real danger lay in the section of the Pamir highway between Darwaz and Rushan. This 380 km segment is basically a oneand-a-half-lane gravel road with potholes, rock falls, many blind corners, some traffic and no guard rails. On average, you can only do about 30 km/hr., making sure to travel during daylight hours.

Night fell and we arrived in Khorog, the capital of the Pamirs and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). The following day we still had a aix-hour drive to the tiny village of Darshay. This segment of the road was in far better shape, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. All along we would pass through tiny villages where it seemed as though time had slowed down to pre-WWII era. Farmers were still plowing their land with draft animals and life was lived at a very slow pace. We could also see

the Afghans across the border doing basically the same thing with no signs of Taliban. Several check stops had to be navigated between regions, but clearance came quickly when our visas, gun permits, and other paperwork copies were presented.

Upon arrival at the Darshay village which is located at the west end of the famous Wakhan corridor, we were greeted by the conservation director for the area, an affable man by the name of Munavvar Alidodov.

He introduced us to our crew of 15 guides, shikaris, packers, etc., and this is when we distributed a couple of small gifts (toques with a Canada maple leaf and packs of warm socks) between them all. They were all jazzed to see the Canadian maple leaf!

Our entourage was mostly composed of Munavvar’s extended family, brother, cousins, brother-in-law, and nephews. We had a great lunch in his house, a typical Pamir style home with simple but beautiful decorations.

The gear was quickly loaded on the donkeys/yaks and by 2 PM, we started

As classic as a true mountain hunt gets: a harmonious blend of guides, packers, shikaris, skinners, hunters, supplies, donkeys and yaks.

our hike towards camp one. This was to be a 12 km hike up a steep set of switchbacks followed by a side-slope approach. We arrived at camp one in the dark around 8 PM. The camp was a mud and stone hut with a small stove and a separate room for the guides, packers and cooks.

The next morning, we checked the zeros on our rifles and were comforted that they were both spot

on, breaking rocks at over 450 yards away. We then pressed on towards the main camp, located at an elevation of 3,500m (11,500 ft) above sea level and located next to the Darshay river.

There were horns of ibex adorning the roof top and it was a beautiful setting for an ibex camp. Our meals were prepared daily and were all excellent.

All along, we were mesmerized by the shear natural beauty of the surrounding

Ordinary folks with ordinary tools growing their consumables!

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WILD S HEEP® 35

After hunting was over, we still had a day to just relax and indulge in this paradise. mountains and thoughts of past hunters such as Elgin Gates, Prince Abdorreza and others who had hunted in the Wakhan in the early days of international hunting. To our south, the towering peaks of the Hindu-Kush range that extended to the Karakoram and shared borders with Tajikistan, Afghanistan and even Pakistan were decorating the landscape. The 7,700 m (25,200 ft) snow-covered Tirich Mir peak was immersed in the clouds and made us feel we truly were on the roof of the world!

On a trip like this, one often has beaucoup time at hand because of staying awake due to jet lag, and the lack of disruptions from work and cell phones. For yours truly, memories of the distant past with my late dad and uncle hunting the

Urials and the Bezoars of my native land came to mind. I realized how blessed and fortunate I had been to have experienced that, even as a youngster, and how their teachings had shaped and influenced my entire life. I could almost hear my dad’s voice, murmuring this timeless classic from poet Bubba Taher Hamedani about hunting: I am a hunter from the land of Hamedan, Nestled in the mountains from times long gone, Hopping from a valley to a peak’s face, To bag down my prey in fair chase.

A sound hunting strategy is also essential in this area. Obviously, one cannot physically afford to aimlessly

Guides were fascinated by our armaments—especially the custom turrets!

36 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

climb ridge after ridge for days on end in this altitude while seeking game in a four- to five-day hunt. To avoid this, the concession manager has picked out a few spots along this 20 km valley where it was possible to effectively glass and scope certain promising drainages. This allows the hunting party to know which drainage they need to climb to, and the challenge is then trying to beat the shift in mid-day air currents carrying your scent up to the game.

This means that you need to get to your basin before the shift, which in turn, means starting in the dark and climbing several hundred meters of elevation gain in a short time. This area only holds the majestic MidAsian ibex, and according to Khalil, an estimated 400 animals live in this

Thanks to

Megan Pineur of Nomad Adventures

for an amazing hunt in Alaska for barren ground caribou.

- Jon McMahon Alberta Canada

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Age and character before beauty and size!

valley. There are snow leopards and wolves which also prey on the ibex.

Both Carl and I followed this strategy and connected with respectable billie’s. We were also content that a major portion of our financial contributions towards this hunt went directly into the betterment of these villagers lives, which returns me to the title of my article—“A pro bono hunt”—for the benefit of all. I also like to quote what one other patron (Bill Campbell) said about his contributions to hunt Marco Polo sheep with ANCOT in 2017; “My personal foreign-aid donation program!”

After hunting was over, we still had a day to just relax and indulge in this paradise. Unfortunately, I was fighting a severe chest infection, but didn’t let that bother me. We had loads of ibex shashliks with dunba, drank tea and reminisced our experiences on the mountain with Darryn skillfully capturing it through his lens. On that same afternoon, as 38 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Yours truly with a Billy taken in fair chase at 4,600 meters. My guide was Nurali wearing orange gloves.

Thanks to

GREAT WHITE HOLDINGS LTD. for an exceptional 2021 hunt in Alberta, Canada!

- Daryl Turner TX

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Sometimes things are just meant to work out the way they are supposed to.

The best part of the whole trip was the warm and hospitable Tajik people!

I stared at the mighty Hindu-Kush peaks across the valley with my cup of Chai in my hand and immersed in the moment, the following poem that has been a pilar of my life from the renowned Persian poet Omar Khayam came to mind: Why worry whether wealth I have or not, And life in happiness shall end or not Come, fill the cup; for ‘tis unknown to me, The breath inhaled shall be exhaled or not On that same day, after the capes were turned in salt, dried and the skulls boiled, we loaded the pack train and slowly walked the 20 km out to the village, some of it in very sketchy sections. After arrival and unloading the pack train, we visited a hot spring, shaved and took a muchneeded shower.

The following morning, it was time to say goodbye to our new friends at Darshay village and take on the treacherous drive back through the Pamir highway to the capital, which we made safely in two days.

We even had time set aside for some sightseeing, food tasting and souvenir shopping. Being of Persian 40 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

background, the sightseeing part meant a lot to me and it echoed memories of a country that I left behind 50 years ago as a young man.

Even though the Tajiks pronounce the Persian language somewhat different, I could understand parts of their conversations. Our guide Mirzo Mirzoev was of course a big part of this wonderful experience with his vast knowledge of the Persio-Tajik culture. This was truly an epic classic mountain hunt in the Pamirs with some unique cultural experiences, and we were delighted to have partaken in it.

On our last afternoon, we were fortunate to visit ANCOT’s headquarters in Dushanbe to meet the entire staff, look closely at their conservation programs, their data collection protocols and their success stories—and as a small token of appreciatio—we invited them to a grand supper at a newly opened Turkish restaurant. I register a big thank you to the entire staff at ANCOT for their hospitality and accommodating every request we put in front of them prior to and during the hunt. This includes the logistics staff in the capital and at Darshay, the guides, packers, skinners and even the donkeys and the yaks. We arrived as

Carl with the conservancy director Munavvar and his ibex.

clients, but left as friends, and they all made it that much more special.

Who knows, maybe one of these days, we will win the lottery and go back to hunt for a Bukharan urial or a markhor with the ANCOT team. It requires hope as well as optimism and there are no limits to either! WS

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CALIFORNIA BIGHORN

DREAM HUNT

BY DAVE TURCHANSKI

I

t was early this spring when my wife and I were enjoying some nice weather after the long winter when I received a text from my good friend at GOABC, Scott Ellis, “Dave...I want to talk to you about a sheep tag. Are you free to discuss later today?”

“Sure Scott, just give me a call this afternoon on my cell.” Scott called, and after a 20-minute phone conversation, a well-known outfitter that I didn’t know at the time (he has become a good friend now) had a Cali tag for sale. Scott asked, “You are well known in the sheep hunting world—I know hardly anyone— can you help Melvin Kilback get rid of a Cali tag?” This was limited to Canadian residents at the time because of COVID, but I said I would check it out with all the sheep hunters I know in Canada and get

back to him. I asked for Melvin’s number as well to get some more information on the tag. As soon as I hung up with Scott, I called Melvin. I had a great conversation with Melvin and he discussed his new Cali area and the tag he was looking to get rid of. I asked him to give me a week to see what I could do to help him out and track down some great sheep hunting friends. However, before hanging up, I asked Melvin how much it would cost. He remarked, “As long as I can make a mortgage payment on my new area, I would be happy.” The weekend went by and I talked with my wife and then called Melvin on Monday to tell him I would take it. The Cali was the last North American sheep that I needed, as I already have my FNAWS and a Fannin sheep. I was very excited and could not wait for September.

It was official when I received a contract from his wife, Tammi, and at that point, I knew it was going to happen.

It seemed like the summer went by fast as we where getting very close to September and hunting plans would have to be made. Melvin stayed in touch through August, keeping me posted on the sheep that they were seeing. It was getting more exciting each day for me as I heard about the rams that were being spotted. I spoke with Melvin early in the last week of August, and told him I planned on being in Oliver September 2nd.

Then I received a call August 27th informing me the date was pushed back. I wasn’t sure when I should arrive. At the time, it was not a problem given the backcountry smoke—it was one of the worst fire years in the Penticton, Oliver area.

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Visibility was terrible and roads were also closed to accessing the backcountry because of the fires.

There were also issues in the transfer of the area into Melvin’s name, but with the help of some great people at GOABC, as well as Andrew Walker and others, it finally happened late on September 27th.

I arrived in Oliver on September 26th with the season due to close on September 30th. Needless to say, given the short window, there were two really nervous people in BC, Melvin Kilback and Dave Turchanski. A seven-day sheep hunt just turned into a three-day hunt— plan B. However, I stayed positive that we could get it done fairly quick.

I arrived at 5 AM at Kilback’s house to meet my guide, Robert Mattess, and enjoyed a great breakfast prepared by Tammi.

After eating breakfast, we headed into the high country above Okanagan Falls. We got to a point on a back trail, parked, and put our packs on. From there we hiked to a vantage point where we could look over an area where a lot of sheep had been spotted. We shortly spotted ewes and lambs, but no rams. After more glassing, we finally found a

46 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

group of six rams, but no shooters.

We then noticed a second group of eight rams moving fairly fast through the underbrush and trees.

We focused on this group throughout the late afternoon until they finally slowed down and started feeding. The wind was now blowing 30-50 kmph and it was hard to tell what possibilites were in the group, even with binoculars. We backed out and headed for camp knowing chances were good we could relocate them in the morning. We got the green light form Melvin that we could shoot the following day.

Up and at it at five AM we were heading back to a new vantage point to look at the rams we put to bed the night before. It wasn’t long before we located the rams, and the absence of wind definitely worked in our favor.

After carefully watching the rams, we decided there was a shooter in the group. However, we had not checked out all the areas where sheep had previously been seen. So, we pulled out mid-morning and moved into some of these other areas. We found more sheep as the day progressed: rams, ewes, lambs—but no big rams.

Knowing that there was a shooter ram and it was the second-to-the-last

day of our hunt, we decided to see if we could relocate the rams.

We got up early again and were on the mountain at daybreak. We found a group of ewes and lambs along with some new rams that were small, but not the group of eight with the bigger ram in it. Robert split up from me and was not gone long when he came back with, “I think I found them.” In the trees about 950 yards away we could see sheep butts. They were milling around and there were eight sheep. It was just after noon. We looked at each other and knew we needed to make our move. We carefully made our way to where the rams were, knowing they were just on the other side of a rise between us. As we made our final stalk, Robert was to my right about 15 feet away. Suddenly I saw sheep horns coming over the rise and I hit the deck. Robert did as well and had his binos on the sheep. The first ram that came into sight I recognized as the biggest ram in the group. I looked at Robert and he concurred. He was head on, so I let him corner away, and when he did, my 300 short mag came to life. The ram spun around and disappeared. I knew he was hit.

We carefully walked over the rise

SPRING 2022 ~

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and we found sheep horns again looking at us. We hit the ground as the sheep milled around, but as they moved away, we could only count seven sheep. In only a few more steps,

48 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

we found the monarch dead on the ground. There were handshakes, hugs and the Cali was down. The rest is history. My thanks to Robert, Melvin and Tammi from Kettle River

Outfitters for a great trip and the first Cali taken in their new area. If you are looking for a California bighorn sheep, reach out to Kettle River Outfitters and Melvin Kilback! WS

Thank Yo u Dave Go wan o f Canyo ns Wes t Guide Service fo r pro viding me with o ne o f the mo s t exciting actio n packed and truly o utdo o r experiences I have ever taken. Dave pro ves that it’s no t always abo ut the 100% s ucces s reco rd he’s had o ver 25 plus years that’s impo rtant, but the fact that yo u receive 100% effo rt to give yo u an adventure o f a lifetime! My hunt was o ne I’ll never fo rget!

Larry Jo hns SPRING 2022 ~

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TODAY’S SHEEP RIFLE

Stable, accurate, better-scoped!

BY CRAIG BODDINGTON

S

heep hunting culture emerged in the postwar world. The sheep rifle took two primary forms.

Jack O’Connor championed his .270 Winchester, preferring a short, light package: Slender, 22-inch barrel and a trim stock. O’Connor had a loud voice, but many of his contemporaries took different paths, embracing faster, more powerful cartridges, in heavier rifles with longer barrels. Herb Klein and Elgin

Gates were early adopters of the .300 Weatherby Magnum; John Batten’s favorite was a .30-.338. Warren Page championed a fast 7mm, and globetrotting brothers Bert and Chris Klineburger shared a battered 7mm Remington Magnum. Stocks were wood, and by 1950, fixed-power scopes up to 4X were universal.

LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL Actions have changed little:

Boddington took this mid-Asian ibex in Tajikistan in February 2022, using his Jarrett .300 Win Mag with Leica Amplus 2.5-15X and Hornady’s new CX bullet. His first use of Leica’s new Geovid Pro system, the correction was spot-on.

The trim American Classic stock is pretty much the only feature that prevents this rifle from being a “today” sheep rifle. (Photo by Byron Pace) 50 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Among mountain hunters, the bolt-action rules! This is because of strength, stability, reliability, and adaptability to a broad range of cartridges. Any other action could be used, but on the mountain is almost an eccentricity. Traditional blued steel has given way to stainless metal and rustproof finish.

The most visible change is probably in stocks. O’Connor passed away in early 1978. The Professor

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Two or three accurate shots from a cold barrel should do everything we need done! was aware of synthetics, preferring his beautiful walnut; it’s unlikely he ever saw a synthetic stock on the mountain. Laminate and synthetic stocks were developed by the benchrest community, neither for weight nor aesthetics, but for accuracy-enhancing stability. I have the .30-.338 rifle John Batten described as his “favorite sheep rifle.”

It was built about 1960 on a Mauser action and, astonishingly, it’s an early sporter-style laminate, clever and trim; you have to look closely to realize it’s a laminate. Obviously, Batten appreciated the strength and warpage-resistance of laminated wood.

Unfortunately, laminates are heavier than solid walnut…and heavier than synthetics. Synthetic sporter stocks were pioneered in the 1970s by Chet Brown and Lee Six. Today, synthetics are dominant across all sporting rifles. For the mountain

hunter, they make sense; carrying a nice piece of walnut up into the rocks is, well, another eccentricity.

A synthetic stock is stronger than

John Batten, lifelong friend of O’Connor, with his last Alberta ram, taken with his .30-338. Boddington has this rifle, made in about 1960 with an early laminate stock.

It still wears Batten’s 2.75X fixed-power Redfield, apparently plenty of scope!

walnut, weatherproof, and cannot warp. It is not necessarily lighter than wood; it depends on the construction and material, and there are choices.

Solid synthetics are often heavier than wood, while hollow, foam-filled synthetics are lighter…but not as strong. Synthetic reinforced with Kevlar or other material is almost unbreakable. Today, fiberglass and various plastics have given way to carbon fiber in the “best” synthetic stocks.

Style has also changed. Early synthetic stocks—and, to this day, most of my own—emulate the slim lines of American classic walnut.

Hand-checkering on good wood gave way to molded checkering panels…or just plain rough crinkle-paint finish, but trim fore-ends and straight combs were almost universal. As scopes have improved and gotten larger, the straight American classic buttstock no longer works so well. Larger

A closer look at John Batten’s favorite sheep rifle, in .30-338 wildcat. Made in 1960, the rifle sports an early laminate stock.The scope is a fixedpower 2.75X in Griffin & Howe detachable side mount.With the scope removed, an aperture sight in a butt trap can be fitted onto the base.

52 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

and thus the rifle, are bulkier.

CARTRIDGES

Boddington used an Allterra in 6.5mm SST to take this Montana goat in 2020. With carbon fiber stock and carbon fiber reinforced barrel, the Allterra is lighter than it appears, and very accurate…a fine example of today’s sheep rifle.

scopes—with larger objectives— must be mounted higher to clear the barrel, and we find ourselves lifting our heads to obtain sight picture.

In response, today’s stocks are likely to have higher combs. To avoid an ungainly appearance, fore-ends are also bigger. Adjustable-height combs are now seen in both wood and synthetic. With today’s “big” scopes so much in vogue, they make sense.

There have always been “extragood” barrels that shot especially well, but today’s “average” barrel is better! We can still argue the advantages of button rifling, cut rifling, and hammer forging. I lean toward the latter as the most consistent, but, by any method, some barrels will be better than others.

This is why “select” or match-grade barrels are more expensive.

Although not necessarily more accurate, heavier barrels tend to be more consistent—and are slower to heat up. Sure, but how many of us want to carry a heavy-barreled varmint rifle up the mountain?

Fluting removes barrel metal without reducing strength, and exposes more surface, which aids in heat dissipation.

The new kid on the block is carbon fiber. The proper term is “carbon fiber reinforcing.” Not really new, but these barrels have gotten more popular, and also increasingly better thanks to improved reinforcing techniques. A “carbon fiber barrel” starts with a plain old barrel, turned down to minimum dimension, and then wrapped with carbon fiber.

Better start with a good barrel!

Carbon fiber is lighter than steel, so there is some weight savings. More important: The thick outer layer of carbon fiber stiffens a barrel and reduces vibration, which tends to make accuracy more consistent. The greatest benefit to carbon fiber is heat dissipation: You can fire a longer shot string before the bullets start to walk.

This reduces idle “cooling time” on the range and is wonderful for prairie dogs, but means little to the sheep hunter. Two or three accurate shots from a cold barrel should do everything we need done! Although increasingly popular on our “new” sheep rifle, I find the carbon fiber barrel of neutral benefit on the mountain. But, provided it shoots well (and the good ones do!), there is no down side, other than the barrel,

It is not true that Jack O’Connor shot “all” of his sheep with the .270 Winchester. Except for his last in 1946, O’Connor took all of his Sonoran sheep with various other cartridges. However, from the 1940s he took “most” of his sheep with his beloved .270s.

The older I get, the more convinced I am that Professor O’Connor knew his stuff. The .270 Winchester is a wonderful sheep cartridge. I’m a “gun guy” and I write about this stuff. I’ve experimented with numerous cartridges; there are many good choices. Wife Donna is not a “gun gal.” She likes what she likes: It would be difficult to convince her that the .270 is lacking in power or range (and, for her purposes, is lacking in neither)!

Me, I’ve gone back and forth.

Left to right: 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, 28 Nosler, .300 PRC. These seem to be among the more popular new cartridges headed up sheep mountains today. All four focus on long, heavy-for-caliber “low drag” bullets with very high BCs. SPRING 2022 ~

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Not sheep country, but these .300 PRC cartridges are ready to do business. The bullet is a long, heavy 212-grain Hornady ELD-X. Velocity cannot be as fast as lighter bullets, but with off-the-charts Ballistic Coefficient, long-range performance is outstanding.

I’ve used the .270 Winchester a lot, but also the .270 WSM and .270 Weatherby Magnum. And I’ve used fast 6.5mms, various 7mms, and a bevy of fast .30 calibers. Although I’ve used larger calibers, there is no justification for cartridges above .30…unless it’s a rifle you are compelled to use, which is justification enough.

I haven’t used them, but a case could be made for fast .25s for some sheep hunting. Goats are tougher than sheep, and some goats (turs and some ibex) are bigger than any sheep. So, for worldwide use, I’d rule out the .25s and anything smaller.

I’d also rule out the slower 6.5mms, 7mms, and .30s as not having enough velocity. This group includes: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 7mm-08, 7x57, even the .308 Winchester and .30-06.

Great cartridges all, but I don’t see them as ideal mountain cartridges.

That leaves us with: Fast 6.5mms; the .270s; 7mms from .280 Remington up; and the large group of fast or “magnum” .30s.

That’s a wide array of cartridges, old and new. New cartridges bring a new twist (literally). The latest cartridges and their projectiles come from the growing community of extreme-range shooters. This movement has been 54 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

enabled by better optics (which we’ll get to). We can see farther…so we’ve needed bullets that will get there!

Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is a comparative index of a bullet’s ability to resist drag and retain velocity. Most often quoted is the three-decimal “G1 BC.” We used to think a G1 BC approaching .500 was spectacular. Today, BCs into the .600s, are fairly common, in part due to computerized aid in projectile design. Modern “low drag” bullets include Berger’s VLD, Federal’s Terminal Ascent, Hornady’s ELD series, Nosler’s AccuBond Long Range, Sierra’s MatchKing, and more.

Higher BC is often achieved by increasing bullet length and weight, creating two interesting dichotomies.

American hunters have long craved velocity. As a combination of physics and pressure limits, in any given cartridge case, a heavier bullet must be slower. So, the 200-grain ELD-X that I’m now shooting in my .300 magnums cannot be as fast as the 180-grain bullets I used for decades.

The race isn’t always to the swift; at some point downrange, the higher BC will tell and the heavier, slower bullet may pass the faster, lighter projectile. This is a sea change,

as many of us consciously trade maximum velocity for optimum downrange performance.

Second, the “twist” I mentioned.

When cartridges are “legitimized,” standard rifling twists are specified… based on the existing range of projectiles. As our low-drag projectiles get longer and heavier, this can cause problems. Most .30-caliber rifles have 1:10 twist, which should stabilize bullets up to the once-standard 220-grain bullet.

Most 7mms, with 1:9 or 1:10 twist, will be okay up to 175 grains, but accuracy may suffer with new bullets up to 200 grains.

The .270 is one of the biggest problems. The long-standard 1:10 twist will usually stabilize a 150-grain bullet…but that’s about it. We .270 fans have long been aware that our pets would benefit from longer, heavier bullets…but the standard 1:10 twist won’t stabilize them.

Winchester’s 6.8 Western is primarily about the bullets. The cartridge was introduced with bullets from 162 to 175 grains, weights that have never existed in .277 diameter. Rifles are specified with a faster 1:8 twist.

I’d love to try some of these heavy bullets, but we don’t have a .270 I’m willing to rebarrel. Similarly, shooters adopting new cartridges like 28 Nosler and .300 PRC usually specify faster twist (1:8) barrels, enabling them to use heavy new projectiles.

In the 1990s, cartridge design shifted to unbelted cases that were relatively fatter in relation to length.

This creates burning efficiency, resulting in more energy produced per grain of propellent. Efficiency would be even better if our cartridges were still fatter, but existing actions can only accept cartridges of finite

dimensions, both width and length.

Recent cartridge design has been very specific as to action length, taking into account case length and the extra length of long bullets. The Nosler family of cartridges (now 26, 27, 28, 30 and 33) uses a 2.590-inch case that can be housed in a standard (.30-06-length) action…but fulllength (.375 H&H-length) actions are often used to accommodate today’s extra-long bullets.

Winchester’s 6.8 Western took the opposite approach: It’s a short-action cartridge but, in order for shortactions to accommodate the new long bullets, they slightly shortened the .270 WSM case. Hornady has gone both ways with their PRC family (currently 6.5 and .300). The 6.5 PRC is based on a .375 Ruger case shortened to 2.030 inches. It can be housed in a short action, but is often

used in a standard (.30-06-length) action, leaving plenty of room for long bullets. The .300 PRC uses the full-length (2.580-inch) .375 Ruger case. Similarly, it can be housed in a standard action…but many use .375-length actions (with faster twist barrel), allowing use of the longest and heaviest .30-caliber bullets, now up to 250 grains.

The significance depends on your purposes. There is no sheep or goat that can’t be taken with a .270 Winchester and traditional 130-grain bullet, at least to 500 yards or so.

These days, many shooters desire the capability to reach farther, but many do not!

OPTICS

Improvement in optics has been colossal! Batten and O’Connor started hunting sheep with aperture

sights; the big shift to magnifying riflescopes came in the 1940s.

Batten’s .30-.338 still wears his scope, a 2.75X Redfield; O’Connor’s famed “Biesen No. 2” sheep rifle wore a fixed 4X. O’Connor reckoned that was all the scope he needed…not much more was available! Variables existed, but significant zero shifts between magnification settings were common.

The variable-power scope was finally perfected in the 1970s, and gradually took over the market. In those days, “three-times zoom” was pretty much the limit. Not long ago I bought a beautiful O’Connor-style left-hand .270, made by Joe Balickie in the 1980s, wearing its original vintage Leupold 2-7X. The scope still tracks perfectly, but it showed me how spoiled I am by modern scopes with better glass and more

25 years ago, Leica’s Geovid was the first rangefinding binocular. Their new Geovid Pro has an internal weather station. Interfacing with Leica’s smartphone app, it both ranges and delivers a correction based on ballistic input and local atmospherics. (Photo by Byron Pace)

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On a recent ibex hunt, all four hunters used bipods. Checking zero, David Draper is using the light, carbon fiber Javelin bipod from Spartan, perhaps the most advanced bipod system.

magnification!

For decades, the versatile “threetimes-zoom” 3-9X was the most popular hunting scope. I could argue that more magnification isn’t necessary for big game…but

nobody would listen. Four, five, even six times zoom capability has changed the game…and I’ve happily played along! A primary mountain rifle wears a Leupold VX6 3-18x44mm. I’ve used other scopes

Technology continues to advance. In Tajikistan, this was the first time Boddington had seen a chronograph in a sheep camp. The light and simple Magneto-Speed chronograph allowed real-time checking of altitude and temperature, ensuring all data was perfect.

56 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

from Swarovski and Zeiss in the same power range, and right now I’m using a new Leica Amplus 2.5-15x50mm scope. Such scopes, with 30mm tubes are, of course, larger and heavier.

With larger objective lenses they must be mounted higher to clear the barrel, which gets into the stock fit issue mentioned earlier.

Larger objectives are “brighter,” but this is rarely critical in sheep hunting. It’s uncommon to get onto a ram at first light, and equally unusual to take a last-light shot, because you must get down the mountain safely.

Better to come back in the morning.

The current preference in scopes is to more magnification (and larger objectives) than we really need. No harm, except we’re packing more scope than is essential.

Improvements in optics aren’t just about magnification. Space-age lens coatings enhance clarity and light transmission. Perhaps most important of all: Today’s “good scopes” have consistent and accurate adjustments.

Think about this: Before you can consider “dialing the range” you must know your adjustments are perfect!

With today’s top brands, you can put that in the bank. This technology has led to a wide array of turrets and systems that facilitate dialing the range.

Leupold’s Custom Dial System (CDS), with turret calibrated to your load and conditions, is wonderfully simple. I like simple, but I can’t switch loads, or readily adapt to atmospheric (altitude or temperature) changes. On buddy Zack Aultman’s range in Georgia, last deer season we spent a lot of time zeroing his new Allterra .300 PRC with a Swarovski scope, zeroing their color-coded rings for 400, 500, and 600 yards.

Essentially, you customize your own turret!

In conjunction with the Leica scope, right now I’m messing with their new Geovid Pro rangefinding binocular, the most advanced system I have seen. There is no interface between scope and binocular, and it

is compatible with any scope. Using the Leica smartphone app (linked via Bluetooth to the binocular), you input your load data and desired correction format. The binocular acts as a weather station, taking into account atmospherics. Press the ranging button and the field shows true range. A few heartbeats later the field shows the correction. I need to spend a lot more time with this system! Two weeks ago, I trusted it enough to dial the correction for a shot at a big mid-Asian ibex. Not terribly far, but an acute uphill angle.

One shot, one ibex, hit exactly where I wanted it!

THE PACKAGE

That ibex hunt, in Tajikistan, offered a small snapshot of “today’s sheep rifle.” We were four hunters, me much the oldest. All of us carried fast .30s: Two .300 Winchester Magnums, two .300 PRCs, appropriate for big-

bodied goats! All rifles wore “big scopes” in six-times zoom: 3-18X, my 2.5-15X. One barrel was carbon fiber, another helically fluted; two were medium-contour. My rifle has a plain muzzle; the three younger guys all used muzzle brakes. This may be a generation-gap issue: I’m already deaf as a post; I’ll bet they’re more religious about hearing protection!

My 24-inch barrel was the shortest; the rest had longer tubes. With muzzle brakes, they seemed even longer. All of us brought bipods, two Javelin and two Harris.

All four rifles wore synthetic carbon-fiber stocks. Three of four were heavy in contour, with higher combs, wider butts, and commensurately thicker foreends. What I’d call a mix between “tactical” and sporter. None had adjustable combs, and one of us used a strap-on cheekpiece to raise the comb. Mine, of course, was the

Bottom, an O’Connor style sheep rifle, a vintage .270 Winchester by Joe Balickie with Leupold 2-7X scope. Top, a “today sheep rifle,” in 6.5 PRC, with semi-tactical synthetic stock, big Swarovski scope…and fluted barrel complete with suppressor.

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Maybe I should have one of “Today’s Sheep Rifles.”

lends greater stability. Many major manufacturers offer rifles in this kind of configuration; my Weatherby AccuMark in 6.5-.300 is definitely right there! Dozens of smaller makers specialize in “today’s sheep rifle.” I don’t pretend experience with all.

I’ve spent time on the range with awesomely accurate rifles from Best of the West and Gunwerks, and I’ve hunted with two Allterra rifles, one in 6.5 SST, and Zack Aultman’s .300 PRC. Awesome accuracy, and, with carbon-fiber-reinforced barrels, not as heavy as they look. Allterra has just announced a left-hand receiver, so I’m interested. Maybe I should have one of “Today’s Sheep Rifles.” WS Brittany Boddington took her goat with a .280 Remington with Bansner synthetic stock.

exception: American classic, straight comb, slender pistolgrip and fore-end.

My rifle is exactly the way I asked Kenny Jarrett to build it: His medium-weight “Ridge Walker” configuration, compromising weight and stability, with slim, classic stock…and slim, classic lines. Had I wanted one of his famous “Beanfield Rifles” I would have ordered one!

Mark Bansner, also a traditional gunmaker, is making me a rifle right now (can’t wait to see it). He could make it “tactical” if that’s what I wanted, but it will wear one of the sleek, classic hand-laid synthetic stocks Bansner is best-known for.

I suspect this is another generationgap issue! The current style, perhaps preferred by younger sheep hunters, and definitely by longrange enthusiasts, is bigger, thicker, and longer. With carbon-fiber stocks (and barrels), the result isn’t always heavier, but definitely bigger.

Which, for long-range shooting, 58 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

I have hunted with JEFF PRALLE and HIGH COUNTRY ALASKA in 2017 & 2020. Both hunts well exceeded my expectations of both customer service/amenities and the quality of animals that I was able to harvest. In 2017 I harvested a grizzly, moose and caribou. In 2020 a Dall sheep and a caribou. Thank you High Country Alaska for the adventures and the memories - Mike Evans

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PROMISE AND SACRIFICE

BY ASHLEY McENROE PHOTOS BY SERVANDO FRANCO

62 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

I

n 2017, my husband Jim McEnroe, after 40 years of applying, drew a Montana bighorn tag. Together, we hunted his ram and the two of us packed it out in triumph from the Missouri Breaks. It was his fifth wild sheep—he has three Dall’s and a California bighorn taken in North Dakota—and he promised

that, while his next exploit would be a Marco Polo in Tajikistan, the ram afterward would be mine—my firstever. Jim announced that promise to the world in his summer 2018 Wild Sheep® magazine story about his Breaks ram. Within two years, he made good on his word: after

bringing home an epic Marco Polo ram and ibex from eastern Tajikistan, Jim immediately started talking with our friend José Antonio Vallina of Rancho La Guarida in Chihuahua, Mexico, about booking a desert ram hunt for me.

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The only desert bighorns back when José first came to La Guarida were the ones dancing in his dreams.

Of course, Covid got in the way, and then a sudden health problem cancelled our La Guarida hunt scheduled for April 2021. Eventually, everything came together. We set our arrival in Chihuahua for the end of October 2021, as the addendum to attending our daughter’s wedding in Ixtapa, Mexico. (Like our sheep hunt, her wedding had been postponed, thanks to the pandemic.)

The wedding was the ideal prelude to our desert hunt, with everyone happily toasting the newlyweds at the outdoor evening reception under the full Hunter’s Moon, as shooting stars from a meteor shower zipped overhead out of the constellation Orion, the Hunter. Both the bride and groom are hunters, so the celestial show seemed a fitting accent for their marriage celebration and an exciting portent of the desert sheep hunt to follow.

64 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

José met us at the Chihuahua City airport, and the next day, he and his wife Esperanza (a name which translates to both “Hope” and “Wait Expectantly”) drove us the 130 miles out of the city, past agricultural villages and into the mountainous desert. Not long after entering the ranch gate, we paused to photograph 80 rams, ewes and lambs—our thrilling first desert bighorn sighting.

The last stretch of track led us to the charming La Guarida ranch house, perched at 4,500 feet above sea level, with a backdrop of 7,000-foot peaks rising into the cloudless electricblue sky. The hacienda’s exterior, complete with crosses, tiles and a bell, reminded me of an old Spanish mission.

Because our journey to Mexico started with a weeklong wedding stay in a different state, bringing my

rifle was impossible, so José let me use his .257 Weatherby. As soon as we had unloaded our luggage and met Servando Franco, José’s guide, we got down to business zeroing in the rifle. Then, we drove on to spot more desert sheep. In addition to bighorns, we also encountered a few of José’s impressive mule deer, one of them with thick antlers measuring about three-feet wide—sufficiently showstopping to divert us from thoughts of desert sheep hunting, at least temporarily.

As we explored the ranch that first evening, José recounted the rich history of this place. The only desert bighorns back when José first came to La Guarida were the ones dancing in his dreams. José had first seen desert sheep as a boy, but by the 1960s they were extinct throughout his home state of Chihuahua. In 1972, José

embarked on his first desert sheep hunt in Baja California, then the only place in Mexico with specimens left to hunt.

“When I got back from Baja, it was almost an obsession. I had to get the sheep back in Chihuahua,” said José.

In 1982, José bought a ranch 80 miles south of the border city of Presidio, Texas. The previous owner had used it to range cattle, domestic sheep and goats, but José knew it was just what he had been searching for.

Quiet and remote, with no nearby roads, arid, with only one well and little promise of rainfall: Not good for livestock but ideal for deer and desert sheep. He called it La Guarida, meaning “The Den.” After getting rid of the last livestock on the property, he started restoring the local plant life and laid the foundation for a new ranch house. At the same time, he waged war on Mother Nature, who gave the area only seven to 15 inches of rain yearly, by installing water tanks to collect and hold precipitation and dew. José then built an underground network of plastic pipes hooked to drinking troughs all around La Guarida. Soon, mule deer bucks and quail were visiting the water. José made sure small rocks were set in the bottom of the drinkers so the small birds could escape and not drown. In the desert, he had created oases of life.

Meanwhile, José began applying for permits to import desert bighorns from Sonora, Mexico, which now had some of the same wild sheep subspecies that had formerly roamed Chihuahua. Though he was ready to receive them in 1985, it would be over a decade before he finally obtained the government permit to bring 12 bighorns to his ranch.

One of La Guarida’s many wildlife drinkers

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It wasn’t until 2000 that José saw his first sheep arrive. After 40 years, the desert bighorn had returned to Chihuahua.

A helicopter crash during the 1998 attempt to capture Sonoran sheep for transfer to Chihuahua ended with three dead men and a complete halt to the project.

It wasn’t until 2000 that José saw his first sheep arrive: three pregnant ewes and a ram. It was a tiny herd with a huge impact: after 40 years, the desert bighorn had returned to Chihuahua.

For the next three years, José purchased 10 sheep annually in lots of eight ewes and two rams. Private ranches and Tiburon Island were his sources for these, then came five rams José bought from CEMEX, Mexico’s conservation-minded building materials company. His 39 imported wild sheep were multiplying

66 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

behind a protective fence. The lambs were thriving. Breeding and survival were so successful that, in 2006, he entered an agreement with the government of Mexico to provide two private ranches 14 sheep apiece. Today, those two ranches and others who started desert herds in Chihuahua boast 500 sheep. Added to José’s current 500-plus population, the state of Chihuahua is now home to over 1,000 desert bighorns, an historic conservation triumph.

Yet, the La Guarida of today is the product of an even gutsier move.

While other ranches maintained desert sheep in enclosures, José decided in 2007 to let his go. He tore down his high fences and watched 54 ewes, rams and lambs scamper

off into the wild. As a precaution in case of disaster, he held back the remainder of his herd, only around 20. The worst never happened. The free desert bands flourished.

“Two to three years ago,” José explained as we drove around the ranch, “I saw a ewe still with ear tags.

She was one of the original herd I brought here. I estimated her to be 18 years old.”

While they could wander right off of his ranch lands, the hundreds of desert bighorns José has liberated have mostly stuck around, ranging the mountains and quenching their thirst at the guzzlers and drinkers he provides to raise their odds of survival. Those odds are not favorable: This past year, La Guarida

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WILD S HEEP® 67

received a mere 7.5 inches of rain.

During our hunt, we would stop to examine some of the water projects José has installed. Some are located in the most improbable hideaways, far into the mountains removed from any access roads. Under one of these metal-roofed water catchment buildings were housed six tanks holding 5,000 liters each. In his soft-spoken, gentlemanly manner, José explained how the system works and noted that 80 sheep require 30,000 liters of water a year. This was just one of four such structures that capture the scant moisture to sustain 68 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

the area’s wildlife.

“They don’t look pretty, but they work well,” José said as we joined him during his inspection of one catchment’s water tanks and pipes.

Most of the construction and installation was manual, with all the ranch hands pitching in for weeks at a time to transport the infrastructure up roadless, cactusstrewn pitches and get everything operational. Burros pulled each tank up the mountains: a stunning feat. Each water catchment building with tanks took a month to install.

A few years ago, WSF funded a

catchment project that employed a helicopter to deliver a building and four tanks: transportation took just an hour. With the exception of this WSF-supported project, all the water systems at La Guarida were financed by José. Like most wildlife conservation in Mexico, costs are largely borne by private individuals and enterprises, not the general public.

In all, La Guarida features three catchment buildings holding six tanks each, plus the WSF-supported structure with four tanks, adding up to 22 of those 5,000-liter reservoirs.

In addition, over the past six years, José installed 16 wells to pump water around the ranch to various drinking sites. Twenty-some watering spots are available high and low all over La Guarida’s vast landscape.

“We have made it so the sheep don’t have to walk more than a mile to drink,” José said. “One mile to walk means less stress on the animals.”

On the first full hunt day, Jim, José, Servando and I met up with José’s sharp-eyed cowboys Juan and Ricardo, who made sure the horses were ready for the long trek through an arroyo then deeper into the mountains. Juan was a particularly striking figure, slightly built, impossibly lean with thick old-school eyeglasses, yet he proved shockingly strong with superhuman sheep sight. My horse was a laid-back bay named, naturally, Bayo, and Jim rode Escorpion, in English “Scorpion,” so named for his proclivity for biting the other horses.

Their skills as guides were immediately apparent as Juan and Ricardo spotted the distant rams,

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hiding from both the heat and from us. It was scorching, as José had warned us it would be during this early part of the season. We soaked up any hint of coolness that arrived on the occasional faint breeze or in the rare moments in shadow. Hours in the saddle offered ample time to sink into the experience, which was a cross between sheep hunting and costarring in a Western movie set in the Sierra Madres. Like a film on the big screen, the romance of La Guarida swept us into a fascinating new world.

Not that mountains and wild sheep were anything new to us: Back home in Montana, Jim and I live on a mountain frequented by bighorns.

The desert sheep of La Guarida were their delicate, exotic cousins, and instead of trees we found a variety of desert curiosities: the sotol plant’s starry spray of long, thin, thorn-edged leaves, its fruit a source of tequila; the palm standing tall with a green crown of fronds at the top and its trunk a cascade of dry leaves; prickly pears, aka “nopales,” with quilled edible paddles that turn both green and purple, particularly striking when the plant sprouts its bright yellow flowers; mounds of yucca reaching low out of the rocky earth; and the short scrubby mariola with its small sagey tufts that desert lambs love.

One other peculiar desert gem: the “false peyote” cactus, unfurling its pink blossoms close to the ground, much like Montana’s bitterroots.

Wherever we found these flowers, or the vestiges left of them, telltale scratches and excavations surrounded them like shallow craters, betraying the desert sheep’s hankerings— whether the benefits were nutritional, hallucinogenic or medicinal.

Stopping to glass a mountainside 70 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

herd, we glimpsed a few heavy rams, but the approach was long and under their full observation. Counting them, Jim and I realized that this day we had seen 80 desert bighorns, including 40 rams, and even during this, the final days of the rut, all appeared fat and healthy. Faced with these spectacular specimens, the only logical thing to do was keep calmly admiring then move on to look for more abundance. It was unreal, magical. No need to get excited: it’s only a record-book desert bighorn ram...

False peyote flower

Day two brought another ride, this time in even more searing conditions, with few bighorns in sight until the end of the blistering day. It was a blessing. We were hunting, sweating, surrounded by desert marvels—plant life so seemingly parched yet vital to survival, the purity of the sky, where not even the contrail of a passing airplane broke the azure.

The stillness where the only song for miles was horseshoes on sand and stones, and the only media was what you saw and heard with your own senses. Everything stretching to the most extreme horizon seemed

to reflect José’s reserved dignity and resolute purpose.

Back at the ranch house, we watched a few enticing mule deer bucks from our post on the north patio until Esperanza suggested we scan from the south porch. There, we scrambled for our binoculars and spotting scope as 40-plus sheep grazed slowly across the mountainside. Though they were 700 yards off, our optics hinted that a supply of intriguing rams were demanding closer inspection tomorrow. In all, it was another day counting 80 bighorns.

At the dawn of day three, I changed into fresh hunting clothes and announced that today was going to be “the day” since I was now armed with my lucky shirt. We climbed into the saddle and headed south to explore, but turned back after finding no promising signs. Our pivot brought us right to the group we had examined the evening before.

Ewes and rams were gamboling across the rocky slope, with a few of them taking turns to leap aboard a large boulder as if merely to strike a pose. As the rut wound down, the rams and ewes were still mingling before the females would bolt for the sanctuary of higher ground, leaving their suitors to ponder the season’s amorous escapades from below. For now, the ewes remained peacefully feeding with the rams, even cuddling with them as they snoozed together under a blaring sun, while bachelors darted about flehmenfaced—the curled-lip, scent-hoarding inhalations that make impassioned rams look like roguish muttonheads.

Riding closer to the herd, we spied a heavy ram along with 40 other sheep prancing across an adobe

José was the father of these animals, and when he nodded his assent, I felt as if I had received the necessary and weighty blessing. cliff and nibbling the arid flora. On an uphill perch, he bedded down with a ewe, whose body was now completely covering his vitals. José set up the spotting scope to glean the details from 250 yards away.

Broomed a bit more than we wanted, he was still heavy and beautiful. Yet, it was only 9 a.m., and I knew that I would be disappointed if the hunt ended so soon. We decided to leave them alone and continue the hunt.

Not long into the mountainside ride, Juan and José glimpsed another group on a far hillside to the east.

Dismounting on a ridge to glass, we looked down to witness in the saddle below a few decent, young rams feeding and meandering through the brush. From these, we gazed up to reacquire the hillside herd. One among them really stood out to José and Juan, who paused for a while to debate his merits. So faint in the spotting scope, this ram begged a much closer inspection. Our horses zigzagged down to close the distance.

Leaving our mounts, I pulled the rifle from the scabbard and we hiked up a short way to a better vantage while 20 ewes and very young rams huddled together to observe our every movement. Juan and José quickly found the large ram, who promptly settled down in the shade of a palm tree, a ewe at his side— nearly the same tableau we had left two hours ago when we passed up a very similar ram. We took cell pictures through the spotting scope eyepiece, as we had done with the earlier ram, and as José compared the images, he announced, “They could be twin brothers.” We glassed, mused, discussed. Yes, the two rams were similar, but to me this ram was simply more beautiful. “This is

the one,” I said. It was not all my decision. José was the father of these animals, and when he nodded his assent, I felt as if I had received the necessary and weighty blessing.

Unlike so many hunts where the sliver of opportunity affords no seconds to reflect, these slow minutes under the Chihuahua sun, with José, Servando, Juan and Ricardo conferring in hushed Spanish, drove home the gravity of the choice I was about to make. At age 56, I knew this likely would be my one-and-forever-done ram for a variety of reasons, foremost among them time I have left, the longevity of my damaged joints and money we are able to invest in such lofty pursuits as this. Moreover, I would be taking a life any human should feel unworthy of, this luminous king. A

rushed or botched shot or any sort of mistake now was out of the question in the presence of this man: these were José’s children, his legacy. All the chips were down, the intensity roared, the decisive moment had arrived.

I set up my rifle on the foottall remains of a withered desert palm for the 120-yard uphill shot, with Servando’s backpack and my binocular bag as cushions to raise the barrel’s height. Jim stood at my side, maintaining tabs on the ram while I put the Weatherby’s crosshairs on him. Of course, there could be no shot until the ewe was out of danger, but the couple persisted in their listless siesta, with the ram sleepily sweeping his heavy curls slowly from side to side.

Suddenly, the ewe popped to her

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WILD S HEEP® 71

My husband had fulfilled his promise, in stunning style. More than this, he gladly sacrificed the desert ram he had wanted so that it could be mine. feet, and the ram eased up to follow her. She led him down the hill, slightly closer to us, then dipped behind a bush. I watched through the rifle scope as nothing but the topmost hint of one horn lingered above the fronds. The ewe pushed on after a moment, luring him to remain in

72 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

her orbit. He offered a quick frontal view, then he slipped carelessly behind twigs, where of course he turned to show me his side body. I passed up the temptation, certain that he would eventually give me a perfect, unobstructed shot. At nearly 100 yards away, the pair turned, with

the ewe safely in the lead and out of harm’s way and the ram hesitating for just an instant in a clean broadside.

I inhaled and held, steadied my gun, body and soul and gently pressed the trigger.

At the bang, the two sheep dashed into a small draw and vanished.

A bush trembled, but José and the others standing higher up announced that the ram was still on his feet. I had reloaded as he bolted off and now as two ewes crested the rise above the draw, we could all see the ram, head hung low, stalking after them. I prepared to shoot a second time, but the ram paused unsteadily and José declared, “The shot was well-placed.”

As if finally accepting José’s word, the ram stumbled, then tumbled.

Tears pooled like a desert spring.

Touching the fallen ram, his powerful dark body, perfect shimmering coat and majestic ribbed crown, I turned to José.

“You are the reason this ram is here,” I said. “You made all of this possible. You created this.”

There was much more to this adventure. After the cowboys carried the ram away for skinning and processing, Esperanza threw me a surprise fiesta, complete with balloons, horns, streamers hanging from the antler chandelier and decorations on the dining room’s shoulder mounts. On the subsequent day, she drove Jim and me around in search of javelinas. As we glassed for wild pigs, three majestic mule deer bucks trotted up a hillside. That alone would have been sufficient satisfaction, but motoring around a bend in the road, Jim and Esperanza simultaneously exclaimed, “Javelina!” and out of the truck we bailed with her rifle. With three rounds, Jim took

three of the animals, and I downed two more with the two remaining cartridges we had on hand. These five javelinas would serve as the highlight of Esperanza’s green chili sauce that the next La Guarida hunters would enjoy.

That chili sauce was just one of the delicious concoctions Esperanza crafted in her spirited style. Always joking, managing 100 things at once, Esperanza made the kitchen a comfortable refuge, where we could always find treats and cocktails, and my bad Spanish was always accepted.

Wearing camo pants, her ebony hair pulled back to showcase her lovely face and mischievous smile, she effortlessly cooked up a variety of Mexican delights with the help of her attentive assistant Guero, a nickname translating to “Blondie” because of his blue eyes.

Chicken with chocolatey mole

Esperanza Vallina

José Vallina, Jim McEnroe and the author

sauce, her multi-layer apple pie with fruit sourced from a local orchard, homemade tortillas, and from them empanadas stuffed with “huitlacoche,” a prized delicacy made from a fungus that grows on corn.

Some call it Mexican caviar. When I expressed interest in learning her art, Esperanza coached me in pressing tortillas and frying up the empanadas, which were, like my Spanish, imperfect but patiently welcomed.

On our final morning at the ranch, we stood outside listening to the haunting echo of rams settling a dispute with their battle-scarred helmets. Forty more rams and ewes formed a farewell party witnessing our departure. It was an honor to have ridden with the patriarch, protector and provider of these sheep, the visionary who freed them and watched them walk into their destiny, fulfilling a prophecy that they one day would become a great desert tribe.

My husband had fulfilled his promise, in stunning style. More than this, he gladly sacrificed the desert ram he had wanted so that it could be mine. Since our La Guarida hunt,

Jim has bitten the bullet and, with my enthusiastic support and some serious financial gymnastics, booked a Stone’s hunt for this coming August. Had he been the successful hunter at La Guarida, Jim would now stand within reach of his FNAWS. “Some day,” he says of his own desert bighorn. “Maybe when we’re older.”

I hate to remind him that, with both of our arthritis woes, failing hearing and fuzzy eyesight, we’re kindof older now.

Promise and sacrifice: it’s what we do for people and things we love.

It costs a lot and makes us richer.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is fond of saying that “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” As I watched my ram and his ewe doze in a palm tree’s shadow, I knew that perfect moment had been sown here ages back when there were no wild sheep and almost no water. Back when there was only José’s hope-filled vision and enduring patience—Esperanza: hope and waiting. And a promise made to himself and to the earth. All it would take was sacrifice. WS SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 73

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

YOUR COLD-BARREL BET

A BULLET SHOCKS A BORE LIKE HOT WATER ON FROST-BITE. AND NOW THERE’S FOULING. WHERE WILL THE NEXT SHOT GO?

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Low scope magnification yields brighter images than high when you’re aiming at rams in the shadows.

T

he week had brought snow above the Stikine, and long days in a small tent as storms lashed the peaks. Just a day and a half remained of the hunt when skies cleared and Terrell McCombs, with his two guides, struggled up toward a bedded ram. “The steep slope and deep snow made every step feel like 30-pound weights were strapped to each leg.” Then, suddenly, the animal

74 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

rose and climbed. “I had wanted a shot under 300 yards, but there was no hope for that now. I flopped [in] the snow and grabbed Rod’s pack for a rest.” Heaving from the hard climb, he called for the range as the ram neared oblivion on ridge-rest. “It’s 476 yards,” came the reply. Ignoring urgings to fire quickly, McCombs “took two more slow, deep breaths….

Every ounce of concentration was on

the ram….” He crushed the trigger.

In B&C’s 14th edition of its alltime records book, published in 2017, the 13-year-old Stone’s ram killed by McCombs in 2007 ranks 70th. Of the top 100 Stone’s, just four had been shot in the 21st century.

One long shot, prone over a pack after a demanding climb, has ended enough sheep hunts to root itself as the typical finish. But not all hunts

deliver a shot. And many rams have dropped inside the point-blank range of rifles popular a century ago.

Before the Depression, lever-action Winchesters felled untold numbers of sheep, from Sonora into British Columbia. Charles Sheldon, an accomplished hunter and first on record to take all four varieties of North American wild sheep, favored a London-built 6.5x54 Mannlicher.

It wore a Lyman 1-A cocking piece sight.

Jack O’Connor started sheep hunting in the 1930s with a 7x57 Mauser under a Lyman 1-A. This outfit toppled his first desert ram, at “not over 50 yards.” After WW II, optical sights and fast, flat-flying bullets made longer shots practical, though veteran sheep hunters avoided them. “I have shot more rams at under 200 yards than I have at over 200,” wrote O’Connor late in life. “Probably more under 150 yards.”

Bob Hagel, a rifle enthusiast and an able marksman, didn’t send bullets over hill and dale toward rams many leagues distant. On one hunt in Alaska he spied an outstanding Dall’s ram, with others, across 600 yards of glacial ice. He had a scoped .300 Winchester but didn’t consider shooting. “All I could do was sit there … and wait for the rams to make the next move.” He endured a cold hour on the ice in stiff wind before they climbed out of sight. Hagel committed three more demanding hours to a stalk that kept him crosswind and put him above the sheep. Bellying the final yards across a shale slide, he was pinned by a young ram. Another uncomfortable, frustrating wait. Then, suddenly, the big ram “bounded up over the boulders … 100 yards away.” He collapsed at the report.

Long-time outfitter and worldtraveled hunter Jack Atcheson had little use for long shots. He was always keen to get closer, and pleased

when by good fortune his chance came at spitball range. He wrote of “an absolutely beautiful afternoon” hunting ibex in Iran. As he eased “around the corner of the narrow ledge between two stunted junipers, there was an old ram lying in front of me about 30 feet away. He was immediately on his feet and running.

But I was ready. Although I seldom shoot at running game I felt that at this distance I could make a good shot—and I did.”

OK. So hunters of yesteryear closed in on rams. What if, with time running out on a sheep hunt you’re unlikely to repeat, you spot a distant ram and there’s no practical approach?

A range-finder divulges hold-over.

Your scope affords fine aim. Your bullet flies at Mach 3.

And you miss.

You know not where the bullet went. Your guide, bino to brow, mumbles: “Couldn’t tell. Sorry.”

A buck in Oregon ram country. Long ago Wayne used a .270 Model 70, a 2 1/2x Lyman Alaskan scope.

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WILD S HEEP® 75

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Above: The Winchester 54 that gave Wayne this target was built a century ago. Accurate enough for any hunt! Below: Slim iron-sighted carbines, easy in hand and scabbard, have killed many bighorn rams in steep places.

® ® ~ SPRING 2022 76 W ILD HEEP 76 SSHEEP ~ FALL 2021 WILD

If you called a good shot and the beast is still there, you hold the same and fire again. This time, your guide earns his keep.

“Five-o’clock. Not much.” Your third shot is ready; the ram is nervous. You nudge the crosswire higher, farther into the 9-o’clock breeze. Not much. What on earth does that mean? No time to ask now. You halve the correction, lock your lungs and squeeze….

By this time, a killing hit can come as a surprise. You’ve lost confidence in rifle, load, optic, your guide, even your marksmanship. You start contemplating variables that had once seemed inconsequential— things which you’re now ready to indict for criminal mischief.

Things like rising bore temperature on the follow-ups, and increased fouling (primer and powder residue, lead and copper deposits).

You may have noticed the first shot from the clean, cold barrel of your rifle routinely lands apart from successive shots. Or that bullet holes “walk” or string, perhaps vertically, when on a hot day a few shots make the barrel uncomfortably warm to the touch. Do heat and fouling shift point of impact? How can anyone correct for a miss if the next bullet won’t go where the first did, relative to the sight picture?

“I’ve tried to confirm or deny that a group from a warm barrel will form apart from the first hole punched from a clean, cold barrel,” says friend and ace rifle-maker D’Arcy Echols.

“That result is surely possible with a factory-stocked hunting rifle and a given factory load.”

But he stops shy of predicting it.

“Besides, a warm-barrel shot may still be good enough—especially when your targets are big game vitals the size of a basketball.”

He promises - Cold, Wet and Miserable - and he delivers!

Lance and Nikki Kronberger and the Freelance Outdoor Adventures Team Thanks for always believing in us! - Doug and Shelly Sayer

SPRING 2022 ~

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Above: To ensure a stable platform, this glass- and pillar-bedded H-S Precision stock also has an alloy spine. Below: This Bergara bolt shows clean CNC work. Close-tolerance lock-up helps keep shots on the same path.

D’Arcy has spent years wringing fine accuracy from his Legend hunting rifles. “The receiver of a properly bedded big game rifle will be stress-free, unburdened by points of tension or pressure. Its barrel will be floated or mated to a forend that lets it vibrate and flex the same, shot to 78 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

shot. The scope must also be stressfree in its mount.” He adds that a barrel stress-relieved by cryogenic treatment can also reduce the chance follow-up shots will stray from your first. “With good hunting loads in a high-quality, properly bedded rifle, I’ve yet to see a radical shift after

first-round impact from a cold or even a cold oiled bore.”

Not all rifles meet Echols’ standards. I’ve watched shots from slim barrels hit farther and farther from the first, or wander erratically as the steel got hot. On a warm day, a frothy small-bore magnum fired quick-step can soon blister your hand. But you’ll seldom empty magazines lickety-split in T-shirt weather afield. Checking accuracy from the bench, I allow at least a minute between shots, action open.

Having more than one rifle on tap lets me rest each barrel often without wasting time.

Its weight and shape have something to do with how a barrel reacts to heat. The mass of heavy barrels acts as a heat sink, and helps it resist expansion. The bore of any barrel heats before the exterior surface. Thick barrel walls slow heat transfer. As slim barrels heat faster, they cool faster too. Ditto for carbon fiber barrels, though I’ve been told heat retention and dissipation depend on weave angles and on the resin used. Carbon fibers conduct heat longitudinally and insulate “across grain.”

Wandering point of impact due to barrel heat hardly ever affects a hunt. Your first shot is usually the most important, and often the only one you’ll get. Bore temperatures for aimed second and even third shots will be little different than for the first. If like me you start hunting with a clean, lightly oiled bore, fouling after the first shot will change the bore surface. But given the size of game vitals and the ranges at which most game is killed, this change won’t leave your freezer empty. I use a “cold-and-clean” target in pre-hunt prep. Over several range sessions, I fire only the first shot at this target.

Pretty conclusively, the resulting group, comprising shots only from a cold, clean bore, tells me where my first bullet will go.

So why do Benchrest competitors

SPRING 2022 ~

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE mind barrel heat and fouling and other such variables? Because the level of accuracy required in that game is exceedingly high! A .23 knot fired in a Benchrest match is out of the running if other rifles are shooting “into the ones.” Even in smallbore prone competition, I fired twice offtarget after cleaning my rifle, so the bore surface would be as uniform as possible during the 40 record shots.

A couple of lead .22 bullets at just under Mach 1 generate little heat or fouling; but when the key to winning is X-count, and Xs reward uniformity, shooters mind details.

Barrel-maker John Krieger has contended with barrel heat in shooting the National Match course at Camp Perry. The offhand stage of the NMC gives shooters 10 minutes to send 10 shots. But prone and sitting stages are much faster: 10 shots in 60 seconds, 10 in 70 seconds, respectively. Service-rifle barrels get hot! John hasn’t indicated to me that heating was a problem; but he made sure his barrels were fouled. “In fact,

Iron sights can deliver excellent accuracy, as here on 50-yard and 50-meter smallbore prone targets.

I fired fouling shots before I left for Perry, and didn’t clean the barrel all that week. I experienced no change in accuracy.” A hunter too, John says he fouls the barrel of his big game rifle before each trip.

As heat and fouling arrive together, it’s hard to tell if one or the other is responsible when groups open up.

Both are unavoidable in rapid-fire events. But the level of fouling is easiest to regulate.

Shots that walk up the target face as the barrel warms, or rifles that join two bullet holes and leave a third adrift have caused shooters to babble incoherently in their sleep. But fretting is pointless. Having grown up

A long sight radius and a small aperture bring precise hits. This Mauser, by H&H, dates to the 1920s.

80 W ILDSSHEEP HEEP®®~~FALL SPRING 20212022 WILD

䴀椀欀攀 䌀愀爀瀀椀渀椀琀漀 匀爀⸀ 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀 ㈀ ㈀

䬀愀猀栀洀椀爀 䴀愀爀欀栀漀爀

倀甀渀樀愀戀 唀爀椀愀氀

㐀㤀Ⰰ㔀ᴠ 匀椀渀搀 䤀戀攀砀 眀 眀 眀⸀ 猀 栀 椀 欀 愀 爀 猀 愀 昀 愀 爀 椀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀

䈀氀愀渀搀昀漀爀搀 唀爀椀愀氀 SPRING 2022 ~

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Hunters now use powerful glass to aim as well as to find rams. But long shots are seldom necessary.

when 1 ½-minute accuracy was very good for a hunting rifle, I’m loath to invest much time or effort to bring groups under an inch. A 1 ½-minute rifle shoots tight enough to hit 6-inch targets at 400 steps, farther than I wish to fire at game. It’s also as tight as most hunters can hold most of the time afield. If you must tug bullets closer to each other on paper, check first the scope mount and action screws. Bore scrubbing to remove accumulated copper fouling can be useful, especially after salvos of leadfree bullets. Changing loads is worth a try before you switch out the scope or tinker with the rifle.

More important than tending to minor enigmas, you’ll practice shooting into Frisbee-size targets from field positions at ranges from 50 to 300 yards. Include follow-up shots, at a brisk cadence up close. A rifle’s bore condition is a variable only when you fire more than one shot to kill, and 82 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

The muzzle matters! It’s a bullet’s final contact with the rifle. Keep it clean and protected from nicks.

only when a small change in point of impact matters (at extreme range or when the bullet must thread a tiny opening). More important variables that are always variables: distance, wind and light conditions, the beast’s presentation, vertical shot angle —also your mental focus and body position, your hammering heart and heaving chest, your muscle spasms and joint wobbles.

I’d be surprised to learn of a wild sheep missed or lost because a warm barrel threw a follow-up bullet to a different place than the first. Most misses and crippling hits result from poor marksmanship, and from shots fired when the hunter has little chance of killing.

I trailed well back as the couple scrambled up the spine to earn a shot at the ram from above. The slope was steep, a jumble of rock with no trail. Their final yards across a boulder field spooled out slowly.

They couldn’t afford a misstep.

I eased up behind them quietly as she bellied onto the rock. Her husband was a good coach, slow to move and ever on her flank, eyes often to his glass, reassuring hand on her shoulder. There’s no hurry. The seeking is over. Relax. Focus. Pause if you must. She did. I could see the tension in her neck, in her tentative movements. A bullet’s flight from a ram, the world holds its breath for you. You feel it waiting.

I relaxed for her, rolling silently from my knees onto my side against the ruddy basalt. It had sun on its skin. The sky was blue. The mountain smelled of sage.

The report caromed to a stop in the boulders. A clatter of rock. The bolt snicking shut. Again! If the first looked good, hold the same! Aim carefully.

Crush…WS

he one thing that is certain (outside of death and taxes) is that nothing in life is static. It is ever changing. The Wild Sheep Foundation witnessed the winds of change along with the rest of the world this spring. We have done our fair share of bemoaning while remaining cautiously optimistic.

While we know that things will eventually normalize, we have always been aware that the change 2020 brought us has no foreseeable end.

Thanks to sound leadership and our staff’s willingness to pivot quickly, we have been able to adjust our sails.

As soon as the world “shut down,” each staffer at the Wild Sheep Foundation was commissioned with the task of rethinking and retooling efforts within our respective departments to ensure that we will continue being a leader in the world of conservation. As one example, we launched a pilot run on a new fundraising platform called Classy.

It is a digital platform that allows for crowdfunding, peer-to-peer fundraising, team fundraising, and virtual events. We wereII excited to add this new tool to our arsenal and we are even more thrilled IIin the incredible success we sawIIfrom the outset. On October 22, we released a campaign to help fund two bighorn reintroduction projects in the Little Belt and Tendoy mountain ranges PROUD SPONSOR of Montana. Thanks to our partners

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SPRING 2022 ~

®

83

Jack O’Connor’s .416 Rigby Magnum is one of many fine firearms offered by Sportsman’s Legacy.

Create Your Own Sportsman’s Legacy D O N AT E TO DAY

T

O R

P L A N

A H E A D

F O R T H E

F U T U R E

he Wild Sheep Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with Sportsman’s Legacy,© one which introduces a dynamic source of conservation fundraising.

Now you can support the WSF through the donation of firearms, books, art and sporting collectibles. To simplify logistics, items are sent directly to Sportsman’s Legacy. Once received, they will be professionally evaluated and then presented to the national market. Proceeds will be forwarded to the WSF in the donor’s name and these funds can even be directed to a specific initiative or project. Sportsman’s Legacy is also prepared to assist with estate planning to ensure orderly and charitable monetization in the future. Donations to WSF through this program are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

• • • •

FIREARMS BOOKS ART SPORTING COLLECTIBLES

Contact Sportsman’s Legacy or Paige Culver of the Wild Sheep Foundation (406.404.8758) today to learn more about this program. Options are virtually unlimited and every level of donation is equally appreciated.

406.212.0344 | sportsmanslegacy.com Sportsman’s Legacy provides professional representation for individuals, estates and nonprofit organizations relating to the sale of firearms, sporting collectibles, art, books and fine accessories.

84 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 85

AMBASSADORS PART I The term “firing on all cylinders” means an engine is running at peak performance. In other words, all the pistons are contributing toward a common goal.

WSF is blessed to have just completed another record-breaking Sheep Week®.

We were firing on all cylinders.

Our staff, volunteers, contractors, and vendors all did their part. Our exhibitors, sponsors, donors, and buyers all contributed at a high level, as did our members, Chapters and Affiliates, and other partners. They are all recognized,

KRISTY TITUS Kristy grew up packing and riding mules into the backcountry of Oregon experiencing the beauty and thrill of hunting our public lands. She is a strong voice of American values and tradition.

As a Second Amendment

86 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

as they should be, in some way across the pages of this post-convention issue. Another group that contributed significantly to our success is what we call our ambassadors.

These are individuals that are respected communicators and advocates within the Wild Sheep Family and broader hunterconservationist community that helped us spread the good word on WSF and Sheep Week® to all those that look to them for insights and credible and inspiring information. The “buzz”

advocate, she is a certified firearms instructor, Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor, Range Safety Officer, a competitive long range shooter and avid archer.

Kristy is passionate in the support of wildlife and habitat conservation and is

leading up to, during, and after the convention was largely their doing.

Please join us in thanking them for their efforts and loyalty when you get the chance and watch future issues of Wild Sheep® for features on WSF Ambassadors Rachel Ahtila, Craig Boddington, Amanda Caldwell, Adam Janke, Jason Matzinger, J. Alain Smith, Jana Waller, Remi Warren and new 2022 additions to the WSF Team! WS

dedicated to preserving our hunting traditions.

She produces and hosts Pursue The Wild, a digital television series airing on CarbonTV, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

In her series, Kristy is entertaining and educating viewers while showcasing the relevance of hunting in today’s society, strengthening support of the Second Amendment and increasing shooting sports participation.

Kristy also produces and hosts the Wild & Uncut Podcast, giving listeners access to behind-thescenes conversations and unique perspectives with exciting guest appearances recorded during Kristy’s travels and adventures from around the world.

In all areas of her life, Kristy advocates for adventure, wildlife and land stewardship, conservation through hunting, the Second Amendment, shooting sports and our time-honored hunting traditions.

WS

GUY EASTMAN Guy Eastman was born and raised a third-generation member of the famed Eastman outdoor family in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Now living with his family outside of Cody, Wyoming, Guy has been hunting and filming western trophy big game for over 40 years—skills he was taught at a very young age by his legendary father, Mike and grandfather, Gordon Eastman. Soon after his graduation from Purdue University with a degree in engineering, Guy returned to his hunting heritage and outdoor

roots to work in the family business as the publisher of the Eastmans’ Hunting Journal. Thereafter he co-founded the Eastmans’ Bowhunting Journal and is now the host of Eastmans’ Hunting TV airing on the Outdoor Channel for more than two decades. The allure of hunting and fly-fishing has taken Guy to nearly every continent on the globe in search of adventure, but some of his most memorable endeavors have come from his native state of Wyoming where his family has gladly called home for five generations now. WS

ADAM FOSS Adam Foss is a world-class hunter who has transformed his passion for wildlife and wild places into a rewarding career in filmmaking and photography. Born in the Canadian Rockies, Adam spent much of his youth bow hunting sheep with his father, Tom, and older brother, Cameron, and has been obsessed with wilderness adventure for his entire life. At age 24, he was the youngest person to take all four species of North American sheep with a bow, a noteworthy achievement for a hunter of any age. But despite this accomplishment and others, Adam is much more focused on the process of the hunt—spending challenging days in the mountains, forming long-lasting friendships, stewarding wild landscapes, and conserving legendary big game species. Adam is a Summit Life Member and Life Member of several WSF Chapters and Affiliates. WS

RANDY NEWBERG Randy Newberg has spent the last thirteen years hosting his popular hunting TV shows, podcasts, and other digital media platforms, all focused on self-guided public land hunting in the Western United States. Randy currently distributes video content on YouTube channel Randy Newberg, Hunter and via his proprietary video platform Fresh Tracks+ with his team of ten creative employees.

Randy’s podcast, Hunt Talk Radio – Randy Newberg Unfiltered is a companion to his wildly (pun intended) popular web forum, HuntTalk.com. Randy is co-host of the Elk Talk Podcast with Corey Jacobsen, the premiere elk hunting podcast.

Wild lands and wild animals are what drives Randy in his advocacy for hunters in America. His platforms are designed to show average hunters the remarkable experiences that are available for the price of a tag, the gas to get there, and the effort invested.

Whether it be bugling elk or speeding pronghorn, rifle or bow, Randy will travel the far corners of the West in search of food and adventure.

Randy lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife, Kim, where he volunteers for many national and regional hunting-conservation groups.

When not hunting, Randy and Kim spend the summer traveling the high plains in search of western walleyes.

WS SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 87

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SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 89

BASECAMP DISPATCHES

A

WE GIVE CAMPAIGN UPDATE

t the request of WSF supporters and consistent with the 2% for Conservation program of which WSF is a founding partner, we have launched the WSF Conservation Revolving Fund “We Give” campaign. Watch for WSF “We Give” partners who proudly include the “We Give” logo in their advertisements and/or promotions as those advertisers, exhibitors and businesses give a percentage or portion of their sales to the WSF Conservation Revolving Fund. 100% of WSF Conservation Revolving Fund contributions are directed to initiatives benefiting wild sheep and the habitat they call home.

Proceeds are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law and are directed to Grant-In-Aid and other specific conservation projects to Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.

Participants to date include: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

Jack Atcheson & Sons The Journal of Mountain Hunting The Wildlife Gallery Backcountry BC and Beyond, Ltd. Stone Glacier RPS Bancard, LLC YETI Kings Camo Mountain Ops SITKA Gear Benchmade Knives Kenetrek Nathan French Photography Full Curl Spirits RMP Rifles 5.11 Tactical Best of the West/Huskemaw Optics Clarke – “1% For Tomorrow” Brown Precision Diamond Outfitters of Arizona Black Rifle Coffee

For more information and to become a part of the “We Give” team, please contact Gray N. Thornton at 406-404-8750 or gthornton@

wildsheepfoundation.org.

Photo: Tim Shinabarger 90 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

TAKE ONE–PUT ONE BACK & WOMEN HUNT

T

he Take One – Put One Back (TOPOB) programs was conceived and launched in the spring of 2013 to provide WSF members who have taken a wild sheep the opportunity to “put one back.”

Donors make a $5,000 (or more) tax deductible donation to WSF to “put one back” when they buy a permit or a sheep hunt, draw a special sheep permit or just want to “put a wild sheep back on the mountain.” (The cost to T&T and GPS collar a wild sheep is ~$4,700 as estimated by WSF VP of Conservation Kevin Hurley.)

The donor receives a sheep “ear tag” lapel pin which includes WSF logo, “I Put 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, etc. Back” moniker and number. Number of tag and pin = number of sheep your gift will “put back” on the mountain.

To date, an incredible $1,422,000 has been raised and has been (or will

be this year for 2022 gifts) directed to programs putting wild sheep on the mountain, or in some cases, keeping them there. One hundred percent of the dollars raised is “put back on the mountain” through this now decadelong WSF program.

An incredible $225,000 in TOPOB appeals were raised to date prior to, during, and immediately after our recent 2022 Sheep Show® convention in Reno. These generous donations were made by industry partners and WSF members including: American Snuff, Inc., Albert Seeno, Brian Benyo, Leupold, Mike Carpinito, Mesara Family Foundation, Richard Pierce, Terry Rathert, Richard Crawford, TW Howell, Dean Retzleff, Kevin & Tuesdy Small & Kyle Small.

Take One Put One Back donors to date are noted and recognized with the number of wild sheep they’ve “put

back” in the graphic below.

With the support of First Lady of Indiana Janet Holcomb, WSF also raised $12,820 from appeals to support our Women Hunt® program engage and foster more women into the hunting and conservation community.

Generous donations were made by Mike Mechenbier, Anonymous, Kevin Hurley, Tim Fallon, David Nelson— Nelson Outfitters, Julie Chapman, Jim Craig, Conner Schantz and Mark Springer.

WSF is grateful for this very generous support and salutes these fine members and partners.

If you would like to support either or both of these programs please contact Paige Culver at pculver@wildsheepfoundation.org or Gray Thornton at gthornton@ wildsheepfoundation.org. WS

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 91

BASECAMP DISPATCHES NEW LIFE MEMBERS Gary Adams Ron Amack Brian Ashe Angelo Baio Clint Baker Eugene Barton, Jr Chase Bauer Donald Berg Brendan Bersey Jim BIllingsley Brison Bishop Kevin Black John Blaine John Blankenship Duke Kent D Boyington Ben Brandt Peter Briant Luke Briant Donald Brongo Nickolas Bubolz Larry Buckendorf Becky Carlon Dan Chenoweth Stephen Cimbalista Roger Clouse Wayne Clouse Fred Coleman Adam Cook Brad Coors Benjamin Cox Henry Crosby Daniel Cupparo Nick Curtis Ford Dana Scott Davis Richard Day Riley De Mattos Craig DellaValle Josh DeLong Ashley Dieren Ellie Dieren Matthew Dieren Will Dolinar Travis Drake Danavi Drine Guy Eastman Bronson Ekre Bruce Faber Kiersti Felska Jeremy Fenno Clay Ferguson Grant Foster Chad Frank Shawn Gaalswyk Glenn Gearhard, II Adam Gearing Ronnie Gerdes Jason Goodman Michael Gordon Tristin Green Dexx Griffith

Grass Lake Meeker Bozeman New London Sparks Elizabethtown Elkford Helena Austin Winnemucca Eaton West Point Missoula Acton Liberty Nampa Reno Reno Laveen Cambria Greeley Lamoille Powell Belgrade Clarkston Clarkston Long Barn Helena Parker Fort St. John Huntsville West Linn Jackson Chugiak Sacramento Happy Valley Hilo Chicago Boise Rock Rapids Rock Rapids Rock Rapids Rock Springs Chugiak Kanab Powell Weston Lakes Grand Junction Bozeman Wenatchee Calgary North Salt Lake Gillett Billings Boise Cascade Mesilla Park Castle Pines Belgrade Twin Falls Lake Stevens

MT CO MT NC NV PA BC MT TX NV CO NE MT MA UT ID NV NV AZ WI CO NV WY MT WA WA CA MT CO BC AL OR MI AK CA OR HI IL ID IA IA IA WY AK UT WY TX CO MT WA AB UT WI MT ID MT NM CO MT ID WA

USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Dan Baker Caleb Barclay Lance Bernal Jacob Betts Jim Bonanno Joe Brescia Lance Brewer John Enfield Shaun Essery Isaac Fernandez Michael Gallegos Toby Griffith Nathan Ingram Bobby Jones Robert Jose Jeff Juart Kris Killorn

Evans City Littleton Tijeras Cordova Westminster Alder Snohomish Fallon Pasadena Ranchos De Taos Rio Rancho Meeteetse Caldwell Reno Helena Home Belgrade

PA CO NM AK CO MT WA NV TX NM NM WY ID NV MT PA MT

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

Luke Gudgel Adam Hairston John Hamm Paul Hanson Mark Hanten Steve Harrison Neil Hart Bob Henry Thomas Hermann Jake Hill Matt Hislop Marcus Hite Ronald Horton Dave Hubbard Joseph Hyrkas Nathan Ingram Thomas Irwin Christopher Jackson Kurt Johnsen James Johnson Jenny Johnstone Bobby Jones Jarry Jonson Todd Kaufman Casey Kay Nate Kelling Stephanie Kelso Carter Kerns Daniel Kind Steve King John Kirkendall Gordy Klassen Kent Klineburger Katherine Koons Trevor Kunz Nathan Lang Randy Laskowsky Tom Lenort Tim Lesser Zoey Lewis Andrew Lindus Scott Lusk Beth MacCallum Benjamin Mack David Matthias Mark Mcalister Michael McComas Kevin McGrath Chara McMinn Lisa McNamee Herbert Meli Robert Meyer Joel Miller Ryan Miller Davy Mize Josh Montanye Eddy Moore Janner Morgan William Morris Casey Murdock Jeffery Nunez

Whitewright Hailey Brookings Liberty Lake Alpine Rolla Rochester Vail Sheboygan Nacodoches Winnemucca Duncannon Quincy Davenport Howell Caldwell Washoe Valley Belle Fourche Kearney Livingston East Lansing Reno Wheeling Coeur d’Alene Fairfield Eldridge Graham Pendleton Laurel Farmington Missoula Debolt North Bend Indiana Thayne Eagle River Redding Clarks Grove Sherwood Eagle River Woodville Roseville Hinton Devils Lake Readlyn Medford San Antonio Chico Turners Station Huntington Beach Oshtemo Reno Artesia Anchorage Monroe Bozeman Dallas Fairbanks Dallas Medford Sparks

TX ID OR WA CA MO WA AZ WI TX NV PA CA WA MI ID NV SD MO MT MI NV WV ID ID IA WA OR MT NM MT AB WA PA WY AK CA MN OR AK WI CA AB ND IA OR TX CA KY CA MI NV NM AK LA MT TX AK TX OR NV

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA AUS USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA

Kris O’Bleness Patrick Obrien Tim Odum Ramey Oliver Clark Olsen Michael Oropallo Spencer Pape Paul Pare Mike Perchetti Robert Prince Chris Procter David Rahm Ben Ralston Greg Ralston Sailor Ray Brett Reamer Clifton Reasor Daryl Reid Brian Rhead Paul Roberts John Romero Jerome Romero Justin Rost Tate Rost Patric Ryan Ben Salleras Blake Sartini II Spencer Schmidt Jason Sealey Tina Sealey Matthew Seidel Michael Sheruda Kevin Shields Susan Skold Mike Slegers Kyle Smith Ryan Spiekermeier Mark Springer Paul Starrantino Alton Stinson Ben Stourac Nicholas Swindle Josh Taylor Jacob Theis Joseph Thomas Steven Thorp Denise Thorson Bryce Thurgood Dayton Vaughn Danielle Verna Jacob Wallock David Warrick Gerrick Weakley Ron Whitton Brent Williamson James Wise Rick & Jared Worthen Rocky Yardas Regan Yeager Jay Yokomizo Mark Zorich

Billings Woodland Walterboro Sanora Anchorage Auburn Wasilla Stuart Lamoille Daniels Pinantan Lake Castle Rock Wichita Falls Wichita Falls Twin Falls Austin Trenton Santa Maria Hayden Clifton Santa Fe Santa Fe Winnemucca Winnemucca Maxwell Chinchilla Las Vegas Turlock Olympia Olympia Missoula Factoryville Media West Des Moines Coeur d’Alene Anchorage Plains Paoli Reno Oviedo Westbank Bernalillo Cody North Highlands Chadds Ford Holly Rozet Perry Missoula Valdez Cedarburg Emmett Vancouver Mesa Powhatan Medford Reno Lander Canmore Albany Auburn

Blake Sartini II Matthew Seidel Steve Skold Don South Ryan Spiekermeier Jay Stanford Jonah Stewart Mike Traub Dawn Traub Jeremy Tripp Shane VanderGiessen Ron Whitton Janice Wisley Stephen Yates Mark Zastrow

Las Vegas NV USA Missoula MT USA West Des Moines IA USA North Plains OR USA Plains MT USA Anchorage AK USA Wasilla AK USA Helenville WI USA Helenville WI USA Hayden ID USA Lynden WA USA Mesa AZ USA Bedford IN USA Libertyville IL USA Watertown WI USA

MT MN SC CA AK NY AK FL NV WV BC CO TX TX ID TX GA CA ID ME NM NM NV NV CA QLD NV CA WA WA MT PA PA IA ID AK MT IN NV FL BC NM WY CA PA MN WY UT MT AK WI ID WA AZ VA OR NV WY AB CA CA

NEW SUMMIT LIFE MEMBERS

92 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Bruce Kirkpatrick William Kochevar BJ Lemieux Zoey Lewis Joanna Lyons-Antley John McCollum Michael McCormack Jack McKinney Blaine Nimer Mike Odin Andy Otte Nathan Peckinpaugh Mike Perchetti Hank Raats Grant Rach Brett Reamer Shane Rogers

Petersburg Lakewood Albany Eagle River Klamath Falls Myrtle Point Oakdale Lolo Huntsville Eagle River Randolph Bozeman Lamoille Las Vegas Sylvan Lake Austin Las Vegas

PA CO MN AK OR OR PA MT UT AK MN MT NV NV AB TX NV

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA CAN USA USA

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!

THREE BUTTES RANCH ROUNDUP, MONTANA | $25,500,000 | 10,487± ACRES

The Three Buttes Ranch is located in Unit 590, which has regularly produced bulls in excess of 380 inches B&C. The property is also home to Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Antelope, & Bear. Whether you are a die-hard bowhunter, a traditional muzzleloader enthusiast, or a long-range rifle hunter, Three Buttes Ranch provides ideal terrain and conditions for all three!

Three Buttes Ranch also provides future owners the chance to chase a wide variety of small game, including Merriam Turkeys, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pheasants, Ducks, Geese, Coyote, Fox, & Rabbits.

v

st. james sporting properties 721 MAIN STREET WINDSOR, COLORADO 80550

855-711-sjsp

INFO@SJSPORTINGPROPERTIES.COM Licensed in: Co, Id, Ks, Mt, Ne, NM, Ut, & Wy

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WILD S HEEP® 93

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view property

A PREMIER TROPHY ELK HUNTING PROPERTY IN THE STATE OF MONTANA! Three Buttes Ranch rests in the heart of Central Montana, just southeast of Roundup, MT. The ranch consists of 10,487± deeded acres but with the additional BLM lease (80± acres), state lease (1,280± acres), and the forty-year private lease (4,484± acres), Three Buttes Ranch has a combined total of approximately 16,331± total acres.

10 YEARS OF MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE

BIG CHANGES COMING SOON! 94 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

WSF IS SENDING ONE LUCKY PERSON ON A DALL’S SHEEP HUNT INTO THE WILDS OF NWT WITH THE OUTFITTER OF THEIR CHOICE!

IN PARTNERSHIP

ROBERT FROST

2022 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE & MEMBER APPRECIATION DRAWING IT’S SIMPLE - Join WSF for only $45, or renew your membership and you’re in.

Want more chances?

Current members may purchase up to five entries at $50/each OR add up to five additional years to your memberships for $45 year. To add years or entries call WSF. INCLUDED: SCAN HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

• Dall’s sheep hunt with winner’s choice of Association of MacKenzie Mountain (AMMO) outfitters • Air Charter from Norman Wells to/from Base Camp (sponsored by AMMO) • Adam Foss of Foss Media will accompany the winner and capture their memories on camera (still and/or video) - winner’s preference • Membership in the WILD SHEEP family of hunter-conservationists - putting and keeping wild sheep on the mountain

867-444-4868 www.canoloutfitters.com

406.404.8750 | wildsheepfoundation.org | info@wildsheepfoundation.org |

NWT wildsheepfoundation SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 95

CHAPTERS & AFFILIATES NOTE: bold/italics font denotes a joint WSF membership Chapter/Affiliate. Membership in these chapters and affiliates include membership in Wild Sheep Foundation.

FOR COMPLETE CONTACT INFORMATION GO TO: www.wildsheepfoundation.org/memberships/chapters-and-affiliates

CHAPTERS:

ALASKA WSF Kevin Kehoe, President 907-441-6323 kevin.kehoe@kantishnainc.com WSF ALBERTA Matt Mellon, President (403) 872-7033 matt@wsfab.org www.wsfab.org WSF ALBERTA Chapter Office Deena Arychuk, Chapter Staff info@wsfab.org 403-845-5544 CALIFORNIA WSF Donald C. Martin, President 310-766-3921 Don-martin@earthlink.net CALIFORNIA WSF Chapter Office Beverly Valdez, Chapter Staff 650-472-3889 forthesheep@gmail.com www.cawsf.org EASTERN CHAPTER WSF Mike Ewell, President mewell85@vt.edu 302-381-2782 EASTERN CHAPTER WSF Chapter Office Tina Everhart, Office Manager 717-588-4190 info@ecfnaws.org www.ecfnaws.org IDAHO WSF Bill London, President blondon777@gmail.com 208-860-0580 Tracy Rowley, Chapter Staff P.O. Box 8224, Boise, ID 83707 208-345-6171 info@amsidaho.com www.idahowildsheep.org IOWA FNAWS Craig Nakamoto, President 402-650-1383 nakamoto01@sbcglobal.net iowafnaws@gmail.com www.iowafnaws.org WSF—MIDWEST CHAPTER Mike Bouton, President 612-940-1979 mikwbouton@hotmail.com www.midwestwildsheep.com WSF—MIDWEST CHAPTER Mike Bouton, Executive Director 612-940-1979 mikwbouton@hotmail.com www.midwestwildsheep.com MONTANA WSF D.J. Berg, President 406-366-1849 dj@montanawsf.org Brian Solan, Volunteer Executive Director 406-461-7432 brian@montanawsf.org www.montanawsf.org

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT CHAPTER OF WSF Janessa Kluth, Chapter contact 208-420-4240 montanastatewsf@gmail.com facebook.com/MSUWSF NEW MEXICO WSF Bryan Bartlett, President (575) 635-3499 BartleBC@yahoo.com newmexicowildsheep@gmail.com

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Office Tracey Martin 480-854-8950 admin@adbss.org Association of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters Harold Grinde, President 403-357-8414 ganariver@pentnet.net www.huntnwt.com

OREGON WSF Kevin Martin, President Kevindmartin63@gmail.com www.oregonfnaws.org

Bear Trust International Logan Young, Executive Director 406-595-6583 logan@beartrust.org www.beartrust.org

UTAH FNAWS Travis Jenson 801-641-5453 tjenson@xmission.com www.utahfnaws.org

Cody Country Outfitters and Guides Association Lee Livingston 307-527-7416 Livingston@tctwest.net

WASHINGTON WSF Andy Kelso 253-312-7347 akelso@kentwa.gov www.washingtonwsf.org

Colorado Outfitters Association Kelly Nottingham, Office Manager 970-824-2468 office@coloradooutfitters.com www.coloradooutffiters.org

WYOMING WSF Zach McDermott, President 307-752-1212 zach@wyomingwildsheep.org

Custodians of Professional Hunting & Conservation—South Africa Coira Goss +27 0 81 036 1151 admin@cphc-sa.co.za www.cphc-sa.co.za

Wyoming WSF Chapter Office Katie Cheesbrough, Executive Director 307-399-4383 katie@wyomingwildsheep.org www.wyomingwildsheep.org YUKON WSF Richard Christiansen, President (250) 661-4436 sidney5@shaw.ca www.yukonwsf.com

AFFILIATES:

2% For Conservation Jared Frasier, Executive Director 406-221-3102 contact@fishandwildlife.org www.fishandwildlife.org Alaska Professional Hunters Association Deb Moore, Executive Director 907-929-0619 office@alaskaprohunter.org www.alaskaprohunter.org Alberta Outfitters Association Kevin Stanton, President 403-762-5454 aoa@albertaoutfitters.com www.albertaoutfitters.com Alberta Professional Outfitters Society 780-414-0249 info@apos.ab.ca www.apos.ab.ca Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Inc. Richard Schuette, President 602-790-7572 camelbackfloors@msn.com www.adbss.org

96 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Dude Ranchers Association Colleen Hodson 307-587-2339 colleen@duderanch.org www.duderanch.org Elko Bighorns Unlimited Cory Mahan, Vice President 775-397-4465 cmahan@ram-enterprise.com Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn Clint Bentley, President 702-499-7501 sheepspotr@aol.com www.desertbighorn.com Fundacion De Vida Silvestre En Sonora, A.C Jacobo Artee, President 011-52-662-212-5510, 011-52-662-2174119 jacoboartee@prodigy.net.mx Grand Slam Club/Ovis Mark Hampton, Executive Director 205674-0101 gsco@wildsheep.org www.wildsheep.org Guide Outfitter Association of BC Scott Ellis, General Manager 604-541-6332 ellis@goabc.org www.goabc.org International Caribou Foundation Cheryl Lind, Executive Director 406-404-1297 cheryl@internationalcariboufoundation.org www.internationalcariboufoundation.org

Kazakhstan Wildlife Foundation Orynbassar Shaimukhanbetov, President acbkarlan@mail.ru Lubbock Sportsmans Club, Inc. Tim Gafford, President 806-771-1717 Ph 806-789-2441 Cell gaffordpest@gmail.com lubbocksafariclub@hotmail.com Montana Outfitter & Guides Association Mac Minard, Executive Director 406-449-3578 moga@mt.net www.montanaoutfitters.org National Bighorn Sheep Center Sara Bridge, Executive Director 307-455-3429 info@bighorn.org www.bighorn.org Nebraska Big Game Society Jim King (402) 430-6566 jim@glsbinc.com www.nebiggame.org Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Tom Fennel, President 775-250-6600 tfennell@dicksoncg.com www.nevadabighornsunlimited.org Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Fallon Jay Lingenfelter, President jay.lingenfelter@cccomm.co 775-427-1254 Northern BC Guides Association Aaron Fredlund, President 403-638-1368 aaron@huntfgs.com Northern Nevada SCI Chapter Brandon Weise bweise@nnsci.com 775-721-4700 www.nnsci.com Northwest Guides & Outfitters Assoc.

Colin Niemeyer, President 250-306-8624 hunting@kawdyoutfitters.com Northwest Sportsman’s Club Nate Perrenoud 509-994-6795 www.northwestsportsmansclub.com Purkersdorfer Jagdklub Gunther Tschabuschnig, Vice President 011-43-676-496-6691 info@jagdklub.eu www.jagdklub.eu Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society John Hayter, President 970-389-3010 jnhayter@gmail.com www.bighornsheep.org Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance Jason Peak, President Jpeak71@hotmail.com www.goatalliance.org Contact: Lee MacDonald, Membership Coordinator lee@goatalliance.org

Safari Club International 520-620-1220 info@safariclub.org www.safariclub.org Sheep Hunters of the World (SHOW) Billi Carey, Administrator 480-292-1674 www.sheephunters.com Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep Steve Marschke, President 310-339-4677 info@sheepsociety.com www.desertbighorn.org Tahltan Guide Outfitters Association Rudy Day, President 250-235-3395 Dayrudy84@gmail.com Spanish Professional Hunters Association Diego Satrustegui, President +34 618 621 690 Direccion.aptce@gmail.com www.spanishprofessionalhunters.com Texas Bighorn Society Dr. Sam Cunningham, President 806-262-6889 scunningham@quailcreekent.com www.texasbighornsociety.org Wildlife Stewardship Council John Henderson, President sirjohn55@gmail.com wildlifestewarship@gmail.com www.wildlifestewardshipcouncil.com Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia Kyle Stelter, President 250-619-8415 kylestelter@gmail.com www.wildsheepsociety.com Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia Office Michael Surbey, Executive Assistant 604-690-9555 exec@wildsheepsociety.com Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Association Jeff Smith, President 307-265-2376 wyoga@wyoga.org www.wyoga.org Yukon Outfitters Association Mac Watson, President 867-668-4118 (Office) info@yukonoutfitters.net www.yukonoutfitters.net Yukon Outfitters Association Staff Shawn Wasel, Executive Director 780-213-4301 (Cell) swasel@mcsnet.ca Brenda Stehelin, Office Manager info@yukonoutfitters.net

TECHNICAL/ ADVISORY AFFILIATES:

Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council Kevin Hurley, Executive Director 307-899-9375 info@nwsgc.org www.nwsgc.org Desert Bighorn Council Patrick Cummings, Chair Nevada Department of Wildlife (Retired) (702) 486-5127 patrickcummings1002@gmail.com www.desertbighorncouncil.com

SAVE THE DATE!

“ You can all go to hell— I’m going to Texas.”

— Davy Crockett

CHAPTER & AFFILIATE SUMMIT XIV Texas Bighorn Society – Summit Host • San Antonio, Texas

May 19-21, 2022

Host Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Riverwalk 207 North St. Mary’s Street • San Antonio, TX 78205

Hotel Reservations:

210-223-8888

Code: “Chapter & Affiliate Summit”

Special Events & Venues: • C&A meetings • Social at the famous Buckhorn Saloon • Alamo Tour • Dinner at the historic Menger Hotel • Riverwalk boat tour of downtown San Antonio • Finale Tex-Mex Dinner and Auction on the river at Casa Rio!

SaveTHE the Date SAVE DATE May 21, 2022 Fundraiser & Banquet South Point Casino • Las Vegas, NV

57TH ANNUAL BANQUET Hope to see you there!

MAY 22, 2021 - 5:00 PM www.fraternityofthedesertbighorn.com • Live & Silent Auctions - Raffles has a busy spring keeping wild sheep on • FDBOutstanding Meal & Open Bar

the mountain with the building or rebuilding of eight Guzzlers. So all funds raised will be going For more info or to buy tickets: right back on the ground!

www.DesertBighorn.com/banquet SPRING 2022 ~ WILD S HEEP® 97

CHAPTERS & AFFILIATES

2022 BANQUET DATES NOTE: Dates noted are as of press time.

Please check C&A websites for updates.

WSF Thinhorn Summit III...................................................May 3-5, 2022 (Whitehorse, YT) WSF C&A Summit XIV ............................................................ May 19-21 San Antonio, Texas Bighorn Bash with Schnee’s............................................................... July 8 Bozeman, MT Jurassic Classic........................................................................August 12-14

WSF CHAPTERS:

2022

WSF AFFILIATES:

2022

July 8, 2022

Alaska WSF.......................................................................... April 23, Anchorage, AK California WSF................................................................. April 30, Sacramento, CA Eastern Chapter WSF..............................................February 24-26, Lancaster PA Idaho WSF.........................................................................................April 9, Boise, ID Iowa FNAWS........................................................February 25-26, Des Moines, IA Midwest Chapter WSF...................................... March 25 & 26, Minnetonka, MN Montana WSF................................................................ Feb. 25-26, 2022, Butte, MT MSU Student Chapter WSF.........................................................................................

New Mexico WSF................................................... NM G&F BHS & DBHS Raffle Oregon FNAWS..................................................................April 30, Redmond, OR Utah WSF..........................................................................April 9, Salt Lake City, UT Washington WSF................................................................... March 12, Tacoma WA WSF Alberta.......................................................................March 4-5, Red Deer, AB WSF Alberta—Yellowhead..........................................................................................

Wyoming WSF..........................................................................June 3-4, Lander, WY Yukon WSF......................................................................................................................

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society...................... March 12, Scottsdale, AZ Elko Bighorns Unlimited Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn....................................... May 21, Las Vegas, NV National Bighorn Sheep Center ............................................ Nov 6, Dubois, WY Nebraska Big Game Society.................................................. April 14, Lincoln, NE Nevada Bighorns Unlimited.........................................................April 1, Reno, NV Nevada Bighorns Unlimited - Fallon.........................................Feb 19, Fallon, NV Nevada Bighorns Unlimited - Midas Northern Nevada SCI Chapter............................................. March 12, Reno, NV Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society................................ June 10-11, Loveland, CO Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance............................................................................ N/A Society for the Consv. of Bighorn Sheep.......................................................... N/A Texas Bighorn Society...............................................June 10-11, Grapevine, Texas Wild Sheep Society of BC – Northern...... CANCELLED, Dawson Creek, BC Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia........................March 12,Virtual Event

NOTE: No date listed = Date not yet determined or provided by C&A 98 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

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WILD S HEEP® 99

CHAPTER & AFFILIATE NEWS NEW MEXICO REVIEWS BIGHORN SHEEP RULES

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upply and demand will ultimately influence everything, including coveted bighorn sheep permits.

At a recent public meeting in New Mexico, a preliminary review of the Bighorn Sheep Rules was heard by the State Game Commission. The biggest issue discussed was the allocation of resident and non-resident sheep draw permits. Proposals presented by some individuals and sportsman’s organizations sought to increase

bighorn sheep hunting opportunities for residents. Specifically, the discussion centered around seven non-resident permits of a total of 50.

These proposals mushroomed into a push-pull debate over outof-state hunters, outfitting, wild sheep conservation funding, and the historic success the state has seen in recovering its wild sheep resources.

The proposed rule changes, if adopted by the Commission, would eliminate all seven non-resident draw allocations. As a result, non-residents

would not be able to participate in the draw permit process for bighorn sheep in New Mexico.

In reference to the historically successful wild sheep recovery programs in New Mexico noted on these pages and funded by stakeholders from across the US and Canada—WSF and B&C have opposed this action.

The NM Game Commission has chosen to turn the issue over to the State Attorney’s office for review and comment.

February 28, 2022 New Mexico State Game Commission

elimination of non-resident ram permits. (Note that in 2021, there were a combined 50 New Mexico RMBHS and DBHS ram permits available fort he public draw. Fourtythree permits were allocated to NM residents and seven were allocated to non-residents).

The New Mexico Wild Sheep Foundation strongly objects to the intentional elimination of all non-resident ram draw tags for two important reasons: First, the change will reduce our ability to generate funding needed to continue with the successful bighorn sheep restoration work done by NMDGF. We must remind ourselves that in 1978/79, there were less than 700 RMBHS and less than 80 DBHS in New Mexico Mountain ranges.

Today we have over 1,700 RMBHS and 1,200 DBHS. This is a significant wild sheep conservation success story.

However, this did not occur without considerable work and the funding to make it happen.

Since 1990, most of the funding for this effort has come from the U.S. and Canadian hunting community. ln the last 32 years, over 57 million dollars has been contributed back

into the NMDGF special bighorn sheep fund/budget for restoration and management projects. 97% of this $7 million has come from non-resident hunters and donors. During this 32year period only 3% originated from New Mexico hunters. These dollars were then leveraged against a 3-to-1 match in Pitman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act funds, which has provided the NMDGF with the ability to conduct aggressive and successful wild sheep conservation and management programs.

Without these funds, provided by non-resident hunters we would not be discussing the merits of eliminating all non-resident bighorn hunting opportunities. lt is likely that there would be significantly less bighorn hunting opportunities for everyone.

By eliminatlng all non-resident opportunities, it is highly likely the non-resident hunting community and various conservation groups will not offer the same level of support they have provided during the last 32 years. This will not be good for NM bighorn sheep conservation, and it will slow down the creation of more bighorn sheep hunting opportunities in the future. To do so, the state will

Dear Commissioners, Recently we have been made aware of a proposal by the New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF), to change the way the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish allocates bighorn sheep hunting permits.

For the past few years, NMDGF have allocated bighorn sheep ram tags by combining all Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (RMBHS) ram tags into one hunt code. The same is done for the desert bighorn sheep (DBHS) ram tags. The 84% resident allocation is then applied to all tags in these two hunt codes.

NMWF are proposing to discontinue this method and allocate permits based on an individual unit hunt code. This is the same method used to allocate Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer permits.

Due to the small number of bighorn sheep permits available, scattered among 12 different mountain areas, this change would result in the total 100 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

be forced to make-up any reduction in funds which result from excluding all non-resident hunters. Where will these funds come from?

Second: lmplementation of the NMWF recommendation disregards all the previous contributions that have been made by New Mexico’s loyal non-resident wild sheep conservation supporters. New Mexico’s wild sheep recovery efforts are widely respected by all other state game management organizations and all Wild Sheep Foundation chapters and affiliates.

Over the years there has been close conservation cooperation between NMDGF, other game management organizations and wild sheep hunters across the nation. This relationship between all parties has helped to drive the continued support of the non-resident hunting community. We believe it is not in the best interest of NM wildlife conservation efforts to

March 3, 2022 New Mexico State Game Commission Dear Commissioners and Director Sloane: The idea as presented to the Commission of allocating bighorn sheep tags on a per-unit, hunt code basis implicates vital considerations for the continued progress of wild sheep conservation in New Mexico.

Should the commission decide to pursue this direction, we strongly suggest beginning with informed discussion among all interested parties including members of the public convened by the Commission, state, and national conservation organizations such as the New Mexico Wild Sheep Foundation, the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Boone and Crockett Club, and others. For decades, we have diligently raised funds that have supported bighorn sheep conservation in New Mexico.

We offer our assistance in fostering a successful discussion and can

deliberately eliminate all non-resident bighorn ram hunting opportunities. ln summary: We strongly object to the elimination of all non-resident ram draw permits in New Mexico. lt will not be good for wild sheep conservation and existing herd prosperity; it will likely result in a loss of financial and cooperative support from non-resident hunters and outof-state wild sheep conservation organizations/individuals and it will ultimately require additional state funds if the bighorn sheep recovery program is to be maintained at its current level.

And finally, we want to emphasize that effective wild sheep conservation efforts not only help bighorns to thrive—they also produce benefit for nearly all other wildlife in the same habitat area, whether it be habitat improvements, water development or predator management. What is good

provide pertinent information. Wild sheep biological data and economic impact studies will support inclusive collaboration with all stakeholders and aid your decision-making process toward the goal of conservation.

We respect that allocation of hunting permits between residents and non-residents is the responsibility of each state, province, or territory. We do not engage in these decision-making processes unless a proposal negatively impacts the resource or overall hunting opportunities.

This proposal could do both by reducing funding for wild sheep conservation and the department charged with their health and restoration. Much of the conservation funding for New Mexico wild sheep programs is generated from a diversity of other states. The combined efforts of all stakeholders to increase wild sheep and other game populations and achieve greater access and opportunities for all hunters and outdoor enthusiasts is the driver of

for wild sheep is good for all.

We ask that you not support this NMWF recommendation.

Thank you very much for your time and careful consideration. lf you have any comments or questions, please give me a call at 575-535-3499 or send me an email at bartlqbq@yahoo.com.

Bryan Bartlett, President New Mexico Wild Sheep Foundation CC: NM Wild Sheep Foundation Board of Directors Michael Sloan, Director NMDGF Gray Thornton, Pres. & CEO, Wild Sheep Foundation MichaelFrancis, NM State Chair, RMEF Jalene Winner, Pres. NMSCI Justin Watts, Regional Director, NMWTF

New Mexico’s success in wild sheep conservation. This unity maximizes license and tag revenue to benefit the resource in the best possible manner.

On this basis, we would eagerly engage with the Commission in discussions regarding bighorn sheep allocations and welcome the chance to provide a multitude of resources. The effective application of New Mexico enhancement license and bighorn sheep general donation revenues to management and restoration of New Mexico’s wild sheep resource requires wide participation and ensures their sustainable use.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Gray N. Thornton President & CEO, Wild Sheep Foundation Tony A. Schoonen CEO, Boone and Crockett Club C: Bryan Bartlett, President, New Mexico Wild Sheep Foundation

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 101

CHAPTER & AFFILIATE NEWS

by Beverly Valdez California WSF

CALIFORNIA WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION UPDATE

W

hether it’s getting up the mountain ourselves or raising the funds for Putting and Keeping Sheep on the Mountain®; we don’t give up! We are committed to our Give A Lamb A Drink

102 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

(GALAD) project goal of doubling the number of desert bighorns in the state with your help.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued funding the implementation of new water

installations throughout the state... and we have more planned for 2022.

Each system costs approximately $25,000 to complete with the help of volunteers from both our chapter, and our sister organization, The Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep (SCBS).

You can help with a donation to the GALAD project (see our website). Or volunteer for a project.

You can also help, and have fun at the same time, by attending our 20th Anniversary Fundraiser! Register to attend at the CA WSF store by using the QR code below.

If you are not already a member, JOIN today! Consider becoming a Life or Distinguished Life Member or upgrade while at the store. You will then be eligible for the Life Member drawing at the fundraiser. This is one of the most limited drawings around and you MUST attend to win a Dall’s sheep hunt with Ultima Thule Outfitters.And don’t forget to get your tickets to win a Stone’s sheep hunt with Golden Bear Outfitters in 2023. These tickets WILL sell out, don’t hesitate!

We know you care about the mountains and the majestic bighorn sheep that inhabit them so be sure to get involved today! WS

CALIFORNIA CHAPTER WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION 16-day Stone Sheep Hunt with Golden Bear Outfitters Dates: July 29 - August 13, 2023 Location: Telegraph Creek and Stikine River area of British Columbia, CDA DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN

2023 STONE SHEEP HUNT Only 600 ets total tick available

100 Ticke ts reserved event on for 4/30/22

20th ANNIVERSARY FUNDRAISER APRIL 30, 2022 2023 DALL SHEEP HUNT cial Spe ing aw Dr

L Me ife mbe rs

JOIN OR UPGRADE TODAY

All life members of any level will be automatically entered — Youth (1 ticket), Life (1 ticket), Distinguished Life (3 tickets) — into this special drawing for a coveted Dall Sheep Hunt in Alaska guided by Donald C Martin. Thank you to the Claus family for this great opportunity!

MUST BE PRESENT OR REGISTER TO WIN

Live Auction with many hunts, artwork, family trips and more!

Silent auction including great gear! Great prizes in the drawings!

FINAL DATE FOR ONLINE PURCHASES / REGISTRATION IS APRIL 15, 2022 Putting and Keeping Sheep on the Mountains in California since 2001 TICKETS / REGISTRATION ORDER FORM ONLINE AT:

www.cawsf.org/store Mail checks to: CA Wild Sheep Foundation 1630 Williams Hwy #151 Grants Pass, OR 97527 SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 103

CHAPTER & AFFILIATE NEWS

by Mike Ewell President, Eastern Chapter WSF

I

CELEBRATING TOGETHER

t has been a crazy year, but I am happy to report that the Eastern Chapter was able to celebrate in person over 30 years of helping Put and Keep Sheep on the Mountain® the weekend of February 25th. Though attendance was down from previous years it was fantastic to see so many members come out and support conservation efforts. It was a pretty packed weekend with exhibitors, three auctions, two silent auctions, Wall of Guns raffles, hunt raffles, live bands and the always popular Ladies’ Luncheon. A big

thank you to State of Wyoming, as the governor’s tag raffle sold out for the second year in a row. It was also great to hear from Katie Cheesbrough of Wyoming Wild Sheep to give us an update on the health of our herd. A special thank you for Jim Shockey for making a live virtual appearance. To all the board members, chapter members, exhibitors and donors, thank you so much for your support and making it a great weekend.

The Eastern Chapter has been able to provide over a half million in

GIAs over the past two years, and it is really an amazing accomplishment considering we are 1000 of miles away from any wild sheep. If you have any GIAs that need support, please reach out to us. We are already planning for next year and looking to provide an experience that will inspire hunters to pursue the dream of sheep hunting.

Our show next year will be Feb 16th through the 18th, as we look to continue Putting and Keeping Sheep on the Mountain®! Hope to see you there.

WS

Photo: Duncan Gilcrist 104 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Games! Raffles!

Friday Night Rendezvous!

Saturday Life Member Breakfast!

Youth Experience! Seminars!

Join the Crowd in Lander!

Wyoming’s 38th Annual Convention will be held at the Lander Community Center on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Register at: Call (307)213-0998 or Email: Info@wyomingwildsheep.org.

Photo Credit: Mark Gocke

Live Auction Items:

2022 Wyoming Governor’s Big Horn Sheep License 2022 Wyoming Governors Bison License 2022 Commisisoner’s Elk, Deer or Pronghorn Licenses LaPalmosa Mule Deer Hunt, January 2024 Desert Sheep Hunt with LaGuarida Sitka Blacktail Deer, Oct 2023 Causarina 7 Day Bahamas Vacation for 8 Custom Weatherby Backcountry 2.0 in 6.5 WBY/RPM

Scan to Visit our Auction SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 105

CHAPTER & AFFILIATE NEWS

by Kevin Kehoe President, Alaska, WSF

A

ALASKA WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION ANNUAL BANQUET UPDATE

nother sellout crowd of 900 will again enjoy a night of celebrating Alaska’s great outdoors at the 2022 AK WSF Annual Banquet on Saturday, April 23rd at the Dena’ina Convention Center in Anchorage.

Two all-inclusive hunts will join the list of exceptional raffles headlining the Seventh Annual Banquet. Hunts for desert bighorn sheep on Carmen Island with Mexico Hunts and a New Zealand Dream Hunt with Spey Creek Trophy Hunting will join the annual favorites, along with an Alaskan Sheep Hunter Rifle package and the Ultimate Sheep Hunter Package on the list of great raffles.

Tickets are available online at www.

106 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

AKWildSheep.org This year’s event will follow the same basic format as previous years

with exceptional raffle prizes and live auction hunts from around the world.

Over $150K in firearms and

Annual Banquet & Online Auction April 23, 2022 For tickets, raffles and additional information go to www.AKWildSheep.org

Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountains of Alaska SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 107

optics will be featured. Scopes and binoculars are featured from such names as Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica, Leupold and Vortex. The raffles include firearms from Gunwerks, Bansner, Blaser, Christensen, Sig Sauer, Browning, Bergara, Colt, Kimber, Fierce, Snowy Mountain Rifles, Proof Research, HS Precision, Beretta, Sako, Tikka and Savage.

Can-Am and Team CC will again support the conservation effort with Can-Am Defender side-by-side for the Membership Raffle. All Season’s Argo this year has joined the list of

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supporters also with an Argo 8x8 Frontier Scout 700 as one of the major prizes on the Denali Tiered Raffle.

Follow us on Facebook and check the website often for pre-event raffles featuring hunts and gear open to participants throughout North America. www.AKWildSheep.org

AK WSF President Awarded Governor’s Conservationist of the Year AK WSF President Kevin Kehoe

was awarded the Alaska Governor’s Conservationist of the Year Award at a recent Safari Club International Banquet in Anchorage. The award is given for longstanding dedication to the conservation of Alaska’s fish and wildlife resources and for exemplary service to the people of Alaska and their outdoor traditions. Kevin was clearly moved by the award said that he was truly humbled during his comments. “You never win an award like this alone,” he stated.

“It represents the hard work of a lot of people on the teams to which you were privileged to belong.” He concluded saying that, more than ever, he felt, “The measure of a true sportsmen is not what they take off the mountain but what they put back.” Kevin joins a list of notable Alaskans as recipients of the award including several Wild Sheep Foundation Life Members.

From the Field

The fight for conservation is continuous. We consistently push for awareness, for best management practices and adequate funding.

Here in Alaska, we have been largely successful in funding wildlife conservation through annual hunting license sales, drawing permit application and big game tag fees.

Combined with auction and raffle proceeds, Alaska has been able to use these sizeable funds to leverage a 3:1 match, bringing in valuable PittmanRobertson dollars to annually fund critical monitoring and research work for big game, including Dall’s sheep.

Despite valiant efforts at building and growing these programs in recent years, no amount of funding can counter the deadly effects of extreme weather and devastating winter loss.

Alaska is thawing from one of the worst winters on record. From extreme windstorms across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, to

WIN

A L L- I N C LU S I V E

DESERT BIGHORN HUNT nd AN

on Carmen Isla W IT H

M E X IC O H U N T S

This exceptional trip includes all fees and expenses for one hunter and observer including transportation, food and lodging, trophy fees, daily guide fees, permits and licenses, trophy export and even tips. Absolutely no hidden costs! This is your best opportunity to harvest a Desert Bighorn (160 to low 170s). Hunter may select any open dates in 2023 – 2024 for Fall and Spring season running mid-Nov to mid-April.

Here is your chance to win one of the most coveted hunts in North America. Carmen Island is considered the best destination for an archer wanting good odds of taking a ram with a bow. During March and April, the sheep must come to waterholes. These sheep are the Weemsi subspecies or South Baja desert sheep for collectors.

Mexico Hunts provides two guides, chef with waiter and maid. Ocean fishing is available after taking ram.

Included in the Package for Hunter and Observer: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Air travel for two from the US to Loreto Mexico and return Trophy fee for one Desert Bighorn Services of renown hunting consultant Jack Atcheson Jr. Firearms permitting Meet and greet at the arrival airport All hunting licenses and permits Transportation to and from Carmen Island from Loreto All transportation during the hunt English speaking guide or interpreter Local guide and assistant guide included Food and lodging while in camp Daily rates for hunt Trophy skinning and preparation Export fees plus CITES permit Airfreight of trophy to your import location Tips for the hunting guides and staff

TICKETS:

$ 00 r o 1f 2 $ 00 5 r o f 3 $ 7 for 1000 Only 850 tickets will be

sold

NE ED NO T BE PR ES EN T TO WI N! !

Not Included:

• Tours or side trips in Loreto, MX • Additional optional nights in hotel in Loreto, MX

To Purchase Tickets: www.akwildsheep.org Drawing Date: April 23rd, 2022 at the AK WSF Annual Banquet

Proceeds benefit wild sheep in Alaska and Mexico

|

This hunt is valued at $85K

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® SPRING ~W ILD S HEEP 109 Alaska2022 Raffle Permit #111004

extreme snow from the Copper River Basin north through the Denali and Fairbanks North Star boroughs, the Alaskan people and our wildlife have faced excessive hardships this winter.

Disaster declarations will help our populace. We are only now though, beginning to see the true impact these winter conditions had on our wildlife across the state, from moose, to bison, caribou and Dall’s sheep. During an average winter, full grown Dall’s sheep can lose 15-20% of their body mass, with lambs and yearlings losing up to 40% of their mass given severe winter conditions. Contrary to what one might think, bitter cold northern temperatures do not incapacitate Dall’s sheep, as their metabolic rate slows accordingly. If food is not readily available however given excessive snow depth, crust or icing, even for short periods of time, they will not survive to see green-up. We are now in a painful holding pattern, waiting for the heavy white blankets of snow to recede from the mountain tops, so that our biologists may get out and survey the damage.

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Going into a severe winter is manageable if population numbers are strong. Anyone in the mountains these last couple years will tell you, we were not so lucky. With a 40-year low in the statewide Dall’s sheep harvest in 2021 (< 500 rams taken), excessive snow accumulation this past winter was possibly the perfect storm. We have areas that will be devastated and will take decades to recover. There is a beacon of hope though, all is not lost. Alaska is a vast and resilient wild wonderland and we have been here before. To date, we have not documented any deadly allage die-offs, and between the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and our Alaska Board of Game, our sheep management programs are strong and our populations well structured. With an adequate number of mature Dall’s sheep comes exceptional history, experience and knowledge to navigate the extremes Mother Nature dishes out. The routes to prime wintering range are used year after year, and the odds are that the strongest survive.

We will continue to strive for

advancements in population and health monitoring, and we will do everything we can to support our wildlife managers in their efforts to navigate these next few years.

We hope that you will join us in fighting for continued inroads into understanding the complex dynamics of Dall’s sheep populations and help us best position this valuable resource for the future. Conservation is truly about sustainability, it’s not always about a full-pack.

Volunteer Today

These days it is not enough to simply buy a hunting and fishing license and attend a few banquets to support conservation. Our lifestyle is under continuous assault and wild places are expensive to maintain. There is no greater contribution you can make than the gift of your time. Sign up, volunteer, become part of a team and make a contribution to conservation to last more than a lifetime! If you would like to join us and help build AK WSF, please contact us at info@akwildsheep. org. WS

WIN AN ALL-INCLUSIVE

New Zealand Dream Hunt This exceptional trip includes all fees and expenses for one hunter and observer including transportation, food, lodging, trophy fees, guide fees, permits and licenses, trophy export and even tips. Absolutely no hidden costs!

TICKETS:

100 each 6 for $500 15 for $1000 $

Limited to 900 tickets.

Tickets & Additional Information:

www.AKWildSheep.org

Join Spey Creek Trophy Hunting near beautiful Kaikoura, NZ for the hunt of a lifetime! The hunt includes a Red Stag up to 500pts SCI, Himalayan Tahr, Alpine Chamois, and Fallow Deer buck.

Schedule the hunt for available dates in 2023 or 2024. Hunt the Red Stag roar (rut) in March and April and hear the hills echo with their unique mating calls.

Enjoy the services of renown hunting consultant, Jack Atcheson Jr, who will advise and assist you in preparing for your dream hunt.

This hunt is valued at $55K.

2022 ~ WILD S HEEP 111 Drawing held on April 23, 2022 at the AK WSF Banquet | NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN!SPRING | Alaska Raffle Permit #111004 ®

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SUPER SEVEN

Win a permit for one or more of Alaska’s most sought after hunts!

Chugach Mountain Goat • Alaska Range Caribou • Unimak Island Brown Bear • Delta Bison Nunivak Island Muskox • Afognak Island Roosevelt Elk • Alaska Range Dall Sheep

TICKETS: $20 each, 7 tickets for $100, or 40 tickets for $500.

Purchase as many tickets as you want.

A single ticket provides a chance to win one hunt. Enter to win as many hunts as you want. Individuals may win more than one hunt!

WHO: Any resident, non-resident, or non-resident alien who is 10 years-of-age or older is eligible.

Guide requirements for non-residents and non-resident aliens may apply.

WHEN: Tickets are available January 12–April 15, 2022.

Winners will be announced/posted online May 6, 2022.

HOW: Tickets are available ONLINE ONLY

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Brought to you by Alaska Department of Fish and Game with support from the following sponsors:

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THANK YOU ALL AT Blake Vandenberg

ALASKA OUTFITTERS UNLIMITED! Blake Vandenberg (Guide): “Thank

you for finding and helping me kill my dream ram. I owe you bigtime and cannot wait to hunt with you again in 2025!”

Steve Hallenbeck (Original Guide): “You told me not to worry and you would take care of me when you blew your knee out 3 weeks prior to my sheep hunt.You did! Thank you for lining me up with Blake (a great match and guide) and for loaning me your rifle!”

Angie & Aaron Bloomquist (Outfitter): “Thank you for handling the air logistics and hotel when weather canceled our inbound trip to spike camp. Thank you for hiring top notch guides who care about their clients and know their stuff.

I am excited to hunt with your outfit again in 2025.”

Sterling Whitaker (Guide for other

hunter at spike camp): “Thank you for the beta on Blake and my sheep’s general location that you gathered while hunting with your (also successful) hunter! Awesome.”

Ryan

Brennan (Other hunter’s packer): “Thank you for hiking the 9 miles from base camp to our spike camp to help us pack out after your hunter had already tagged out.

Taking that extra 80# was awesome and saved us a trip!”

My lifetime dream ram!!

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CHAPTER & AFFILIATE NEWS

by Jason Peak President, RMGA

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CHAPTER AND AFFILIATE UPDATE

ith the start of 2022, RMGA capitalized on a strong 2021 and continues to enjoy growth through both memberships and sponsorship. The resources generated by the loyal supporters of RMGA have allowed the organization to expand on opportunities to fulfill the mission statement of using Citizen Science initiatives to increase scientific rigor in volunteer-led inventory projects, as well as support research on mountain goats, their habitat and populations.

The backbone of the organization, the Science and Conservation Committee, plays a vital role in reviewing and recommending projects for resource allocation. RMGA continues to receive requests from both the public and private sectors for support in all sorts of different projects, and it is exciting to see how our organization is positively impacting mountain goat populations all over North America.

So far this year, RMGA was lucky enough to obtain the opportunity to auction off the Colorado State Rocky Mountain Goat Governor’s tag.

During Sheep Week®, the tag brought a record bid with the money being distributed to the State of Colorado, RMGA and Wild Sheep Foundation for further use in conservation efforts.

RMGA cannot thank everyone involved enough for all the support in bringing this auction tag opportunity.

The Regional Representative program is taking off much faster and with more reach than initially 114 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

anticipated. To date, RMGA has Regional Representatives in key areas focusing on mountain goat issues in a more local fashion so that the organization can stay current and on top of any potential issues that may arise. These representatives play a vital role in allowing RMGA the efficiency needed to jump on problems

and concerns much faster than in the past. If you would be interested in becoming a Regional Representative, please feel free to contact us through the website or on social media to learn more.

RMGA proudly supported and would like to specifically congratulate Laura Balyx for defending her master’s recently based upon her involvement in the Cathedral Provincial Park

Mountain Goat project, which focused upon human interaction with mountain goats and the impact on goat populations. Ms. Balyx and her story of becoming involved in wildlife conservation and her newfound respect for hunting is truly inspiring, and it shows through her work that undoubtedly will have a great impact on future projects and research.

RMGA is currently rounding out the calendar of events for surveys throughout the year, with the Bridger Mountains in Montana and the Henry Mountains on the MontanaIdaho border currently being slated for July, 2022­—and possibly Glacier National Park in August. There is also a plan to work with agencies in Idaho, British Columbia, Colorado and Wyoming. Stay tuned to RMGA’s social media and website for more definite dates.

Finally, RMGA will be cosponsoring the Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council’s Biennial Symposium from April 4-7, 2022, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The symposium provides a forum where leading wild sheep and goat managers and researchers share research results, management strategies, and emerging issues in the realms of wild sheep and goat management throughout North America. RMGA looks forward to learning more from some of the greatest mountain goat conservation minds in the industry and will seek opportunities to become even more involved in future projects. WS

MEMBERSHIP INCENTIVE RAFFLE EACH $100 TICKET INCLUDES AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO WY-WSF

How The Raffle Works Purchase a membership incentive raffle ticket for $100 and be included in every firearm drawing for the next 365 days.

Each time the chapter sells 25 tickets a winner will be drawn.

Raffle ticket holders may win more that once.

Winners may select from one of the Weatherby firearms listed below. Allow 60 days lead time for delivery.

Weatherby will ship the items to an FFL of the winner’s choice.

Raffle begins on January 13,2022 at our WSF Sheep Show Booth in Reno and on line.

Vanguard Synthetic Blue compact [youth] 308, 243, 6.5 Creedmoor, Or 7mm-08.

Weatherby Camilla Wilderness, 308, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor, Or 243.

Vanguard First Lite Cipher With Brake, No Fluting. 300WBY, 6.5 Creedmoor, 257 WBY Or 270 WIN.

Weatherby Orion 12 or 20 Gauge With Blued or Matte Finish.

All annual members may renew for another year at $100 upon notification that their annual membership is expiring and remain in the contest.

Existing annual members may upgrade to the incentive raffle by purchasing a $100 raffle ticket. Their current membership expiration date will have one year of eligibility in the raffle added to it.

Ramshorn Society and Life Members are not eligible to participate in this raffle.

All ages may play but the prize recipient must be over 18 and must pass an FFL background check.

You must be eligible to receive these items at your location which must also allow online raffles.

To order tickets online; www.Wyomingwildsheep.Org. Email us at: info@wyomingwildsheep.org Phone: (307) 213-0998 Mail: WY-WSF, P.O.Box 666, Cody, WY. 82414 Foreign customers, please call us with a credit card payment.

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2021

IDAHO BIGHORN SHEEP LOTTERY TAG

CHAPTER & AFFILIATE NEWS

GUIDELINES

▪ The 2021 Lottery Tag hunt, except Unit 11.

▪ The tag is non-transfe

▪ Drawing will be condu

▪ Once-in-a-lifetime ru ▪ Need not be present

▪ No limit to number pu

▪ Additional rules apply

▪ Ticket prices: $20 eac

w w w. i d a h o w i l d s h e e

by Bruce J. Mincher

W

REPORT FROM THE FLYING SHEEP CLUB OF THE SALMON RIVER

orking the ground crew of a net-gunning operation for bighorn sheep is a lot like what I imagine a military operation must be. Complete with a medical team on standby, stretcher crews meeting the incoming helicopter, and even warnings about FOD on the flight line; the improbable flying machine blasted us with frigid prop wash as it repetitively delivered patients to the landing zone. Fortunately, our patients were not combat wounded.

Rather, they were precious, living bighorn sheep being surveyed for Movi prevalence in Idaho’s Lower Panther Cr/Main Salmon wild sheep population, and they would be released alive and well, often after a workup of less than 10 minutes. This being March of 2022, the similarity to a less pleasant scenario had me saying silent prayers for those in the world’s latest conflict zone, occurring at the same time on the far side of the world in Ukraine.

As the pilot released the cable, several of us raced to the sheep with our stretcher. They were still hobbled in their slings as the pilot and his muggers banked away and soared back toward the ridgetops above the river. For the stretcher bearers, this was now a rush over the frozen snow, if it was early in the day, or maybe through soft snow hiding a few rocks in the afternoon, with the young volunteers moving perhaps just a bit faster than was comfortable for a mature guy like me. I wondered what the rush was. The sheep clearly weren’t going anywhere, but the

116 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

NEW

NEW

First Lite Sawtooth Hybrid Life Member Vest

Stone Glacier De Havilland Centennial Member Jacket

2022 IDAHO BIGHORN SHEEP LOTTERY TAG GUIDELINES  The 2022 Lottery Tag is valid for use in any open controlled bighorn hunt, Including Unit 11.  “Tickets” are controlled hunt applications.  Ticket purchasers and persons named on tickets must be at least 18 years old and must be eligible to hold a hunting license in Idaho.

 This tag (and hunting license if needed) will only be issued to an eligible applicant (the person named on the ticket drawn).

 The tag is non-transferrable.

Funds from the Idaho Bighorn Sheep Lottery Tag are used for the benefit and enhancement of bighorn sheep in Idaho.

 Drawing will be conducted July 29, 2022.  Once-in-a-lifetime rule is waived for this tag.  Need not be present to win.  Tickets are void where the ticket/tag sale is prohibited.  No limit to number purchased.  Additional rules apply.

Idaho 2022 Bighorn Sheep Lottery Tag Application No limit to number of tickets purchased per individual. Tickets are non-transferrable.

One individual per order form. This form may be copied. No telephone orders.

1 ticket $20 each 6 tickets for $100 14 tickets for $166.75 25 tickets for $250

# tickets _____ = $ _____ total # tickets _____ = $ _____ total # tickets _____ = $ _____ total # tickets _____ = $ _____ total

Payment can be accepted by check or credit card. Order online at www.idahowildsheep.org.

Order by mail: Idaho WSF, PO Box 8224, Boise, ID 83707. Email to info@idahowildsheep.org.

Credit card #__________________________________________ Exp. ____________ (Visa, MC, AMEX, Discover accepted)

*All credit card orders will incur a 3.6% credit card processing fee.

Check # ______________ Signature _______________________________________________________ Please print clearly (all required)

Name ____________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip_______________________________________________________

Telephone (including area code) ________________________________________ Email ______________________________________________________________ TICKET ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY JULY 25, 2022

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volunteer enthusiasm was admirable.

Sometimes we received only a single ewe riding under the chopper. Other times it would be three rams at once on the ride of their lives, with their beautiful curls visible outside their bright orange slings. Once we got four ewes at the same time. They all seemed remarkably calm in spite of being on what absolutely must have been their first trip above the ground, but perhaps that was because they couldn’t see the faraway ground through their blindfolds. Their heads were upright and alert, looking like they were proud to be charter members of the Flying Sheep Club of the Salmon River. A big ram looks noble and dignified even when he is blindfolded and hobbled.

We would collar 62 sheep in only three days. That’s remarkable. When we Idaho Wild Sheep volunteers first heard Idaho Fish and Game Regional Wildlife Manager Dennis Newman explain how many animals were needed, we shook our heads and laughed. It seemed ludicrous to be able to catch so many in a few days, besides our first morning was dawning with a pretty low cloud ceiling. The hilltops near the IDFG office were socked in and there was a light drizzle even at our elevation. Still, successful people make their own luck, so the convoy headed out for Shoup on the famous Salmon River. We would need to chain up before we got to the site, but by the time we did the conditions were good for flying.

The first sortie returned three ewes. Perhaps, I wondered, it really was possible to get 62 sheep, as I was dragged along by younger guys toward our new arrivals, clutching my corner of the stretcher. Out of the sling and onto the gurney, each rode in an upright position to facilitate breathing, and they were sequentially delivered to an electronic scale for weighing, followed by transport to an adjacent tarp where the Fish and Game biologists began their sheep processing. There was plenty of work for us volunteers and we 118 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

had seven to 10 volunteers on any given day. A data card would accompany each animal. Stats like body temperature, collar and ear tag IDs, time of arrival, time of release, blood and DNA sample IDs and various body condition measurements were recorded there. Ewes were even inspected by ultrasound to determine pregnancy status. Every ewe I saw was pregnant.

Perhaps the most important samples were the nasal swabs for Movi. Surveillance for this contagious pneumonia-causing organism was the main reason for our work. Staff Biologist Hollie Miyasaki and Sr. Research Biologist Dr. Frances Cassirer explained to us that these Salmon River sheep had just started to be studied and collared. Every

Funds from Wild Sheep Foundation, Midwest Wild Sheep Foundation, and Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation are being used in this project. collar we put out was a potential treasure trove of brand-new information for Idaho’s sheep managers, and the more collars the more statistically significant the data. According to Hollie, “Our February aerial survey detected 544 bighorn sheep, more than anticipated.” Of course, this is good news. But unknown was the extent to which Movi was present, and the extent to which these sheep mingled with those in the adjacent Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. We weren’t allowed to catch sheep there, but if Movi could be transmitted from the Shoup area into the Frank Church, then the entire central Idaho metapopulation

could be at risk. Hollie also explained that “These central Idaho sheep are natives. That makes them pretty unique.” The techniques we would apply here at Shoup were developed

by Frances and her colleagues through their experience in Hells Canyon.

A multiple-animal workup is all behinds and elbows, with everyone crouched over a patient. It looks chaotic, but everyone knew their job; Fish and Game staff, Idaho Wild Sheep volunteers and the flight crew worked seamlessly and efficiently. Pilot Jimmy Pope kept flying them in, always ready with the next batch just as we released the last of our previous delivery. Once the hobbles and blindfold are gone a sheep would spring to its feet and run for the nearest, steepest hill.

Typically, from about 50 yards away they would stop to glance back at us as though wondering what all that commotion was about. Then, they would continue their climb to the high ridges whence they had come.

The weather only improved as the days went by, and thanks in part to the fact that these sheep had never before been sampled, we did get all our collars out. Pilot Jim told us that they were so naïve that sometimes they just stared at him as he closed in for a shot with the net.

This opportunity will not be soon forgotten by our volunteers. It’s not often one gets to handle live bighorn sheep; the animal all Wild Sheep members so admire. And in handling them we were contributing to their conservation. According to Idaho Wild Sheep President Bill London, “We look forward to more joint efforts with Idaho Fish and Game. It’s through this type of cooperation that we can Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.” And the sheep on the mountain above the Salmon River have a new club of their own to boast about. WS

TO BECOME A MEMBER CONTACT Maddie Pennaz - MPennaz@wildsheepfoundation.org

CONNECT WITH US W i l d Sh e e p Fo u n dati on . org |

F a c e bo o k . c o m/M SU W SF | 406.

404. 8750 SPRING 2022 ~

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Join TBS in Grapevine, TX with auctions, games, raffles, prizes, and much more! You won’t want to miss our biggest event of the year! Located next to bass pro shops.

120 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

“Restoring bighorn sheep to their native ranges in Texas, and ensuring the viability of their habitat”

Registration available by mail, by phone, or online.

See contact info below.

Texas Bighorn Society Sheep Tag LIVE AUCTION @ TBS Roundup 2022 Saturday | June 11, 2022 Embassy Suites | Grapevine, TX

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SHEEP SHOP PLUGGED

Taking one’s ram to get “plugged” is the highlight of every successful sheep hunt.

The act itself is simple, sometimes a bit inconvenient, but somehow, we all find the time to seek out the proper authority within the time required to register our prize into the logs of wild sheep conservation. It’s an honor and a duty.

Since the late 1970s, the Wild Sheep Foundation has made and then provided these aluminum-machined horn plugs with their stamped serial numbers free of charge to state, provincial, territorial, tribal, and First Nation wildlife agencies. WSF’s horn plug program has grown globally and will soon be instituted in Central Asia wild sheep conservation and hunting programs.

As an example, horn plugs were first used by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department in 1977 to register and issue unique serial numbers to legally harvested rams or those found as pick-ups that could be lawfully possessed. As an extension of wild sheep management efforts, horn plugs have also come to represent a means by which managers can measure and take samples of individual rams through a now mandatory inspection and plugging process. In many jurisdictions, horn plugs have helped with wildlife law enforcement in a situation where a plugged ram materializes out of nowhere, with no idea of ownership or history.

WSF is pleased to offer these unique Horn Plug Rocks Glasses as a tribute to this special part of wild sheep hunting, conservation, and management, as well as another tradition of successful and even unsuccessful sheep hunts, a dram our favorite distilled spirits.

WILD SHEEP HORN PLUG ROCKS GLASS (For the sheep hunter who has everything)

VISIT THE SHEEP SHOP AT WILDSHEEPFOUNDATION.ORG/SHOP

124 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

SHEEP CAMP BASEBALL HAT

SHEEP CAMP TRUCKER HAT

WILD SHEEP HORN PLUG ROCK GLASS AND NEW STEMLESS WINE GLASS

POLY COOL SHIRT GRAY

NEW! SITKA KELVIN AEROLITE VEST

NEW!

WSF NEOPRENE RIFLESCOPE COVER (black or digital camo)

WSF YETI 20OZ RAMBLER- OLIVE

POLY COOL SHIRT BLACK

NEW!JACKETSITKA DRY CREEK FLEECE SHADOW

SHEEP CAMP HOODIE

USA RAM T-SHIRT SPRING 2022 ~

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CONSERVATION EDUCATION

by Ryan Brock WSF Youth Education Coordinator

A volunteer with the Lahontan Audubon Society teaches participants about unique markings on birds of prey.

YOUTH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE

W

e had another successful year at Sheep Show® with the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE). The first two days of the event, school groups were bused in for a private educational experience. Thursday, 269 sixth and seventh-graders and Friday, 226 fifth-graders attended for five hours to learn about wildlife conservation and outdoor hobbies.

The school group days began with a presentation on wild sheep, which moved into how wildlife is conservated and paid for and how 126 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

hunting organizations like the Wild Sheep Foundation, do our part. Next, students participated in three of nine outdoor career seminars to attend.

Seminars included presentations from: Wonrate Gear, Antler Creek Wildlife Creations, Nevada Department of Wildlife, 2% for Conservation, Teller Wildlife Refuge, Journeys Outdoor School, Wasting Arrows Indoor Archery, Carson Creature Captures, and Reno Animal Emergency Center.

As students ate lunch, our two scholarship recipients for the Life Member Fund Scholarship, Jake Hill

and Logan Thomas, gave keynote presentations on what wildlife conservation is to them and their journey towards degrees in these fields.

Following the keynote presentations, the school groups then had over two hours to rotate on their own through the hands-on learning stations in the youth area.

Even with a few groups having to back out last minute due to COVID related issues, we still had 29 stations.

These included a 10,000-gallon kayak pool run by Pass Pro Shop / Cabela’s,

3538 COTTO N WO O D AVE. CO DY, WY 82414 • 307.587.4863 IN FO @DEWEYWILDLIFE.COM WWW.DEWEYWILDLIFE.COM SPRING 2022 ~

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offered kids the chance to practice those skills on their gigantic dart gun shooting gallery. The National Bighorn Sheep Center educated on wild sheep through various exhibits and hands-on learning. There were many more stations and about 100 volunteers a day to make these stations work.

On Saturday, the YWCE was open to the public, with all the hands-on learning stations running the entire day. Lines stayed constant as close to 700 children and their families came through the event on that day alone.

For almost a decade now, Leica has been the key sponsor of the Tracks Program, a special part of the YWCE for youth ages 12-17. These youth take a special raffle card through the exhibit hall and learn additional skills from Sitka, Stone Glacier, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Kenetrek, Northern Nevada SCI,

Dewey Wildlife Studio and Leica.

Each vendor punches their card after completing the learning task. An exciting raffle then took place back in the YWCE area toward the end of the day. Prizes included boots from Kenetrek, a Sitka package, a Stone Glacier backpack and the grand prize Leica Trinovid binoculars.

We thank all the presenters, participating Tracks Program exhibitors, and volunteers who made this event possible for the 1,162 youth who were excited and inspired by the many features of the event this year. WS

OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE TRACKS PROGRAM

The Wild Sheep Foundation’s mascot, Rocky, poses with two girls at the YWCE.

a rock-climbing wall, BB gun and pellet gun ranges, trap archery, 3D archery, hover archery, stick-it archery, laser shot, CSI Wildlife, fly tying and live raptors. Additionally, the Nevada Department of Wildlife ran stations with casting, duck calling, target archery, hands-on hides, furs, skulls and snakes, as well as the Operation Game Thief trailer. The Nevada Department of Agriculture taught about entomology and offered flavored crickets as a snack. The First Hunt Foundation taught about firearm safety and 128 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Ryan Trenka of Leica presents the grand prize of the Tracks Program to Alex Parker of Carson City, Nevada.

See you the Show We’ll seeatyou at Sheep the Sheep Show®®January - January 2023 2022

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Tessa Fowler

JANUARY

13-15, 2022

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JANUARY

10-15, 2022

SPONSORS ARE CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME

WSF SALUTES OUR 2022 CONVENTION SPONSORS WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PATRONIZE THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION

OFFICIAL SHEEP WEEK® SPONSOR

PRESENTING SPONSORS

DIAMOND SPONSOR

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PLATINUM SPONSORS

KEVIN & TUESDY SMALL

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS M F SPONSOR

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David and Sona Combs

BRONZE SPONSOR

DARIN & TONYA FIEDELDEY

M F SPONSOR

M F

RENEE SNIDER

SPONSOR

CHARLES & DENISE SWANSON

M F SPONSOR

COPPER SPONSORS M F SPONSOR

M F SPONSOR

M F SPONSOR

Jeff Haynie Kevin Gilbert SUSAN & KIP SLAUGH

M F SPONSOR

KRIS KOHLHOFF

M F SPONSOR

COLE & ELAINE BENTON

RICHARD PIERCE

Sherwood Outfitters

Paul Cavin

LIFE MEMBER PATRONS Bailey & Landrus Hunting Co. Paul Baird Max Banwell Ben Berukoff Mike Borel Bob Brocchini Oscar and Valerie Carlson Sam Cunningham Wesley Curry Caleb Curtis Tom Edgington Sandra Fields

Hank Flatow Cam Foss Ryan & Tiffany Foutz Dale Gaugler Kevin Gilbert Alan C. Hayes Zach Higgins Jim Hollister Shad Hulse (and family) Kevin Hurley Larry and Gay Johns Kevin Klumper

TOPOB

CONVENTION APPEALS

(TAKE ONE PUT ONE BACK) American Snuff, LLC Albert Seeno Brian Benyo Leupold Mike Carpinito, Sr. Mesara Family Foundation Richard Pierce Terry Rathert Richard Crawford TW Howell Dean Retzleff Kevin & Tuesdy Small Kyle Small

$95,000 $30,000 $20,000 $15,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000

Dan Kluth Jeff Lindgren Robert and Marion Logan Gordon Lyons William Craig Mackenzie Larry & Joanne McGovern Kyle & Joanne Meintzer Zackary Moorman Don Perrien Drs. Glen & Caroline Pyne Steve Quisenberry Hank Raats

Taylor Raats Dustin and Heather Roe Lou Rupp Shelly Sayer Steve Skold Sue & Kip Slaugh Kevin Small James & Alisa Stager Gray & Renée Thornton Bill Tittle Dave Turchanski Ken and Anna Vorisek

WOMEN HUNT Anonymous Mike Mechenbier Tim Fallon Kevin Hurley David Nelson - Nelson Outfitters Julie Chapman Jim Craig Connor Schantz Mark Springer

We invite you to become a sponsor of the 2023 Convention in Reno.

For sponsorship opportunities or more information contact: Gray N. Thornton • 406.404.8750 • gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org Keith Balfourd 404.404.8750 • keith@wildsheepfoundation.org

$5,000 $5,000 $1,000 $1,000 $500 $100 $100 $100 $20

FRIENDS OF WSF M F SPONSOR

Alison Hall SPRING 2022 ~

DARLA FIEDELDEY

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OPENING CEREMONIES 134 W S

SPONSORED BY:

State Statesman Award winner Frances Cassirer, Ph.D. with Victor Coggins and Larry Jacobs

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Gray Thornton, the Wallace Family, Kim Nieters & Mike Aiazzi

Gordon Eastman Grass Roots Award winner Lee Howard

Kevin Hurley and Gray Thornton recognizing the Federal Statesman Award winner Mary Vanderkop DVM

Peregrine Wolff & Kevin Hurley recognizing the Biologist Wall of Fame winner Helen Schwantje, DVM

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Renée Thornton, Janet Holcomb & Gray Thornton

Conservation Night Sponsors SITKA, Kenetrek,YETI, Alaska WSF,& Gunwerks

Kurt Alt & Jack Atcheson Jr. awarding His Excellency Rustami Emomali Mayor of Dushanbe Founder & President, Association of Hunters of Tajikistan with the Argali Conservation Achievement Award

THURSDAY

CONSERVATION NIGHT

SPONSORED BY:

Angelo Baio winner of the inaugural Jack O’ Connor Writer’s Award with Tony Caligiuri & Buck Buckner

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Outstanding Conservationist Award winner Clay Brewer with Kevin Hurley, Peregrine L. Wolff & Gray Thornton

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HORSEPACKING CONTEST 140 W S

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SPONSORED BY:

2022 Horse Packing World Champions Shale DeShipper & Harrison Hooke with Tyler McMahon & Logan Young

Sherwood Outfitters

2nd place team of Colin Niemeyer & Jake Robinson with Tyler McMahon & Logan Young

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SPONSORED BY:

BACKPACK RACES W S

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LADIES LUNCHEON

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SPONSORED BY:

Ladies Luncheon Chair Jann Demaske

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<1 CLUB BEER RECEPTION Members and friends descended from all over the world to partake in the festivities at the Less than One Beer Reception.

Whether it was for the Blue Moon or the chance to win a hunt, taxidermy, gear package, and more, the new venue at the Mt. Rose Ballroom was packed and rocking.

However, that is not the reason for this column. The real reason is to tell the story from behind the scenes that very few know.

After the prizes from the <1 International Club drawings had been distributed, Kyle Small stepped up to draw a name from the tumbler.The room was quiet in anticipation to listen if their table would get to erupt in joy with life changing news. Alas, a man named Eric Best was drawn, and he wasn’t in the room.

By rule, the first drawn does NOT have to be present to win. A phone call was made, and a voicemail was left, but the show must go on. The remaining names were drawn, and the winners stepped on stage smiling ear to ear. After the last name was drawn the crowd slowly dissipated. That is usually the end of the story, but not this year.

Later that night I received a call back from Eric. Fully expecting a joyful conversation, he informed me that he had in fact shot a desert ram after signing up, and that he was not eligible.

With Saturday in our sites and the culmination of months of hard work coming to a head, the decision to call the runner up on Sunday was made.

Sunday afternoon Maddie and I sat at small table behind Biscotti’s Café to make the call to our second runner up Melisa Folz.To our disbelief, she also had killed a ram that fall making her ineligible.

We hung up the phone with wide eyes and proceeded to the third drawn. A man named John King from Illinois picked up.This time we hit gold and the pure emotional reaction we were hoping for, we got.

This is a testament to the honesty and integrity of WSF’s membership. I couldn’t be prouder or Eric & Melisa. You made John’s dream come true & he is going on a Dall’s sheep hunt with Aaron Bloomquist of Alaska Outfitters Unlimited.

Thank you to all the donors and sponsors of the event. Without you this wouldn’t be possible! I hope to see everyone again next year for the 10-year anniversary of the <1 Club.

-Justin Phillips 146 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

John Legnard Blue Moon Brewmaster

Announcer Josh Linebaugh & Membership Manager Maddie Pennaz

Gray Thornton reading off a name from the <1 Club

Our lucky winners for 2022

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Legacy Night Sponsors Alaska Outfitters Unlimited, Schnee’s, Leupold, Browning & Shikar Safaris

FRIDAY LEGACY NIGHT

SPONSORED BY:

2022 Conklin Award winner Sergey Yastrzhembsky

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LIFEW MEMBER BREAKFAST S 150

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Brett Jefferson winner of the Life Member Desert Sheep Hunt with LaPalmosa & Lifesize mount from The Wildlife Gallery

SPONSORED BY:

Guy Eastman the 2022 Life Member Breakfast special guest receiving a Life Membership from Glen Landrus

PATRON SPONSORS

SPONSORED BY:

MARCO POLO SOCIET Y & ENSURING THE FUTURE

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Grand Finale Sponsors Weatherby, Leica & Black Rifle Coffee Company

Frank Golata Outstanding Outfitter of the year Sierra El Alamo - Artee Family Chair Award - WSF Staff

President’s Award winner - Larry Johns

SATURDAY GRAND FINALE

SPONSORED BY:

Dave Ziehlke winner of the Registration desert sheep hunt with Sierra El Alamo sponsored by: Weatherby

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One More for Four winner Scott Clark with Darla Fiedeldey

Artemis Outstanding Woman Conservationist of the year winner Ellen Campbell

G.C.F Dalziel Outstanding Guide of the year winner Alan Klassen

Mike Marshall winner of the Registration Swarovski 95mm Spotting Scope sponsored by 1ShotGear WSF Board of Directors with Jack Atcheson, Jr. and Kurt Alt display His Excellency Rustami Emomali’s Argali Conservation Achievement Award

50/50 winner Simon Whetzel

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158

SPONSORED BY:

YWCE W S

YOUTH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EXPERIEINCE

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2022 RESULTS • 34th ANNUAL DUNCAN GILCHRIST PHOTO CONTEST PEOPLE’S CHOICE - Tessa Fowler

2022 DIGITAL PHOTO CONTEST RESULTS HUNTER IN FIELD (HIF)

HUNTER WITH TROPHY (HWT)

1st....... Donald Tarasiewicz 2nd ..... Cynda Didier 3rd ...... Courtney Young

1st....... Sam Averett 2nd ..... Michael Hill 3rd ...... Jim Urban

LIVE SHEEP (LS)

OPEN (O)

1 ....... Carter Riecks 2nd ..... Sheree Jensen 3rd ...... Greg Rensmaag

1st....... Glen Connally 2nd ..... Karen Seginak 3rd ...... Sam Averett

st

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3rd - O

2nd - HWT

1st - HWT

2nd - O

3rd - HWT

1st - HIF

1st - O

3rd - HIF

2nd - HIF

2nd - LS

1st - LS

3rd - LS

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SPONSORED BY:

NORTH AMERICAN AWARDS COMMITTEE Jason Peak (NV) - Chair Tony Caligiuri (IA) - Vice Chair Buck Buckner (OR) - B&C Representative Madeline Demaske (CO) Tom Hoffman (NY) - P&Y Representative Anna Vorisek (AK) Kim Nieters (WY) - Awards Director

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS COMMITTEE J. Alain Smith (WA) - Chair Tony Caligiuri (IA) - Vice Chair Gary Rigotti (OR) Daryll Hosker (BC) Dave Turchanski (BC) Lyle Wood (AB) Kim Nieters (WY) - Awards Director

SPEAKERS / PRESENTERS

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JASON PEAK

J. ALAIN SMITH

FNAWS ACHIEVERS Brian Benyo, OH – 2nd FNAWS Award Archery Del Brady, UT – FNAWS Award Rifle Mike Broadwell, WA – 2nd FNAWS Award Archery Tony Caliguiri, IA – FNAWS & 2nd FNAWS Award Rifle Julie Chapman, IN – FNAWS Award Rifle Roberto Cortazar, Mexico – FNAWS Award Rifle Jeff Demaske, CO – 8th FNAWS Award Rifle Nathan Eberle, FL – FNAWS Award Rifle Wilf Edgar, AB – FNAWS Award Rifle John Estes, III, TX – FNAWS Award Rifle Scott Failor, PA – FNAWS Award Rifle Tom Foss, AB – 4th FNAWS Award Archery William Freed, TN – FNAWS Award Rifle Ron H Gerdes, AZ – FNAWS Award Rifle Mark Gushattey, AB – FNAWS Award Rifle Amie Harris, GA – FNAWS Award Rifle Steve Harrison, MD – FNAWS Award Rifle Dean Helms, MI – FNAWS Award Rifle Jim Kirkpatrick, OR – FNAWS Award Rifle Mike Kovach, OH – FNAWS Award Rifle Jeff Kruger, CO – FNAWS Award Rifle William LaFayette, CA – FNAWS Award Rifle Gerald Laurino, NY – FNAWS Award Rifle George Lawrence, WA – 9th FNAWS Award Rifle Leverett Lunceford, GA – FNAWS Award Rifle Joseph Mulcahy, WY – FNAWS Award Rifle Tom Muza, WI – FNAWS Award Rifle Thomas Niederer, MI – FNAWS Award Rifle Jason Nutini, BC – FNAWS Award Rifle Pat O’Neill, MN – FNAWS Award Rifle David Ollivier, CA – FNAWS Award Rifle Richard Papapietro, UT – FNAWS Award Rifle Aaron Parrotta, BC – FNAWS Award Rifle Jeffrey Perez, NJ – FNAWS Award Rifle Kerry Phillips, ID – FNAWS Award Rifle Brian Rhead, ID – FNAWS Award Rifle Robert Rice, AB – 2nd FNAWS Award Rifle Alan Schafer, CO – 2nd FNAWS Award Rifle TJ Schwanky, AB – FNAWS Award Rifle Chris Settelmeyer, NV – FNAWS Award Rifle Kevin Small, CA – 4th FNAWS Award Rifle Edward Smith II, OH – FNAWS Award Rifle Robert Spinks, YT – FNAWS Award Rifle Lowell Stevens III, KY – FNAWS Award Rifle Robert Theis, TX – 3rd FNAWS Award Rifle Donald Thompson, MO – FNAWS Award Archery Matt Tomseth, OR – 2nd FNAWS Award Rifle Don Traynham, CA – FNAWS Award Rifle Peter Velardi, NJ – 2nd FNAWS Award Rifle Mark Wayne, TX – FNAWS Award Rifle Robert West, MT – FNAWS Award Rifle Doug Wilson, OH – FNAWS Award Rifle Anthony Wyatt, OK – 2nd FNAWS Award Rifle Codyak Wyatt, OK – FNAWS Award Rifle Ronald Amack-Wyatt, NE – FNAWS Award Rifle Mark Zastrow, WI – FNAWS Award Rifle ® SPRING 2022 ~

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DALL’S - ARCHERY AK

John Pestorich • Ultima Thule Outfitters Guide: Donald C Martin • P&Y Score: 165 1/8 AK

Donald Thompson • Johan’s Alaskan Outfitters Guide: Doug Elliott • P&Y Score: 146 3/8 164 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

John Pestorich with J. Alain Smith, Buck Buckner & Donald Martin

DALL’S - RIFLE AK

AK

Travis Boyd

Alaska Hunting Services Guide: George Wescott B&C Score: 168 4/8

AK

Adam Brescia

Alaska Trophy Adventures Guide: Mike Petersen B&C Score: 164 7/8

AJ Hull • Self-Guided • B&C Score: 169 3/8 HONORABLE

MENTION Brent Acorn Kusawa Lake Outfitters Guide: Josh Teischroeb B&C Score: 163 6/8 YT

Enrique Fernandez Alaska Trophy Adventures Guide: Dan Montgomery & Mark Schwartz B&C Score: 161 AK

Marty Loring Canol Outfitters Guide: Dustin Roe B&C Score: 160 Brent Acorn with J. Alain Smith & Buck Buckner

NWT

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STONE’S - RIFLE BC

Benjamin Berukoff • Self-Guided • B&C Score: 175 2/8

YOUTH AWARD HONORABLE

MENTION

AB - Dall’s

J. Alain Smith, Kevin Small, Brian Bailey & Buck Buckner

Brooklyn McMahon • Midnight Sun Outfitters Guide: Tyler McMahon (Dad) • B&C Score: 137 166 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Jessie Young, Tyler & Brooklyn McMahaon & Logan Young

RIFLE WA

CA BIGHORN

WA

Shelly Sayer

Bailey & Landrus Hunting Company Guide: Bryan Bailey B&C Score: 178 5/8

ID

Mike Staskowski

Whitecloud Outfitters Guide: Jerrod Farr B&C Score: 159 7/8

Kevin Small • Bailey & Landrus Hunting Company Guide: Bryan Bailey • B&C Score: 181 4/8

ARCHERY WA

CA BIGHORN

BC

ARCHERY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Casey Brooks • Self-Guided

Guide: Self-Guided • P&Y Score: 178 4/8

Tom Foss • Granby Guides/Outfitters Guides: Bear Brando & Chance Wabnegger P&Y Score: 170 2/8 SPRING 2022 ~

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DESERT - ARCHERY SONORA

Thomas Lee Muza • Amigos Guides & Outfitters Guide: Nayo Balderrama • P&Y Score: 185 6/8

TIBURON

J. Alain Smith, Jeff Demaske & Buck Buckner

William Tittle • Desert Hunts Guide: Pancho Arce • P&Y Score: 180 6/8 168 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

J. Alain Smith, William Tittle & Buck Buckner

DESERT - RIFLE MX

SONORA

MX

RIFLE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Jeff Demaske • La Palmosa

Guide: Emilio Espino • B&C Score: 193 0/8 HONORABLE

Jerry Tyrrell

Amigos Guides & Outfitters Guide: David May • B&C Score: 190 0/8

Jeff Demaske • La Palmosa Guide: Emilio Espino B&C Score: 188 7/8

MENTION

James Petersen Wade Lemon Hunting Guide: Lance Scoggins B&C Score: 188 Sonora

John V. Zenz Arizona Desert Outfitters Guide: Zack Doster B&C Score: 178 1/8 Arizona

Mike A. Carpinito Frontier Outfitters Guide: GT Nunn B&C Score: 185 4/8 New Mexico

Brice Young KIKA Worldwide Outfitters Guide: Jake Franklin B&C Score: 177 6/8 California

TJ Schwanky Timber King Outfitting Guide: Rob Brown B&C Score: 182 2/8 Sonora Mexico

Shelly Sayer Dieringer Outfitters Guide: Sam Dieringer B&C Score: 181 0/8 Arizona Jerry Tyrrell Silver State Guides Guides: Colby Egge, & Blake Richardson B&C Score: 180 3/8 Nevada

Michael J Carpinito Frontier Outfitters Guide: GT Nunn B&C Score: 176 2/8 New Mexico Dustin Gilbertson Self-Guided Guide: Self-Guided B&C Score: 175 4/8 Nevada

Kemp Copeland Go with Bo & Hermanos Canett Guide: Bo Morgan B&C Score: 169 0/8

Nicholas Saner Go with Bo Hunts & Hermanos Canett Guides: Eduardo & Francisco Canett B&C Score: 168 3/8 Ejido Alfredo Bonfil, Mexico

James Lines Go with Bo Hunts & Hermanos Cannett Guide: Alfrerdo Barajas B&C Score: 167 0/8 Mexico

Jason Palmertree Sonora Safaris Outfitters Guide: Jorge Franco & Lupe Ruiz B&C Score: 170 2/8 Sonora SPRING 2022 ~

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BIGHORN - ARCHERY MT

Carson Eddie • Montana Bighorn Outfitters • Guide: John Lewton • P&Y Score: 194 0/8 NM

Gray N. Thornton, Carson & Dyrk Eddie, Tom Hoffman

Brian Benyo • One on One Outfitters Guide: John Gardner • P&Y Score: 189 2/8 170 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

J. Alain Smith, Brian Benyo & Buck Buckner

BIGHORN - RIFLE SD

WA

Neal Wanless

Outfitter: Self-Guided Guide: Self-Guided B&C Score: 198 0/8

OR

Roger McCosker

Sheep Mountain Outfitters

Guides: Todd Longgood & Dan Blankenship B&C Score: 185 7/8

Gary Guerrieri • Bailey & Landrus Hunting Company Guides: Bryan Bailey & Glen Landrus • B&C Score: 202 4/8 HONORABLE

MENTION Robert “Bobbi” Theis Frontier Outfitters Guide: GT Nunn & Jim Brek Bean B&C Score: 185 1/8 Taos New Mexico Ram

Tony Caligiuri Kennedy Hunting Service Guides: Kirk & Colby Kennedy B&C Score: 180 3/8 Colorado Ram

J. Alain Smith, Roger McCosker, Buck Buckner

J. Alain Smith, Neal Wanless & Buck Buckner

J. Alain Smith, Tony Caligiuri, Buck Buckner SPRING 2022 ~

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AOUDAD - MOUNTAIN MONARCH

Jason Soulliere • Inferno Outfitters Guide: Logan Lewis • SCI Score: 165 5/8

Larysa Switlyk • Unleashed Global Adventures Guide: Logan Lewis • SCI Score: 151 6/8

MOUFLON Konya

Jason Soulliere & Buck Buckner

Jason Soulliere • Inferno Outfitters Guide: Sapllan Mert • SCI Score: 137 6/8

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Larysa Switlyk & Buck Buckner

URIAL

ARGALI

Transcaspian

MOUNTAIN MONARCH OVIS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Humberto Cavazos Arozqueta • Nature Explorer Company Guide: Iman Najmeddin • SCI Score: 154 2/8

CHAMOIS

James VanSteenhouse • Wild Hunting in Turkey Guide: Temir Ekenler • SCI Score: 233 1/8

MARKHOR

Balkan

Bukharan

MOUNTAIN MONARCH CAPRA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Daryll Hosker • Safari International Macedonia Guide: Sasa Grujicic • SCI Score: 28 4/8

James VanSteenhouse • Wild Hunting in Turkey Guide: Temir Ekenler • SCI Score: 114 1/8 SPRING 2022 ~

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RAFFLE & GIVEAWAY WINNERS SHEEP WEEK GENERAL RAFFLE

WEATHERBY WALL OF GUNS

MEMBERSHIP RAFFLES

Dall’s Sheep Hunt - AK Wilderness Enterprises Rick Harris

BC 2.0 - .30-378 Wby Mag - Linda Demmer BC 2.0 Carbon Ti - 6.5 RPM - Trace Roth BC 2.0 - 6.5 - 300 Wby Mag - Gary Lundstrom Mark IV - .300 Mag - Wyatt Construction 6.5 Creedmoor - John Gipson .257 Wby Mag - Albert Seeno Orion 12 Gauge - Dexx Grillin 18I 12 Gauge Sporting - Bethany Brown 18I 20 Gauge - Adam Ingles Orion 20 Gauge Sporting - Jasper Warren

Weatherby 6.5 RPM - Kris Killorn

Bighorn Sheep Hunt - Savage Bighorn LTD James E . Klask Stone’s Sheep Hunt - Collingwood Brothers Scott Allred Desert Bighorn Hunt - Sierra El Alamo Jeff Morton Mtn. Goat Hunt - Ultima Thule Outfitters Paul Donaldson AK Brown Bear Hunt - AK Hunting Exp. LLC Kolton Banks AK Caribou Hunt - AK Hunting Exp. LLC Alan Wiskus Mountain Lion Hunt - Lost Creek John Law AK Predator Hunt - Midnight Sun Outfitting Jon Warren Swarovski Optics Package - Swarovski Optik Robert Mullin Louis Vuitton Bag/Glock 43 9mm Pistol Hana Yang Boswell’s Custom Rifle - Boswell Custom Rifles Rod McArthur 1 Campfire Raffle Arnold Pitts 174 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

1 MORE FOR 4 Sponsored by: Bernie Fiedeldey • Scott Clark

FLOOR CREDITS - THURSDAY •Vance DeMars •Aaron Bloomquist •Brian Book •Kedrick Chitlock •Brian Zivicky

FLOOR CREDITS - FRIDAY •Cruz Simonson •Rick Depaoli

SATURDAY - SATURDAY Jessie Hughes

50/50 GRAND FINALE Simon Whetzel

REGISTRATION DRAWINGS Desert Sheep hunt with Sierra El Alamo Sponsored by: Weatherby Dave Ziehlke Swarovski 95mm Spotting Scope Mike Marshall

<1 iCLUB HUNT & PACKAGE 1. Taylor Chilcutt - transfered to JT Larkin Mid-Asian Ibex Hunt ANCOT Monarch Taxidermy 2. Tristin Green - Pyrenean Chamois Caprinae Safaris Monarch Taxidermy 3. Sheryl Davis - Cantabrian Chamois Herederos Hunting Co. Dakota Taxidermy

<1 CLUB HUNT & PACKAGE 1. John King - Dall’s Sheep Hunt Alaska Outfitters Unlimited Brush Country Studios Sponsored by: Kevin & Tuesdy Small 2. Eric Govan - Dall’s Sheep Hunt Alaska Hunting Expeditions LLC. Dewey Wildlife 3. Jake Cahill - Dall’s Sheep Hunt Ultima Thule Outfitters Wildlife Revolutions Sponsored by: Black Rifle Coffee

<1 BUCKET RAFFLE WINNERS • Azyre Gear - Logan Summers • SITKA Fanatic System - Carla Franich • Schnee’s Boots - Thomas Springer • YETI Tundra 45 - Sam Johnson • Weatherby BC Ti 6.5RPM - John Giles • Mystery Ranch Backpack - Justin Greene • Stone Glacier Approach - Travis Clark • Brush Country Gift Set - Josh Delong • MTNTOUGH Package - Pear Clark • B&C Book and Booze - Tina Sealey • B&C Book and Booze - Karen Lozier • Sitka Big Game System - Ben Leonard • OnX Elite - Joel Bodine • OnX Elite - Jeff VanderMeolen

LIFE MEMBER BREAKFAST Weatherby Mark V - William Mackenzie Matthews Bow (Lancaster Archery) - Dr. Gordon Lyons Couple’s Reg - Tom Edgington Vortex Diamondback HD 10x50 Binos • Glen Pyne • Ken & Anna Vorisek • Steve Skold • Ben Berukoff • Oscar & Valerie Carlson

Vortex Diamondback rifle scopes • Alan Hayes • Lou Rupp • Robert Logan • Kevin Hurley • Paul Baird Vortex Impact 1000 yard Rangefinder: • Kyle Meintzer • Kevin Small • Zach Moorman • Sam Cunningham • Larry McGovern KUIU Venture 2300 backpack • Dale Gaugler

LADIES LUNCHEON Sig Sauer 9mm - Melody Del Torto Weatherby 6.5 PRC - Kristin Martinez M&P Smith & Wesson .380 - Laura Feliz Women Hunt Raffle - Margaret Capurro

VIRTUAL PLATFORM GAMES Points Builder Leaderboard Schnee’s Beartooth 200g Men’s Boots Mountain Tech OTC Socks + WSF and Schnee’s Swag Bag • Christopher H. Scavenger Hunt: sponsored by Kenetrek Kenetrek Gear Package + Zeiss 8x25 Victory Pocket binos • Jerry A.

Hat Raffle Winners • Roger Kenner - KUIU • Andy Kelso - Sitka • John Roth - Barney’s Sports Chalet • Mark Springer - Kryptek • Justin Hallock - Stone Glacier

WSF Trivia Schnee’s Granite 200g Men’s Boots Mountain Tech OTC socks + WSF and Schnee’s Swag Bag • Eric M.

Barebow Book Drawing - Mary Arnoldi Life Member Rifle - Tom Powers

Guess the Score: sponsored by Zeiss Zeiss 10x32 SF binoculars • Tamara C.

Desert Sheep Hunt & Taxidermy LaPalmosa & The Wildlife Gallery Brett Jefferson

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2022 AWARDS bighorn sheep biologist Tim Schommer in his nomination letter. “In my opinion, Lee exceeds the criteria for receiving the Grass Roots Award.”

According to Shane Clouse, past president of the Montana WSF Chapter, Howard has helped numerous times when Montana didn’t have the funding for a conservation project. “Lee helped MTWSF (MTFNAWS) procure the funding for major projects in 2002, 2005 and another in 2006. At a time when MTWSF was a very small organization with limited funding, Lee helped us find more than $100,000 for projects,” said Clouse.

GORDON EASTMAN GRASS ROOTS AWARD The late Gordon Eastman created the Grass Roots Award to recognize extraordinary commitment of Chapter and Affiliate members to WSF’s mission.

This year’s winner is Lee Howard of the Utah, Montana and Idaho WSF chapters.

Howard has been involved in various bighorn sheep restoration projects over the past three-plus decades. Beyond substantial financial support for countless projects encompassing habitat enhancement and wild sheep transplants and reintroductions, Howard proved himself a champion of hands-on conservation.

Howard has promoted wild sheep research, wild sheep management plans, habitat acquisition and restoration, and transplant and reintroduction projects for over 30 years. He has worked with multiple states and provinces including Utah, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, British Columbia and other states to capture and relocate sheep to their historic ranges and establish new wild sheep herds. As a lead negotiator, he achieved domestic sheep grazing 176 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

allotment buyouts in Utah, Idaho and Nevada to prevent wild bighorn exposure to disease. This included negotiating domestic sheep grazing allotment buyouts for WSF’s Hells Canyon Initiative.

Howard co-founded the Utah Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, where he served as president and a member of the board of directors. He served nine years on the Utah Wildlife Regional Advisory Council and six years on the Utah State Wildlife Board. From 2011 to 2019, he served on the Idaho WSF Chapter board of directors.

In one of his most memorable roles, Howard was instrumental in organizing a capture of wild sheep in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley and transferring them to Utah in the early 2000s. Howard even drove the truck to haul the bighorns back to Utah in the dead of winter.

“What has impressed me with Lee is his bighorn sheep volunteer work has been over so many years,” said retired federal

Echoing this was another Montana WSF past president Tom Powers, who noted that, over the decades, he and Howard worked closely on many different grantin-aid endeavors that benefitted wild sheep in Montana, Utah and nationally.

“When I called Lee Howard at Utah FNAWS, which was on a regular basis, he would say to me, ‘How much should we write the check out for this time, Tom?’ Utah was always there for us.” This included habitat project funding, donating a Dall’s sheep hunt for the Montana WSF fundraiser, and contributing to buyouts of domestic sheep grazing allotments to protect wild bighorns from disease.

According to past Idaho WSF president Brad Morlock, when Howard began working for wild sheep restoration in the late 1980s, Utah had approximately 500 wild sheep. Today, Utah hosts between 5,000 and 6,000 of three subspecies: Rocky Mountain, California and desert.

“While working with Utah FNAWS, Lee was involved in over 20 major habitat acquisition projects and nearly 30 wild sheep transplants,” said Morlock in his nomination letter. “On October 10, 2021, I was privileged to be present when an 82-year-old Lee Howard harvested a fine 10-plus-year-old California bighorn from the Newfoundland Mountains in Utah, a herd he helped transplant and establish. Lee has taken his four North American wild sheep, but he has put THOUSANDS back!

2022 AWARDS public health agencies.

“Helen is not only an accomplished professional, she is a highly-respected wildlife veterinarian, colleague and a long-time friend to me,” says WSF Vice President of Conservation – Thinhorn Programs Kevin Hurley. “In recognition of her nearly 40-year and continuing career, and for her leadership on wild sheep health, management and conservation, I am proud to welcome her into the Wild Sheep Biologist’s Wall of Fame.”

WILD SHEEP BIOLOGIST’S WALL OF FAME Wildlife veterinarian Helen Schwantje, DVM, of British Columbia’s Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development, spent her 35-plus-year career focused on proactive management of wild sheep and their conservation needs. As both a wildlife veterinarian and adjunct professor at various institutions, she not only advanced wildlife conservation but also inspired the next generation. Two of her protegees are now wildlife veterinarians for BC and the Northwest Territories.

Wild sheep health assessments have formed a huge part of Schwantje’s work, including her leadership on BC’s Wildlife Health Monitoring Program for caribou, moose, elk, deer and wild sheep. She has been a leader in developing habitat buffer zones between BC’s domestic sheep and goats and wild herds on public land.

During her long membership in WSF, she has become a go-to expert in the conservation community. Her numerous publications cover a broad range of her expertise in wildlife research, management and health.

Schwantje has been active for many years with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Wildlife Health Committee and Wild Sheep Working Group. In addition to training future biologists and professional wildlife biologists, she has cultivated crucial working relationships with myriad groups.

These include First Nations, guide/ outfitter associations, the agriculture sector, domestic sheep producers and

STATE STATESMAN Upon the nominations of three WSF chapter presidents (Bill London of Idaho WSF, Kevin Martin of Oregon FNAWS and Andy Kelso of Washington WSF), the 2022 State Statesman Award was conferred on Dr. Frances Cassirer, the senior wildlife research biologist for Idaho Fish and Game. The trio of chapter presidents have worked with Cassirer for over 25 years on a range of bighorn sheep issues.

“Frances’ experience, knowledge and leadership has made her a leader in bighorn sheep field research and management not only in the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington but across the West,” wrote London, Martin and Kelso in their nomination letter.

Through a vast network of cooperative endeavors with diverse stakeholders and scientists, Cassirer has researched and managed bighorn sheep then shared her knowledge with the broader conservation community. These research efforts include her collaborations with universities, state

and federal wildlife and land management agencies, and WSF’s Chapters and Affiliates. She has been a leader in communicating bighorn sheep issues and field research to multiple agencies and interests.

“Her sharing of knowledge allows others, like our chapters, to then interact, inform and educate at state, local and individual levels,” wrote London, Martin and Kelso.

For 25 years, Cassirer has devoted her expertise to WSF’s cooperative Hells Canyon Bighorn Sheep Initiative. She was a leader in the development and utilization of the highly promising capture-test-remove method to control the spread of Movi in Hells Canyon. This method is now being implemented across the West. She also identified the Ten Mile Ranch property, a vital lambing area near the Snake River, as a high priority for a conservation easement. This led to acquisition of lands and habitat critical for bighorns in Hells Canyon.

Cassirer has conducted annual field population surveys in the Hells Canyon area of Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Her research, coupled with findings from other biologists in the Hells Canyon area, provided the sheep movement data that formed the basis for the development of the national Risk of Contact model.

Cassirer’s innovative work with Dr. Tom Besser, Washington State University, emeritus, identified Movi as the primary pathogen responsible for bighorn sheep disease and die offs. Over the past quarter century, she has authored and co-authored refereed scientific and other professional publications concerning bighorn sheep disease identification and recovery.

Public education on wildlife and habitat issues is a huge aspect of Cassirer’s work. She has appeared as an expert in numerous videos, the most recent being Wild & Wool, a short film that premiered at WSF’s 2021 virtual convention.

She has also consulted for and edited multiple Idaho Fish and Game YouTube videos to educate the public and agency professionals.

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2022 AWARDS

JACK O’CONNOR WRITERS AWARD To honor the legendary outdoor writerhunter-conservationist, the Jack O’Connor Hunting Heritage and Education Center and WSF inaugurated the Jack O’Connor Writers Award at this year’s Sheep Show.

The award, to be conferred annually, recognizes the author of the best published article about wild sheep, with special focus on hunting and/or conservation. The first winner is Angelo Baio for his story, “Sun, Dust and Borrego Cimarron” published in the Boone and Crockett Club’s magazine Fair Chase.

Baio has been a freelance writer for 10 years, with his first article, “Full Circle,” published in Wild Sheep magazine in 2012.

“My goal was not to simply write an article,” Baio says. “My intention was to live out a dream that I literally embarked upon in my youth to follow my idol Jack O’Connor’s hunting adventures in Outdoor Life. I am most notably fascinated by Jack’s accounts of his wild sheep hunting adventures, especially those in the deserts of Sonora that read akin to a Western novel. In those days, the land was wild and untamed; the logistics and survival challenges of hunting in a foreign land was as much an adventure as the hunt itself. Jack’s stories epitomized true free-range hunting adventure and inspired 178 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

my forty-year quest to also one day hunt the desert bighorn sheep in the Sierras of Sonora.”

Baio was selected by the judging panel to receive a bronze bust of the legendary writer, created by world renowned sculptor Jack Logozzo, especially for this contest.

Jack O’Connor was the undisputed dean of outdoor writers, a world-class big-game hunter, wildlife conservation pioneer and influential gun editor. Born in 1902, he presided over the “golden age” of modern big game hunting and left a rich legacy through his writing and leadership. Despite his death in 1978, his work remains fresh and continues to inspire hunters of all ages. His special contribution, in a wide and long list of accomplishments, was in educating hunters about wild sheep and sheep hunting.

Jack moved his family from his native Arizona to Lewiston, Idaho, in 1948 and spent the last 30 years of his life there.

The Jack O’Connor Hunting Heritage and Education Center, located in Lewiston, was established in 2006 to bring Jack’s collection back to his hometown and make it available for the public to enjoy.

FEDERAL OUTSTANDING STATESMAN This award recognizing a government official for their extraordinary contributions to wild sheep conservation at the national level is not conferred annually. Over the past 43 years, WSF has only given the award 22 times since Dr. Valerius Geist received the first one, and the last time WSF named a Federal Outstanding Statesman was 2018. This year, the recipient was undeniably worthy of the honor: Chief Veterinary Officer for the Yukon Territory Mary VanderKop, DVM. VanderKop’s leadership in developing the Yukon’s historic Control Order 2018001 created one of the most forwardthinking and aggressive legal documents ever written to protect wild sheep health through prevention of contact with diseasecausing organisms carried by domestic livestock. Launched in 2020, the Yukon Control Order spans the entire province.

Canada’s Yukon is home to one-quarter of all the thinhorn sheep on the planet.

“In my opinion, the Yukon Control Order is the strongest, most pro-active and progressive effort anywhere to address and minimize the risk of wild-domestic sheep and goat contact,” says WSF Vice President of Conservation – Thinhorn Programs Kevin Hurley. “The Yukon is leading the

2022 AWARDS way on this critically important issue.”

Yukon’s Control Order rests on four pillars: separation, containment, testing and mitigation. It mandates that domestic sheep and goat owners must keep their animals below 1,000 meters of elevation and be maintained in an enclosure that is approved annually by a government inspector. Records on each animal’s purchase, sale, health status and slaughter are mandatory. All domestic sheep and goats in the Yukon must carry permanent identification and undergo testing yearly for respiratory pathogens, with a focus on Movi. Enclosure fences must be approved yearly by a government inspector and engineered to keep wild and domestic species separated, preventing nose-to-nose contact.

First-year results of the Control Order found a surprisingly high percentage of Movi in the territory’s domestic sheep and goats—43% and 16% respectively. All animals that tested positive were either put down or removed from the Yukon. By the second year, testing revealed the disease hits plummeted. Year three results are pending, and the Control Order is set to expire by the end of 2024.

Over her 45-year career, VanderKop has made other historic impacts on wildlife science and management. As the Yukon Territory’s first chief veterinary officer and director for the Animal Health Unit, she developed and delivered animal health and welfare programs and created the legislative framework to support them.

Her approach has proven ahead of its time in recognizing the connection between human health and the environmental health of domestic and wild animals.

Among her numerous awards and scholarships, she received the Yukon Territory Deputy Minister’s Award in 2014 for her role in developing the province’s Animal Health Act, and she has many publications to her credit.

Due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, VanderKop could not receive her award in Reno this year but will accept it this coming May in Whitehorse during WSF’s Thinhorn Sheep Summit III.

OUTSTANDING CONSERVATIONIST The recipient of this honor, which WSF has not awarded in many years, starting chasing sheep when he was 11 and has been doing so for another 54 years. He was born in Plainview, Texas, and followed his family to New Mexico, Utah and then Oklahoma, where he finished high school then graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in wildlife management.

In 1992, he joined Texas Parks & Wildlife, and when he turned 40, with his kids still in high school, he enrolled in the master’s program at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He moved up the Texas Parks & Wildlife ladder over his nearly 30 years of service, reaching the post of interim wildlife director. He has served as the chair of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Wild Sheep Working Group, and for more than 15 years served the Desert Bighorn Council on the technical staff, with the past five years as technical staff chair.

Yet, his true identity is “Mr. Desert Bighorn,” for Clay Brewer is largely credited with the exceptional comeback of desert bighorns in the Lone Star State, though his vast humility would prevent him from admitting to it.

Upon his 2016 retirement from Texas Parks & Wildlife, WSF aggressively recruited him to become the foundation’s

conservation director with a focus on desert bighorns in the southwest and Mexico. For the next six years, Brewer would serve WSF and bighorn sheep herds with class and distinction.

Always one to pass credit he rightly deserves, Brewer has kept his eyes eternally “on that ram on the ridgeline,” using his exceptional skills as a negotiator, innovator, instigator, peacemaker and sometimes-antagonist if necessary to get things done. Among his successes, Brewer served as the catalyst, along with WSF board of directors member Emilio Rangel, in forming WSF’s Mexico Council, an advisory body on all opportunities and issues in Mexico.

Brewer was also the dynamo behind WSF’s Mexico Initiative to put and keep wild and free-ranging sheep on Mexico’s mountains using market forces to foster a lasting legacy for Mexico and her people. This has proven exceedingly successful, with desert sheep populations surging across northern Mexico and high fences being torn down to return bighorns to roam freely throughout their historic ranges.

On March 1, 2022, Brewer retired from WSF, but his legacy of selfless service, dedication to mission, professionalism and international cooperation across borders and cultures will be forever remembered and revered.

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2022 AWARDS Member, Patron Sponsor and Chadwick Ram Society Gold-Level member. Johns has been a member of WSF’s Ethics Committee since 2016 and for the past five years has served as its chair.

CHAIR’S AWARD This award was presented at the 2022 Sheep Show by Peregrine Wolff, DVM, chair of WSF’s board of directors, who noted that she began her term as board chair as the pandemic gripped the world in May 2020. The turmoil and uncertainties of the time called for action and new ideas.

The board of directors met monthly by Zoom with WSF President and CEO Gray N. Thornton to discuss strategy and the next steps for the organization’s future.

WSF staff spent the early summer unsure of what the 2021 convention would look like. They soon determined that a virtual experience was the only option.

“With that decision finally made, WSF’s staff charged forward with a virtual convention. It was a success and raised record amounts of funds for wild sheep conservation. This success was directly due to the hard work and belief of WSF’s staff that they could deliver an amazing experience under any circumstances,” Wolff said in Reno.

With equal uncertainty throughout 2021, WSF’s staff used their experience to deliver 2022’s “hybrid” Sheep Show that continued the foundation’s extraordinary fundraising and served as a long-awaited reunion for hunter-conservationists in the Wild Sheep family.

In conferring the Chair’s Award, Wolff said, “This award is actually from the sheep. I am just the messenger. WSF staff: Thank you for unflinchingly tackling two years of extreme and unprecedented uncertainty and change without ever 180 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

losing focus on the WSF mission. This award is from the wild sheep of the past, present and future.”

The Chair’s Award honors these courageous and visionary professionals: Gray N. Thornton – President/CEO Michelle Bodenheimer – Operations & eCommerce Manager Kevin Hurley – Vice President of Conservation – Thinhorn Programs Clay Brewer – Conservation Director Bighorn Programs Kurt Alt – Conservation Director Montana & International Sheep & Goat Programs Terry Ziehl – Finance Director Kim Nieters – Auction/Awards Director Keith Balfourd – Director of Marketing & Communications Paige Culver – Development Manager Maddie Pennaz – Membership Manager/<1Clubs Manager Megan Costanza – Banquets & Events Manager Mike Aiazzi – Expo & Exhibits Manager Hannah Stewart – Administrative Assistant

PRESIDENT’S AWARD Recognizing above-and-beyond commitment to WSF and its mission, the 2022 President’s Award was conferred at the Sheep Show to Larry Johns, who has served the conservation community in more ways than anyone can count, with incredible results for conservation.

Since 2010, Johns has served as WSF’s raffle chair, and the spectacular and ever-increasing fundraising results. He leads by example as a WSF Summit Life

Among the many other organizations Johns volunteers his time, treasure and talent to support are Safari Club International (SCI), the Mule Deer Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF).

He has also served on the Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award committee since 2020 and on the Weatherby Foundation International’s selection committee responsible for choosing the recipient of the esteemed Weatherby Hunting and Conservation Award.

For SCI, Johns has served since 1997 as a volunteer on a variety of committees, including those devoted to chapter development, awards, ethics and hospitality. For six years, he was the founding president of SCI’s Sutter Buttes Chapter in Yuba City, Calif., and served three terms as president of the Northern Nevada SCI Chapter. For the Mule Deer Foundation, he worked as regional director for two years.

“As president of the Wild Sheep Foundation, I recognize and salute Larry Johns’ tireless and exceptional efforts spanning three decades and multiple organizations serving wildlife, their habitat and our hunting and conservation heritage. His work has and continues to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®,” said WSF President and CEO Gray N. Thornton.

2022 AWARDS

ARTEMIS OUTSTANDING WOMAN CONSERVATIONIST AWARD This year’s Artemis Award winner is a woman of many firsts who made history in the realm of wildlife management and conservation across the nation. Ellen Campbell’s life as a humble trailblazer began in 1975, when she became the first woman to receive a Master’s of Science in wildlife management from West Virginia University. Armed with her new credentials, she initially experienced a few setbacks, like the time she applied for a job and was told a woman would not fit in with an all-male crew. Or the time a prospective employer showed interest and asked her to send a photograph of herself—then turned her down.

With intelligence and quiet fortitude, she became a trusted expert respected by her colleagues.

Undaunted, Campbell went on to become the first woman forestry aide at the Forest Sciences Lab in Morgantown, WV, and the first female District III game superintendent for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources in the 1970s. More firsts would follow. Campbell became the first woman to serve as a forest wildlife biologist on the George Washington National Forest and the first female wildlife biologist working in the Southern Regional Office. She became the first woman staff officer for the National Forests in Mississippi, where Campbell pioneered work on threatened and endangered species such as the gopher tortoise and red-cockaded woodpecker.

These never-done-befores would be the norm throughout her life.

Over their 17 years in the Last Frontier, Campbell became the first woman to lead the Terrestrial Ecology Program for the Alaska Region. Her work encompassed sweeping wildlife and habitat programs, including advancements for wetlands conservation, waterfowl habitat, mountain goat sustainability and watchable wildlife programs for the public. She worked with other agencies to institute a statewide neotropical migratory bird monitoring program to assess, for the first time, what populations existed in Alaska.

Supervising and finding meaningful work for a woman staffer who had multiple sclerosis earned Campbell the Governor of Alaska’s certificate of appreciation for her outstanding efforts in service to people with disabilities.

Though women were an anomaly in the wildlife management field and resistance to women in the profession was prevalent when Campbell embarked on her career, she persevered with polite firmness and courageous commitment.

Her humble get-it-done ethos was nationally celebrated in 1996, when the US Forest Service presented her with the Jack Adams Award, recognizing her dedication as a biologist and her lifetime of impactful work for the betterment of

In 1998, the Forest Service sent her to help fight Yellowstone National Park’s raging wildfires. While she was coordinating information and equipment for firefighters, she met her future husband Dale, a fellow Forest Service biologist from Kalispell, Montana. In 1990, the couple was assigned to Juneau, where Campbell was the first woman to serve as Wildlife and Ecology Program Leader for the Alaska Region, covering the two largest national forests in the US.

wildlife, all while remaining out of the limelight. Taking the top honor in a field of over 1,100 other wildlife professionals, Campbell was the first woman to receive the national award.

“I feel that a career in wildlife management and participating in hunting are activities that all women should feel empowered to pursue,” Campbell explains.

After retiring from the Forest Service and relocating with Dale to Oregon in 2007, Campbell immediately took on the role of Northwest Section Representative to the governing council of The Wildlife Society, where she was instrumental in developing policies on an array of national and international issues. In 2012, The Wildlife Society inducted her as a Fellow for her exceptional service to her profession. Two years later, the Society honored her with its Distinguished Service Award.

As a WSF life member and a past board member for Oregon WSF, Campbell has volunteered her time on guzzler development in southeast Oregon’s Steens Mountain and a juniper removal project to improve sheep habitat in central Oregon’s John Day area. For the annual Oregon chapter fundraising banquet, Ellen and Dale donate auction items and have helped organize the event. At the Sheep Show, you can find Ellen and Dale staffing the Oregon WSF booth.

As a way to pay it forward, Ellen Campbell currently serves as treasurer of a local chapter of P.E.O., an international organization that raises funds to support college scholarships for women.

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2022 AWARDS

G.C.F DALZIEL OUTSTANDING GUIDE AWARD What is an outstanding guide? While every hunter may come up with a different description of their dream guide, they universally would agree on a combination of adjectives: experienced, reliable, knowledgeable, personable, honest, capable, dedicated and respected. For many WSF members, the name attached to each one of these attributes is this year’s G.C.F. Dalziel Outstanding Guide Alan Klassen of Arctic Red River Outfitters in the Northwest Territories.

According to one of his many nomination letters, 63-year-old Klassen has “seen it all. . . Al remembers bygone days where wages were $50 and a great tip was a used pair of slippers.” Guiding in the Mackenzie Mountains to this day, Klassen exhibits unrelenting passion for the land and utmost respect for his outfitters, fellow guides and camp crews. While he guides caribou and moose hunts, his true calling is sheep hunting.

A fervent adherent to fair chase and high ethical hunting standards, Klassen takes pride in backpack-style hunts and has led his clients to harvest an astounding 149 rams: 146 Dall’s and three Stone’s. In his personal hunting, Klassen has harvested over 20 Dall’s sheep and several Stone’s. He 182 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

knows the vast Arctic Red River landscape like no other, having explored every corner of its nearly 10,000-square-mile remote formidableness.

“Al lives, breathes and bleeds wild sheep,” says hunter Brandon Darling. “This man can hunt harder than men half his age.”

Energetic, patient and kind, Klassen is a stickler for safety and is as tough as they come. Stormy weather, dicey terrain and grizzly bears in camp are no match for his intelligence and instincts. Hilarious, gentle, driven, he has guided celebrities, millionaires and regular Joes, and treated everyone with equal courtesy and consideration.

Klassen has been featured in the book, Voices from the Mackenzies: A History of People who have worked in the Mackenzie Mountains Outfitting Industry and in YETI’s Stories from the Wild along with various online publications and podcasts.

Simply put, Klassen is “one of the finest guides to walk the peaks of the Mackenzies,” says Regan Yeager, who identifies himself as Klassen’s past client, former co-worker and damn lucky friend.

THE CONKLIN AWARD The Conklin Foundation, founded to honor Dr. James Conklin as the inspiration to fair-chase hunters worldwide, created the Conklin Award to recognize a preeminent hunter with a leading record of harvesting extremely challenging species and dangerous game worldwide. This year’s winner, announced at the 2022 Sheep Show, is Sergey Yastrzhembsky.

Twenty-five years ago, while serving as a Russian ambassador, Yastrzhembsky

2022 AWARDS began his hunting career by harvesting a European roe deer in the mountains of Slovakia. With hundreds of hunts spanning 52 countries and six continents, this year’s Conklin winner admits that his career interfered with his hunting and vice versa. Hunting-conservation ultimately won out.

Of his more than 336 animal species and subspecies harvested, Yastrzhembsky has seen more than 260 of them included in the SCI Record Book, with more than 105 trophies included in the Top 20 and 30plus listed in the Top 10.

The Yastrebfilm company that Yastrzhembsky founded in 2009 has made more than 70 films, many focused on the benefits of hunting-conservation.

He has received over 20 national and international awards for his filmmaking.

His documentaries, Ivory. A Crime Story and Tigers and Humans, are devoted to conservation of African elephants and Amur tigers in the wild.

Both have received many prestigious awards at international film festivals. In 2021, Yastrebfilm released a full-length documentary, Shot of Hope, highlighting the importance of hunting for wildlife conservation. In addition, he authored a television series about hunting, game breeding and wildlife conservation that aired on Russian TV. Yastrzhembsky is a published author of a book and magazine articles that cover his hunting adventures and the skills of aboriginal hunters.

“The joy of discovery, the thrill of meeting new people, the emotions of successes and defeats that make you stronger, the ability to overcome yourself when you want to give up. This is what the hunt gave me, and I am infinitely grateful for this!” he says. “I am proud to be part of the great hunting family and will continue, as I have always done, to uphold the values of honest ethical hunting, without which there can be no future for wildlife.”

FRANK GOLATA OUTSTANDING OUTFITTER AWARD The Artee Family of Sierra El Álamo is a standard-bearer for Sonora’s desert sheep conservation movement, transforming their bighorns from high-fence captives to free-range monarchs. Outfitter Javier Artee, owner of Alcampo Hunting Adventures, Sierra El Álamo and Alcampo Ranch, built up a desert sheep herd and, just a few years ago, began releasing bands of them into the wild with the help of his sons Javier Jr., Jorge, Jacob and José-Roberto. For their dedication to repatriating desert bighorns into their historic habitat, the Artee Family and Sierra El Álamo have earned past recognition with WSF’s Conservation Award and now the 2022 Frank Golata Outstanding Outfitter honor.

“According to the numbers of 2016, there were a little more than 7,500 desert sheep in Sonora, free-range and high-fence combined—about 3,800 free range and rest in high fence,” explains Jacob Artee.

Today over 10,000 desert sheep flourish in Sonora, with between 825 and 1,000 roaming wild throughout the state. Over 20 percent of those bighorns were set free by the Artees, a conservation success they hope other private ranches will emulate.

Through multiple releases over the past four-and-a-half years, Sierra El Álamo has freed 176 sheep from high fences, with

another 50 scheduled to be liberated this spring. When this happens, the Artees will have met and exceeded their five-year goal of returning 200 desert bighorns to their traditional unfenced habitat. To support the wildlife and raise the odds of their survival, the Artees have invested in water projects including wells, drinkers and dams to capture the ranch’s scant precipitation.

“We are doing this because we want to teach everyone what we’re doing. This is something you need to share, to show others how to do it,” Jacob says.

In 2018, Jacob Artee became one of the founding members of WSF’s Mexico Council, which he serves as vice president.

Consisting of Mexico’s leading experts on wild sheep, the Council is an advisory board to WSF’s board of directors on all issues surrounding Mexico’s bighorn conservation efforts. While remaining active in expanding their on-the-ground wild sheep projects, Mexico Council members educate government officials and fellow landowners about desert bighorns and the importance of fair-chase huntingconservation. As ambassadors and advocates, the Artee Family and Sierra El Álamo are leading by example in the great comeback of Mexico’s wild desert sheep and the ethical hunting-conservation to assure their future.

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DSC’s mission is to ensure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use.

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Congratulations on a 100% success year. My highest respect and gratitude to Ben Pettaway #A1 guide! Thank you for believing in me! Thank you Cabot Pitts as well as Josh Chadd!

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Bear Trust International is working to conserve our hunting heritage through conservation, education, and conservation policy. We believe that hunting is a viable management tool and we are hunter conservationists.

Please visit our website for more information.

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Watch the free introductory video to learn more: https://beartrust.org/ grizzly-bear-delisting-stem-lesson.

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WINNER WILL RECEIVE A FULLY GUIDED ONE-ON-ONE DESERT SHEEP HUNT WITH SIERRA EL ALAMO IN 2024-25 • All current and new CRS members are entered into the hunt drawing • Current and new CRS members receive one (1) entry for every $250 PAID towards a CRS pledge.

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TO JOIN CRS contact Paige Culver: 406.404.8758 or pculver@wildsheepfoundation.org SPRING 2022 ~

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SHEEP SHORTS

by Roger L. McCosker

I

have noticed that many older WSF members often arrive at the conclusion that their best sheep camps are behind them and they quit trying/or applying for sheep tag opportunities. They may be making a big mistake! Since I have turned age 70, I have drawn/won three sheep hunts in the Western states, and I’ve had the some of the best experiences of my hunting career while harvesting three quality rams!

Remember, you can’t win if you don’t apply!* Sheep hunting can be a very challenging, strenuous endeavor, no matter your age. But, as we all know, it can be the “most” rewarding as such experiences live in our memories forever! The key is if/ when you draw a good tag, you find an experienced quality outfitter that will work with you so that you’ll be successful and have a great time.

If you can get into sheep shape and still ride a horse, you can probably go sheep hunting!

In 2019, at the age of 74, I drew a Wyoming area # 5 bighorn tag.** This was my second time to draw this tag in 20 years. I hired Josh Martoglio of Shoshone Lodge Outfitters, one of the best, to guide me. He asked me my age, my physical condition, if I can ride horses, and requested that I get into sheep shape.

When the hunt started that fall, we rode through some weather (snow,

188 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Photo: Duncan Gilcrest

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cold and winds) four to five hours to his spike camp, and started looking for sheep the next day. It was cold.

We finally located two good rams, and one with the curl I was looking for, so the stalk was on.

I harvested my ram in the early afternoon on the third day after a long wait for him to stand. Most of the trip was on horses, except for the stalk(s). And, it was one of my best long distance shots at over 500 yards.

(One of the benefits of getting older, I have become calmer, perhaps a better shot!)

In 2021, at the age of 76, to my complete shock/surprise, I won the Oregon bighorn sheep raffle with a minimal ticket purchase. I hired Sheep Mountain Outfitters, the best in the business in the Pacific Northwest. Dan Blankenship, guide and one of the owners, inquired about my physical condition, requested I get into sheep shape (I lost 20 lbs. in two months), and asked if I can ride horses. They had me come out early for a scouting trip in Hells Canyon (once you’ve been there, you understand why they call it Hells Canyon!) We hiked and spotted for sheep in a smoky environment.

My guides, Dan and Todd, certainly 190 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

knew what they were doing, as we spotted four to five large rams bigger than I have ever seen in the wilds.

Physically I can hike OK, but I have to wear a knee brace (osteoarthritis), which slows me down. Of course, it certainly doesn’t affect my ability to ride horses or shoot.

When my opening day arrived, we drove from a high spotting point of Hells Canyon, Oregon, five hours to the Snake River. We spent the night in tents, and the next morning, a jet boat picked us up and we were off on a 20-mile trip upriver to Temperance Creek, an area where a large ram was spotted/observed/at a long distance, and hung out with four other rams.

One of our guides spotted two of the smaller rams of the group from the Snake River. That meant that the large ram was probably in the immediate area. We climbed two hours up into the canyon above the Snake River, to get in position. We had spotters ahead on the lookout for the big ram. He was hidden in the grass near another standing mature ram at a steep uphill angle. I had to wait an hour in very hot sweaty conditions until the big boy stood up. This trip was one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever had on a sheep hunt while harvesting my largest

North American sheep trophy. Thank you, Sheep Mountain Outfitters.

I have many years of North American sheep hunting under my belt, as well as world sheep hunts (8 No. American/15 World), although most 10-20 years ago. As we get older, we have to keep our options open. I don’t know why, but I have drawn/ won three great sheep tags in the past six years, more than I did in my previous 20 years of sheep hunting.

My experiences keep getting better.

If you are lucky enough to draw a good sheep tag, hire the best outfitter you can find, and he will work with you.

If you can’t hike like you used to, horses (and jet boats) can take you almost anywhere. Enjoy the moment.

Be open to the risks as the rewards can be most gratifying! WS *Please remember that the fees we pay apply for sheep tags, i.e., drawing/raffles, go to keeping sheep on the mountain! **When you apply for different state draws and you don’t have maximum bonus points, make sure you apply to hunt areas that award “random” draw tags.

If you don’t, you will not draw a tag?!

As I get older time is of essence. This is how I drew 2 tags without maximum bonus points: believe it or not, Arizona in ‘15 and Wyoming in ‘19.

OFFERING WORLD-CLASS HORSEBACK, BACKPACK AND FLOAT TRIPS FOR FANNIN SHEEP, ALASKAN/YUKON MOOSE, BARREN GROUND CARIBOU, MOUNTAIN CARIBOU, MOUNTAIN GRIZZLY, WOLF AND WOLVERINE. LOGAN YOUNG | 406.595.6583 • JESSIE YOUNG | 403.813.8589 • MIDNIGHTSUNOUTFITTING@GMAIL.COM SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 191

ADVENTURE PROFILES

William Saueressig

Frank Noska

Jeff Kruger

I was very happy to be drawn at70plus years young and my first sheep hunt. We had a 20-mile horse trip in and 20-miles out. My granddaughter said I would have a sore bottom. She was right. The hunt was over 11,000 ft elevation and was steep. I asked the guide if he was sure we could get down from where we were hunting and he said getting down was not the problem... living through it was the hard part!

The Alaskan mountains were very good to me this year. I arrowed my 10th sheep and my 13th mountain goat on self-guided bow hunts in my home state.

The Dall’s sheep was 41” long and 10 years old. The mountain goat was over 9”. I could not be more pleased with the results of this season’s mountain hunts.

It does not always work out, but this season it did! Good luck to everyone on your mountain hunting adventures.

I was blessed to hunt desert bighorn with La Palmosa in November of 2021.

At 70 years old, and after 40 years of applying for desert sheep tags, it was finally my chance to pursue a desert ram.

Emilio is a wonderful companion and a first-rate sheep guide. The assistant guides were hard workers with great eyes and a lot of fun to hunt with.

On the third day of the hunt we were glassing the ram of my dreams.

After a well-executed stalk and a long, challenging shot. I was able to send out the two-word text I had been dreaming about: MONSTER DOWN! It was an awesome experience having my son Herb along. The Lord blessed our efforts with a 12-year-old warrior broomed and banged up. Just what I had dreamed about. This ram completes my FNAWS. La Palmosa has the finest accommodations and dining I have ever experienced on a hunt. The staff is very cordial and friendly. I give them the highest endorsement possible.

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn OUTFITTER: Stetter Outfitters GUIDE: Lane Stringer LOCATION: Wyoming

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SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Goat/Dall’s Sheep OUTFITTER: Self-Guided LOCATION: Alaska

SPECIES: Desert Bighorn OUTFITTER: La Palmosa GUIDE: Emilio Rangel LOCATION: Mexico

Steven Guisenberry SPECIES: Bighorn OUTFITTER: Lost Creek Outfitters GUIDES: Jimmy Owens & Josh Taylor LOCATION: Wyoming

This was a classic horseback hunt. We left from a trailhead at the base of the mountains and rode three hours to a base camp. I had never ridden a horse until two months before this trip, and the second I got on my horse he knew I had no idea what the hell I was doing. It was quite the spectacle. Once we dropped our gear, we headed up to a large bowl at the top of a long ridge. Later that afternoon, we spotted a band of rams with a potential shooter. We stalked the band until we were in position and I missed the shot.

Josh Taylor found the band further down the ridge and we were able to set up again. I missed the trophy ram a second time. At that point, I knew my gun was off. Dejected, we headed back down to camp for the night. The next morning we checked my gun and it was 4 MOA high.

I made the adjustments and we headed back up to find the ram again. After seeing nothing all morning, the band of rams was spotted in a section of heavy timber.

We set up and waited for four hours. I remember it being very hot and we did not have any cover. Mid-afternoon, the band of rams headed up out of the timber on the opposite side from us. We put on a stalk across very treacherous terrain, including two shear cliff faces. We got into a position where we thought the rams would cross, but they did not cross there.

We shifted across to another vantage, and just as we started to think the rams had gone over the top of the ridge, the lead ram appeared right above us. He was the shooter we were after. This time I did not miss. After some serious celebration, we caped out the ram and headed back to base camp in the dark. It was the hunt and harvest of a lifetime.

Steven Guisenberry

Chris Aycock

We took two bush plane fights into the Wrangells out of Tok, AK. We landed in a creek bottom and hiked four miles up into a large drainage under an existing glacier. Brian had a great spot he had used in the past for his spike camps. Each day we hiked up to the top of the drainage ahead of the thermal winds. We saw a good number of rams and ewes each day. On day four, we spotted a legal ram and stalked him for three hours. Once in range, we waited one hour for him to stand and present an ethical shot. I made the shot and we hiked out the next day. This ram booted me from the less <1 Club®.

I killed my goat on day one! As soon as we topped out, there they were. The outfitter did a great job scouting/locating them before the hunt and knew how to get us on them.

One shot @ 480 yards rolled him down the mountain!

SPECIES: Dall’s Sheep OUTFITTER: Alaska Wild Wind Adventures GUIDES: Cabot Pitts, Brian Griffen LOCATION: Alaska

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Goat OUTFITTER: Lonesome Dove Outfitters GUIDE: Jimmy Paley LOCATION: Alaska

Mike Borel

SPECIES: Low Tatra Chamois OUTFITTER: Point Blank Hunts GUIDE: Low Tatra Slovakia Forestry LOCATION: Slovakia

Eric Sieben

SPECIES: Dall’s Sheep OUTFITTER: Canol Outfitters GUIDE: Cole Schneider LOCATION: NWT In early August 2021, I realized a childhood dream of hunting Dall’s sheep in the Mackenzie mountains.

The hunt was better than I could have hoped for, and I was fortunate enough to take this incredible ram. To say I was humbled would be an understatement.

Thank you to Glenda, Glen, my guide, Cole Schneider, and the rest of the crew at Canol Outfitters for a hunt and experience that I will never forget!

On day one with fog and snow until 2:00, we should have just stayed in the lodge. We couldn’t see a thing. Once it cleared, however, we started to see chamois. No shot opportunities, but promising.

Day two was beautiful and we started early and hit it hard. After hours of hiking, my guide told me there were two chamois in sight. I snuck up, but only could see one.

I lined up, but hesitated while I said, “I only see one!” Michel said, “Shoot, shoot!”

I did and he’s mine. Not as big as I hoped, but a representative male 5 ½ years old.

Thanks to Joe Jakab, Point Blank Hunts, for a very professional staff, quality preparations and excellent hunt and tour management!

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David Voth

O.E. Burke

O.E. Burke

Great hunt in Kodiak with Life Member OE Burke. We had it all—rain, snow, wind and fog. We hunted hard and harvested two beautiful billies!

My buddy and I had an outstanding hunt on Kodiak with our outfitter Sam Rohrer and guides Brett Watts and Chris Osbekoff. We were blessed with great weather to fly in for the first two hunt days which afforded us the opportunity to see lots of game and cover some ground looking for mature billies. In the final minutes of hunt day two, we each took a billy within seconds of each other.

Mine was seven years old, my buddy’s nine. We skinned, deboned, and packed until nearly dawn the next morning, and after a heavy march to a lower lake the next day, we met up with our extract flight. Absolutely epic scenery, company, and quarry. This was the hunt of a lifetime!

Who knew Texas has SERIOUS mountains?! My buddy and I had the opportunity through WTHO to hunt one of the most amazing ranches in far West Texas this spring with Casey Sanford in camp to guide us along. We spotted a band of four rams at first light from the valley floor, all were impressive, but one in particular was unbelievably wide; the decision to pursue was instant. We tailed those rams for over 10 hours, and over two mountains (up-down-up-down) before finally getting the opportunity for a shot just after 5:30 PM. Things went exactly to plan, and after my ram went down, my buddy had the opportunity to take his as well from the same band... both mature old warriors, both over 32”.

Phenomenal experience in underrated terrain for an underrated quarry!

SPECIES: American Mountain Goat OUTFITTER: Rohrer Bear Camp GUIDE: Brett Watts LOCATION: AK

Terry Dieren

SPECIES: Stone’s Sheep OUTFITTER: MacMillan River Adventures GUIDE: Cam Fox LOCATION:Yukon Territories An outstanding experience with MacMillan River Adventures on my first trip to the Yukon! Cam Fox (guide), Will Goyette (wrangler), and Brady Harang (Huntin’ Fool cameraman) deserve credit for this ram as well. We had an outstanding trip and killed a nice moose also. These guys are the best of the best and I’m blessed to have shared this experience with them. I will never forget it.

194 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

SPECIES: American Mountain Goat OUTFITTER: Rohrer Bear Camp GUIDE: Brett Watts LOCATION: AK

SPECIES: Aoudad OUTFITTER: WTHO GUIDE: Casey Sanford LOCATION: TX

Mason Roger

SPECIES: Dall’s Sheep OUTFITTER: Ultima Thule GUIDE: Don Martin LOCATION: AK The highlight of my adventure was getting my ram on the last full day of the hunt. This ram was very elusive and was hunted the year before without being seen (they called him the “ghost ram” since he stayed in the timber a lot). I watched the sheep come out on a bench and encounter a black bear which was a cool experience.

Fortunately, the sheep didn’t spook and run off and the bear didn’t chase!

Welcome to our Campfire

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@1CAMPFIRE SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 195

OFFICIALLY KICKED OUT!

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Kyle Anderson

Rocky Mountain bighorn

After a 15 year wait, my dream of drawing my first sheep tag was realized. With less than a 2% chance, I would be the lone non-resident hunting the unit in south central Colorado. After forest fires and 80 degree temps hiking in, the heat yielded to a winter storm. With 50 mph winds and whiteout conditions, I was able to harvest my first wild sheep on an unguided hunt on day one. We weathered the near-zero temps with trees falling all around us in the night and hiked the five miles back to the trucks amidst six inches of fresh snow. So grateful to be kicked out of the <1 Club®! The hunt can be seen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TGK6hNcYheU Way to go Kyle, you are kicked out of the <1 Club®!

196 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Eric Best

Ben Kirkendall

It was just another average April, and between the initial email and the phone ringing, I was made aware that there could be an opportunity for a desert bighorn hunt in Mexico. But there is always a catch, it seems….and this was no different. I had less than two weeks to prepare, book flights, and make the necessary arrangements to get there. Everything went according to plan, and the crew made sure every detail was accounted for. We saw sheep every day, but on the third day, we found the one we would attempt to make the approach to. Eight hours later, I was officially “kicked out.”

There is no better feeling, and I can’t wait to hear the stories from others, and share mine. Eric, you are kicked out!

After a summer full of excitement and concern for wildfires, it took two trips, and 12 days to find this beautiful ram. Dad and I spent many hours wearing boot soles down and glassing elevations between 3,200 and 9,000 feet. The country was as beautiful as it was rugged.

Through the trials of this hunt, I was particularly blessed to have my dad by my side through the entirety of it. An adventure of a lifetime, and a memory I’ll treasure for the rest of my days. A special thank you to the Wild Sheep Foundation for their work in making sheep hunting possible.

Ben, you are kicked out!

Desert bighorn

Rocky Mountain bighorn

Kyle Carlson

Rocky Mountain bighorn

I was blessed to draw a Colorado bighorn tag in 2021, and took my ram on day five. A big thank you to WSF, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society, and CO Parks & Wildlife for the work they do to allow this opportunity. I want to especially thank my brother Tim. This ram is just as much his, and I couldn’t have done it without him.

You are kicked out Kyle!

Sonora, Mexico Mule Deer • Coues Deer • Javelina • Desert Bighorn

441 N. Grand Ave., Suite 4-200 Nogales, AZ 85621 Phone: 01152.662.260.1006 Cell: 01152.1.662.256.2166 Fax: 01152.662.216.9991 E-mail: amigosoutfitters@hotmail.com www.amigosoutfitters.com

Specializing in custom Sheep horn Chandeliers, Art and Replicas.

Josh & Jenny Taylor • 307.899.4553 or 4645 wyobackcountrydecor@gmail.com www.wyobackcountrydecor.com

SPRING 2022 ~

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LAST SHEEP CAMP

Wayne W. Webber

Wayne W. Webber, 88 years old, passed away on Saturday, August 28th, 2021 at his home in New Baltimore, MI. Born in Thompsonville, Michigan, Wayne lived his life in Macomb County, returning to Thompsonville often where he developed his lifelong passions for fishing, hunting and the preservation of wildlife.

Wayne passed away with his “babe” Joanie, wife of 66 years by his side. Wayne is survived by his beloved sister Jeannine Webber. He is preceded in death by his parents Chris & Theresa Webber, brother Melvin, and sister Virginia (Joseph) Rollo.

198 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

He leaves behind nieces and nephews, each of whom loved and respected him dearly: Joe (Patty) Rollo, Donna (Al) Path, Cynthia (Alan) Helisek, David (Lynda) Martenson, John (Jennifer) Martenson, and Kris (Kathleen) Martenson, as well as 14 great nieces and nephews and 14 great-great nieces and nephews. Wayne will also be missed by his administrative assistant and dear friend Lisa Marie Tini and his caregivers Lynn, Heather, Diana, and Shawn.

Wayne began an independent concrete business in 1956, but his plans changed with a call to serve a 20-month tour of duty in the Army, including 16 months with peacekeeping forces in Korea.

Upon his return, he restarted his concrete business and asked his grade school friend Earl Champagne to join him. This was the beginning of Champagne-Webber, a small concrete business that grew into a national highway construction company which built highways, bridges, and airport runways in several states.

Until his death, Wayne presided over The Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation which supports endeavors related to healthcare, education, and providing nourishment, clothing and shelter for the

less fortunate. One of Wayne’s favorite events was the distribution of new winter clothing to the children in the Benzie County, Michigan school district each fall.

Wayne Webber was a passionate hunter. His love of nature and hunting took him around the globe. He was dedicated to the preservation and conservation of wildlife and supported the people of the regions he visited. On every journey he helped hundreds of people by constructing fresh water wells and watering holes for wildlife during the dry seasons. Clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, and sports equipment are just few of the items he would bring with him for the children he met along his travels.

A celebration of life in honor of Wayne will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions in honor of Wayne may be made to the charities that focused on his love and passion for literacy and helping those in need: Beyond Basics Literacy Program and Pope Francis Center. WS

RPS Bancard LLC is the preferred merchant services provider for the Wild Sheep Foundation, and proud participating partner of the WSF WE GIVE Program.

RPS will help minimize your company’s merchant services fees while maximizing your support of WSF, as RPS donates a percentage of your processing fees to the WSF Conservation Revolving Fund.

RPS provides Retail and E-Commerce businesses with ultra-competitive rates for credit/debit card processing.

Join RPS in supporting the WSF WE GIVE Program, and support our shared passion for “Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain®”.

PAYMENT INNOVATIONS FOR A CHANGING WORLD. For more information or to receive a no obligation rate review please call: RPS BANCARD LLC JUSTIN WISE | WSF SUMMIT LIFE MEMBER Office: 541.326.8984 • Justin@rpsbancard.com www.rpsbancard.com SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 199

Dr. Ernest Lokey

Dr. Ernest F. Lokey Jr., 89, of Salida died Aug. 29, 2021, at his home.

He was born Nov. 15, 1931, in Lubbock, Texas, to Ernest Franklin Lokey and Noma (Nabors) Lokey.

He attended public school in Farwell, Texas, until age 16 when he enrolled in Wentworth Military Academy, graduating in 1950.

In fall 1950, he enrolled in Texas Tech University and graduated in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a commission in the U.S. Air Force.

He served three years during the Korean War. Upon completion of military service, he enrolled in Loyola Dental School and received a DDS degree in 1961.

In 1962 he married Betty Jean “B.J.” Enga.

After an additional three years of study to become an orthodontist, he practiced orthodontics for 28 years before retiring.

Dr. Lokey was active and held membership in the American Association of Orthodontics, Southern Society

of Orthodontics, American Dental Association, Eagle Scouts, Wild Sheep Federation, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, NRA and Texas Tech Alumni Association.

He enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing, rafting and skiing and treasured time spent with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jane Lokey Lindsey.

Survivors include his wife; daughter, Enga Ann of Natimuk, Australia; sons, Ernest F. Lokey III of Dania, Florida, Brad Alvin of New Orleans, Louisiana, David Kim of Los Barriles, Baja California, Mexico, and Richard Allain of Midwest City, Oklahoma; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A private service will be held at a later date. WS

associated with over the years, including most recently, the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia where he served as President of the Okanagan Region and Convention Chair, and previously, the RCMP where he volunteered as an Auxiliary Constable for 17 years, the Good Shepherd Christian School where he served as Chairman of the Board of Parish Education, and the Grace Lutheran Church where he volunteered as a Sunday school teacher.

A humble man of commitment, generosity, patience, integrity and faith, Melvin was so many things to so many people, and will be deeply missed.

A celebration of Melvin’s life will be held at the Kilback family farm on June 18, 2022 in advance of next year’s cherry harvest. Details will follow closer to the date, but all friends are welcome.

Condolences and tributes may be left for the family by visiting www.nunespottinger.com WS

Melvin Kilback

The family of Melvin George Kilback is saddened to announce his sudden passing into the arms of his Savior on Friday, November 26, 2021 at the age of 67. A guide outfitter of 41 years, Melvin passed away doing what he loved in the Kettle Valley wilderness.

Melvin was born on June 14, 1954 to the late Ernest (Ernie) and Alvina Kilback. A lifelong resident of Oliver, BC, Melvin was first and foremost a husband to his wife Tami and a father to his daughter Whitney (Reid), as well as brother to Marvin (Edith), Loreen (Gordon), and the late Dale and Sandra.

To others, Melvin was the proud owner of Kettle River Outfitters, a masterful orchardist and gardener, a regular customer or a fellow member at one of the various organizations he was 200 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

Marlene Helms

In April 2019, Marlene Helms was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). She insisted that her husband and longtime member of WSF Dean Helms go for his desert ram to complete his

FNAWS. She went along, although she did not hunt because of her health.

Their trip to finish Dean’s FNAWS was to Carmen Island, Mexico. Gaspar with Mexico Hunts took excellent care of them and treated Marlene like a queen. It was a trip that neither on of them would forget.

Marlene passed away on June 17, 2021. Dean and Marlene were married for 46 wonderful years and had two beautiful daughters, a son-in-law and grandchildren.

“My FNAWS Award is a tribute to Marlene for her insistence on me completing this hunting accomplishment. Without her persistence, I would probably never have completed it. She is dearly missed every day by me and our children and grandchildren.”

Dean Helms WS

Mike Simpson

Forrest Michael “Mike” Simpson, 76, of Bedias, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 26th, 2022, with his wife, Becky, and children, Michael, Travis, and Barret lovingly by his side. Mike was born on May 2nd, 1945, to Bernice and Forrest Simpson in Crockett, Texas, and raised in Conroe, Texas, with his younger brothers Jerry and Pat. Mike always had a passion for wildlife and the outdoors. It was this passion that led him to create Conroe Taxidermy in 1972. What began as a hobby in his parent’s carport, grew into the largest taxidermy facility in the southern U.S. and one of the biggest in the nation.

Mike ran the family business with his three sons. Mike attributed their business’ growth to hard work, attention to detail, and craftmanship.

Along with his very successful business life, Mike contributed countless hours to Safari Club International, Houston Safari Club Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, and the Wild Sheep Foundation.

Mike served as President (SCI, HSCF) and on numerous committees as he believed that by these organizations working cooperatively, they could achieve a common goal of protecting our freedom to hunt and to promote wildlife conservation worldwide.

Mike hunted on six continents, collecting more than 350 species with most qualifying for the record books. He won numerous awards during his lifetime including the C.J. McElroy Award, the Weatherby International Hunter of the Year Award, the World Hunting Award, SCI Hall of Fame Award, and the Jim Conklin Award. Mike Simpson was a member of the NRA, Boone & Crockett Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, International Sheep Hunting

Association, Sportsman Club of Texas, Ducks Unlimited, Coastal Conversation Association, Rocky Mountain Mule Deer Foundation, Grand Slam Club, Texas Operation Game Thief, Exotic Wildlife Association, National Taxidermy Association, and Record of Exotics.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Becky Simpson, and was a proud father to his three sons and their wives, Michael and Jody, Travis and Dawn, and Barret and Stacey. Mike never missed an opportunity to brag about his grandchildren and great grandchildren and was the best Paw Paw to Megan and Thomas Doyel, Weston and Wendy

John Della Valle

John was born in the middle of an April snowstorm, an unpredictable event...and he led a very unpredictable life. He was born in New York City, not an environment that one associates with a man who loved to hunt and fish and who appreciated everything about nature.

His last regret, which he voiced a few days before he passed, was that he wasn’t going to make it to Panama to go fishing.

John’s love of hunting and fishing led him to collect books, bronzes, paintings, and unique items from around the world.

He eventually started a business buying and selling collectibles which would only serve to fuel his obsession while he spent his days planning his next trip.

John started his hunting adventures in 1965 in Wyoming, the same year he got married. He began his trophy collection with deer and antelope and then traveled to Canada for elk, moose, and caribou, and to have more unique adventures.

In 1977 he shot his bighorn sheep in Alberta, and in 1979, he went to the

Simpson, Jacob Simpson and Jenna LaRoy, Autumn Robles Simpson and Kris Robles, Austin Simpson, Tristan Simpson, Brooklyn Simpson, Julia Doyel (six years), Lillian Doyel (two years), Ezekiel Robles Simpson (one year), and soon-to-be-born Levi Forrest Simpson.

Mike is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Vicki Simpson and Pat and Jeanie Simpso,n as well as nieces, nephews, and extended family.

The legacy of Mike Simpson’s sincere kindness toward others and un-ending taste for adventure will live on through his large and loving family. WS

Yukon and was able to bring home a Dall’s sheep. He shot a Kodiak brown bear in Alaska in 1981 and was thrilled to see it in the Boone and Crockett record book. He received the Super Ten of North America Award and The Silver Bullet Award.

His sights were always firmly set on a FNAWS. He got his Stone’s sheep in 1982 and it took 31 more years for him to go on a desert sheep hunt, which he won from a Grand Slam Club/Ovis® raffle when his sons bought him the winning ticket. It was John’s happiest moment. He made the cover of Grand Slam® magazine and his smile covered the whole page.

It was the only hunting trip his wife accompanied him on.

John and his wife traveled the world together. They saw tigers in India, flew close to Mt Everest, rode elephants in Nepal, went on several African safaris in addition to his hunting safari’s, visited most countries in Europe and spent the month of October 2021 in his favorite country, Italy. His passport tells the story of adventure and joy.

John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan, who is an educator, his son, Craig, an orthopedic surgeon in Chicago and, Jared, an architect and real estate developer in Brooklyn.

Their concern for the future of our environment and our wildlife will be carried forward by their four children, Evia, Isanna, Dominic and Valentina. WS

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 201

Travel & Gear

Canada, Alberta

FRANK SIMPSON OUTFITTING LTD.

Backpack Hunts for Bighorn Sheep Foothill hunts for Mule Deer, Whitetail & Black Bear

Frank & Cindy Simpson • PO Box 1901 • Claresholm, AB • TOL OTO PH (403) 625-2150 • FAX (403) 625-2165 WEBSITE: franksimpsonoutfitting.com • EMAIL: simpsonrams@gmail.com

ANIMALS TAKEN IN 2016 SEASON

Booth #624

Backpack Hunts for Bighorn Sheep Foothill hunts for Mule Deer, Whitetail & Black Bear ANIMALS TAKEN IN 2016 SEASON

Alberta Hunts

Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer & Elk. Rifle & Archery hunts

35 years in the outfitting business

Phone #: 403.549.0111 • info@willowcreekoutfitters.com

www.willowc r e e kou tf itter s. com

Come hunt in the Simpson Tradition!

Come see us at the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention at booth 202 W ILD S HEEP ~ SPRING 2022 Number 401 ®

HUNT ALBERTA BIGHORN SHEEP IN CANMORE BOW ZONE Outfitting and Guiding in this area for over 40 years • • • •

Archery Archery Archery Archery

Bighorn Sheep and Rifle Mule Deer Elk Whitetail

Frank: (c) 403.682.9079 (h) 403.625.2150 Phone #: 403.549.0111 • info@willowcreekoutfitters.com simpsonrams@gmail.com • www.franksimpsonoutfitting.com

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Mackenzie Mtn. Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

2% For Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Mervyn’s Yukon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

7D Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

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Amigos Guides & Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Midnight Sun Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Arizona Big Game Super Raffle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Monarch Taxidermy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

Bear Trust International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Mule Shoe Outfitters, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

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Mystery Ranch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13

Big Game Big Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Peppermill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Bonnet Plume Outfitters / McKinnon & Company Outfitters . . . . 205

Raven’s Throat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Boswell’s Custom Rifles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Boyt Harness Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Rowdy McBride Hunting Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Browning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

RPS Bancard, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Cervantes Family Vineyards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

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Chadwick Ram Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 19

Sherwood Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

Conklin Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Shikar Safaris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Dallas Safari Club (DSC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

Shoshone Lodge Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Dewey Wildlife Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Sig Sauer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Dickson Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Sitka Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover

Epic Outdoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208, 209

South Nahanni Outfitters, LTD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Federal Premium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

St. James Sporting Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Stone Glacier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Frank Simpson Outfitting, LTD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

Stone & Folding Mountain Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

Full Curl Mineral Spirits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Sportsman’s Legacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Gana River Outfitters, LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Swarovski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Global Rescue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Texas Bighorn Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120, 121, 122

Go with Bo & Guide Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

The Hunting Consortium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Guinn Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

Vortex Optics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Gundahoo River Outfitters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

Weatherby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Gunwerks/Revic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Wild Hunting in Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Hilleberg Tents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

Wildlife Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Hornady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

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Huntin’ Fool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

WSF Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107, 109,111, 112,113

Jack Atcheson & Sons, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205, 206

WSF California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Kenetrek Boots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

WSF Idaho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

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WSF MSU Student Chapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

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WSF Sheep Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124, 125

Legacy Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

WSF Wyoming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105, 115

Leica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

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ON THE ADVENTURE TRAIL

by Ken Nowicki

GREAT SUCCESS

“He got ram, I must get ram­— “Very Nice and Great Success” — wisdom from Borat

T

his year my old friends Lead-On Highfee and Packtrain MacNamee did not attend the Sheep Show® in Reno.

“We wuz dragging a horse trailer out of the Yukon for an old friend,” said Packtrain. “Started south at New Years and pulled it down to the Cowtown (Calgary). Took a month coming down the Alaska Highway stopping at all our friends.”

“Sure was fun,” allowed Lead-On. “Then we just turned it east and joined a convoy headed for Oddawa.

Ended up camped right downtown.”

210 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

“Right comfy in a horse trailer, Boy,” said Packtrain. “Swept out the horse apples and a few mice and we bunked like a couple kings. Didn’t cost a thing.”

“Got noisy at times with all the honking,” chuckled Lead-On. “But we was busy making friends with all those gals from Queebec and brushing up on our French. Ate a lot of poutine. Drank a lot of that Labby Blue.”

“Fiddle music and western hoedown. What a blast, Boy. You should have been there.”

“I don’t want to know, guys,” I said.

“The G-men could be watching.”

I was serious. The news media said it was a violent insurrection and locals were disturbed. They had a protest themselves when some gawdawful smell started permeating the city streets. Cops had to clean house and tow all the trucks and trailers to the edge of town. Trudeau declared it an emergency. Shortly after that the Old Outfitters came home. The air is just starting to clear.

“There’s a convoy starting down at Bozeman this summer and we sure

intend to join it,” said Packtrain. “If they’ll let us cross the border.”

“I ain’t getting no shots,” grumbled Lead-On. “That’s what we were convoyed about.” “Danged if I will.” Then he started pounding the counter. (So much for non-violent protesting.)

That brought Ruby on the run.

“You three settle down and get your masks on or get out. Cover your faces or fill them.” I quickly ordered three more coffees and the daily special.

I needed to get them talking about sheep, and more particularly where I could find a great ram. “Guys, I picked up a bunch of brochures down in Reno and now I’m trying to figure out whether the outfitter has big rams and lots of them.”

“I told you before that a smart outfitter don’t put pictures of big rams on the brochure. That’s what brings

the resident hunters in. Probably you too, Boy. You are too cheap to hire an outfitter.” (This from a guy who hasn’t paid for his own coffee and pie in years.)

“There aren’t many brochures now anyway. Most of the outfits are using websites and all they hand out is a business card.”

“That would save a pretty penny,” gurned the old Scotsman MacNamee.

“I found a bunch of mine in the tipster one year. Somebody was cleaning them off the tables before the show opened in the morning.”

“You wuz never in the booth by noon so how would you know?” The old coots needle each other.

“On topic, please. How do I guarantee I’ll get a big ram?”

“Gaaranteee? What a laugh, Boy, you can’t gaarantteee a sheep.”

“You think an outfitter can just dial

up a book ram for every Tom, Dick, and Harry and Jane that books a sheep hunt?”

“He’s daft,” said Lead-On. “Always figured him for gullible.”

“But I got told by several outfitters that they have great success. Like 90 percent of the hunters take home rams. One booking agent told me his outfitters have 100% opportunities on legal rams.”

Lead-On and Packtrain laughed and laughed. Then they started coughing and wheezing and I thought for sure Ruby would clear us out.

Maybe they had pandemic disease.

Tears was coming down their cheeks.

All I could do is look bored.

Finally, they settled down.

“See Boy, I’ll tell you what, the truth is darn few sheep outfits can produce more than 50 percent kill rates. Most times it’s worse than that.”

SPRING 2022 ~

WILD S HEEP® 211

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Lead-On added, “When I was in B.C. I had a quota on kills, but I could take any number of hunters I wanted to make that quota. The truth be known, I was more like 30 percent on hunter success.”

“I run Alberta bighorns,” said Packtrain. “I had it tough. My allocation was four licenses a year and it was darn hard getting two kills for four hunters. I didn’t have the luxury of running eight or ten clients for each tag.”

“But he advertised 100 percent,” snarked Lead-On. “It weren’t his fault the horses ran off.”

Mean looks were exchanged, but I knew they were funning. Lead-On did the same when he ran his outfits.

“There’s a simple explanation. It’s the hunters.” They both nodded like a couple of wise old dobbins.

“It don’t happen like a fairy tale.

You can’t expect to just climb on the horse and spot a band of rams the first day and then dally up and pussy foot up and snipe at 500 yards and yodel and sing and get home early.”

“Nope, Boy, the hunters ruin the success. Mine would get sored up just hiking out to spike camp,” said LeadOn shaking his head. “They’d be blistered and limping the first night.”

“And my hunters—hardly got one that could set a horse for more than a day.”

“Whine, whine whine,” continued Lead-On. “There was blisters, and swollen ankles and knees, and chaff, that chaff was something else.”

“You mean from carrying packs?” I wondered.

“No, from fat little legs rubbing together, or from fat rumps sliding in the saddle on Packtrain’s nags.”

Packtrain ignored that and continued, “And the heart conditions and the gut aches, and the allergies and the earaches and the tooth aches and the rashes and anything and everything you could think off as an excuse to pull up stakes.”

“You mean you blame the hunters for not getting a sheep?” I was

incredulous.

“Of course, it was always their fault.

Hunters talk about excuses all the time—they say it’s too hot, and them rams are tucked into the timber.

Or too early, they ain’t moved from the summer range. Or too cold, and they’s timbered up. Too late, the rams are gone south. Always those no-italls would tell me why we couldn’t find a ram.”

“Hunters come up with a million reasons for not getting a ram. Too much rain or snow or smoke is a good excuse. And they always know more than the guide.”

“Put a blister on their toe and a cloud in the sky and they are ready to pack up.”

“Somethings always sticking in the craw. A griz can give them a case of palsy.”

“So, they go home early and I never argued,” said Lead-On. “If they leave, I save on groceries. Anyway, I didn’t count anyone who left early as part of the percentages.”

“That’s right,” said Packtrain. “I only counted hunters that stayed the entire hunt.”

“You’d be surprised how many hunters talk themselves into going home,” added Lead-On. “I started with 21-day hunts,” said Packtrain. “You need time to travel into good sheep country and time to ease into the routine and lots of days spotting and you need to ride out the rain and set out the weather in a snug tent with a wood stove popping and a deck of cards.”

“Over time I got many hunters who wanted less time booked and a faster hunt that I reduced it to 17 days and then 15, and then 14, and then 10, and I swear, some of them outfits now are booking seven-day sheep hunts. I kid you not.”

“Don’t matter how long,” said Lead-On. “I had lots of them quit after three or four days.”

“But when I was asked, I would say my success rates were near 100 percent,” said Packtrain. “And

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success is relative anyway. Do you really need to shoot a sheep to say a hunt was a success?”

I was gobsmacked. I never thought there was so many ways to rationalize hunting success or the lack of it. But then I had to concede, it took me 42 days to get my first Stone’s sheep. I had four different trips, and each time the travel to and from the areas was four days with either truck or plane.

That’s 16 days wasted. Then I got rained out and snowed out for close to eight or ten and a bunch of days in camp twiddling my thumbs and a couple days with late planes and a broken boat motor and I probably only actually hunted for twelve days out of the 42 and precious little was glassing at prime time and even less on a stalk of some kind. So my success was a bit better than 30 percent. (And, thank you very much, but I did go with outfitters for all of those trips.) I always hope I can get some good intelligence out of LeadOn and Packtrain—like where to go to find the big rams.

“I had no idea success was so low,” I pondered. “I always wanted my face in the Wild Sheep® magazine with a huge ram in my hands. What can I do?”

“Well, you can start with the basics, Boy,” said Packtrain. “Hire an outfitter and don’t pay no nevermind to the statistics he spouts.

Understand that success is relative.

You are not in a competition with other hunters. You got to make the hunt a success for yourself.”

“Get your body into shape so you don’t have no ailments to bitch about. Try and put some muscle on your calves and do some walking.

The best training you can do is clamber up and down an icy stream in wet boots in the spring. It’ll toughen the skin on your toes.”

“Do some push-aways Boy. Don’t keep a plate of grub in your face and fill your mug so much. You is starting to look like a chipmunk in a pile of peanuts. But you could order us a pie 214 WILD S HEEP® ~ SPRING 2022

and some more coffee. This talking is thirsty work.”

“Whatever,” I shrugged. “We might as well gorf.” I didn’t like the advice and I knew they were just starting to lecture. I signaled Ruby to bring us shoe-fly pie and more mud. I’d start training later.

“Naturally, you want to practice shooting, Lad,” said Lead-On. “I can’t tell you how many stories I have about broken guns and faulty scopes and tangled reticles and stupid turrets and handloads bombing and strafing and a million others. Find a simple gun and simple scope. Something a simpleton could use.” He looked askance at me slyly.

“Get yourself to a Sawbones and a prescription bottle of happy pills for depression. You don’t know how many hunters can spin into a funk when they miss a ram.”

“I haven’t had that problem,” I lied, and Lead-On just kept talking.

“I venture to guess that attitude is as big a problem as physical conditioning and equipment failure,” he said. “Maybe you need to read that Malcolm Gladwell or Norman Peale —you know the positive thinking stuff you see on the racks.”

“You can train all you want in the gymnasium and at the shooting range,” said Packtrain. “But nothing beats actual hunting for training.

Hunt deer, hunt elk, hunt mice if you have nothing else. Sheep may be the pinnacle of hunting success, but you should learn the ropes from taking some trips for lesser game. And never go home early from a sheep hunt.”

“And here’s a tip, pick up some of those old magazines from the 60’s and 1970’s. We wuz outfitting then and lots of stories were written by famous hunters about our areas. There might even be some geographical information on where to go and how to do it. You can find them on E-Daze or Amadong.”

“Ok, I might just do that,” I said.

(I didn’t need them telling me how to surf the net. I spend a lot of time

looking at pictures on-line.)

“Well, I better get on home and start my training.”

“Boy, you know the worst disease that hunters get when they go on a guided sheep hunt, don’t you?”

“Well, no,” I said while paying my tab with Ruby at the till. “What’s that?”

“Homesickness.” WS

Editors Note: Nowicki has been studying statistics that reflect harvest success per license issued that he obtained from Wildlife Agencies and biologists in Canada and the U.S. He has learned that there are no guarantees in hunting wild rams, and that limited entry and draw tags are not always a sure thing. Many limited entry tags are won by people who give up after only a few days. He has been trying to interview some of the unsuccessful hunters to figure out what the reasons are for getting skunked and to see if there is a skew to the data that would factor in the variables he has identified from the apocryphal and anecdotal information he gets from the old time guides and outfitters. He hopes to be able to formulate a theory that he can use to zone-in on high-probability locations for hunting genetically superior strains of mountain sheep. He believes the research will also help him choose the best u’/nits for applications for permits and the highest likelihood of success on obtaining a tag and subsequent harvest of a superior ram. He is planning to give a seminar at the next Wild Sheep Convention, providing he is allowed to enter into the United States under the pandemic restrictions prevailing at the time.

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