Wild Sheep Winter issue

the journal of the mountain hunter and committed conservationist

OWN THE COLD

NEW HYPERDOWN COLLECTION

SETTING NEW STANDARDS IN WARMTH AND LIGHTWEIGHT PACKABILITY.

A RIPSTOP FACE FABRIC PROVIDES ADDED PROTECTION FROM RUGGED GLASSING TERRAIN.

On the Cover:

Photographer Darryn Epp captured this snowy scene along with the essence of the moment when he states, “In photography, as with sheep hunting itself, the most miserable conditions often lead to the most epic adventures and outcomes.”

A dream years in the making.

The Origin of the Kenetrek Desert Guide boots.

The Path of the Rimrock Man by Chester Moore

Exploring Butch Carson’s early advocacy for Texas’ desert bighorns.

Awesome Aoudad with a Legend by Craig Boddington Free-range in Far West Texas with veteran sheep hunter James Craig.

Can You Handle the Short Shot? by Wayne Van Zwoll

A close chance at high-country game, earned or not, is a gift often fumbled.

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 • 406-404-8750

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

CHAIRMAN: Glen Landrus • ramslamvideo@gmail.com......................................

Term Expires 2025

VICE CHAIR: Charlie Kelly • azsheepguy@gmail.com ......................................... Term Expires 2026

SECRETARY: Jann Demaske • demaskes@msn.com ............................................. Term Expires 2026

TREASURER: Larry Jacobs • lljacobs4@aol.com ...................................................Term Expires 2027

Clint Bentley • sheepspotr@aol.com ........................................................................Term Expires 2027

Julie Chapman • jhelmchapman@yahoo.com .......................................................... Term Expires 2025

Sam Cunningham • scunningham@quailcreekent.com .............................................Term Expires 2027

Larry McGovern • ltmcgovern67@gmail.com.......................................................... Term Expires 2025

Emilio Rangel W. • emiliorw@me.com ...................................................................Term Expires 2027

Peregrine L. Wolff, DVM • falcolupus@gmail.com ................................................ Term Expires 2025

Logan Richard Young • loganyoung270@gmail.com .............................................. Term Expires 2026

PRESIDENT & CEO Gray N. Thornton • gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org

STAFF

PRESIDENT & CEO - EDITOR IN CHIEF, WILD SHEEP ® MAGAZINE: Gray N. Thornton • gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org • Bozeman HQ

Corey Mason, Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President of Conservation cmason@WildSheepFoundation.org Carrollton, TX

Kim Nieters, VP of Operations - Auction Director knieters@WildSheepFoundation.org Cody, WY

Kevin Hurley, Vice President of Conservation – Thinhorn Programs Lead khurley@WildSheepFoundation.org Boise, ID

Terry Ziehl, Finance Director tziehl@WildSheepFoundation.org Cody, WY

Keith Balfourd, Director of Marketing & Communications keith@WildSheepFoundation.org Bozeman, MT

Julie Tripp, Awards & Publications Director jtripp@wildsheepfoundation.org Lolo, MT

Paige Culver, Development Manager pculver@WildSheepFoundation.org Bozeman, MT

Maddie Richards, Membership Manager/<1 Clubs Manager mrichards@WildSheepFoundation.org Bozeman, MT

Justin Phillips, Graphic Arts & Design Jphillips@wildsheepfoundation.org Cody, WY

Megan Costanza, Banquets & Events Manager mcostanza@WildSheepFoundation.org Reno, NV

Mike Aiazzi, Expo & Exhibits Manager maiazzi@wildsheepfoundation.org Reno, NV

Jaime Teigen, E-Commerce & Office Administrator jteigen@wildsheepfoundation.org Bozeman, MT

Matt Dwonch, Marketing and Content Strategist mdwonch@wildsheepfoundation.org Bozeman, MT

Becky Layne, Exhibitor Concierge & Accounting (PT) blayne@wildsheepfoundation.org Bozeman, MT

Rebecca Anne Rebrovich, Assistant rrebrovich@wildsheepfoundation.org Bozeman, MT

Margie Forster, Registration Assistant mforster@wildsheepfoundation.org Reno, NV

CONTRACT & CONSULTANTS

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

Greg Schildwachter, Lobbyist greg@watershedresults.com Washington, DC

Charlie Booher, Lobbyist charlie@watershedresults.com Missoula, MT

Kurt Alt, Conservation Director –International Programs altwildlife@yahoo.com kalt@wildsheepfoundation.org Bozeman, MT & Brussels, Belgium

PRODUCTION STAFF

Gray N. Thornton, Editor in Chief

Julie Tripp, Editor

Scott Morrison, Art/Design Director

Justin Phillips, Graphics/Design

Marina Meyer, MadebyMimi, LLC, Social Media Consultant mjsams09@yahoo.com San Antonio, TX

Clay Brewer, Mexico Initiative Lead & Special WAFWA Projects Claybrewer1@outlook.com Rochelle, TX

Pat Cummings, DNWR – NTTR Project Lead Patrickcummings1002@gmail.com Las Vegas, NV

Maureen Jefferson, Conservation Permits Jm_hullinger@sbcglobal.net Las Vegas, NV

Kevin Martin, USFS & BLM Planning Kevindmartin63@gmail.com Pendleton, OR

Ashley McEnroe, Staff Writer aoliverio@gmail.com Big Sky, MT

Chester Moore, Staff Writer chester@chestermoore.com Orange, TX

Scott Morrison, Editor & Designer, Wild Sheep® magazine scott@morrisioncreative.com Livingston, MT

Shane Mahoney, Special Conservation Consultant shane@conservationvisions.com St. John’s, Newfoundland

Steve Rosenstock, Grant Writer steve@wildsheepfoundation.org Flagstaff, AZ

Ken Nowicki, Field Editor

Chester Moore, Writer

Ashley McEnroe, Writer

Craig Boddington, Contributor

CONTACT THE PUBLICATION

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 selfaddressed stamped envelope if you wish materials to be returned.

Wayne van Zwoll, Contributor Greg Schildwachter, Columnist Morrison Creative Company, Inc. Magazine Design/Production

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

COME FOR THE SHEEP, STAY FOR THE PARTY™, AND TODAY, TOMORROW, & FOREVER FOR WILD SHEEP™ ARE TRADEMARKS OF THE WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION.

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

Wild Sheep® (USPS# 009-460) is published quarterly by Wild Sheep Foundation, 412 Pronghorn Trail, Bozeman, MT 59718

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

VX-6HD THE ULTIMATE HUNTING SCOPE

MISSION STATEMENT

VISION

Our desired future state

To be the best managed, most respected, influential and relevant conservation organization benefitting 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

Honesty

Integrity

Respect for Others

Hunting Ethics

The principles that guide us

Teamwork Accountability

Positive Attitude Stewardship

Respect for Wildlife Loyalty

Putting & Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain® Since 1977

WHERE INNOVATION MEETS THE MOUNTAINS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

by Gray N. Thornton President & CEO

Twelve more North American women, from diverse backgrounds, including former vegans and vegetarians, educators, healthcare professionals, and this year, three PhD and one Master’s biologists joined the ranks of the hunter/conservationist as I pen this letter on day four of the WSF Women Hunt® sponsored, Field to Fork course delivered by Sportsmen All-Weather, All-Terrain Marksmanship (SAAM) Training at the FTW Ranch in Texas.

Eight of the cohort of twelve also experienced the transformational emotions of harvesting their first big game animal. All twelve received extensive classroom, practical, range, and in-the-field instruction by the exceptional SAAM team of world-class instructors.

I was again humbled and privileged to watch twelve women’s lives change forever as these new hunters and WSF members were engaged, educated, empowered, and inspired by life skills training and experience.

Four the fourth year, the program is extended to them through the generosity of WSF’s Women Hunt® program, committee, and the chapters, affiliates, donors, and members who support this WSF educational initiative which touches two aspects of our Mission—Education and Hunter & Hunting Advocacy/Protection. With professional wildlife

SEE YOU IN RENO!

management and truth beating out distortion, lies, and hyperbole in the recent defeat of Proposition 127 in Colorado, I could not help but reflect on how these twelve women, from British Columbia to Massachusetts, as soon to be Women Hunt® graduates, will become new and additional advocates and evangelists for WSF, conservation, hunting, and truth in their classrooms, businesses, laboratories, and families.

Special thanks to our gear sponsors Weatherby, Leica, Sitka Gear, YETI, Kenetrek, Mystery Ranch, and Boyt Harness Company who all provided best-in-class gear and equipment to outfit these women on their new hunting journey. And, huge thanks again to Tim Fallon and his entire FTW/SAAM team, as well as Chef Joshua Schwencke and Gastronomy Outdoors for the butchering and wild game culinary instruction.

For more information on our Women Hunt® program, the new Women in Hunting® Community, and the Rubye Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund, be sure to read the column in this issue and visit here:

After two quick weeks back home to catch up on convention planning, I look forward to being back in Texas to support our partners Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Texas Bighorn Society (TBS) with the Franklin Mountains Trap & Translocation of eighty (80) desert bighorn sheep from Elephant Mountain WMA to this state park right outside El Paso.

This legacy project funded by TBS and a $282,800 grant from WSF, with support from Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, The Campfire Club of America, and Midwest Chapter of WSF was the featured project in our second annual Conservation Impact Summary (fiscal year 2023-24) you recently received in the mail. This planned translocation was part of a record $11+ million in WSF Mission Program Funding and 654 wild sheep “touched” during the year.

We’re on track for another banner year of projects funded for 2024-25 and are counting on another successful 2025 Sheep Show® in Reno—as well as continued donor and partner grants support to make these projects happen.

Speaking of the convention, this winter/convention issue of Wild Sheep® is chock full of information to help you plan your next adventure at the January 16-18, 2025 Sheep Show®.

New this year:

• Full registrants are entered into a drawing for a Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep hunt in British Columbia with Baldy Mountain Outfitters. Drawing held Friday Night—must be present to win!

• New pre- and onsite registration program for banquet and day pass attendees with QR code data capture for Floor Credit Drawings and Sheep Show Raffles. You need not be present to win the floor credit drawings! Watch the new LED wall in the Sheep Show Raffle Area for daily winners.

• Daily optics prize incentives for Day Pass purchasers. Avoid the lines by pre-purchasing your day passes here:

and win some great prizes just for hanging out!

• Are you in Sheep Shape? If so, register for the Friday morning TOUGH SHEEP challenge sponsored and delivered by MTN TOUGH. Finish the challenge and you could win a NWT Dall’s sheep hunt! Check out page 109 of this issue to register. Don’t delay –limited to only 500 entries!

celebration of mountain hunting and conservation at our Saturday Night Grand Finale banquet. Of course, the highlight to many are hundreds of the finest exhibitors from around the world in the expo hall, as well as our informative seminars, Full Curl Cinema, Culinary Corner, and spectacular, wall-to-wall displays at the Reno Sparks Convention Center.

SCAN HERE TO PURCHASE DAY PASSES

• Don’t wait in line for the Thursday night doors to open, instead enjoy a drink on us at the Beer and Bubbly Social in the Tuscany Foyer from 5-6 pm before the Thursday Conservation Night Banquet. The social hour for all Sheep Show® guests is sponsored by Women Hunt®, Women in Hunting® and the Ruby Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund. Enjoy a beverage, entertainment,

As always, we’ll kick off the convention Wednesday night with our Grand Opening Banquet & Auction. Come join us in the Mt. Rose Ballroom Thursday for our free lunch and Ram, Mountain Monarchs, & FNAWS Awards Luncheon, then be amazed by the visual stimulation excitement at our Conservation Night Banquet followed by the Horsepacking Competition. Shoot clays at our annual Friday Clay Shoot, or be a Lady in Red at the Friday Ladies Luncheon, and then celebrate as we send six <1 Club® and <1 iClub® members on their first North American or international sheep/ goat hunt at the <1 Club®’s Beer Reception. Join us Friday night for our Legacy Night and Conklin Award Banquet followed by the must-see Backpack Races. Wake up early to a Mimosa or Bloody Mary at the Saturday morning Life Member Breakfast and you might walk away with a La Palmosa desert bighorn sheep hunt—and try your luck on our Sheep Show® raffles—all drawn Saturday. Then be a part of the largest

We experienced record preregistration and hotel bookings for the 2025 show, and sadly, some events are sold out. But, don’t dismay, come to the expo, be a part of the fun, and join us after the evening banquets when we open the doors for the finest live auctions in the world benefitting the wild sheep resource we love. Check out the current convention schedule on pages 178181 of this issue.

Have a great holiday season and I look forward to seeing you in Reno in January! WS

Yours in conservation,

Gray N. Thornton

President & CEO, Wild Sheep Foundation

Editor-in-Chief, Wild Sheep® magazine

Marco Polo Society® Member

Summit Life Member

Chadwick Ram Society® Member

Legacy Society Member

Summit Life Member

Pair with MYSTERY RANCH GAMEBAG

by Glen Landrus Chair

MY HOW WE HAVE GROWN

The first frost of the fall is upon us here in my corner of Washington state. It signals the end of most sheep seasons is near, and by the time this edition hits your mailbox, so will our elections season for 2024 be, thankfully! Regardless if your candidates won or lost on November 5, it is imperative that we come together to make a difference in wild sheep conservation. There is no political aisle for wild sheep. Together we can accomplish more.

One political challenge many of you are aware of is Proposition 127 in Colorado that would eliminate mountain lion and bobcat hunting and management in that state. I am proud to share that your Wild Sheep Foundation Board of Directors unanimously allocated $100,000 to those at the front line of that challenge. Look for some similar commitments annually moving forward. In addition, WSF has funded pre-emptive campaigns at the same level for outreach programs such as 1Campfire, Who Cares BC, and Wild Harvest Initiative. The anti-hunting camps are changing their tactics, and we must change as well, and regardless of the outcome of Proposition 127, we must remain engaged.

October 11th & 12th at our Wild Sheep Foundation World Headquarters, we held our board of directors meeting. Nearly all of the staff was present and updated us on their goals and aspirations for our next Sheep Show® and

beyond. It was inspiring to hear the accomplishments coming from our motivated and talented staff! Sheep Show® is going to be amazing! At that meeting we welcomed our two latest team members, Corey Mason and Matt Dwonch. Corey brings a wealth of world-wide conservation experience both on the ground, and politically, in addition to his

board, our membership is up over 65%, our exhibits at Sheep Show® have nearly doubled from around 225 to over 400, our Grant-In-Aid budget has increased to over $1.5 million, our industry support has never been higher, our efforts and focus to grow our endowment, our Peppermill room block sold out in July, and nightly dinner tickets

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional. “ -John C. Maxwell

leadership experience at Dallas Safari Club. Matt is taking over our social media and marketing applications with a fresh perspective and eagerness to become immersed in all that is the Wild Sheep Foundation. Welcome to you both, and I am excited to work with you going forward and excited for what you bring to our staff.

I’ve written about change and improvement to all aspects of our Wild Sheep business model in this space previously. As I prepared for our October board meetings and reflected on my time as a director, it wasn’t just that we have changed that struck me, but how we’ve grown. Just since I’ve been on the

are long gone as well! I could go on and on, but our growth has been remarkable—but not accidental! Thank you to our members, exhibitors, donors, and sponsors for your generosity to our mission, and thank you to our amazing staff and countless volunteers that make it happen!

In closing, I hope to see you all in Reno as we hope to make this the best Sheep Week® ever—and continue to grow and support our wild sheep! WS

Yours in Conservation, Glen A. Landrus

CONSERVATION COLUMN

by Corey Mason Executive Vice President of Conservation Chief Operating Officer

CONSERVATION IMPACT

As a loyal Wild Sheep Foundation member, you should have recently received the 2023-2024 Conservation Impact Summary. This beautiful publication tells the story of what your relatively small, yet incredibly effective foundation accomplished in the last fiscal year. It is important for every member to see these projects and understand what you helped to accomplish, as every one of these strategic projects were delivered because of your support!

To ensure that our projects are impactful, the Wild Sheep Foundation works very closely with state, national, international, and Tribal/First Nation management authorities to support wild sheep conservation needs and projects throughout North America and across the globe. Additionally, we collaborate and work with our chapters and affiliates to deliver conservation projects that meet the current and future needs of wild sheep and their habitats.

In 2023-2024, over $11 million was committed to mission program funding. This is comprised of $5.95 million in conservation permits to support agencies, $187 thousand for industry support, $1.65 million dedicated to conservation funding, $1.03 million for education, advocacy and outreach programs, $12.5 thousand for international

conservation initiatives, and $2.25 million for Grant-In-Aid projects. Let me be clear…no other organization dedicates this much to mission program funding; further, these funds are solely focused on conserving wild sheep and their habitats!

I encourage you to review the Conservation Impact publication and see the scope and reach of the Grant-In-Aid program. Projects were funded from Alaska to Texas and included habitat enhancement, acquiring a conservation easement, needed research projects, disease management, water enhancement, and capture and translocation. All of these are uniquely impactful projects that result in better management and understanding of wild sheep and their habitats.

It is important to also note the financial support that comes from conservation and industry partners. Along with generous donors, our Grant-In-Aid program was supported by the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Sitka, Grizzly Outdoor Corps, and Bergara. Financial support also came from the Houston Safari Club, Gilchrist Foundation, Camp Fire Conservation Fund, Water for Wildlife Foundation, and numerous chapters and affiliates. Support from our corporate sponsors and giving society members remains

critical for our ability to deliver the Grant-In-Aid program. We could not do it without them!

In total, WSF conservation funding in the last decade was over $63 million and from 1983 to 2024 exceeded $100 million. This is an incredible accomplishment, and something that every member should be so proud of! Thank you for your incredible and impactful support.

Turning the page to 2024-2025 projects, once again over 20 Grantin-Aid projects have been funded and are moving forward. These projects were vetted and prioritized by WSF Conservation Staff and the Professional Resource Advisory Board and ultimately approved by the board. WSF members will be updated on status and key findings over the coming year. If you would like to join us in supporting our remarkable 2024-2025 mission programs, please let us know or you can click on the QR code on page five of the Conservation Impact publication.

Thank you for your incredibly generous support of Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain!® I look forward to seeing you in Reno! WS

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 a lapel pin 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!

CHADWICK RAM SOCIETY ® MEMBERS

CRS MEMBERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHA ORDER BY BENEFACTOR LEVEL

Sheep Family Snapshots

Keep Climbing! My climb with the Wild Sheep Foundation started through an interest and enthusiasm for the outdoors and hunting, specifically. I attended my first Sheep Show in 2008 which quickly deepened my appreciation for wild sheep and introduced me to the conservation efforts of the WSF. In 2016, I joined the Ethics Committee and 4 years later in 2020 I joined the board of directors where I served for 3 years. In 2020, I also became Chair of the Chadwick Ram Society where I continue to serve today, as well as the Secretary of the Wild Sheep Legacy Foundation and several other committees.

I have continued to climb with the Wild Sheep Foundation, because I whole heartedly believe in the mission to “Put and Keep Wild

Sheep on the Mountain”. My membership started at the Bronze level and as I have bared witness to the dynamic changes that have occurred in the population of wild sheep as a direct result of the WSF’s efforts, I have kept climbing to Silver and eventually to Gold. As the work is far from over, I have plans to reach the Platinum level and beyond.

I am proud of the remarkable work of the Wild Sheep Foundation. We work to not only preserve and increase the current population of wild sheep, but to improve the beautiful land they inhabit to ensure a thriving population for generations to come. I answered the call to climb. I encourage others to listen, join and climb!

- Drs. Glen & Caroline Pyne, CRS members since 2013

(List is current as of press

PLATINUM - $50,000

Mike Borel & Roz Faugier-Borel (CA)

Rob & Lucy Cinclair (TX)

Charles & Denise Swanson (FL)

Andrew & Kymberly Pratt (TX)

GOLD - $25,000

Samuel Hays (TX)

Shane & Kim Mahoney (NL)

Terry & Mary Mick (MN)

SILVER - $10,000

Anonymous

Pat O’Neill & Kay Giannola (MN)

Charles & Rebecca Hartford (CA)

Keith Hite (PA)

Breck Johnson (CO)

Jim Manley (OR)

Patrick Morse (FL)

Anthony Reviglio (NV)

TR & Mary Jo White (CA)

BRONZE - $5,000

Thomas Armosino (OR)

Paul Baird (AZ)

Jeff & Kris Brant (WA)

Kevin & Lisa Fox (AK)

Joe & Kathy Hill (WA)

Douglas & Jacky Johnson (AK)

Chase & Makena Marler (ID)

David & Lisa Matthias (IA)

Bruce Mellot (PA)

Rob & Brie Register (GA)

Brian & Nikiesha Richards (AK)

Chad Riedel (AK)

Konrad Schruf II (AK)

Jesse & Lovely Simonson (HI)

COPPER - $2,500

Ed Checque (AK)

Scott & Susan Clark (CO)

Timothy & Brianne Clark (AK)

Eli Davis (WV)

Jim Elder (ID)

Will Garroutte (CA)

Jeff Hacsi (CO)

Ryan Hammond (AK)

Michael Hill (WA)

Jeremy Hoagland (AK)

Dave & Kris Hubbard (WA)

Loren Keisling (AK)

Shay Law (OR)

Nathan Liebl (WI)

Mary Maack (OR)

Ray Maack (OR)

James Perkett (AZ)

Steve Perrins (AK)

Bruce Perryman (WY)

Terry Radakowski (OR)

Mark Riether (NJ)

Megan Rowe (CA)

Joel Tavera (FL)

James Treeman (OK)

Dilan Worthley (AK)

Ray Wurdinger (OR)

Founding Members

The 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. These donors have played a key role in the Wild Sheep Foundation’s success over the last 16 years. Quite frankly, this special group of donors has led the way in achieving our purpose of “putting and keeping wild sheep on the mountain”.

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)

Bryan & Barbara Bartlett (NM)

Scott & Erica Barry (MI)

Brian & Debbie Benyo (OH)

Gary Bogner (MI)

Dan & Kathy Boone (TX)

Louis & Patti Breland (AL)

Jerry & Amy Brenner (NC)

Steve & Jackie Bruggeman (MN)

Peter & Wendy Burchfield (PA)

Tony & Virginia Caligiuri (IA)

Ron & Billi Carey (AB)

Oscar & Valerie Carlson (MN)

Michael Carpinito (WA)

Walt & Joan Coram (TX)

Guinn & Betsy Crousen (TX)

Sam & Tracy Cunningham (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)

Tom Foss (AB)

Ronald S. Gabriel, MD (CA)

Kevin Gilbert (MT)

Paul Greene (CO)

Brian and Susan Ham (AZ)

Marc & Cheryl Hansen (PA)

Jim & Sue Hens (NY)

Charles Herron (AL)

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)

Roger Kenner (ND)

G. Thomas & Patricia Lang (FL)

George & Kelly Lawrence (WA)

Doug & Dana Leech (WV)

Since its inception in 2008, $11 million in MPS gifts/pledges have been directed to WSF and mission programs. We are so proud to announce that the Marco Polo 100 member goal was achieved at the 2024 Sheep Show when a group of generous Marco Polo members purchased the #100 member spot for a whopping $1 Million Dollars to be directed to the Wild Sheep Legacy Foundation’s Endowment Fund. We are so humbled and proud to witness the Wild Sheep Family come together to create history and we have never been more excited and hopeful for the future of wild sheep worldwide.

Thomas Lemmerholz (GER)

Wayne & Denise Lennington (TN)

Jeff Lindgren (MN)

Robert Hall & Jane Link (FL)

Paul Mattes (MI)

Kyle & Joanne Meintzer (NV)

Joe & Christine Michaletz (MN)

Craig & Therese Mueller (ID)

Richard & Linda Murphy (NM)

The Olmstead Family (BC)

Mark & Gabriela Peterson (MI)

Ron & Vicki Pomeroy (WY)

Larry & Brenda Potterfield (MO)

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)

Steve & Sue Skold (IA)

Kip & Sue Slaugh (UT)

Kevin & Tuesdy Small (CA)

Dan Smith Jr. (CA)

Dan Smith III (CA)

J. Alain Smith (WA)

Mike Snider (MI)

Jeff Sorg (MT)

Daryll & Shauna Southwick (CO)

Brandon & Kristi Stokes (OR)

Rick Taylor & Carole Danyluk (BC)

Jelindo & Sandee Tiberti (NV)

Gray & Renée Thornton (MT)

Matt Tomseth (OR)

Mark Watkins (MN)

Tim & Ruth Van Der Weide (IA)

Ken & Anna Vorisek (AK)

Neal & Jody Wanless (AZ)

Mark Watkins (MN)

Jay & Martha Webster (TX)

Craig West (NC)

Steven & Ardyce Whisler (MT)

Clayton & Modesta Williams (TX)

Lyle & Jennifer Wood (AB)

Russ & Debi Young (TX)

Gary & Penny Young (WV)

Alan Young (YT)

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TODAY, TOMORROW, FOREVER

by Paige Culver WSF Development Manager

LEGACY: YOURS, MINE,

OURS

The reality we all face as conservationists and wild sheep enthusiasts is that there is no funding mechanism for wild sheep other than what little states and provinces can generate through limited permit sales, which is insufficient to meet the growing needs of wild sheep populations. This is why the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) strives for record-breaking mission and

indisputable impact of those dollars. The Wild Sheep Foundation is and will ALWAYS be focused on the immediate needs of wild sheep. Those are “Today” dollars. Recently, in addition to focusing on “Today”, we have identified a great need to also focus our efforts more on the “Forever” by setting measurable goals to strengthen our WSF Endowment Fund and more clearly define a vision for WSF’s Legacy.

program funding year after year. As a result of these efforts, dollars raised and distributed by WSF have skyrocketed from $4.3 million in FY 2013-2014 to a staggering $11.09 million for the FY 2023-2024. WSF, working hand in hand with an engaged network of chapters and affiliates, has continued to successfully identify the urgent needs of wild sheep and deliver in a way that has not been duplicated elsewhere. But it’s not all about the money. It’s about what that money does. By now, you have all received the FY 2023-2024 Conservation Impact Summary showing the

“Legacy,

by its definition, encompasses the values, actions, and influences we will leave behind for future generations.”

Over the next five years, the Wild Sheep Foundation will be working diligently to add $15 million dollars to our WSF Endowment Fund. That’s right, our goal is to put $3 million dollars per year for the next five years toward the future of WSF to fund our purpose of Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain®

in perpetuity. That would translate to an additional $600,000 to the wild sheep resource every year, forever. We plan to achieve this through dedicated programs and events, including the new Keep Climbing campaign through which 33% of all new dollars received will be allocated to the building of the WSF Endowment Fund.

The inextricable relationship between our legacy and building the WSF Endowment Fund is rooted in the desire to create lasting positive impacts. Legacy, by its definition, encompasses the values, actions, and influences we will leave behind for future generations. The WSF Endowment Fund serves as a powerful vehicle to perpetuate these values and initiatives, providing ongoing financial support for the things we care about. With your help, the impact WSF can make during our lifetimes will continue to resonate and empower future generations to build upon the foundation we have laid. WS

To find out more about the “Keep Climbing” campaign and how you can help ensure that the work of the Wild Sheep Foundation continues for generations to come, please contact Development Manager, Paige Culver.

Keep Climbing campaign society members may direct your gifts to where you feel it is needed most consistent with our Today, Tomorrow, and Forever for Wild Sheep conservation focus. However, to ensure wild sheep conservation and the Wild Sheep Foundation succeeds in perpetuity, 33% of all Keep Climbing Society gifts will be directed to the Wild Sheep Legacy Foundation Endowment Fund.

Artist Rendering Subject to Change

MOUNTAIN ROYALTY SOCIETY

• Ruby - $125,000

• Emerald - $150,000

• Diamond - $200,000

Legends Society - Gifts of $250,000 - $499,000

Pinnacle Society - Gift of $500,000 and above

WE INVITE YOU TO KEEP CLIMING WITH US TO PUT AND KEEP WILD SHEEP ON THE

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

by Greg Schildwachter WSF Lobbyist

THE WINTER PALACE

The marbled halls of Congress and federal agencies are “puzzle palaces”. The everyday grind here works through immediate problems and opportunities just beyond reach. This fall has been quieter than usual with so many people out campaigning, but by the time you read this the winter palace will be crammed with end-of-year deadlines and new year reorganization.

As you likely know, many problems and opportunities get little serious consideration and— regardless of the election outcome —won’t be seriously addressed in the foreseeable future. It’s easy and sometimes fun to criticize government’s shortcomings. And there are plenty.

Work in Congress and the agencies is backing up. Annual budgets are usually months late. Several of our bills are caught up with 80+ others awaiting a committee vote. The feral horse population is far beyond its limit. Nearly 60% of grazing allotments haven’t been assessed. Agencies struggle with unaffordable deferred maintenance.

Criticism is a temporary tonic. If these problems are important, they’re worth breaking down into pieces to form solutions.

The most glaring dereliction from the Wild Sheep Family perspective is in federal grazing policy. Feelings about this dominate the reality that creating safe separation through grazing policy is difficult and unrewarding. Agencies failing to keep up with an entire grazing program will not keep up with this part of it. When they do address it,

they bog down in misunderstandings (e.g., that we want zero risk) and tradeoffs (e.g., risk to sheep vs. costs to producers, cost of analysis vs. risk of litigation). Even after progress, Movi and other pathogens are still ubiquitous and deadly.

While keeping after grazing policy, we (speaking as a big-tent family of many partners) are also taking additional approaches.

We have built relationships with woolgrowers that have resulted in herd translocations in Montana and Wyoming, and in a new research mission at the Sheep Experiment Station in Idaho.

We have developed a new approach to managing pneumonia, in cooperation with state wildlife agencies by capturing, testing, and euthanizing infected bighorn sheep for the good of the remaining herd.

We have hired field staff to engage with small and hobby flock owners and have experimented with treatments for domestic sheep to control pathogens—with support from USDA-funded research at Montana State University.

We have redirected grant funding to bigger, higher-effect Legacy Projects with the $7-11 million we raise each year.

We are funding and collaborating with tribal nations on the removal of feral horses and burros.

We are not working alone: there is creativity too in Congress and agencies.

A recent “Good Neighbor Authority” law enables state, local, and tribal agencies to do federal agency work on federal lands. BLM’s use of GNA is expanding

invasive weed treatments, habitat restoration, and watershed restoration.

USDA Regional Conservation Partnership projects enable private organizations to run Farm Bill programs on behalf of USDA —both by administering classic programs through contracts with landowners and by conducting projects for and with landowners. This has enabled steering more than $1 billion to work on the ground.

Also at USDA, and with the Fish and Wildlife Service, agencies are finding ways to work smarter. USDA is better monitoring grassland (and forest) condition through a contract with a private remote sensing non-profit using satellite imagery and real-time data from landowners. FWS is clearing more permits for imports of trophies and biological research samples after hiring a consulting firm to improve the review process.

These are some of the pieces to our puzzle right now. They do not all fit together, and to make them fit may require some rearrangement on our side. We do not currently see much shared purpose with Farm Bill programs focused on landowners; but, this may become a way to promote safe hobby flocks. We may not be able to defeat disease with more and larger herds; but, building herd resilience from the habitat up may be necessary to sustainability.

We have prodigious resources in the generosity and activity of the Wild Sheep Family. We turn these strengths into solutions by finding ways or making them. WS

AWARDS

by Tony Caligiuri Chair, Ram Awards Committee

CELEBRATING

The 2025 Sheep Show® is right around the corner, and we are again expecting record attendance numbers.

The always popular Ram Awards will take place on Thursday in the Mount Rose Ballroom and includes a free lunch for all attendees, thanks in part to our main event sponsor, Boone and Crockett Club along with our two outfitter sponsors, WildHunting inTurkey & Asia and Terminous Mountain Outfitters. Attendees will have the opportunity to be drawn for $5,000 in floor credit along with two exclusive lunch raffle drawings that have great odds. With more than 700 hunters, outfitters and guides attending the awards, it is one of the most popular events in the sheep hunting arena.

Now in its 46th year, the WSF Ram Awards have honored some of the biggest hunter-taken rams in history, and each year brings some surprises from all over the world. The top rams in each category feature a mix of do-it-yourself hunters, guided and outfitted hunters, and hunters who have won raffles or purchased auction tags at the WSF annual convention and chapter banquets. Winners come from all walks of life.

The Ram Awards include archery and rifle bronze, silver and gold awards for the three highest scoring sheep in each species category, plus honorable mention awards for all rams that meet the Boone and Crockett minimum entry requirements, as well as an

46 YEARS OF RAM AWARDS

overall Award of Excellence for both rifle and bow hunted rams and the youth category.

Forty-seven North American rams were accepted this year—an increase from last year—plus

Tim Pask with his

Award

five Rocky Mountain goats. Noteworthy on the ram side are several Stone’s and Dall’s sheep scoring in the 160s, including some in the youth categories. This year the bighorn categories include a tremendous California bighorn scoring over 182 inches from Washington. Our desert bighorn category had the most participation with 17 rams being entered. Several of those rams score in the 180s. The Rocky Mountain bighorns were well represented with two rams scoring over 190 inches, including Lindsey Stroud’s BC ram. Jon Pynch’s

incredible archery ram scoring 201-1/8 points rounds out the bighorns. Another incredible year!

This year’s Mountain Monarch Awards saw 18 entries, down from previous years and most likely due to the continued difficulties of importing international sheep back into the United States. Hopefully, that will improve in the future. Notable among the Mountain Monarchs entries are a Bukhara markhor scoring 131 4/8 points, a Gobi argali scoring over 230 points, and an impressive archery Mid-Caucasian Tur scoring 1433/8 points.

Sponsors for this year’s awards are the Boone and Crockett Club, WildHunting in Turkey and Asia, Terminous Mountain Outfitters, Pope and Young, Safari Club International, Boyt Harness Company, Guides and Outfitters of British Columbia, and the Alaska Professional Hunters Association. We also received donations for our exclusive raffle from Steyr Arms and the Montana Knife Company. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention our 14 individual Ram Award Belt Buckle and Outfitter Plaque sponsors listed on the following page. Their support of our program is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to Mike Opitz and Dave Turchanski, as well as their respective committee members for all their hard work bringing this year’s awards to fruition. The balance of the committee’s work falls on their shoulders and they did a great job. WS

Gold

Gobi argali.

2025 RAM AWARDS LUNCHEON

THE JOURNEY BEGINS: A DREAM YEARS IN THE MAKING T T

BY JIM BUTCHART

he early morning of July 31, 2024, marked the beginning of an adventure I’d been eagerly anticipating for years. My alarm jolted me awake at 3:15 am, but there was no need for the backup I’d set for 10 minutes later—I was already wide awake, adrenaline coursing through my veins. The journey that lay ahead was not just a physical one but also a culmination of years of dreaming, planning, and preparing. I was finally going sheep hunting.

As I set off on the four-hour drive to Denver International Airport, the reality of what I was about to undertake began to sink in. For the first hour, my mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead, but eventually, a calm washed over me. This was it. I was actually doing it. The dream that had taken root in my mind back in 2017 was about to come true.

Back then, in my mid-40s, I’d started yearning for a true adventure hunt—something that would take me far from the comforts of home and

push me to my limits. At that time, the closest I’d been to the north country was through the internet, where I spent countless hours researching, dreaming, and planning.

In 2019, I got my first taste of what I was seeking when I hunted woodland caribou and Canadian moose in Newfoundland. While it was a thrilling experience, it didn’t quite satisfy my hunger for adventure. The cabin-based hunt, complete with creature comforts, was far from the rugged, remote challenge I craved, and I knew wanted more.

The Decision to Pursue Sheep Hunting

In June of 2020, I got serious about making my dream a reality. After listening to a Kifaru podcast, I reached out to Clay Lancaster, whose hunting chops had been endorsed by Aron Snyder, someone I admired. Initially, I inquired about a mountain caribou hunt, thinking a sheep hunt was financially out of reach. Clay explained that the mountain caribou hunt

was challenging and took place in terrain similar to a Dall’s sheep hunt, and I should consider it. But he also said, and without a hint of pressure, if I’m even considering a Dall’s hunt there’s no reason to wait.

For months, Clay and I exchanged texts, discussing the possibilities and logistics. Eventually, I made up my mind—I wasn’t getting any younger, and if I was going to hunt sheep, it had to be now. To make it happen, I’d need to save every bit of disposable income, but it was a commitment I was willing to make. The fear of living with regret as I got older was a powerful motivator.

The timing couldn’t have been

worse, with the world in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, I put down a sizable deposit on a hunt scheduled for August 2024, nearly four years in the future. It was a hard decision to wrap my head around, but I knew that if I was going to do it, I needed to act quickly. And so began the long wait. I had to file away my excitement and focus on other things, knowing that one day, the time would come.

Preparation and Anticipation

The years passed slowly, but they were filled with experiences that helped prepare me for the adventure ahead. In September

2021, my good friend and hunting partner and I headed north to the Brooks Range of Alaska for a barren ground caribou hunt. This DIY drop camp hunt was just the adventure I needed to test myself and my gear in the tundra. The hunt was incredible, and I took a beautiful bull caribou early in the trip. Looking back, I realize how important that hunt was in building my confidence and proving to myself that I could indeed hunt in that type of terrain.

January 2024 finally arrived, and with it, the realization that this was the year of my Dall’s sheep hunt. The anticipation had been building for years, but now it was real. I had spent countless hours consuming sheep hunting content, listening to every podcast, and watching nearly every YouTube video I could find on Dall’s sheep and the Northwest Territories. While I did my best to stay in shape year-round, I ramped up my training eight months out, eager to be in peak condition for the hunt. As soon as the snow melted in the spring, I started hiking the mountains surrounding my home in Colorado, pushing myself harder with each outing.

By July, I started documenting the lead-up to the hunt on Instagram. I was even a guest on The Hunt Backcountry podcast, where we discussed the preparation and anticipation as part of their “Before and After Series.” At this point, there was no turning back— everyone I knew was aware of the hunt and how much it meant to me. Not that turning back was ever an option.

As I boarded my first flight, I noticed I was surrounded by hunters, many of whom had already taken several sheep.

The Journey North

The morning of July 31 was the start of my journey north. I had a direct flight from Denver to Edmonton, and upon arrival, I was beyond relieved to find all my gear in baggage claim—a huge logistical hurdle successfully cleared. I wheeled my gear into my room at the airport hotel, did a quick inspection, and then met up with a new hunt buddy I’d met on the flight for a burger and beers.

The next day, after a solid night of sleep, I continued my journey north, expecting to spend the night in the backcountry. My flight plan with Canadian North was a series of hops: from Edmonton to Yellowknife, then to Inuvik, and finally to Norman Wells. From there, I would take a floatplane to June Lake, the main hunt camp for NWT Outfitters, before being flown via helicopter to the backcountry.

As I boarded my first flight, I noticed I was surrounded by hunters, many of whom had already taken several sheep. It quickly became apparent that sheep hunting was largely a rich man’s game, a realization that made me feel even more determined to make the most of this opportunity.

Our final stop with Canadian North was Norman Wells, where I held my breath again as I watched the checked luggage make its way down the belt. My rifle and gear bag safely in hand, I joined the rest of the crew hunting with the Lancasters and boarded our final flight to the June Lake Base Camp. After a short shuttle to the floatplane, we streamlined our gear,

leaving big bags and rifle cases in a secured shed for the hour-long ride into base camp.

Base Camp Arrival and Last Preparations

Upon arrival at base camp, all eight hunters were assigned to

shared bunkhouses, with two to three hunters per cabin. We settled in quickly and gathered for a hunt meeting led by Clay. He covered important details like helicopter safety, rifle etiquette, and tag distribution, then he paired us up with our guides. My guide, Don,

As I replayed the decision in my head over and over, I hoped I wouldn’t regret not taking that shot.

and I were slated to hunt a block furthest from base camp, so we didn’t make it into the field that day. Time simply ran out, but I was okay with that. It gave me a chance to organize my gear and chat with Clay, his partner/uncle Jim, and the man who started it all, Clay’s dad, Stan Lancaster. Meeting these legends of the NWT was a true highlight of the trip. The next morning, August 2, I enjoyed a leisurely start to the day, sipping coffee and indulging in a big breakfast. As I waited for our departure, I spent the morning glassing the countryside for caribou, grizzlies, and wolves. The anticipation built as I readied my gear for what felt like the tenth time. Around lunchtime, we got word that two sheep had already been shot—a rifle hunter had his down, and a traditional bow hunter had a hit but no recovery yet. Finally, I heard the words I’d been waiting for: “Gear up, you’re heading out in 20 minutes!”

With a mix of excitement, nerves, and the culmination of nearly four years of planning swirling in my head, I loaded into the helicopter with Don, and we were off the ground. We were dropped at the head of a beautiful basin, with an incredible turquoise alpine lake as our backdrop. We quickly set up our tents as rain was about to hit, and since we needed to wait 12 hours before we could hunt, there was no rush. It was 4 p.m., and we had a shooter ram on the other side of the mountain.

The Hunt Begins

The morning of August 3, we were out of camp by 7 a.m. after

a quick breakfast and coffee. We ascended just shy of 1,000 feet and slowly crept over the saddle where we expected to find the rams in the valley below. But there was nothing. We glassed for a bit and then contoured about 600 yards to get a better angle up the valley. The loose boulders and shale, combined with numerous no-fall zones, had my heart rate sky-high. One false step could have resulted in a dangerous slide.

Despite our efforts, the sheep were nowhere to be found, as they had countless options to evade us. We suspected they were at the head of the valley, so with the wind in our favor, we pushed on, stopping to glass and taking our time. As we reached the head of the valley, Don dropped to a knee, giving the telltale sign that he had spotted sheep. The hunt was on.

Unfortunately, a young ram had us pegged at 480 yards. While he didn’t spook, he kept his attention on us. All we could do was hold our position and hope to spot the 10-year-old ram we were looking for. Eventually, the old ram stood up out of his bed, and I slowly positioned my rifle in hopes of getting a shot. I had mentally set a max yardage of 400 yards before the hunt, and the shot presented was 480 yards, corrected to 435 for the angle.

I was steady with the old ram in my crosshairs, but the sheep were far from calm at this point. After one more confirmation of range from Don, I checked my turret and level and took a deep breath. Safety off. My mind raced, thinking about my self-imposed yardage limit—not the thought

pattern one wants before taking the most important shot of their hunting career. Safety back on. I looked at Don and said, “I’m not comfortable at this range.” It was one of the hardest hunting decisions I’ve ever made.

We tried to gain 75 yards, but in the process, we spooked the sheep. I quickly got on the ram again, but now, as the sheep moved away and across the mountain, the distance increased from 450 to 475 to 500 yards. Eventually, we called it off. The sheep continued to climb and ended up bedding down about a mile away on the highest peak overlooking the valley. We watched them for a couple of hours, mostly in silence, each of us replaying the events and calming ourselves. As I replayed the decision in my head over and over, I hoped I wouldn’t regret not taking that shot.

We hiked and glassed our way back into the valley where we had camped, hoping the sheep would roll over the top of the mountain into our valley. We glassed the ridges separating the two valleys, and sure enough, after an hour or so, we spotted one of them on top where we had left them. Rain came in hard, and we retreated to our tents to wait it out. After a couple of hours, the weather broke, and we ate our dinners, discussing the game plan for the next day.

The Challenges of the Hunt

The next morning, August 4, started with a short hike across our valley to ensure the rams hadn’t moved to our side while we slept. Once cleared, we worked our way to where we had left them the night before. We took it slow, glassing

I brought up my binoculars as I’d done a hundred times before, but this time I made out the rounded top of a ram’s horns.

along the way, as the sheep could have bed down anywhere. The terrain was deceiving—from the main valley floor, you’d have no idea the side valley we’d been hunting even existed. It was about a 500-foot climb, picking through boulders until we reached a plateau that opened up into an entirely new valley. We gained some more elevation and set up to pick apart the entire bowl.

It didn’t take long to spot our rams at the far end of the valley, about a third of the way down a 3,000-foot face and a mile away. With no way to make a stalk and the wind unfavorable, we decided to hunker down and keep an eye on them, hoping for a chance to make a move. The rams fed around, bedded down, fed some more, and moved only a couple of hundred yards the entire day. These sheep were spooked and not budging. After 12 hours of waiting, we backed out and returned to camp. Doubt started creeping in.

The morning of August 5 played out similarly to the previous day— hike, glass, hike some more. We climbed into the valley, and to our dismay, the sheep were nowhere to be found. We glassed intently for a couple of hours and then took the opportunity to regroup and refresh our spirits at a beautiful spring, soaking our legs and feet. We rested in the sun, ate some lunch, and came up with a new plan to relocate camp a couple of drainages over.

I fought off the demons of doubt as best I could, reminding myself that I was still very much in the game. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but think that it

just might not happen. If you’ve been hunting long enough, you’ve had your fair share of unpunched tags. Would I forever regret not taking the shot on my first day? I tried to convince myself that no matter what, I would stay positive and hunt until the end with all I had.

With tent stakes pulled, air mattresses deflated, and packs loaded, we made the move to a new camp. We set up and finished our dehydrated meals by 11 p.m. Darkness didn’t come until around 1 a.m. With tired legs, we devised a plan for the next day and retired to our tents. Sleep was tough to come by as nerves and excitement swirled in my head.

The Moment of Truth

The morning of August 6, I stumbled out of my tent and found Don already kitted up and finalizing his pack for the day’s adventure. By the look on his

face, I knew I needed to get myself together quickly. After downing half a cup of coffee, I caught up with him, and he laid out the day’s plan.

We had a short but steep climb out of camp to the adjoining basin, where we would slowly and methodically work our way out to another basin. Don made it clear that we would be following the 2/20 rule: walk two yards, look 20 yards, walk two, look 20—slow and methodical. The rams could be anywhere. He also emphasized the importance of staying ready and being quick to set up if a shot presented itself. In short, this could be our last crack at this ram, so I needed to make it count.

Our route led us to a crossroads. To our left was a big alpine lake, and to our right, the valley continued, offering more country to explore. We chose to go right, even though the wind would be unfavorable, in hopes of

catching some rams on either side of the steep mountain before they winded us. This was a lowpercentage stalk but our only play.

I felt Don’s pace pick up a bit, and I thought to myself, “So much for the 2/20 rule!” After about half a mile, we came to a small mossy patch offering a five-yard reprieve from the ankle-twisting boulders. It seemed like a perfect spot to stop, catch our breath, and regroup, but instead, Don kept pushing forward.

After another 10 minutes of hiking, something caught my eye up the steep hill we were contouring. I brought up my binoculars as I’d done a hundred times before, but this time I made out the rounded top of a ram’s horns. It took me a second to register what I was seeing—it was surreal. With Don about 30 yards in front of me, I got his attention and mouthed the words, “Rams above.” As Don brought up his binoculars to look,

the young ram I had spotted was now peering down to see what had interrupted his nap.

I was already unslinging my pack and positioning myself prone on the steep mountainside. I had enough wits to put in my right ear plug, leaving out my left so I could quietly communicate with Don. He confirmed that our old ram was the furthest left, at 166 yards. I chambered a round and steadied the rifle on my pack. After one more confirmation, I took a deep breath in, slowly exhaled, and began taking up the slack of the trigger.

The shot broke, and immediately my left ear was ringing. I racked another round and reacquired the ram in my scope, just in time to see him teeter and fall backward. I had killed the old ram we were after. I was in disbelief. From the time I spotted them to the time I shot, no more than 90 seconds had passed. Just like that, my tag was punched. It’s not uncommon for hunters to experience an adrenaline dump post-shot, and it comes in all forms. Some hunters begin to shake uncontrollably, while others scream with excitement. My dump was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I gave Don a huge bear hug, and as I looked up the mountain, I began sobbing. I couldn’t and didn’t want to control the tears. I was brought to my knees—I was a mess!

After regaining my composure, I began the short but steep hike up the mountain to lay my hands on my trophy. Yes, TROPHY. That term gets such a bad rap in the hunting space, primarily from nonhunters, but I can tell you this: any and all animals I kill are trophies

to me, and nothing is wasted.

After what seemed like more than enough climb to where I felt my ram should be, I saw nothing. I climbed a little further, thinking, “Just keep climbing...” At one point, I looked back to Don, asking if he saw him yet. “No, not yet, just keep climbing,” he replied. Maybe the shot wasn’t as good as I thought. Maybe he got up and ran off.

Then I caught a glimpse of white, and my heart started racing. A few more steps up over a small rise, and there he was. Had he gone another couple of feet, he would have tumbled down another 800 feet to the valley floor. The tears came again as I knelt down to thank this old warrior and pay my respects. I was in complete awe of the animal and the moment.

Perhaps it was the four-year lead-up or all the preparation, physically, mentally and logistically. This was far from a cheap hunt—outside of a house, college payments, and vehicles, this hunt was the largest single payment I’ve ever made. The brief

history I had with this old ram— letting him walk on day one, then glassing him out of reach for 12 hours, only to lose him for another day and a half—certainly added to the drama of this hunt.

We sat for a long while admiring him, taking in the moment and reflecting on the hunt. It was a bluebird day, and we had a good spot on the side of the mountain with a postcard backdrop. We relived the hunt, each recounting our own perspective of how the morning played out. We shared our personal emotions about what hunting means to us. Don spoke about family members lost in tragic hunting accidents, and I described how I hadn’t felt emotions like this since the birth of my children and my mother’s passing. I wouldn’t trade the time we afforded ourselves for anything in the world.

We took full advantage of the weather and scenic backdrop to capture photos that I will forever cherish. Then we got to the task of skinning and caring for the meat.

We enjoyed a small snack, and then with heavy packs, we began our descent. The first few steps off the mountain were the most challenging, given the steepness, loose shale, and heavy load testing my balance. After a couple of failed attempts to drop in, I finally mustered the courage and began my controlled slide down.

Clay later measured and scored my ram at 10.5 years old, with a respectable score of 156 inches; exactly the type of ram the team likes to take. While the old bruiser might have lived another winter or two, it was time to let the

younger, stronger rams take over the breeding and lead the next generation forward.

Reflection on the Journey

In the end, I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment and relief to have completed what I set out to do. I got my ram, but in the end, I got so much more than I ever knew was possible. I tested my mental stamina, overcame fears, and kept my head in the game. The experience was not just about the hunt; it was about the journey, the challenges, and the emotions that came with it. It was about pushing myself beyond my limits and emerging on the other side, not just as a successful hunter, but as someone who had truly lived out a dream.

The adventure of hunting Dall’s sheep in the remote wilderness of the Northwest Territories was everything I had hoped for and more. It tested me in ways I hadn’t anticipated and rewarded me with memories and experiences that will stay with me for a lifetime. As I reflect on the journey, I am filled with gratitude—for the opportunity, for the people who helped me along the way, and for the incredible animals that make these adventures possible.

The dream that started in 2017 had finally been realized, and it was worth every moment of the journey.

This hunt and all the others would never be possible without the support of my loving wife, Angèle. I am forever grateful for her understanding of my passion to hunt. WS

PURSUIT

GUIDED ARCTIC HUNTS

A Sonoran Legacy

and the Origin of the Kenetrek

Desert Guide Boots

BY JACOBO ARTEE

Our father, Javier Artee, has been a pioneer in hunting (Alcampo Hunting Adventures) in Sonora, Mexico since 1976. He founded this business as the first of its kind in Northwest Mexico, to provide customized hunts and increase wildlife populations within an 80,000acre conservation private land,

named Sierra El Álamo. Today, this family business continues with the leadership and knowledge of our father and his four sons: Javier, Jorge, Jacobo and José.

Our properties in Sonora, Mexico, are expertly managed to obtain high-quality game animals: desert bighorn sheep, desert mule deer, Coues deer and

doves. Although our hunters can boast a high success rate, we are most proud of the positive impact that our repopulation program has had on the endemic fauna in Sierra El Álamo.

The primary mission at Sierra El Álamo is to facilitate the recovery and growth of desert bighorn sheep in the Sonoran Desert. This remote area, located

in Northwest Mexico, is comprised of harsh mountains, and desert plains littered with sahuaros and other desert flora—a perfect ecosystem for the endemic species.

Our family’s passion for these majestic animals is demonstrated by our commitment to the conservation efforts in the region. A little over 30 years ago the population of desert bighorn sheep in Sonora was approximately 1,500. Today, the sheep population stands at more than 16,000, in large part due to the work of private initiatives in coordination with state and federal wildlife agencies. In the state of Sonora, approximately 1,100 sheep have been released back into the wild since 2006. We are proud to say

that since 2017, we have released more than 300 sheep at Sierra El Álamo. This not only required a lot of sweat equity, but support from organizations like the Wild Sheep Foundation.

The return of a healthy, sustainable population of desert bighorn sheep to this region of the world speaks volumes about our family’s passion for conservation. Currently, projects to enhance the health and population of the

herd include: 1) translocations; 2) baseline health assessments; 3) improving access to water; and 4) other habitat improvements.

A Need for a Better Desert Hiking Boot

A little over 18 years ago, we had the privilege of hosting Bob Sherer, one of the three founding partners of Kenetrek, for a desert bighorn hunt. It was an experience that planted the seed for a unique

collaboration. After his memorable and successful hunt, Bob sent us a pair of Kenetrek boots as a thank-you gift. However, we didn’t realize then that those boots would mark the start of an evolution in specialized footwear for desert terrain.

Shortly after wearing the boots afield, we took note of how the boots could be improved to better adapt to the demands of the terrain and extreme weather we faced. Together with Bob Sherer and Jim Winjum, another founding partner of Kenetrek, we began to exchange ideas for a better boot. We suggested a sole with better durability and traction, a reduction in boot height for greater mobility, and eliminating water resistance and insulation that would allow for greater ventilation in sweltering desert conditions.

These recommendations were well received and were integrated into the design of the Kenetrek Desert Guide boots. We are proud to have been involved in their

development and to have been the first to use them. Today, these boots have become a key tool for us. We wear them on our bighorn sheep hunts and in our daily work preserving bighorn sheep in the Sonoran Desert of Mexico.

The Use of Kenetrek Boots in Sonoran Desert Hunting and Conservation

The Sonoran Desert is an extreme and unforgiving environment. Scorching temperatures and rugged terrain challenge hunters and those dedicated to local wildlife conservation. Kenetrek Desert Guide boots have proven to be an essential tool in helping us carry out our work, offering durability and comfort in the arid and vast Sonoran Desert.

Desert bighorn sheep reside in difficult-to-access places. The ability of the Kenetrek Desert Guide boots to withstand high temperatures, rocky surfaces and prolonged wear is essential. In addition to their sturdiness they provide comfort that allows hunters to travel long distances without suffering foot fatigue, which is essential on rough desert terrain.

In the conservation work carried out by Sierra El Álamo, these boots also play an important role. Wildlife monitoring and protection efforts require access to remote areas and agile mobility, something the Kenetrek boots’ ergonomic design and superior traction facilitate. Their durability ensures that the boots can operate continuously in difficult conditions without compromising their safety.

Strategic Alliance: Kenetrek, Alcampo Hunting Adventures and Sierra El Álamo

The collaboration between Kenetrek and Alcampo Hunting Adventures and Sierra El Álamo has been key to the success of these organizations in the Sonoran Desert. Kenetrek, with its focus on manufacturing high-quality footwear for mountaineering and hunting activities, has provided the teams of both companies with the right equipment to overcome the challenges of the terrain. At Alcampo Hunting Adventures, Kenetrek boots have been essential in hunting expeditions. The protection they provide and their ability to handle tough terrain has allowed hunters to focus on their objectives—particularly in pursuit of bighorn sheep. These boots guarantee stability and safety in an environment that demands the best from every piece of equipment.

Meanwhile, at Sierra El Álamo,

Kenetrek boots have optimized conservation operations. Its use has facilitated the monitoring of endemic fauna, allowing conservationists to access hard-toreach areas without compromising their physical integrity. The strength and durability of the boots ensure that the team can continue their work protecting wildlife without interruption.

In conclusion, the partnership between Kenetrek, Alcampo Hunting Adventures and Sierra El Álamo demonstrates that the right equipment is essential not only for hunting, but also for wildlife conservation in the Sonoran Desert. Kenetrek Desert Guide boots are much more than footwear—they are an indispensable tool for success in one of the most challenging ecosystems in the world.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to the entire Kenetrek team, especially its founding partners, for the constant support and collaboration we have had over the years. Their willingness

to listen to our suggestions and their commitment to improving the equipment we use daily in the harsh beauty of the Sonoran Desert has been invaluable. We are honored to have been part of the Desert Guide boot development process and witness how our relationship has evolved into something beyond a simple professional partnership: a true alliance based on mutual trust and respect.

Finally, we would like to thank all the Kenetrek staff for the support they have given us. From design to production, to customer service, their dedication and attention to detail has allowed us to have the right equipment on our conservation projects and hunting adventures. They have been invaluable companions in serving our mission, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all the work and effort they have put in every step of the way.

¡Gracias por estar siempre con nosotros! Thank you for always being with us! WS

After taking a load of lumber in to the construction site of his Victorio Canyon cabin, Burch heads out with an empty mule, 1936. Carson Family Collection

THE PATH OF THE RIMROCK MAN:

Exploring Burch Carson's Early Advocacy for Texas' Desert Bighorns

BY CHESTER MOORE

The Beach Mountains rise to elevations over 6,000 feet, with steep, rocky slopes and narrow ridges. Sheer rock faces, loose shale, and treacherous canyons characterize this TransPecos Texas terrain.

It’s an area much better suited for desert bighorn sheep than people, yet in seventh grade, W.B.

“Burch” Carson would pack up his camping gear on most weekends and head to these rugged, remote mountains near his home.

And he did it alone.

Most of us can’t fathom allowing a seventh grader to ride their bike a few blocks from our homes these days, much less sending them into

rattlesnake and mountain lioninfested mountains.

Times were different in the 1920s in Van Horn, TX, however. There, a population of around 900, including Carson and his family, lived in a challenging, isolated part of the world.

It was a time when men were men, and in many ways, so were young boys who had to grow up fast to meet the demands of what could be a tough life in rural America.

This early obsession with the mountains and the wildlife contained within helped forge what would become a powerful advocate for desert bighorn sheep in West Texas.

The Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission (the precursor to Texas Parks and Wildlife) hired Carson in 1940. They tasked him with surveying Texas’s desert bighorn sheep population, primarily in the Sierra Diablo, Baylor, and Beach mountain ranges.

This was a Herculean task that was met with many challenges. It showcased Carson’s powerful love of wildlife and wild places and gave him deep insight into issues desert bighorn sheep face even today in Texas.

A Natural Naturalist Rimrock Man: The Early Life of W.B. Carson, 1907-1946, author Robert M. Anderson went to painstaking lengths to research this man who would make an indelible mark on West Texas and the story of the desert bighorn sheep in the region.

That book was the guidepost for this article.

Pioneer San Antonio taxidermist Alex Schleyer in the spring of 1929. Burch had an interest in taxidermy even as a teenager and worked for Schleyer without pay during his college days at St. Mary’s in 1928 and 1929. Carson Family Collection

Left: Burch at sixteen, decked out in chaps, hat, spurs, six-gun, cartridge belt, and knife. With his Model 1894 .30-30 Winchester, he strikes a pose reminiscent of his favorite Western hero, silent-screen star William S. Hart. Carson Family Collection

A quote from the Carson family history written by Burch’s cousin, F. Tom Carson, speaks of an individual at one with nature.

“From childhood, he was a student of nature and a disciple of the great out-of-doors. He learned the ways and habits of animals, was familiar with ores and minerals, became an expert with gun and reel, and was a practiced guide, woodsman, and mountain man. Burch would have made a worthy and congenial colleague of his distant cousin, Kit Carson, but was born just 100 years too late for that.”

William Burch Carson was born on August 3, 1907, in Barstow, a small Ward County, TX town. His parents were Samuel Burch Carson, who served as sheriff and later judge of Ward County, and Maida Alice Walker Carson, daughter of Judge J.J. Walker, one of Barstow’s founders.

Burch spent his early childhood in Barstow until he was eleven

when the family relocated to Van Horn. The surrounding mountains immediately became a significant point of interest for him.

As a young boy, Carson assisted in his family’s Van Horn Trading Company, where he regularly interacted with local ranchers who shared tales of lost mines, buried treasures, and other folklore from the area.

These stories intensified his interest in exploration, and he began venturing further into the mountains on weekends. His explorations included overnight trips to the Beach Mountains, where he carried only a bedroll, some food, and a canteen, setting an alarm to ensure he returned home in time for school on Monday.

Taking To Taxidermy

Burch Carson’s educational journey was challenging. After completing public school in Van Horn, which only went through

A pair of young golden eagles nesting along the northern Sierra Diablo rim, May 3, 1940. After taking the photo, Burch then risked life and limb, crawling out on a two-foot ledge hundreds of feet high to collect the bones in the nest to send to the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission for analysis. Eagles claimed many a desert sheep lamb, and in the 1930s game wardens in the Trans-Pecos were under a mandate from the Commission to “get the eagles.” During this period more than 700 of the great raptors were shotgunned in flight from small, open-cockpit biplanes. Carson Family Collection

the eighth grade, he moved to Pecos to attend Pecos High School, where he struggled with some classes but managed to graduate.

He then worked for a period before saving enough to enter St. Mary’s College in San Antonio in the fall of 1928, where he found one of the great loves of his life— taxidermy.

Carson started as an unpaid apprentice under the renowned taxidermist Alex Schleyer.

In 1929, Carson continued his training with Jonas Brothers, a prestigious taxidermy firm in Denver, CO. Though primarily assigned to the skinning room, Carson observed advanced mounting techniques.

By the fall of 1932, Carson established his own taxidermy business in Van Horn. During the Great Depression, he worked hard to maintain a steady business by mounting mule deer heads and birds of prey, which were legal to harvest then. His lifelike mounts were

A postcard featuring one of Burch’s “jackalopes.” Burch always believed he was the first to mount the heads of West Texas jackrabbits with small spike deer horns. The origin of the term is obscure, but the humorous mounts are said to be the brainchild of two Wyoming taxidermists in the early 1920s. Carson Family Collection

popular among local hunters, and his work on golden eagles was noted for its quality and attention to detail.

Carson was known for his creative approach, especially in producing unique mounts like “jackalopes”—jackrabbit heads mounted with small antlers.

Despite still having a huge passion for the craft, Carson sold his business in 1939 to Texas taxidermist B.M. Caraway after a fateful conversation.

Early Sheep Surveys

In 1939, Burch Carson’s life took a big turn.

In the fall of that year, in a conversation with Captain A.R. Ray Williams, a respected game warden from Van Horn, he learned of a need for help surveying desert bighorn sheep.

This informal suggestion from Williams likely led to official follow-up, and on April 19, 1940, Phil Goodrum, the director of wildlife restoration at the

Commission, wrote to Carson.

In his letter, Goodrum formally assigned Carson to undertake a census project for Texas’ native desert bighorn sheep. The project aimed to assess population levels and examine factors like predation and environmental impacts on the species, marking the beginning of Carson’s pivotal role in Texas wildlife conservation.

He sold his business and took up the task.

“I decided to sell my taxidermy business and see what I could do about saving the bighorn mountain sheep in Texas,” Carson said.

He took the job, which offered $125 monthly and expenses to feed horses, mules, and three dogs. But more than that, it provided adventure and lots of time in the wild, contributing to the conservation of a species he admired.

Burch Carson began his sheep survey by traveling from the Beach

and Baylor Mountains along the Sierra Diablo rim to Apache Canyon, a route covering about 40 miles.

He conducted two extensive eight-day surveys along this route to avoid double-counting sheep. He managed his horses and mules in the rugged terrain using a pickup truck and a horse trailer.

During his early time in the field, he made some incredible observations.

• Carson documented the bighorns’ feeding preferences by watching them feed and then gathering vegetation samples after they had left. He also collected sheep droppings and soil samples from bedding areas, although the specifics of the analysis remain unknown.

• Carson’s survey uncovered six or seven deceased bighorns in his final months of work, all of which appeared to have died from disease. He also suggested the sheep were dying mainly from

disease rather than predation.

• An interesting note was discovering that bighorns took shelter in caves, particularly during the summer, to escape the heat and gnats. He noted that while bighorns may temporarily use caves during rain or snow, they avoid staying in caves at night due to the risk of predators like mountain lions.

A Sense of Urgency

As time passed, Carson saw a dramatic decline in bighorn sheep.

He wrote in a report to the Texas Oyster, Game & Fish Commission about the dramatic population decline.

“The inspector (Carson) points out that quick action will have to be taken if the bighorns are saved in Texas. As proof of their steady and certain decrease toward extinction, he states there were about 300 bighorns in 1937 when the first domestic sheep were brought into their range. They had decreased to 150 by 1940, and now they are down

to 35 in 1945. How many will there be in 1947?”

Carson wrote, “His opinion is there will be none then if they are not fenced inside a large refuge, away from domestic sheep and their diseases, in the very near future.”

According to revelations in Rimrock Man, Carson ultimately decided to leave the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission due to his frustration over the agency’s limited actions to protect the bighorn sheep.

In a letter, Carson expressed this disappointment later, noting, “They weren’t trying to do a thing to save the bighorns at that time.”

Carson had told friends he would leave Texas if no meaningful efforts were made to preserve the species. He was especially vocal about this before he left for military service during World War II, sharing his intent with ranchers and acquaintances who knew of his dedication to desert bighorn sheep.

This photo of a small bunch of sheep with a big ram barely visible was also taken in the Beach range. Burch took this long-range photo of a small bunch of sheep in the Beach Range. Carson Family Collection

On July 24, 1940, during his census job with the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, Burch found this skeleton of a young desert ram on the Garren Ranch thirteen miles west-northwest of Van Horn. Although the ram had apparently been dead for perhaps six months, he quickly concluded that the ram had not been killed by a mountain lion but rather succumbed to some disease contracted from domestic sheep in the area. While not scientifically trained, he was a keen observer, frequently collecting tissue and bone samples and sending them to Austin for analysis. Carson Family Collection

After serving in the army, Carson acted on his decision and moved to Arkansas, where he found appeal in the forested landscapes and promising land opportunities. He began a new chapter by starting a family and living as a rancher and breeder, marking a significant transition from his conservation work in Texas.

A Path Less Traveled

Carson’s name is not well-known outside wildlife biologists, but those who know of his work regard him as a visionary and a legend.

“He not only provided some of the early recommendations for slowing the downward trend of desert bighorns in Texas but also emphasized the urgency in taking action,” said Clay Brewer of WSF and former Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Desert Bighorn Sheep program leader.

Brewer said although desert bighorns eventually were

Carson with coatimundi and leopard cat. Carson Family Collection

extirpated from the region a couple of decades after Carson’s work, he positively impacted the species.

“His work was important, and some things he said more than 80 years ago echo what we are contending with today.”

Brewer reflected on Carson’s enduring legacy, captured in the rock inscriptions he left across Texas’s most isolated landscapes. Brewer, who came across several of these over the years, said they are more than carving.

“For many of us, Burch Carson’s carefully carved rock inscriptions in some of the most remote, rugged, and lonely places in Texas are much more than just seventy-five-year-old graffiti. They represent the spirit of our heritage: the incredible places few will ever see.”

It’s the spirit of determination that guides the Wild Sheep Foundation, its chapters and affiliates, and many agencies and tribal wildlife management

positions throughout the West to stand firm and push beyond the boundaries for the sake of these incredible animals.

While Texas’ desert bighorn population is not as low as when Carson began his surveys, it has decreased dramatically due to disease issues.

This time, however, it is linked to aoudad instead of domestic stock.

The path to recovery will begin with a translocation to the Franklin Mountains, an area that hasn’t had bighorns in more than 100 years and is currently aoudadfree.

The Franklin Mountains are a far cry from the super remote areas Carson surveyed as they surround the city of El Paso, but they do provide equally suitable habitat for these high desert icons.

They also offer the public a chance to see their beauty without risking life and limb, as Carson did on his early expeditions into a true, rugged wilderness. Perhaps

Moisture-laden morning clouds hang low near the head of Shoe Canyon, the southernmost canyon of significance along the Sierra Diablo rim, yet one that is almost unknown and rarely seen. Such clouds are a rare sight in the arid Texas Trans-Pecos. Hidden in the mists at the head of this steep, narrow-walled canyon is Panther Pass, a name perhaps coined by Burch himself. There, in a gentle saddle on a slab of surface granite, is the second or third of Burch’s rock inscriptions.

Robert M. Anderson Collection

someone, even from the young generation, will step up to be a great advocate after encountering their charismatic beauty.

In Rimrock Man, Anderson noted that Carson’s enigmatic nature led him to live such a unique life.

“After thirty-four years of knowing Burch as well as I believe anyone ever did, I may not have scratched the surface of the real W. B. Carson. It was tough to understand this unusual man who seemed to crave absolute solitude like a thirsty man craves cold water.”

Not everyone can live that way, but those who love wild sheep can honor his legacy by considering the path less traveled.

Burch Carson first advocated for Texas desert bighorn conservation there, and perhaps we can do the same as they face similar challenges many decades later. WS

The only known photograph of Burch with a ram, taken near the Yates ranch corrals after the ram had been packed down from a House Canyon rimrock on what Burch termed a “gentle horse.” Carson Family Collection

AWESOME AOUDAD WITH A LEGEND

BY CRAIG BODDINGTON

It’s not common to get the drop on aoudad like this. Now, the hard part is sorting them out. That’s a very nice ram just right of center. There’s also a nice ram on the left, bedded and facing away.

FREE-RANGE IN FAR WEST TEXAS WITH VETERAN SHEEP HUNTER JAMES CRAIG.

Auction tags are slightly predictable, because not everyone is able to bid. I’m not among those who can, doesn’t bother me because auction tags have put a lot of sheep on the mountain, and that’s all that matters. Raffle tags and hunts are completely unpredictable. Somebody with a three-quarter FNAWS, wanting that last ram, may stuff the ballot box like a… never mind. Or, statistics be damned, a raffle may be won by the holder of one lonely ticket.

During Sheep Week® early in ‘24, one of the raffle items was a free-range aoudad, donated by Jim Breck Bean’s High West Outfitters.

“T

Good young outfitter, operating on a couple million acres in Far West Texas, one of America’s most sparsely populated and least-known regions. I started to write that me coming along on the hunt was an added incentive, but backed off quickly. Lord knows I wouldn’t want to hunt with me, so why should anyone else? Doesn’t matter; the die was cast, and the winning ticket-holder would be like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates: You don’t know what you’re going to get.

Well, maybe there wasn’t a collective gasp in the packed room when James Craig’s ticket was pulled. Gray Thornton was on

the podium next to me and he chuckled. Veteran sheep hunter Jim Craig hails from Indiana. No wild sheep there, ever, but he got the sheep hunting bug young, starting with a Dall’s ram in the Alaska Range in the early seventies. Although Mr. Craig keeps a low profile, since then he’s taken far more North American rams than I can ever dream of. For those who know him—or know of him—he’s probably most famous for being attacked and severely mauled by a grizzly bear…while packing out a bighorn ram in southeastern BC. That was sort of in the middle of his spectacular mountain

hunting career. Severe damage, with long recovery and lingering issues. Didn’t stop him. He got back on the mountain as soon as he was able. Sooner than he should have. Many more sheep and goat hunts since, plus a few for big bears. I got a choice piece in this box of chocolates. There’d be great stories in this camp.

I looked forward to it for seven months, meeting up with Jim Creed and his wife, Lee Anne, in a grocery store parking lot in Marfa, Texas on a warm midday in early September. There to greet us was the High West Outfitters team, including our guide, Creed Cade. Creed is a Far West Texas native. Decades our junior, he knew his country and game, and we would need his expertise. While we were chatting (and sizing each other up), I learned, with surprise and delight, that Jim Craig, one of

our most experienced American sheep hunters, had never taken an aoudad. Truth is, I’m kind of a nut about them, so this would be extra-special fun!

THE BARBARY “SHEEP”

Native to North Africa, the aoudad, Ammotragus lervia, also called Barbary sheep, isn’t really a sheep at all. Nor, technically, a goat. Rather, it’s a natural bridge between the two families. We mountain hunters don’t always dwell on such scientific niceties; we generally lump aoudad with sheep. Fine with me, the horns are definitely more sheep-like. However, I think the aoudad is probably closer to the goat family: Coarse hair like ibex, goat odor, goat calluses on knees.

Whichever, the aoudad is a big, blocky, impressive animal, and exceptionally tough (Regrettably,

this also applies to the meat, chewy and strong, perhaps the only down I can give the aoudad as a game animal). Both males and females grow similar horns, curving up, out, around, and back down. This makes things tricky. Horns tend to be in relation to body size, and mature males are much larger than females, with commensurately longer and thicker horns. A lone aoudad can fool you, but only mature males grow that long silky neck ruff and luxurious chaps on forelegs. Like Old World goats, they are prolific and tend to gather in large herds.

Toughness is a needed attribute, because they come from some of the harshest country on Earth. At one time, they occupied a huge range in North Africa, all along the spine of the Atlas Mountains, on east to Egypt and Sudan, found in isolated ranges north

A fine aoudad ram catches up with his herd. This ram looks big and probably is…but going away is a terrible angle to measure almost any animal.

Almost impossible to fence, aoudad spread quickly by both natural increase and purposeful introduction.

and south of the Sahara Desert. In 2001, I hunted them in the Ennedi Mountains of Chad, near the Libyan border, where it may rain once in a decade. Although scarce, aoudad probably persist in limited numbers across much of their original range because it is so harsh. Aoudads are not currently hunted in Chad or Sudan, but Morocco has been open for a couple of years. South Africa and Spain also have free-range aoudads—I’ve hunted them there, too. However, free-range aoudad hunting in the mountains of Far West Texas is hard to beat.

THE AMERICAN AOUDAD

While I’ll never have Jim Craig’s experience with our native wild

sheep, I do have some experience with aoudad. There are other free-range populations in the US, but Texas is the aoudad’s greatest stronghold. Aoudad were first introduced into Texas after WWII, initially in Llano and Kerr Counties. Almost impossible to fence, aoudad spread quickly by both natural increase and purposeful introduction. They are found on most Texas game ranches and have spread across the mountains and badlands of Far West Texas, from the Palo Duro Canyon in the panhandle south to the Big Bend country.

Far West Texas is harsh, but compared to North Africa, it’s still soft, fat country. The first aoudads released into Texas

Like most hunts, the aoudad hunt started with checking zero.

must have thought they’d found paradise. With better food and more water, our American aoudad is a bigger animal. Here, a big ram might exceed 300 pounds. Rowland Ward’s African world record native range aoudad is 36.5 inches, an amazing ram anywhere. However, larger rams have been taken in Texas recently. Jim Breck Bean, our outfitter on James Craig’s hunt, has guided two aoudad rams over 39 inches. My buddy John Stucker, hunting with Hunter Ross’s Desert Safaris took a 37.5inch ram in the Davis Mountains. His first aoudad on our first day, it remains the longest-horned ram I have seen.

In perspective, with age and horn mass, an aoudad with horns in the

upper 20s is good. For many years, the Holy Grail for aoudad was to break 30 inches. Took me a couple “almost 30” rams to reach that magic mark. I think rams in that class are more common today. It still takes hard looking and luck. Amazingly, some Texas outfitters now average over 30.

Exactly how many Barbary sheep roam Texas isn’t known. 25,000 is a common estimate, wouldn’t surprise me if there were twice that many. We could all wish there were that many desert sheep, but that’s not possible. Aoudads thrive where true sheep cannot and resist diseases that periodically ravage our native sheep.

Me, I’m happy about that. Sheep hunters want to hunt sheep, but few of us can swing frequent hunts for our native sheep. With increased recognition, prices for free-range Texas aoudad

hunts have increased but are still affordable and are wonderful hunts in magnificent country.

The mountains in Far West Texas are real, medium elevation, but abrupt and steep with horrible footing and lots of thorny cacti. To me, the experience has much in common with hunting desert sheep with two big differences: A fraction the cost, and you’ll see more animals.

Since Texas aoudads can be hunted year-around, I’ve done most of my hunting in late winter and early spring. Not because that’s the best time, but because most other big-game seasons are closed. Consistently, outfitters tell me that Far West Texas aoudads rut in early fall. That September and October is the best time to find rams in bachelor groups, and the most likely time to find extra-big rams.

AN AOUDAD FOR JIM

That’s why Jim Breck Bean suggested his first aoudad hunt, starting on September 8. Likely to be hot, but this would be my first aoudad hunt scheduled at “the right time.” From Marfa, we convoyed south to a remote ranch 60 miles off the blacktop, 17 trackless miles north of the border. We got lucky on the weather. Middays were still in the 90s, dropping in late afternoon, light jackets in the morning. We arrived in early afternoon, stowed our gear, Jim checked his 26 Nosler, and we headed out to look for aoudad.

I guess I expected the hills to be crawling with them. Uh, no it’s not that easy. Arid country, low animal density. We covered a lot of ground, saw several mule deer, javelinas, and tons of blue quail. No aoudad.

Next morning, we left camp at daylight. Within an hour we were glassing a nice herd feeding down off a big ridge. This group, maybe 50, had rams with them, none mature. An hour later we glassed another group, slightly smaller. Same story, rams in the mix, none mature. We never saw a bachelor group, but there were rams of various ages in every herd. Perhaps a few days early this far south. Didn’t matter. We saw plenty, just needed one good ram…that we could get to.

In a hot midday we turned back toward camp. Creed stopped, glassed along a cliff rising above us, and made a marvelous spot. In deep shade on the rim, he picked up a bedded ram, just head

A group of aoudad feeding along a steep hillside. No country is too tough for aoudad!

It would be a tough uphill climb and the sidehilling back would be murder. Jim Craig, 85 years young, didn’t hesitate.

and horns showing. Awesome ram, looking down at us from a thousand mostly-vertical yards. That ram might as well have been on the moon, no way we could get to him.

At three o’clock we were on a bigger herd, maybe 60, feeding down another steep north-south ridge, just above a sheer hundredfoot face. Déjà vu all over again: Also a thousand yards, several rams in this bunch. Except: One was clearly mature, bigger-bodied and darker than his buddies, thick mane and long chaps.

As they mixed and shifted, difficult to get a proper look at the horns. We didn’t try too hard. Heavy and long, this was the kind of ram we wanted. Not enough cover to go straight to them; the only option was to go north a few hundred yards, where brush and shallow cuts might offer an approach to the cliff, then sidehill back south. I kept my mouth shut, but I didn’t think they had much chance. Later, Creed said the same, but we weren’t seeing many rams, and this was a dandy. It would be a tough uphill climb and the

sidehilling back would be murder. Jim Craig, 85 years young, didn’t hesitate.

We drove north over a little rise, aoudad still in sight, now 1200 yards. Creed and Jim geared up and headed out. Lee Anne and I stayed at the truck; no more cooks needed to spoil this broth. The last time I saw them, they dropped into a shallow swell 300 yards out. Two nervous hours passed, but I never picked them up again. Clearly, the cover was better than it looked.

In the second hour the wind started swirling, me hoping Jim and

Mountains south of Marfa are characterized by steep rimrock cliffs; most glassing is either steeply uphill or down.

We hoped he would come off the cliff, easier to recover at the base. He rolled several times, then hung up on the last bush above the rim.

Creed were closing on them. Below the aoudad there was a narrow gap in the cliff, where an ancient avalanche had come down. Most stayed high, but several aoudads fed down through the gap, at one point just 900 yards from me. This just might work!

Then I felt the wind swirl again. The closest aoudad spooked, back up into steep shelving above the cliff. They ran a few dozen yards, then milled briefly. This shift divided them into three groups, then they all started drifting south

along the rim. Jim’s window was closing fast.

I’d picked out the big ram several times, but now I didn’t know where he was. I was watching the middle group when they all spooked again. Then I heard Jim’s shot and the thump of solid impact. I glassed frantically, hoping to see a ram tumbling. Nothing, but not all the aoudads left. Must be a ram down somewhere. Finally, I saw Jim and Creed rise from a gully and start back down toward me.

As planned, I found a ranch road between me and the cliff, met them there. The ram had been in the farthest group, Jim’s shot 370 yards. Looked good, but the ram had run around a corner above the cliff. We maneuvered that way and Creed spotted the ram, down, head still up…right on the edge of the cliff. From a knoll below the cliff, Jim made a brilliant finishing shot. This story isn’t over, but a segue is necessary. Big aoudad rams are as big as the largest Asian ibex, and just as tough. Post-mortem

Jim Craig’s ram was down right on the edge of a treacherous cliff. Guide Creed Cade climbed up to roll him off the face; that was the safest approach but worse than it looked from below.

James Craig is one of North America’s most experienced sheep hunters. It’s probably not proper to cite beginner’s luck, but this is his first aoudad, about as big as they get, perfect in all ways.

showed that Jim’s first shot was fine, quartering nicely through one shoulder. The 26 Nosler is fast and flat-shooting. However, I think the 6.5mms are marginal in bullet weight and frontal area for such big, tough animals, especially at distance.

Jim’s finishing shot, a hundred yards farther, was taken with Creed’s dialed-in 7mm PRC. We saw the impact, perfect. Instead of slumping over, the ram jumped up, ran uphill, then stumbled and started to roll. We hoped he would come off the cliff, easier to recover at the base. He rolled several times, then hung up on the last bush above the rim.

CLIFF-HANGER FINISH

Creed had been above that face before, knew it was possible but dangerous. Less than an hour of

light, no way we were going to get to the ram before dark. Air cooling nicely, the safer and wiser part of valor was to leave him until morning. Then we could (maybe) go up there and skin him in place. Or, safer and wiser, Creed could roll him off the cliff.

Next morning we retraced our steps. Yes, Jim’s ram was still behind that one pesky bush. Fifty yards to the right, just above the face, another group of aoudads. With another older ram. Heavy, worn tips. Exactly what I was hoping for.

If we hustled up an arroyo—and were lucky—we might get a shot at this ram, but it wouldn’t be close. I’m liking the new 7 PRC, had just taken delivery on a 7 PRC from Flat Creek Precision. It was shooting wonderful groups, but it wasn’t yet verified at distance.

Jim had proven that Creed’s 7 PRC, a custom job from Corey Raley’s Exile Arms, was dialed in. I didn’t hesitate. We bailed out and hustled.

This was a small group, multiple rams, just one mature, all balled up above the cliff. I have a lot of experience with aoudad, but it took me long seconds to sort out the right ram. Just 30 years old, Creed Cade already knows more about aoudad than I will learn. We worked it out, dialed the Leupold scope for 530 yards. When the ram was clear, I took a breath and pressed the trigger.

Like Jim’s, my ram ran uphill, faltered, and came rolling back down. We were pulling for him as he neared the edge, delighted when he came off the face and thumped in the brush below. We didn’t want two rams up there!

I made my way toward my ram while Creed climbed up a gap in the face, then worked his way to Jim’s ram. As he struggled along the treacherous rim, I realized Father Time was speaking. Neither Jim nor I had any business up there. Humiliating, but I’m glad we didn’t try. Jim’s ram landed at the base of the cliff south of my ram.

We had this brief fantasy we’d drag them together for pictures. Not likely. Up there, steeper than it looked, and the footing was awful. Creed met me at my ram, then Jim met us at his ram. Both of us did a lot of crawling and falling. Mine was as we’d judged, a nice old ram with tip wear, 29 inches. Jim’s was something else.

Creed’s whoop echoed when he reached him. In body, one of those burly, outsized aoudad rams that disguise horn length. Exceptional 13.5-inch bases, carrying mass all through. 36.5 inches on both horns. Second-longest aoudad ram I have personally seen. In the next six months, High West Outfitters will take some 200 aoudad rams. Although they’ve broken the free-range world record twice with 39-inch rams, Jim Craig’s ram, taken on the first hunt, could be the best ram of the season. Not bad for a first aoudad…at 85 years young. WS

Neither as large in body nor horn as Jim Craig’s ram, Boddington’s ram was old, with horn wear. He used guide Creed Cade’s perfectly-dialedin Exile 7mm PRC to make a fairly long shot.

Jim Craig and guide Creed Cade coming up out of a canyon, packing Jim’s fantastic ram.

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CAN YOU HANDLE THE SHORT SHOT?

A CLOSE CHANCE AT HIGH-COUNTRY GAME, EARNED OR NOT, IS A GIFT OFTEN FUMBLED.

BY WAYNE VAN ZWOLL

In the 1930s Charlie Ren made something of a name for himself guiding hunters to desert sheep. Just before Mexico protected rams in 1935, Grancel Fitz booked a hunt. The trip was part of what would be his three-decade quest to kill a fine specimen of each of North America’s big game species (27 at that time). In southern Sonora, he wrote, the mountains stood only about 3,000 tall but “appeared to go almost straight up.”

Across several ranges and over many days, Fitz and Ren saw sheep but no big rams. On one last effort, with another guide, Fitz spied a mature ram far off with his

spotting scope. The next day, on a hard climb, Jose was well ahead. Suddenly, he came sprinting back. Fitz would recall this as “the big moment of our month-long hunt.” He shed his pack.

“Behind those rocks!” hissed Jose, pointing.

Fitz slipped into his rifle’s sling and sat. Obligingly, the ram trotted into view. “I had never even hoped for so easy a chance, for he wasn’t more than 80 yards below us. The picket of the ‘scope sight settled … swinging forward with him smoothly. And then, so help me, I shot right over that ram’s back!”

On the face of it, a short shot is

an easy shot. Gone are the variables of bullet drop and drift. Close to game, a bit of rifle wobble or a hasty tug on the trigger won’t throw the bullet wide of the mark. But there’s urgency to short shots. A turn of the breeze, another animal bumbling into the drama can instantly flip your fortunes. The closer you creep, the more carefully you must manage your presence: your scent, noise, motion, shadow, reflections, breath, even where you look. Up close, I believe, looking an animal in the eye can make it aware of you. If it slips behind a tree or a rock, neither waiting nor moving can seem a tenable option.

Getting close enough to accurately send a blunt bullet from an iron-sighted .30-40 or 6.5x54 was difficult, back in the day. But close enough was an exciting place to be, and knowing how close was close enough was easy.

Taking instant advantage of a chance to fire, or to change position, is an acquired skill. Shooting that begins and ends at the bench, with spotting scope at elbow and unlimited time for each shot, doesn’t prepare us for a moment of truth on a tall, windy ridge, when breath comes in gasps, a big ram is moving off into fog and spitting snow and there’s no ready support for the rifle. We’re also burdened by baggage unimagined when a sheep hunter’s kit comprised basic camp gear, a rifle, a knife, perhaps a 7x binocular. Stateside in the shadow of WW I, the rifle was a Krag, an ’03 Springfield or a Winchester lever-action. It had metallic sights. European sportsmen carried trim Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbines up mountain trails. With a light rucksack and a slender rifle in hand a hunter could move fast and thread steep, tight places.

Over the last century rifles and optics have become heavier, bulkier, more complex. Binoculars now beg harnesses; tripods and suppressors adorn rifles. The hunter’s kit no longer resembles a hiker’s. Arguably, time spent checking battery-powered rangefinders, Kestrel wind devices and the dials of smart-phone-informed riflescopes might better be invested reeling in more ridges and probing alpine pockets with powerful but lightweight glass.

Getting close enough to accurately send a blunt bullet from an iron-sighted .30-40 or 6.5x54 was difficult, back in the day. But close enough was an exciting place to be, and knowing how close was close enough was easy. “When there’s rib

No cover. The best animal eyes on the plains. Wayne lay very low to get open-sight-close to this buck!

around the bead, git on the trigger,” an old-timer told me.

That’s assuming you’ve checked your sights.

In 1919 Stewart Edward White wrote of hunting desert sheep with a borrowed 9mm Mannlicher, “and a very good gun it was. It had two leaf sights; one fixed at 200 yards, and the other folding for .300.”

He carried it for two weeks, riding out with his guide each morning on mules, then tying up to hike and glass. “Sheep kick up so much noise and kick down so many [rocks], mere sound does not disturb them. All you have to do is keep out of sight and smell. [Suddenly] we came around a corner and there across a ravine on a side-hill 100 yards away stood a bunch of nine rams. I picked out a big ram [but missed] over his back. So I tried again with the same result. Leave us not dwell upon it.” White whiffed with all of the rifle’s five cartridges. A humbling performance.

He found on inspection that in carrying the rifle, he’d accidentally brushed the rear sight, flipping up its 300-yard leaf. A 200-grain 9x57 bullet strikes 10 inches high at 100 yards, given a 300-yard zero.

Despite brisk commerce in long-range rifles, optics and loads, many sheep and goats are still shot at modest ranges. Broken terrain typically affords a concealed route to far-off game, a chance to pop over a ridge or around a chimney and put that ram or billy in your lap.

Up close, you don’t need fine marksmanship – a distinct advantage when you have no time for it.

But urgency can prompt a hurried shot that’s not just imprecise; it misses the mountain. Even when you have time for careful aim, the target in your sight may register as

Stewart Edward White missed a ram because a leaf sight accidentally flipped up. Check sights often!

Half-minute accuracy from long-range bullets warms the soul. It matters little where most game is shot.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Use a bipod? Practice deploying it fast from hunting positions. A steady rifle helps at short range too!

too big to miss. I’ve bungled very easy shots, yanking the trigger to get the bullet on its way before the chance took wing.

While a fast miss avails nothing, wasted time can cost you a shot.

Accelerating your cadence by making each step in your shooting routine more efficient is worth a bit of practice. Time your shots, dry-firing at a rock on a hillside or a tack on your living room wall. Squeeze off an aimed shot after dropping from standing to prone, then to sitting and kneeling. Use a sling, a bipod or a backpack to steady the rifle, whichever assist you might tap on a hunt. Practice offhand shots too; sometimes you won’t have a chance to get steadier, or terrain will block a lower line of sight. Include quick bolt cycling after each shot.

Besides training your body to align itself quickly with a target, getting your muscles accustomed to shooting positions and speeding your trigger press, such exercises calm your mind. They make aiming and firing familiar, predictable. You won’t then panic or hurry when game appears up close. Deliberate shots bring hits. Be deliberate without wasting time.

Calling your shots—knowing where the sight was when the trigger broke—matters. Insisting on perfect sight pictures at the break is self-defeating. You won’t get many and your cadence will be glacial.

“Adequate” precision may be four of five shots inside a 10-inch rock at 100 yards, or four breaks within 3/4-inch of a wall tack. Speed up shot execution until your percentage falls off. Better that you’re tardy than hasty. Shots from one position might come sooner than from another, depending on the time spent getting your body set up.

Holding aim too long induces muscle fatigue and brings more wobbles. Firing too quickly, you’ll likely jerk the trigger. Find a useful speed from each position. Practiced cadence yields muscle memory that, in a pulse-pounding moment on the mountain, helps you hit.

Target shooting in rain and wind and into strong, low-angle light is helpful, as it shows how these conditions affect cadence and accuracy. Expect a shot in heavy cover? Fire through a screen of branches. A Cape buffalo coming for a hunter last year got very close. I can’t say brush delayed his shot, but it was a new wrinkle for him. The rifle range back home was brush-free. His bullet was none too soon but well-aimed, as were follow-ups. On its last legs, the beast passed us at mere feet.

Oddly enough, distance can make a shot at game easier. You are probably unseen, unheard. Your scent is diluted, perhaps drifting elsewhere. If game does become aware of you, it’s less likely to dash off right away. There’s time to idle your pulse, to read conditions, to refine, even change positions, to ensure the rifle is steady. You’re spared surprises.

Preparing to shoot far, you may even have the luxury of waiting for changes in the weather—for rain or snow to stop, for clouds or fog to open up, or wind to throttle back. Close to game, you must deal with weather as it comes. It can instantly upend your fortunes. It has for me!

A blizzard roared in at dusk, just as a buck took my fatal bullet at timberline and lunged down a steep, brushy face. Thick, wind-driven snow fell as a quilt, cutting visibility to feet and erasing blood and tracks instantly. It piled inches deep in minutes. The next morning I searched futilely in knee-deep snow.

A fine rifle at the bench may not be best for fast handling in cover, or on a steep ridge or narrow ledge.

Practice shooting toward a low sun. Close to a ram, you won’t have time to move the sun behind you!

Another time, after hours of tracking, I closed on a big deer in the teeth of a high-country storm. It was an exceptional buck, at 50 yards. But my rifle danced wildly in the wind. Lest I make a bad hit, I didn’t fire.

Getting close can also put you into terrain that precludes both maneuvers and a steady shot.

“Let’s have your binocular,” said the guide. Grancel Fitz complied. It was his first goat hunt. The man trained the glass on a tiny white speck on a rock wall jutting from north-face timber two miles away across a great gulf. “There’s your billy, [at least] he’s just where a big old billy ought to be…if we wait for morning he may be gone…we’ve got to travel fast if we’re going to climb up there before it’s too dark to shoot, and maybe we can’t make it. If we don’t get some goat liver we have one sandwich apiece, and no blankets, either. But I guess I can stand it if you can.”

Evidently inspired by those prospects, Fitz said, “Let’s go.”

But the shadowed face didn’t accept the point of his walking stick as had sunnier places that day. He needed that stick; but jabbed hard to get purchase, “it broke off an inch below my hand and zoomed 700 feet down the chute [then] leaped out into space. Feeling a little wobbly, I attempted to back off, but there wasn’t room on the back stone for both feet. Just as I was trying for a solid foothold, my slung rifle had to swing awkwardly and I nearly went sailing down after my stick.”

By his own admission, Fitz “was scared stiff.” That night, sleeping fitfully on a ledge, the men narrowly escaped a falling slab of rock loosened by their fire’s effect on the ice in crevices above. In the morning they found the goat “had

This mountain buck gave Wayne barely enough time for a second hammer fall when the primer failed.

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pulled out for parts unknown.”

Before hunt’s end, however, Fitz and his guide came upon a goat “at surprisingly close range.” A sneak of 20 yards gave him a shot under 100. The billy fell much farther and lost half a horn.

When closing on game you’ve spotted, expectation and focus should nix the unnerving element of surprise that accounts for many misses. Still, no matter how careful your planning, any sneak can bring a decision you didn’t imagine. Your hunt can hinge on how you respond to an instant ultimatum.

“Things were looking up!” wrote Jack. “I thought I had a long way to climb…” Then a couple of sheep caught his eye on a shale slide 10 steps ahead. A ewe and a lamb. They clattered up the mountain. He

followed, scaling a big wet boulder by gripping it with one hand to keep from sliding off. Then he got the sweet scent of sheep. “For a second I saw a huge horn between two aspen trees.”

As he slipped the .338 from his shoulder, a bipod leg snagged a branch and “sprang open with a loud clang.” Now he could see a ewe’s head, nose up, just 15 yards off. “She looked directly at me for a long minute, flipped her ears and started to walk rapidly uphill.”

More sheep followed. Apparently none had yet winded him. But they knew of him; Jack dared not move.

Then he spotted the ram again, closer even than the ewes. But he couldn’t release his grip on the rock, lest he slide back and lose sight of the animal. The ram

turned toward him. “I had to act in seconds or my chance would be gone…I decided to shoot with one hand. I slipped the safety off and raised the rifle barrel to rest over a rock, [but the] bipod leg was sticking out and I couldn’t get the rifle to the rock unless I turned it sideways…” The ram looked him in the eye. All reasonable options suddenly vanished. He pulled the trigger. He wouldn’t recall aiming.

The ram collapsed.

Despite his considerable field experience, Jack Atcheson had found himself in what he painted as “a most insane predicament.” The shot was close enough, his rifle familiar enough to grant him the prize.

One of the most remarkable short shots in the annals of sheep hunting was made by Fred Bear in 1957. A gifted archer who seemed to take unexpected and difficult shots in stride, he and guide Charles Quock had spotted a fine Stone’s ram early in the afternoon. Stalking within 60 yards, Fred loosed a shaft. Uncharacteristically, it missed.

The ram galloped off; the hunters walked doggedly after it. Over a couple of ridges, across shale slides and past lesser sheep, they closed the distance by sprinting when the animal was out of sight. At last they spied his head just over a rise at 35 yards. The animal was looking at them. “Shoot!” urged Charlie.

But the brain is a very small target, and the head is the first thing to move if an animal “jumps the string.” For an archer, a frontal chest shot is little better. And here the chest wasn’t visible! “The only way was a short draw to lob [an arrow] over the ridge and drop it into the brisket,” Fred wrote, adding that had he been alone, he wouldn’t have shot. But “to hesitate would have been to lose face with

Your chance may not come from a grassy ridge. Can you shoot accurately quickly from a pile of rocks?

Announcing the 2024 Fair-Chase Hunting & Conservation Award Winners

Pacific Islands

Savannah elephant Botswana 101 and 77 pounds

Robert Fortier

European roe deer

United Kingdom

Total score 6613/16

Mikkel V. Olesen

Rocky Mountain elk Arizona, USA

Total score 421

Rick Warren

The Rowland Ward Fair-Chase Hunting & Conservation Award is a solid silver medal given once a year by Dallas Safari Club and the Rowland Ward Foundation for an outstanding animal hunted under free-range, fair-chase conditions. One award is given for each of four regions: Africa, Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands, and Europe.

To qualify, the animals must have been hunted in accordance with Rowland Ward’s Guiding Principles on Hunting and Conservation. The winner must be a strong supporter of conservation and sustainable hunting and exhibit exemplary ethics in the field.

For more details visit

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

my guide.” The arrow arced and the sheep was gone. Drilled in the center of its chest, it ran just 60 yards. The horns taped over 41 inches and for 30 years topped Pope and Young listings for bow-killed

Stone’s sheep.

If there’s any up-side to muffing a close shot, it’s the prospect of a second chance. You’re well within range; if rocks or trees don’t obscure the animal, you can try again

without re-calculating drop and drift or waiting for the sound of impact, a clue to where the bullet struck. Escaping, the animal may pass through an opening or pause in a gap for a look back while still within reach. If you’re not yet a puddle of self-pity, you may sprint for a better shooting position as the beast scoots for the horizon.

A long shot denies you those options. The sonic crack of a bullet fired from afar may not spook the creature as readily as a blast from bushes nearby, but it’s a disturbance. So too the eruption of dirt or bark or rock shards. If distant game knows where you are and decides to exit, your chances for another poke diminish. From 300 yards, even 200, you won’t quickly find a shot alley through brush, or be quick enough sprinting to ridgetop for a chance on the other side.

Follow-up shots that bring well-hit animals to earth, or keep them there, help you recover them quickly. Second bullets have downed fatally stricken deer, elk and African game for me—and anchored mountain goats before they pitched into the abyss that yawns below all goats reminded of their mortality.

Credit Grancel Fitz for maintaining focus to fire again after he missed his 80-yard poke at a desert ram. As the animal raced away “through great chunks of rock,” Fitz cycled the bolt of his ‘06 and looked for another chance. Just shy of 200 yards, the ram “turned uphill and into the clear, heading for the upper reaches of Cubabi Peak …” The next 180-grain softnose tumbled him.

Success is best earned up close. Salvation is a gift at any distance. WS

This tight 100-yard group is in the right place for a 200-yard zero. Don’t “farm out” zeroing!

This Stone’s ram popped up 35 yards from Fred Bear. Only its head showed. Fred drew short, lobbed an arrow over the rocks into the chest. A masterful shot. The ram was No. 1 in P&Y records for 30 years.

15

400

997

Our annual Guide and Outfitter Recognition Special Section features ads from our members who wanted to say “thank you” to the professional hunters, guides and outfitters they took to the mountains with this year. The dedicated professionals featured here made dreams come true!

COURTNEY YOUNG

FOREVER THANKFUL TO ARCQOS SAFARIS FOR REALIZING MY DREAM!

I’ve spent most of my young life dwelling on the chance to hunt Marco Polo sheep. I spent countless hours researching outfitters and Adam Olivas is the only one that called me and talked in depth about hunting in Kyrgyzstan. Once booked, the trip logistics were seamless from start to finish. It was clear once I arrived in country that he and his vice president Mark Audino invested in their people. The guides were happy and driven to give me the best shot I could at harvesting a ram of a lifetime. Thank you to the whole team at Arcqos, y’all are world class!

Tyler Gaenzle

Thank you to Kurshat and Temir Ekenler of WildHunting in Turkey & Asia Outfitters in the confidence they have shown me on our recent Hangay Argali hunt in Mongolia.

Their attention to detail and handling the logistics, getting permits and navigating me through this flawless hunting trip was so much appreciated. Getting a magnificent ram was icing on the cake.

Editors Note: Tom took this ram after an all-day stalk on the 10th day of his hunt. He was thankful for Kurshat’s experience as he guided him into 43 yards. It is the pending new World Record. Stay tuned for more!

I’d like to thank Mike and Shawn Gilson who own and operate Spatsizi River Outfitters.

In 2014 I took my first ram and ten years later we were successful once again and I was fortunate enough to finish my second FNAWS with them — Tim Pask

Dad,

Thank you for sharing with me your respect, strength, and deep love of hunting. May my next adventure through Care to Hunt be a tribute to our shared passion. Love, Stacee

A big thank you to Temir and Kürşat Ekenler of WildHunting in Turkey & Asia for their true commitment to their clients and for their tireless pursuit of excellence in our beloved sport.

I was in Mongolia twice this 2024 season—not by design. Round one took place in late July with Temir leading my good friend and long time sheep guide Mr. Ryne Johnson and I down to the great Gobi desert. While out scouting on the fifth day, I received an Inreach message no one ever wants, let alone forgets. My best friend had passed away on his 20th wedding anniversary at the age of 52, just five days into his first round of chemotherapy. I was devastated and in the middle of nowhere. The hunt was over. Temir never batted an eye. A true professional, he quickly mobilized all for a necessary rapid departure. By sheer irony, a flash flood had washed out the main highway that very night. Cars piled up and we were told no one was getting through for days. It seemed fate was looking to keep me in the desert. Against all odds, Temir shifted gears again and took a “detour” that saw us drive all through the night completely off-road and quite literally through the flooded desert. Without my outfitter, I would never have made it back in time for me to give the eulogy and to grieve properly with my friends and family.

When the dust settled, I found myself without my best friend and without the ram of my dreams. Rather than settle on a sad story, the brothers yet again moved mountains to get us back for Round 2. All logistics were yet again flawlessly taken care of including placing us with our original Mongolian crew. Ryne spotted a magnificent ram the first evening we arrived. Absolutely breathtaking. The next morning we relocated him and while perched beside a religious cairn not 1000m from where I received that terrible Inreach, I was able to take an unbelievable mature Gobi Argali ram. I’ll never forget this hunt nor the selfless effort the brothers put in on my behalf to see it through to the end.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Taylor McGuire

Paul, our 11-year-old son, was fortunate to draw a Rio Grande Gorge ewe tag. We were able to admire many sheep over several days however the challenge was finding one that was accessible in a safe manner for him. With very limited access from the bottom of the gorge and mostly sheer cliffs at the top of the gorge, Keaton Waters owner of Bloodhound Brothers Outfitting led the way and gave us memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you Keaton for your hard work, patience and keeping our son safe.

Sincerely, Joel & Robin Miller

I’d like to thank WildHunting in Turkey & Asia for years of great adventures around the world!

From Pakistan to Mongolia the hunts have been world class. Can’t wait to continue our journey.

– Tim Pask

I would like to thank Logan, jessie, and Alan Young along with all the magnificent people at Midnight Sun Outfitting, Ltd. for an incredible experience.

Charles E. Herron, Jr.

Thanks to the entire crew of Midnight Sun Outfitting. I didn’t know what to expect and couldn’t have asked for a better experience in the Yukon. Shout out to Rei and Emma for guiding this all-girls hunt!

Stephanie MacLennan

Thank Your Guide and Outfitter!

DID YOU MISS THE DEADLINE THIS YEAR?

It’s not too early to buy an ad to thank your guide and outfitter for a job well done. Now taking orders for the 2025 Winter issue of Wild Sheep® magazine. These ads generates business for them and shows how appreciative you are!

Scan the code to download an order form with pricing.

Thank you to the entire Ceasar Lake Outfitting team for an amazing Adventure! — Russell MacLennan and Chris Stevens

MICHAEL HILL

OUR MISSION

DSC’s mission is to ensure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use.

OUR VISION

The vision of DSC is a society that values wildlife, engages in its conservation and understands and supports the role of well-regulated hunting in the sustainable use of wild resources.

To become a member or learn more about DSC, head to biggame.org.

The Conklin Foundation would like to gratefully acknowledge and thank the following businesses and individuals for their generous donations.

The support of donors makes it possible for the Conklin Foundation to continue its efforts to educate youth about hunting.

• Canada North Outfitting

• Mexico Hunting Specialists

• Giuseppe Carrizosa

• Spanish Mountain Hunts

• Rancho Santa Elena

• Legelala Safaris

• High Mountain Hunts

• MJ Miller and Company

• Salvaforcaza

• Go with Bo

• Brilliant Stars

• Bellreguart de Sochiapa

• Iberian Hunters

• Canis Ventures

• Fernando Saiz

• Profihunt

• Vidale Safaris

• Finstincts

• Weatherby Rifle

• Swarovski Optics

• Yukon Stone Safaris

• Baranof Jewelers

• Kevin Downer Sporting

• Point Blank Hunts

• No Fly Zone Outfitters

• SCI Manitoba

• Johnny Fidler

• Laser Shot

• Renee Snider

Deron Millman

The Conklin Foundation board is pleased to announce the 2025 winner of the Conklin Award. Deron Millman is the 23rd winner of the “Tough Man” award, named after the late Dr. James Conklin, a Weatherby Award winner, who liked to pursue difficult animals throughout the world.

Deron has been married to Patricia for 33 years. They reside in North Canton, Ohio. They have twin children, Anthony and Taylor, and a granddaughter, Bailey. At age 28, Deron started and developed one of the largest commercial land survey companies in North America.

Proud Partner of Conklin Foundation

Deron started hunting at age 10 with his grandfather. He has 39 different Ovis species and 39 different Capra species. He has taken over 500 animals and has been to Asia over 36 times.

Deron persevered over the other challenging finalists: Jeff Demaske, Gervasio Negrete, Wayne Farnsworth, Lee Anderson, and Jan Dams.

BASECAMP DISPATCHES

CONSERVATION LEGACY: BASS PRO SHOPS AND CABELA’S OUTDOOR FUND AIDS WSF PROJECTS

“W“ ould you like to round up to support conservation?”

The question caught 16-year-old Nathan off guard as he clutched his brand-new fly rod at the checkout counter. It was his first time in a Bass Pro Shops, and he was already in awe of the towering big game displays and the swimming poolsized aquarium full of fish he had only seen on Instagram.

The cashier’s friendly smile made him curious, so he asked, “What does that mean?”

The clerk explained, “Your donation will go to the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. It supports habitat conservation, outdoor education, and sportsmen’s rights.”

Nathan nodded, feeling pride knowing the outdoors industry was taking conservation so seriously and he could be a little part of it.

Outdoor lovers of all ages and demographics can round up for conservation at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s stores daily. This is making a big difference for wildlife, including wild sheep throughout North America.

2024-25 Grant-In-Aid Contribution

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund has been a longtime supporter of Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) Grant-In-Aid

projects, contributing $150,000 for fiscal year 2024-25.

“We are grateful for the continuing support of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. They are an important ally in our work to Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®. In this grant cycle, they are contributing to three projects that highlight the wide variety of conservation work they get behind,” said Kevin Hurley, WSF Vice President of Conservation.

The Socorro Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 1.5 million acres in south-central and western New Mexico, in the heart of desert bighorn sheep country where $75,000 of the funds will go to help build water catchments and related structures.

BLM Officials have identified this region’s Desert Bighorn Sheep Management Area as a priority landscape for large-scale habitat restoration, specifically habitat restoration for desert bighorn sheep and mule deer.

They have also found that a lack of water restricts habitat use by desert sheep and other wildlife and note that it will specifically help with the movement of bighorns south of US 60.

“Water catchments are important in the conservation of not only desert bighorn sheep but

many other species that call these arid areas home,” Hurley said.

The East Cliffs project at Montana’s Blue-Eyed Nellie Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will be the focus of $25,000 of Bass Pro Shop’s and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund support.

This acquisition will add 31 acres to this Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (MFWP) WMA, encompassing a crucial winter range and lambing cliffs for the Anaconda bighorn sheep herd. This acquisition will connect public lands, maintaining an unfragmented corridor between the Flint Creek and Anaconda mountain ranges.

The long-standing Tri-State Partnership will benefit from $50,000 from the Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund.

This project unites wildlife agencies in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to conserve bighorn sheep populations across state borders. This initiative responds to disease threats, specifically from Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (MOVI), a respiratory bacterium which devastates bighorn herds.

Through research, collaring, and a “test and remove” approach, infected sheep are culled to limit disease spread. This cross-border collaboration underscores the shared commitment to bighorn sheep survival in the rugged Hells

“Working with WSF over the years, we’ve been able to help enhance critical habitat, increase recreational access, and ensure healthy wildlife populations for the future. Bass Pro Shops is proud to support WSF’s mission to Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®,” said Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops.

A Legacy Of Conservation

Bass Pro Shop’s and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund (Outdoor Fund) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with 97 cents of every dollar supporting conservation efforts. The Outdoor Fund invites Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s customers to round up their retail purchases to support

FY 2023-2024

• Franklin Mtns S.P. Desert BHS Establishment (TX)

• ID/OR/WA TriState Movi T&R

North America.

By bringing together customers alongside dedicated team members, industry partners, and leading conservation organizations, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s is creating North America’s largest conservation movement to collectively shape the future of the outdoors and all who love it, for generations to come.

Conservation is at the core of Bass Pro Shops. The past decades have revealed the company’s unwavering passion for the outdoors.

Under the leadership of Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops and leading conservationist, the Outdoor Fund was established in 2019 to allow customers to invest

FY 2022-2023

• E. Harcuvar Desert BHS Restoration (AZ)

• ID/OR/WA TriState Movi T&R

• Socorro BLM Field Office (NM) H2O Developments

• Prescribed Burning for Stone’s Sheep Habitat Enhancement, NE BC

• Tommy Guzzler on DNWR (NV)

FY 2021-2022

• L. Belt Mountains BHS Restoration Year 2 (MT)

• ID/OR/WA TriState Movi T&R

• Stone’s Sheep Capture/Collaring (BC)

• Prescribed Burning for Stone’s Sheep Habitat Enhancement, NE BC

priority conservation efforts.

“The Outdoor Fund truly has created synergies to assist in advancing Bass Pro Shops’ conservation pillars of conserving wildlife and habitat, advocating for sportsmen’s rights, and connecting new audiences to the outdoors. Since inception our customers have invested more than $45 million in priority conservation efforts through their Outdoor Fund donations,” Ziehmer said.

The Outdoor Fund’s commitment to WSF’s work reaches far beyond this year’s support, totaling $626,000 over six years.

These funds have made a wide variety of projects possible. (below)

FY 2020-2021

• L. Belt Mountains BHS Restoration Year 1 (MT)

• Tendoy BHS Restoration (MT)

• H2O Development in Northern Desert BHS Range (TX)

• Prescribed Burning for Stone’s Sheep Habitat Enhancement, NE BC

• StratoBowl/ Custer State Park BHS Habitat Enhancement (SD)

FY 2019-2020

• Re-Development of 2 BHS Drinkers, Peloncillo Mountains, Graham County (AZ)

• Stone’s Sheep Baseline Health Assessment, Peace Region (BC)

• DNWR Guzzler #6 (NV)

BASECAMP DISPATCHES

“The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is creating a powerful legacy of conservation, and in the world of wild sheep, they are helping accomplish everything from collaring Stone’s sheep for important research in British Columbia to contributing greatly to restoring desert bighorn sheep to the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, TX,” Hurley said.

The Rest Of The Story

At the beginning of the story, a young man named Nathan learned about the Outdoor Fund firsthand.

Two years later, Nathan is a senior in high school and plans to seek a career as a game warden.

The author has been this young man’s hunting mentor for five years and has told Nathan much about wild sheep and WSF’s work.

On a more recent trip to Bass Pro Shops, Nathan was excited to round up for conservation and asked if any of the funds helped bighorns. When he learned they did, he felt a sense of pride.

“That’s so cool. I would love to hunt a bighorn one day, and it’s nice to know that I’m investing in that by rounding up for conservation,” Nathan said.

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund aids wildlife and fisheries around the country. It also gives millions of people a chance

to learn about conservation and get some skin in the game for the sake of wild places and wildlife including wild sheep. WS

A PROFILE OF BOB ZIEHMER

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s leadership has deep roots in conservation.

Bob Ziehmer has dedicated his career to advancing conservation initiatives that benefit wildlife, habitats, and the outdoor sports community.

As the Senior Director of Conservation at Bass Pro Shops, Ziehmer leads projects that reflect his lifelong commitment to conserving natural resources and supporting outdoor recreation.

Ziehmer is also a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s Board of Directors, where he collaborates with policymakers to support legislative initiatives that uphold America’s outdoor traditions.

“We are proud to support WSF’s commitment to keeping all wild sheep populations healthy and strong,” Ziehmer said.

“WSF’s on-the-ground habitat projects and dedicated research efforts continue to take wild sheep management to new heights and are critical to creating the next generation of citizen conservationists.”

WS

Saturday, April 12, 2025

DENA’INA CONVENTION CENTER ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

DOORS OPEN AT 4:00PM | DINNER SERVED AT 7:00PM

AUCTIONS & RAFFLES:

Live Auction featuring hunts from around the world including several Alaska Governor’s tags!

Over $200K of guns and optics given away that night!

Denali Tiered Raffle includes custom firearms, Swarovski package, gear, gun safe, Argo & more!

Ladies Only Mountain Huntress Raffle includes gear, rifle, and a black bear hunt!

Ultimate Sheep Hunter Package Raffle

Over $19K of guns and gear to one winner!

Alaskan Sheep Hunter Rifle Raffle Bansner Custom 7mm PRC Chugach TI Rifle with Swarovski Z5i scope!

Urban Huntress Raffle

Fur, jewelry, luggage and vacation package!

Sheep Hunter University A day of classes to teach you about Dall sheep hunting!

SPONSORS:

Visit us online for latest raffles and banquet tickets.

Interested in sponsoring? Contact 907-868-8861 for details.

by Jerry

Photo

Herrod

BASECAMP DISPATCHES

Jeff Anderson

John E Anthony

Gabriel Arana Torruco

Gary Aufrance

Steven Austin

Robert Ballas

Robert Balmy

Douglas Barnes

David Bieber

Katie Black

John Bottomley

Darren Boudreaux

Geoff Brotherton

Matt Burke

Jesse Caldas

Scott Callaghan

Tim Carpenter

Bryce Case

Hendrik Cloppenburg

Charles Cook

Bradley Cook

Johnny Coolidge

Ellie Darr

Bobby Davidson

Clinton Davis

Brian Dillemuth

Vernon Dingman

Robert Doehl

Matt Doely

Robert Shane Emhoff

Jeff Erker

Jim Fahling

Preston Farrior

Lyle Firnhaber

William Freed

Mark Frizzo

Eduardo J. Garza, III

Joseph Geiger

Korey Green

Jason Greenside

Jack Grinblatt

Rick Hazzard

John Hubbard

Mineral WA Clancy MT Key Biscayne FL

Peoria AZ

Cheyenne WY New Fairfield CT

Three Forks MT

Penrose CO

Parker CO

Vacaville CA

Red Deer AB

New Roads LA

Red Deer County AB San Jose CA

Rocky View County AB

Castleton VA

Blue Lake CA

Cashion OK

Kaltenborn RLF

Victoria TX

College Grove TN

Anchorage AK

Bozeman MT

Plano TX

Friars Point MS

Cranberry Township PA

Hampstead NH Anchorage AK

Bozeman MT

Wellington NV

Roggen CO

Cheyenne WY

Tampa FL

Pittsville VA

Nolensville TN Birmingham MI

Mcallen TX

Midland TX Dawson Creek BC

Ravensdale WA Royal Oak MI Boise ID San Antonio TX

NEW LIFE MEMBERS

Randall Hudson

Luke Hugo

Adam Ingles

Russell Ingram

Chad Jacobs

Bryan Judge

Adam Keeter

David Kent

Alexey Kim

Nathan Klatt

VJ Kos

Alex Krasnec

William Kulungian

Dana Kurttila

Randy Kyhn

Garrett Lasater

Jeff Lewis

Jetahn Lichenstein

timothy losinski

Wayne M Lund

Chris Lyon

Brian Magendie

Jim Mason

Andi Mason

Jack McCarthy

Chris McKinnon

Steven McNamara

Missy McVay

Lloyd Merrill

Tyson Miklos

Nick Milic

Jared Miller

Billy Joe Moore

TJ Morrison

Kevin Musil

Randy Nelson

Jeremiah Nichols

Allan Omalley

Scot Pardo

Shade Piper

Thomas Plass

Richie Prager

Vesa Rautiainen

Fort Worth TX

Prince Albert SK

Washoe Valley NV

Ridgeland MS

Palo Cedro CA

Ada MI

Chapin SC La Verkin UT

New York NY

Eckville AB

North Vancouver BC

Arvada CO

Fountain Valley CA

Scottsdale AZ

Saint George UT

Redding CA

Kingsville ON

Sonora TX

Red Wing MN

Washoe Valley NV

Nicholasville KY

Covington LA

Andrews TX

Andrews TX

New Canaan CT

Athabasca AB

Chino Valley AZ

Terrebonne OR

Pocatello ID

Coleman AB

Prince George BC

Bristol IN

Trout Creek MT

Lewisberry PA

Sparwood BC

Kamloops BC

Huntsville TX

Sparks NV

Pinckney MI

Gillette WY

LaGrangeville NY

Greenwich CT

Espoo GA

NEW SUMMIT LIFE MEMBERS

Craig Richardson

Rand Rietmann

Pete Roach

Shaun Robertson

Michael Roger

Ricky Roman

Rick Rosenboom

Tim Ruby

Diana Rupp

Donald Schappacher

Charles Schlegel III

Konrad Schruf II

Brian Schultz

Marc Shaft

Thor Sherva

Thomas Smith

Markus Stelter

barry stewart

Paul Stinson

Justin Stonebraker

Michael Stuart

Megan Summers

Steve Swinson

Donald Thompson

Brian Tillemans

Thomas Triplett

Julie Tripp

Victor Trujillo

Tanner Tuggle

Steve Tveit

Adam Uhl

Eric Vaillancourt

Jana Waller

David Wanderaas

Ryan Weir

Robert Weisman

Janice Weisman

Kevin Westfall

Mike Wilcynski

Gerald Yamada

Judy Zastrow

Atlanta GA Sisters OR Redding CA Mount Vernon OR Scott LA Vernon BC

Clifton IL Wardner BC Fort Collins CO

Sarasota FL Sunbury PA Whitesboro TX Red Deer AB Rochester MN Cottage Grove MN Beaverlodge AB Victoria BC Cranbrook BC

Universal City TX Vacaville CA Bigfork MT Elizabeth CO Shoal Creek AL

Leduc County AB Bishop CA Blacksburg VA Lolo MT Hawthorne NV

Bradley Aboltin

Jerry Allred

Nicholas Antoni

John Babler

Patrick Bernhardt

Bruce Bettis

Kory Blake

Lowell Burris

Tommy Caviglia

Jason Childs

Joseph Ciavarra

Reg Collingwood

Henry Crosby

Michael Devore

David Downey

Ian Dudley

Leander Dueck

Billy Dunbar

Craig Eudy

Tehachapi CA

Vernal UT Fernley NV

Woodbury MN

Helena MT

Mesa AZ

Cordova AK

Columbus MT

Las Vegas NV

Redmond WA

Austin TX

Smithers BC

Huntsville AL

Cheyenne WY

Elkton VA

Fate TX

Julie Fischer

Jakob Froehlich

Matt Froehlich

John Greer

James Harned

David Heft

Stan Henderer

Benjamin Holdman

Kevin Howie

Scott Hushbeck

James Janisch

Tony Kenyon

Daniel Kind

Blaine Kitzul

Chris Kneeland

Nathan Markway

Terry Martell Jr.

Hal Martin

Daniel Massey

Nunn WY

Boise ID

Saint Anthony ID

Boise ID

Louisville KY

Mayhill NM

Pendleton OR

West Monroe LA

Billings MT

Reno NV

Draper UT

Joliet MT

Laurel MT

Vernon BC

Olympia WA

Saint Louis MO

Myrtle Point OR

Kimberly ID

Marshall AR

Michelle Massey

Jack McCarthy

Terry Mehlhaff

Kevin Miller

Erik Mohrlang

Nicholas Mondragon

Peter J Probasco

Michael Richmond

Jesse Riggleman

Adam Smith

Melanie Stelter

Greg Stone

Peter Velardi

Scott Veskrna

Waylon Vipond

Jacob Wallock

Dan Warren

Joseph Wiggs

Ari Zagdanski

Marshall AR New Canaan CT

Reno NV

Baytree AB

Fort Morgan CO

Santa Fe NM

Palmer AK

Slingerlands NY

Apex NC

Skagway AK

Courtenay BC

Reno NV

Clifton NJ

Gillette WY

Pouce Coupe BC

Allenton WI

Reno NV

Wenatchee WA

Toronto ON

2025 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given for the 2025 Wild Sheep Foundation Annual Membership Meeting to be held Friday, January 17, 2025 from 9:00 am – 10:30 pm in Room A1/A6 of the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Bring a Friend Member PROGRAM! WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION

Recruit Members to the WSF Family, Receive Gifts!

Here at the Wild Sheep Foundation, we understand that our mission—To Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®—is impossible without you, our valued members. With a relatively small membership of 11,000, each one of you is truly important to us. Thanks in large part to you, WSF raised and directed more than $11 million to Mission Program Funding during the 2023-24 fiscal year. That’s a 47% increase from the previous fiscal year!

With all this growth, you may ask, “What’s next?” Rest assured; our growth mission continues in earnest—and that starts with welcoming new members. That’s why we are calling on you to welcome your friends, family members, and hunting partners, into the wild sheep family.

Here’s how it works.

You refer new members, or buy gift memberships; you earn fabulous outdoor gear! It’s that easy.

n 5 MEMBERS: Receive a $300 SITKA gift card

n 10 MEMBERS: Receive a Stone Glacier Avail pack

n 20 MEMBERS: Receive Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide

HD Gen 2 12x50mm binoculars

Thank you for your anticipated support of this new program, and good luck recruiting! May our conservation impact and WSF family continue to grow through your support.

SCAN ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN WSF!

Tell your friends to enter your full name and city/state when they check out under the “referral option” so you get credit towards your gifts.

SCAN TO BUY GIFT MEMBERSHIPS.

Be sure to have the person’s mailing address, phone, and email on hand when you place your gift order.

BASECAMP DISPATCHES

WE GIVE CAMPAIGN UPDATE

At 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. Jack Atcheson & Sons

2. The Journal of Mountain Hunting

3. The Wildlife Gallery

4. Backcountry BC and Beyond, Ltd.

5. Stone Glacier

6. RPS Bancard, LLC

7. YETI

8. SITKA Gear

9. Benchmade Knives

10. Kenetrek

11. Full Curl Spirits

12. RMP Rifles

13. 5.11 Tactical

14. Best of the West/Huskemaw Optics

15. Clarke – “1% For Tomorrow”

16. Brown Precision

17. Diamond Outfitters of Arizona

18. Black Rifle Coffee

19. Eventgroove

20. iHunt Apparel

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: Vic Shendel

Without the financial support from sportsmen, fish and wildlife agencies would have little to no conservation and management programs dedicated to wild sheep. There is no other durable funding model, let alone one that has contributed at this level.

Whether you are a sheep hunter, hope to be, or want to see this opportunity for your children, this map is your legacy. JOIN

*TOTAL INCLUDES: $1,377,655 - International & $3,237,213 - Multi-State Projects

Learn More & Register Now!

WIN A DALL SHEEP HUNT

Friday January 17, 2025 • Reno, NV

The best odds on the face of this planet to win a Dall Sheep hunt! MTNTOUGH is pleased to present the TOUGH SHEEP workout during Sheep Show 2025! This will be the largest workout event in the hunting world, and it will raise significant funds for wild sheep conservation. Plus, one lucky participant will be randomly drawn to win a 2025 Dall Sheep hunt!

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

CHAPTERS & AFFILIATES

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

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

CHAPTERS:

ALASKA WSF

Kevin Kehoe, President 907-441-6323 kevin.kehoe@alaskan.com

Molly McCarthy-Cunfer, Executive Director 907-615-2104 executivedirector@akwildsheep.org

WSF ALBERTA

Mike Smith tel:403-700-7746 mike@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

Henry Noss, President Noss-s.mt.redbones@olive.com 610-223-8798

EASTERN CHAPTER WSF

Bill Carter, Office Manager info@ecwsf.org and bill@ecwsf.org 814-656-1831 www.ecwsf.org

IDAHO WSF

Josh Miller, President Joshmiller65mm@gmail.com 575-749-8859

Tracy Rowley, Chapter Staff 208-345-6171 tracy@rtmmagt.com www.idahowildsheep.org

IOWA FNAWS

Craig Nakamoto, President 402-650-1383 nakamoto01@sbcglobal.net iowafnaws@gmail.com www.iowafnaws.org

WSF—MIDWEST CHAPTER

Al Holland, President 651-492-2985 caholl@msn.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

Ty Stubblefield, Executive Director 406-696-3003 ty@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

OREGON WSF

Kevin Martin, President (541)969-6744 Kevindmartin63@gmail.com www.oregonfnaws.org

SE CHAPTER WSF

Patrick Morse, President 415-559-2270 Southeastwsf@gmail.com

UTAH FNAWS

Travis Jenson, President 801-641-5453 tjenson@xmission.com www.utahfnaws.org

WASHINGTON WSF

Garrett Grant, President grant16garrett@hotmail.com www.washingtonwsf.org

WYOMING WSF

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

Wyoming WSF Chapter Office

Katie Cheesbrough, Executive Director 307-399-4383 katie@wyomingwildsheep.org www.wyomingwildsheep.org

YUKON WSF

Spencer Wallace, President 867-689-2074 yukonws@gmail.com 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 Deb@alaskaprohunter.org www.alaskaprohunter.org

Alberta Outfitters Association Kevin Stanton, President 403-762-5454 aoa@albertaoutfitters.com www.albertaoutfitters.com

Alberta Professional Outfitters Society Jeana Schuurmaan, Executive Director 780-414-0588 jeana@@apos.ab.ca www.apos.ab.ca

Argali Wildlife Research Center

Bamgalanbaatar Sukh, Game Biologist and head of “Argali Wildlife Research Center” +976-99176580 amgalanbaatarsukh@gmail.com

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Inc. T.J. Baehre, President 602-663-7871 t.j.baehre@centurylink.net www.adbss.org

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Office

Tracey Martin 480-854-8950 admin@adbss.org

Association of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters

Tavis Molnar, President 867-633-4934 info@arcticred-nwt.com

Bear Trust International

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

Cody Country Outfitters and Guides Association

Lee Livingston 307-527-7416 Livingston@tctwest.net

Colorado Outfitters Association

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

Custodians of Professional Hunting & Conservation—South Africa

Adri Kitshoff-Botha +27 0 83 6500442 ceo@cphc-sa.co.za www.thecustodians.co.za

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

European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE)

David Scallan 00353-879504563 David.scallan@face.eu www.face.eu

Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn Patrick Cummings, President Patrickcummings1002@gmail.com

Michelle Mercer, Treasurer mercerlvnv@yahoo.in www.desertbighorn.com

Fundacion De Vida Silvestre En Sonora, A.C Jacobo Artee, President 011-52-662-212-5510, 011-52-662-217-4119 jacoboartee@prodigy.net.mx

Grand Slam Club/Ovis

Jason Price, Executive Director 903-466-2195 gsco@wildsheep.org www.wildsheep.org

Guide Outfitter Association of BC Scott Ellis, CEO 604-541-6332 ellis@goabc.org www.goabc.org

Ilbirs Fund

Zairbek Kubanjchbekov, Director +996 558271081 zkubanychbekov@ilbirs.com www.ilbirs.org

International Caribou Foundation Cheryl Lind, Executive Director 406-404-1297 cheryl@internationalcariboufoundation.org www.internationalcariboufoundation.org

Lubbock Sportsmans Club, Inc. Dan Boone, President 806-733-0590 dfb@sonoramfg.com

Mongolia Wildlife Association Magsarjac Erdenebat, Executive Director mongolwildlife@gmail.com

Montana Outfitter & Guides Association

Mac Minard, Executive Director 406-449-3578 moga@mt.net www.montanaoutfitters.org

National Bighorn Sheep Center

Amanda Verheul, Executive Director 307-455-3429 amanda@bighorn.org www.bighorn.org

Navajo Nation Department of Fish & Wildlife

Jeff Cole, Wildlife Manager jcole@nndfw.org 928-871-6595

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 Craig Kiselbach, President terminusmtn@gmail.com 250-442-7103

Northern Nevada SCI Chapter Gavin Chodera, President 916-960-8518 gchodera@nnsci.com www.nnsci.com

Northwest Guides & Outfitters Association 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

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Donna Noel, Director of Natural Resources 775-574-0101 Ext: 17 www.plpt.nsn.us

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society Ben Ramaker (785)760-1374 benramaker@hotmail.com www.bighornsheep.org Terry Meyers, Executive Director 970-640-6892 meyers.terry@gmail.com

Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance Marvin Kwiatkowski, Chairman marvin@goatalliance.org www.goatalliance.org

Contact: Kendrick Chittock, Fundraising Coordinator kendrick@goatalliance.org info@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

Shoshone & Arapaho Fish and Game Arthur Lawson, Director lawson@windriverfishandgame.com www.windriverfishandgame.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

Taos Pueblo

Michael Martinez, Hunt Manager 575-758-7410 hunting@taospueblo.com

Texas Bighorn Society Dr. Sam Cunningham, President 806-262-6889 scunningham@quailcreekent.com www.texasbighornsociety.org

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWS) Camille Brooks 541-553-2029 Camille.brooks@ctwsbnr.org https://warmsprings-nsn.gov

The International Council of Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) Sebastian Winkler office@cic-wildlife.org https://www.cic-wildlife.org/

Wildlife Stewardship Council John Henderson, President sirjohn55@gmail.com wildlifestewarship@gmail.com www.wildlifestewardshipcouncil.com

Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia Greg Rensmaag, President 604-209-4543 Rensmaag_greg@hotmail.com

Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia Office & Staff Kyle Stelter, CEO 250-619-8415 kylestelter@gmail.com www.wildsheepsociety.com

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

Photo Credit: David Wetzel

* Shane Mahoney - Conservation Visions * Kevin Hurley WSF - VP of Conservation * Excellent Raffles * 3 Live Auctions w/100 plus auction items (including State Bighorn Tags!) * Membership/Stone Sheep Drawing * Roosevelt American Spirit Conservation Awards * Exhibitors, Seminars, Ladies Event

CHAPTERS & AFFILIATES

2025 BANQUET DATES

NOTE: Dates noted are as of press time. Please check C&A websites for updates.

Sheep Week® ................................ January 13-18 ..................... Reno, NV

Sheep Show® ................................. January 16-18 ..................... Reno, NV

WSF C&A Summit XVII........................ June 5-7 ............. Ft. Lauderdale Westin, Ft. L’dale

WSSBC Jurassic Classic .. August 22-24, (2024) ............. Chilliwack, BC

WSF CHAPTERS:

Alaska WSF ............................................................ April 12 ............................ Anchorage, AK

California WSF ...................................................... April 26 ......................... Sacramento, CA

Eastern Chapter WSF February 14-15 Lancaster PA

Idaho WSF March 22 Boise, ID

Iowa FNAWS ................................................ March 28-29 ........................... Des Moines, IA

Midwest Chapter WSF ................................ March 14-15 .........................Minnetonka, MN

Montana WSF March 7-8 Bozeman, MT

MSU Student Chapter WSF N/A

New Mexico WSF .............................................................................................................. TBD

Oregon WSF.......................................................... April 26 ...................................... Bend, OR

Southeast Chapter June 7 Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Utah WSF March 22 Salt Lake City, UT

Washington WSF .................................................. March 8 ................................ Tacoma, WA

WSF Alberta ................................ February 28 - March 1 ............................... Red Deer, AB

WSF Alberta – Yellowhead April 12

Wyoming WSF June 6-7 Casper, WY Yukon WSF............................................................................................................................ TBD

WSF AFFILIATES:

Affiliate

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society May 10 Scottsdale, AZ

Elko Bighorns Unlimited .................................................................................................... TBD

Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn ....................... May 17 .............................. Las Vegas, NV

National Bighorn Sheep Center November 1 Dubois, WY

Nebraska Big Game Society March 20 Lincoln, NE

Nevada Bighorns Unlimited ................................. April 5 ......................................Reno, NV

Nevada Bighorns Unlimited - Fallon ............................................................................... TBD

Nevada Bighorns Unlimited - Midas TBD

Northern Nevada SCI Chapter March 8 Reno, NV

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society ............. May 16 & 17 .............................. Loveland, CO

Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance......................................................................................... TBD

Society for the Consv. of Bighorn Sheep N/A

Texas Bighorn Society June 21 San Antonio, TX

Wild Sheep Society of BC – Northern Jan 31 & Feb 1 .................... Dawson Creek, BC

Wild Sheep Society of BC – Salute to Conservation Feb 20-23 ............ Penticton, BC

The mission of the Southeast Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation is to build a community of conservationists to raise resources in support of scientific wild sheep management practices and habitat improvement. This is to ensure healthy populations of North America's sheep herds for future generations to enjoy. We are a volunteer organization dedicated to sharing our passion for mountain hunting, educating the public and youth about the sustainable use of mountain resources and the important role hunters play in wildlife conservation, regardless of where we live.

WOMEN HUNT®

by Grayson Highfield WSF Women Hunt® Class of 2023

ON MENTORSHIP: A PILLAR OF PATIENCE & PROGRESSION

I’m holding my breath. My phone is on Bluetooth and my hands are free to pick and poke at my surroundings, an inadvertent outlet to my anxiety that I barely register anymore.

“Hi, Renée,” I begin quietly, and quickly crescendo into a longwinded explanation of my thoughts and feelings. As is my nature, I use far too many words to get the point across. “So, um, do you think you might be able to pair me with a new mentor?” I pause, but it’s barely perceptible because in a moment I

rush inward on the hanging silence with more of my own voice. “It’s not that my mentors are bad. I want to make that clear. It’s just… not right.” Then without so much as the continuation of a breath, I launch into the next sentence… “and I don’t want you to think I’m not looking for a mentor myself. I’m not putting it all on you. I signed up for this women’s mentored turkey hunt in a few weeks. It’s here in Wyoming. Maybe there’s someone there that I like. I’m trying, too.”

Through the repetitive reasoning, Renée cuts in. I needed her to do that, or I’d have kept talking. Mentally, I chastise myself: Take a breath, girl. Ugh.

“You don’t need to apologize or explain yourself,” she begins, almost cautiously, sensitive to my energy. “Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. That’s okay.” Her voice is calm, and it anchors me. Then she speaks again: “The program is here to help you find a mentor... and you know, Grayson, you can have more than one mentor, too.”

Renée Thornton and her first mentor, Don Thompson, celebrate the harvest and hard work. Photo: Renée Thornton

Renée Thornton is the Founder & Chair of the program she is referring to: Women Hunt®. It exists because of her dedication to a worthy cause: Educating, engaging, inspiring, and empowering women who are new to hunting. It stands atop three critical pillars: Skills-training, mentorship, and giving back.

Since my personal participation in the program, I’ve been privileged to have many meaningful conversations with Renée, some on and some off the record. We sat down to dissect the impact of a story I’d heard a handful of times before—her first harvest with her first mentor.

During this conversation, we discuss the merits of mentorship and the characteristics of a good mentor in her eyes. “While there are exceptions to every rule, I believe men and women learn differently. I don’t respond well to a typical male reaction when they’re on an animal. Men, generally speaking, get really excited when they’re on an animal. That energy, for me, does not work. The last thing I want in a hunting mentor is someone who is really jacked up, has the ‘buck fever’ or whatever expression you want to use…they’re telling you to ‘take the shot’, shoot, shoot, shoot!’, ‘just do it’, or exclamations of that nature. This could work well for some, but I think, again, generally speaking, for women it doesn’t.” She pauses while we both consider the potential repercussions of impatience. We’re acutely aware of the possible consequences of pressure from unfortunate stories we’ve heard throughout our respective journeys. Though her time in the industry far precedes mine, I’ve experienced some of the same already.

Then she says, “When I think

back to Don Thompson, my first mentor, he was the complete opposite of that. I think back to my first bear hunt. I had enough time that Don was able to get me in a seated position, he had sticks and was able to prop the rifle on them; my muscle tension was gone, my elbows were resting on my knees…he was crouched right next to me. My heart was pounding, my breathing was erratic. I couldn’t believe that my first hunt was an

But what makes a good mentor? It’s easy to list adjectives to describe a mentor in theory; it’s much harder to visualize it in practice.

apex predator species that I had always been taught to fear. But he was so calm in my ear, Grayson.” She looks at me, and I can see that while she’s physically present, her mind resides in that meadow. I can see how vivid the memory is for her, all these years later. She continues: “He was so quietly coaching me. It’s such a great way to teach a new hunter. It was all of maybe two minutes. It wasn’t all the time in the world, but he asked me questions that allowed me to see that I could do it. He said, ‘Okay Renée, do you have the bear in sight in your scope?’ I said, ‘Yes I do.’ He said, ‘Okay, now I want you to tell me where you’re going to place your shot.” I was looking in front of me during this conversation, he was beside me, and it was so quiet. I

told him where I was going to place that shot. I realized I could answer that question, and it empowered me immediately in the moment. And then he said, ‘Alright, this bear is about 110 yards. We know that you can shoot consistently to 200 because we have practiced that. So, you can make this shot, Renée.’ It was like a huge breath released, and I realized I can do this. He was so quiet and calm when he had me re-confirm I knew how to place this shot and that I could make this shot. The last thing he did was ask me to bring my breathing under control. I was able to do so pretty rapidly, and then he asked me to take the shot when I was ready. I did. It was a double lung shot, and that bear died instantly. He dropped right there. It couldn’t have gone better. I know that was partly me, but I really know that it was mostly him. It set the bar for everything after that.”

I smile at her retelling. It highlights the critical need for good mentors who set the standard high from the very beginning. I know this from firsthand experience.

But what makes a good mentor? It’s easy to list adjectives to describe a mentor in theory; it’s much harder to visualize it in practice. I ask Renée how her experience with Don early on shaped the way she developed the Women Hunt® program and the mentorship pillar of it.

“He helped me understand that it was necessary to have conversations about matching the right personalities, the same values and ethics. Those were fundamental, and when I started the program with my committee of volunteers from across the United States and Canada, we talked about how important it

WOMEN HUNT®

was for us as a program to not just provide an exceptional skillstraining opportunity. Because what happens after the fact? When the women leave and go back to their home states and provinces? The mentorship pillar was critical.”

Mentorship, by nature, is a practice of advising and offering knowledge to be passed on from one dedicated learner to another. A good mentor rarely believes he (or she) is omniscient. Quite the contrary.

Throughout three interviews with five individuals from all walks of life, varying experiences, geographic locations, and demographics, I broke down the mystique surrounding mentorship; the relationship between mentor and mentee, what it means, and how to be a good participant within such a unique partnership.

Paula & Caleb: On Sacrifice & Responsibility

I’m introduced to Paula for the first time, and she expresses excitement to me that her son is moving just down the road after so much time away in pursuit of the things that kids do in their young adulthood—school, work, adventure, to name a few.

Caleb tells me he was raised in a hunting family and that it’s his passion. Paula, on the other hand, expresses that she wasn’t raised hunting and that in her family, women didn’t touch guns. She married into the hunting family, raised hunting boys, and participated in an auxiliary fashion—on the sidelines, but never in the fray.

“Did you know, going into the program, that Caleb was going to be your mentor?” I inquire of her.

“Absolutely. One hundred percent.

It’s one of his passions. His dad’s a hunter, but he knows so much more and has a bigger breadth of knowledge on so many things. I just knew he would be my mentor immediately.” She beams with unmistakable pride for her son.

“It’s an interesting dynamic,” I state, “most people who choose

a family member as a mentor, it’s their husband or significant other, maybe their father…but you don’t see a son mentoring his mother very often.” They concur, and they’re both smiling. “Have there been any challenges associated with that?” They seem to agree that if anything, this new aspect of their

Paula McClain and her son and mentor, Caleb McClain, enjoy a profound mentorship relationship. Photo: Paula McClain

relationship has given them more to connect on. “We’re always talking about hunting, or what we see on the trail cams,” Paula tells me. Challenges are, of course, present, but not in the way I might’ve predicted. “One of the biggest challenges is my hearing impairment,” Paula says, and Caleb nods in agreement. “I’m not going to hear the animals. Even with my aids, I don’t hear what the other person hears. Not growing up hunting, I also didn’t know the hand signals that other hunters use to communicate.”

Caleb jumps in, “We were stalking some feral hogs and I’m trying to whisper to her and I’m like… wait, I can’t whisper. I can tell she doesn’t even hear me right now!” Then he pauses and considers the question further. “I’ll also say, a lot of the people I am around out in the woods are hunters, so they know what to do. I don’t have to communicate tons with most people. We know how to do things. Like, I know how to walk through the woods. I realized, if you’re not used to it, you’re looking down at the ground in front of you, you’re not looking all around you. I discovered I had to slow things down from my pace and adjust to a pace that’s functional for her.”

His response is introspective and leads me to another question, “How has teaching someone else to hunt elevated your skills as a hunter?”

“I have to think.” It’s a simple statement and he says it so quickly that for a second I think it’s a request and not a response, and then he continues, “I can’t just go through the motions.”

It reiterates the point that muscle memory becomes a hugely important aspect of any learned

skill, and hunting is no exception. Those that have participated in the process for a long time may take for granted the actions their bodies automatically engage in when they set forth on a new hunt. Caleb’s relationship with his mother is a gentle reminder of the skills he has worked hard to develop, and how through his tenure as her mentor, he’s rediscovered the technical aspects of learning. It highlights a critical point: Mentorship is not a linear progression of knowledge. It is a cycle, a never-ending information-share with the goal set somewhere between a continuation of education for both parties and the advancement of the mentee’s skills to that of ultimately beyond the mentor.

I ask them both, “What qualities define a good mentor?”

Paula looks up at her son and gives him a sly smile. She says it so quietly I almost don’t hear her. “Patience.” Caleb smiles back and a laugh rolls out of his chest. “One of my worst qualities,” he responds to her, and I’m just a presence in the room bearing witness to the intimacy of their relationship. Paula directs her attention to me again. She adjusts her answer slightly. “Maybe a sense of humor…because I’m gonna mess up. You know, I’m gonna look at my feet when I walk…but I guess just keeping a sense of humor about it and not taking it too seriously helps lighten the mood.”

Caleb responds to this automatically. “When I’m out with my friends, we can take it so seriously that we take the fun out of it in some ways.” He qualifies this statement, “Not that we don’t have fun, but we have a job to do. When I’m teaching people, my job is not

to be the hunter that day. Going back to the feral hogs…I could’ve probably taken two or three of them on that hunt. I knew that I could, but that wasn’t the point. I was there to teach.”

There are compromises to be made in mentorship. I can see how difficult it must’ve been for Caleb to relinquish his opportunity to harvest that day, but he did so for the sake of his mother’s learning experience. There’s love in that, sure. There’s also responsibility. He’s here to teach his mother, elevate her skills and confidence, ability and self-sufficiency. Within that, because of that, he makes choices that aren’t always the easy or fun ones. It’s bold to surmise that this is beyond the bond of a mother and her son, now, but I can see it—there’s an additional layer here. Paula’s reverence for her son’s skills and her pride in his accomplishments is palpable; a mother’s love knows few boundaries. She is simultaneously a determined learner and seeks out opportunities to develop her skills and further her education. She thirsts for knowledge and asks for more. You probably couldn’t find better characteristics of a mentee. Yet it’s Caleb’s sweet recognition of and familiarity with his mother’s needs and his subsequent adaptation to her learning requirements that make him a particularly powerful advisor. Everyone learns differently, and he sees that. He slows himself despite the influence of his long-standing habits and meets her at the level she needs him to be at. Within this, he demonstrates that mentorship is sacrifice at the same time that it is service and scholarship.

WOMEN HUNT®

Fritz & April: On Ego & Openness

April graduated from Women Hunt®’s inaugural class of 2021. She grew up surrounded by hunting, but she never felt or expressed an interest in doing it herself until much later in life. She recounts a story to me of how stoked her uncle was when she made the decision to pursue hunting. He was the first person she brought her hunter safety certificate to when she obtained it. He passed away just a month later. It’s evident to me that her start to this experience is a crucial piece of her story and it spans beyond the boundaries of the program.

Consequently, her husband, Teddy, has known her mentor, Fritz, for about fifteen years. “The first time I met Fritz, my (now) husband told me, ‘When we get married, this is who I want to marry us.’ It felt like a lot of pressure but when we got to talking, I realized

Fritz actually knows a few of my uncles. It’s cool, he’s known Teddy forever, but now we have our own relationship with one another,” April tells me. It’s a fun fact about their relationship that he officiated their marriage. I ask April why, if her husband hunts, she opted to be paired with another mentor. It was a question of pure curiosity, since most women with familial ties to hunting often choose their husbands or significant others as mentors. “A degree of separation,” she explains. She tells me how they do well together now, but when she had started hunting (a journey that runs parallel to her time with Teddy but carries its own arc), she would get frustrated easily, especially shooting right-handed as she later learned (through the program) that she’s left-eye dominant.

Her mentor-mentee relationship with Fritz intrigues me. “How many hunts have you been on together?” I ask, and April holds up her hand

in the shape of a zero while Fritz’s gruff voice tells me they’ve never been on a single hunt together. I fail to hide the surprise on my face and the two of them laugh. April explains that conflicting schedules and limited time off has rendered the task impossible for the time being. I think for a moment and inquire, “Can you tell me what your mentorship experience has looked like, then?”

“Mostly communication,” Fritz explains, “I do a lot of home butchering. We raise lambs, and when we butcher them, I try to get April involved for the cutting and wrapping process. A lamb is very similar to a deer, so it helps her understand the process.”

April waits for him to finish, and then adds, “Fritz has introduced me to people. He connected me with the butcher who processed my cow elk. Then when we got my antelope, we quartered it in the field and were able to process the rest of it in the house,” she references his helpful instruction regarding homebutchering.

Their relationship reminds me that everyone experiences mentoring differently, and the needs of one individual are different than the needs of another. Some need to be walked through the process, step-by-tedious-step, a reminder of the motions necessary to accomplish the task at hand. Some need communication and networking, a reiteration of the lessons that seem small in comparison to the hunt itself but are actually an enormous aspect of the whole experience. Some, like myself, require more intense emotional support. It highlights how much greater this process is than the act of pulling the trigger. It makes me wonder

April and Teddy Elwell were married with April’s mentor, Fritz Richards, as their officiant.

Photo: April Elwell

what these two believe are the foundational traits of a good mentor.

We collectively ruminate over the question. Openly communicative, vulnerable, openminded, knowledgeable, but also a student of their craft, to name just a few. The list is long and cumbersome, and I consider the expectations of a good mentor and who among the bunch is capable of rising to that level.

“How do we create good mentors?” I ask, “How do we foster a sense of open-mindedness so that people who want to serve as mentors feel that they still have something to learn and are willing to learn?” I pause to think, and then, “Is that desire inherently characteristic of a person, or is that something we can learn, too?”

April’s face illuminates and she jumps in. “I’m a teacher and I use this analogy that people either have ‘bubble brain or block brain.’ Block brains are a fixed mindset. Bubble brains are going to want to get bigger and grow. I think if there’s someone who wants to be a true mentor, they know they’re never done learning.”

Fritz agrees.

“Have you mentored before, Fritz?”

“I haven’t mentored in an official capacity before April, but I’ve taken many young people under my wing. I’ve taught a lot of kids.”

“Do you find particular challenges with teaching adults versus children?”

“Yes, when working with an older individual, especially an adult male, they tend to overestimate their knowledge. With a kid that doesn’t know anything, it’s easier to explain to them what they don’t know. With an adult, they have an ego.

Working with kids is much easier.”

That ego is something we recognize as a barrier for good mentors, too. We agree that perhaps someone incapable of dismissing their ego is not someone who desires to be an effective mentor.

April and I similarly were awarded autonomy over our hunting experiences, ownership over our choices that cannot be understated. Fritz emphasizes the importance of a mentor to bolster that sense of independence. Something he could not do if he were blocked by his own sense of self or desire to uphold a reputation. But he realizes, most importantly, that this is bigger than any one person, and he checks his ego at the door.

I prompt April to tell me about her greatest lesson in hunting: “Confidence.” She alone knows when she feels comfortable taking an action, and nobody else can tell her otherwise. Fritz, for what it’s worth (and I believe it’s worth a lot), wouldn’t want it any other way.

How To Be a Good Mentor: On Autonomy

I’ve told bits and pieces of my own story over and again. The greatest lesson I learned and the best gift I received in my hunting journey happened on my first hunt. It’s quite the assertion that I’ve learned the best lesson I’ll ever learn only one year into hunting and that I learned it on my first day doing so, but I stand behind it. It was autonomy. I refused to take a shot I was uncomfortable taking, and rather than be greeted by distaste for my decision-making, disappointment in my failure to launch, frustration at my misuse of a moment, I was gifted a calm, “It’s okay,” and later, “You should never

regret the shots you don’t take.”

It was this moment that would later grant me the ability to recognize that my relationship with my mentors after the program just felt wrong. I hunted with a handful of people and I learned from each of them, but something wasn’t quite right. I realize that what I need and want out of a mentor perhaps requires a certain kind of person. Vulnerability in my expression about experiences from the program ultimately led me to my current mentor, Jess. She’s a woman willing to have lengthy existential talks about ethics, conservation, and emotion. She’s my colleague, too. She’s responsible for offering me an opportunity to become concretely part of the wildlife conservation industry. She invited me to help launch our organization’s all women’s hunter safety course and conservation education program, More than Gatherers. She helped me rediscover a purpose. What I need from a mentor is a heavy lift, but she does it all, and then some. What I need, truthfully, has turned out to be enormously different than what I thought I needed, and that wasn’t something I discovered until after the program’s culmination.

Renée tells me that she’s learned something from our class, from my experiences, and it has shaped the way she’s approaching the mentorship pillar in perpetuity. “This year, the course is the latest we’ve ever had it. Most of the women, they only have a few more weeks of the hunting season left, so our interest was in trying to match them with mentors quickly. But most of them, when we talked about this during our second zoom call, don’t want to fill out the

WOMEN HUNT®

mentorship questionnaire until after the program. That’s a shift happening right now, in real time.”

It excites me to hear that these women are choosing to wait. If only I had known, I probably would have made that choice, too. I ask Renée, “How is the program empowering women to understand what a positive mentor-mentee relationship looks like?” I slip into the sentence that I have my own ideas on this, and Renée laughs and

tells me she wants to hear them. She says, “If you’re not comfortable with your mentor, it’s okay. Let us know. It doesn’t have to be one and done. It’s okay to have more than one mentor. Maybe the mentors you work with through the program are really good for some aspects of your learning arc, but not all. It’s okay to find someone else.”

She gives me the floor to tell her those ideas I alluded to earlier. “I define my instructors at the ranch

as mentors. When I had such a positive experience with them from such an early stage in my education, it allowed me to recognize, once I was no longer in that environment and now paired with somebody else, that something just didn’t feel right. It just didn’t fit. I was able to see that immediately.”

“That’s a good point,” she replies, “and it’s something for me to keep in mind with my messaging to incoming classes. That mentorship will be experienced at the ranch.”

What’s Next?

Renée tells me after our conversation that she felt inspired to reach out to Don, to thank him for everything he gave her. Sure, she appreciated his mentorship in the moment and could quantify its value in success that she carved with her own two hands and stacked neatly in her freezer. In retrospect, it’s even easier to understand the impact of his generosity and kindness of spirit on the trajectory of her life. She shares with me the message she sent him, and she admits that if it weren’t for him, perhaps she may not have continued on her path…the path that led to the creation and prosperity of Women Hunt®. At the moment, there are fiftythree members of the program. Thirty-six alumni of Women Hunt®, five alumni from Women of Industry, and twelve women embarking on their next great adventure. Women Hunt® is expanding and opening its doors for not only new alumni, but also women searching for community in fellow conservationists who support hunting. They’re developing their Women in Hunting® Community, are launching their first ever Beer &

Grayson Highfield with her guide and mentor, Efren Hernandez, as he explains her shot placement. Photo: Women Hunt ®

Bubbly Event at Sheep Show® 2025, and have partnered with Spike Camp, an online forum where people can engage in meaningful conversations about hunting.

Where might this have been if Renée hadn’t experienced the most careful and thoughtful mentorship from Don?

Outside of the Women Hunt® Program and Women in Hunting® Community, Women Hunt® has developed the Rubye Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund to help survivors of trauma find healing in the outdoors; they are working on conservation and advocacy resources, culinary skills development, fitness and wellness recommendations, resources and media to offer additional information on hunting and conservation, and eventually, vetted trusted partners across the country that people can refer to when looking for more information, assistance, or support. Even if you are not an alumni or participating class member, there are so many opportunities for involvement, relationship development, and community cultivation.

While mentorship is one critical pillar of an entire program, its depth lies within the relationships it fosters. Good mentors are integral to the development of new hunters and conservationists. So integral, perhaps, that I wouldn’t even be here to discuss “what makes a good mentor?” if it weren’t for one in particular, right from the start. WS

Meet the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt® Committee

Bios and photos at: www.wildsheepfoundation.org/ about/women-hunt-committee

Convention Snapshot!

• NEW! Thursday Night Beer & Bubbly Social!

Everyone is welcome! Come enjoy a free drink before dinner! Tuscany Ballroom Foyer 5-6pm. Win awesome prizes by joining our Women in Hunting® Community. Hosted by Women Hunt® , Women in Hunting® and the Rubye Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund

• Women Hunt® Booth (Hall 3)

Meet our volunteer graduates Full Curl Spirits experience Free drawing for a Montana Knife Co. product

• Seminar (Room A5)

Safety & Preparedness in the Outdoors

Dynamic Q&A with industry experts & leaders Interactive Stations - learn from the best Chances to win free safety gear

• Camp Chef Culinary Corner (Hall 3)

Chef Joshua Schwencke returns to heat things up! Learn culinary skills and creative wild game cooking

Sample tasty recipes Free drawing for a Camp Chef product

• Women Hunt® Volunteers will also be supporting WSF at:

The Sheep Shop Registration Banquet Seating

< I Club® Life Member’s Breakfast Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience

Women Hunt® wants to hear from you!

https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/womenhunt

womenhunt@wildsheepfoundation.org

@womenhunt @women_hunt @womenhunt

ALREADY HAVE YOUR F.N.A.W.S.?

BECOME A “ONE MORE FOR FOUR” SPONSOR!

You can help keep the tradition going for the 2025 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!

• Kris Kohlhoff

• André Van Hiltin

Receive one of these beautiful medallions commemorating the “1 MORE FOR 4” Challenge. Donations of $500 receive a bronze medallion and contributions of $1000 or more receive a 1.75” silver medallion (2 Troy ounces of .999 pure silver) in a presentation case.

Congratulations to 2024 1MF4 winner, Carl Black from Rozet, WY.

• Shad Hulse

• Darla Fiedeldey

• Bernie Fiedeldey

• Kevin & Lauri Gilbert

• Renee Snider

• Darin & Tonya Fiedeldey

• Charles & Denise Swanson

• Midwest WSF

• Washington WSF

• Jeff Haynie

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

CULINARY

CORNER

by Joshua Schwencke WSF & Women Hunt® Executive Chef in Residence

NEW WAVE GAME COOKING

Often, I get questions during my teachings that circle back to methods many home cooks have heard of but have yet to implement in their own kitchens. While some of these techniques are well-known, others border on the science-fiction side of the culinary spectrum.

Let’s pick up where we left off in the previous article. The cooking science of our ancestors, as well as that of future generations seeks to accomplish the same goals: maximizing flavor and minimizing labor while mitigating risks related to food safety. The science of using salt to cure meat was once considered high-tech in our history. This article focuses on new, more tech-savvy tactics for cooking wild game.

Sous Vide

This is the big one. It’s the method I get asked about more than any other. Ironically, it’s also the option that gets the most blank stares when I describe the science behind its culinary magic.

Sous vide, translated from French as “under vacuum,” has become a popular cooking method far beyond just game protein. It not only offers the chance to buy a fun gadget (the men reading this know what I mean), but it also offers a near-perfect end result. Let me explain.

In all forms of cooking, heat transfers to food, and sous vide does this through the thermal energy of water. However, water is a poor

conductor of heat and needs to be kept at a steady temperature to remain effective.

Before you place your prized elk backstrap into a pot of boiling water and hope for the best, let me stop you. Besides not wanting hate mail for ruining your protein, I need to cover the science of how this works.

When a protein cooks, it releases fats, simple sugars, water, and other nutrients. This is the sizzle on your grill and the delicious fat that renders on top of a burger just before flipping it over. If placed directly into water, those important flavor components would be lost— never to be enjoyed.

Sous vide requires a sealed

environment to prevent this. Enter the food-grade, vacuum-sealed plastic bag. By removing the air from the bag holding the protein, the loss of valuable nutrients and flavor is prevented. This method allows the protein to absorb the thermal energy of the water without losing flavor.

It’s important to note that seasoning the protein prior to placing it into the sous vide bag goes a long way. Any combination of spices, herbs, and salts can work wonders, but remember that additional seasoning is required later, so balance the salt in this step.

Most people who ask about sous vide quickly circle back to the big question: “Is cooking in a plastic

CULINARY CORNER

bag safe?” The short answer is yes. The temperatures used in sous vide don’t start to deteriorate the high-quality plastic required for the method. On that note, I would steer clear of using any and all other plastic bags not suitable for sous vide.

The tech portion comes from the water circulator itself. This is the brain of the operation, heating the water to a preset temperature while circulating it. Most newer sous vide devices will maintain the water temperature within one degree of the desired setting. Ideally, if the protein is left in the controlled temperature of the water, paired with the vacuum-sealed bag, it will never overcook—hence the allure.

The magic lies in producing a cut of protein that has a more evenly cooked center at the desired temperature compared to other methods. If you want a medium temperature (140°F) for your steak, more of the inside of your steak will reach that temperature.

Finishing with a Sear

The process still requires a final step: searing. When you remove the protein from the plastic bag at the end of the cooking process, you’ll notice the unappetizing “boiled” appearance on the surface. At this point, you have a perfectly cooked piece of game meat that needs texture and added flavor, which only high heat can provide.

Using a paper towel, dry the

surface of the protein, season as desired, and sear it on all sides in a cast-iron skillet or on a grill. This step will trigger the Maillard Reaction—the chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars. This gives steaks, brisket, bread, and even coffee beans their distinct color and delicious flavor.

Yes, this seems like a lot of work, steps, and knowledge to produce a meal. But the key is understanding that wild game can be ruined by undercooking or overcooking far more easily than conventional proteins. Sous vide offers a path to the near-perfect temperature needed for wild game.

Air Frying

Did I just mention air frying in a game-cooking article? I did, and I’ll explain why. The texture of our food plays a big role in our enjoyment of it. Air frying, when done correctly, offers a crispy texture and can also be helpful for the waistline.

Convection heat is the movement of hot air—in this case, very hot air—in a closed space. This is why convection ovens are prized for their “crisp-inducing” qualities (term trademarked by me). By creating an environment of high, dry heat that circulates around the food, the surface of the protein reacts to form a crust. This method, combined with a little cooking fat, offers a texture

and mouthfeel similar to deep-fried foods, but without the extra steps and calories. When selecting a fat, choose one with a higher smoke point. I personally go for avocado oil. A little spray on the surface goes a long way.

Using this method works best for smaller cuts of protein. I’ve used it to crisp up slices of elk top round and roast whole chukars seasoned with BBQ rub. Both still require a small amount of fat to aid in the browning process.

The love of cooking wild game doesn’t have to be tough love. Taking the guesswork out of cooking something that took so much work, money, and know-how to bring to the kitchen table should be a boon for all wild game cooks. The goal is to enjoy the process, savor the results, and repeat. WS

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by Ryan Brock, Ph.D. WSF Youth Education Coordinator

USING A PHEASANT HUNT TO INTRODUCE HUNTING

Part of our mission at the Wild Sheep Foundation is to “educate the public and youth on sustainable use and the conservation benefits of hunting”. This is not always an easy thing to do. Even for individuals and families who are interested in learning about hunting there are often roadblocks. These can include finding places to hunt on public or private land, opportunities for tags, timidness with going at it alone, the fear of not knowing what to do with an animal upon harvesting it, and more.

On a Sunday at the end of October, we held an event that was part of our Shooting, Hunting & Ethics Education Program (S.H.E.E.P.) that had the goal of helping youth and a few adults who were new to hunting make that leap to their first pheasant hunt, and for most, their very first hunt ever. It was designed to provide a roadmap of sorts to help them steer around these roadblocks that can often prevent even the most interested people from hunting.

The event was a collaboration between Green Gulch Ranch near Vinton, California and the Wild Sheep Foundation. The Wild Sheep Foundation would handle registration and pay for the event, so the opportunity was free for all participants. The ranch organized dog handlers, cooked the lunch, and took care of making sure birds were abundant for the new shooters.

Check-in started at 8 a.m. and by

8:30 all 18 youth shooters and five adult participants had shown up. In addition to these hunters, parents and siblings attended as well. After a welcome speech by the ranch owner, all headed over to the trap range. Individual lessons and warm up took place with each participant on a few different trap fields.

For many of the youth, this was their first time shooting a shotgun. Those working with the youth were amazing. The awkwardness

was worked out and all felt a level of confidence by the end to try shooting at moving birds.

Of the adults, only a few had ever shot a shotgun. Two of the adults had just passed their hunter safety course just for this event, while one earned it five years ago and this was her first hunt. Another adult had received it a few years ago, and this was the first year of actual hunting for him as well. All adults had zero to very little hunting experience. Two of the adults brought their elementary-aged kids along for the experience. Although these kids were not hunting, for one of them, it was the first time ever she was around hunting, and prior to this event I was told she was “not into hunting” but had come along to see what it was all about. When she was asked at the end of the day if she would be interested in participating next year, she smiled and said she would.

For the youth participants, at least five of the 18 got their hunter safety just for this event. Although some of the older youth had some experience with hunting, for most this was their first opportunity with bird hunting. All but a few had some connection to prior WSF youth events and many of the youth had moved from basic events like the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience and “Learn to Shoot” archery clinics, to being on the WSF’s archery team, and then had been invited to get their hunter safety and partake

Brock Clark, a WSF archery team member who participated in the pheasant hunt, displays his pheasant dinner made from the birds he harvested.

in this hunting experience. An older youth was a part of an event we sponsored over a year ago in working on a shotgun shooting merit badge for Scouts. When approached if he was interested in trying his skills he had learned on the trap range to a bird hunt, he jumped at the chance to get his hunter safety so he could be involved.

After warming up on the trap range, participants were broken up into groups of four to six and partnered with a dog and its handler and headed out into different places on the ranch. Pheasants had already been placed, and upon arriving to

the various locations, everyone headed out to find them. Some groups were certainly more successful than others. The group of six hunters I was with got first-hand experience in how hunters can be conservationists, as we brought back less than half the birds. Although they pursued those that didn’t get shot when first jumped, most were never found and ended up becoming wild pheasants, providing the ranch with more birds than when we all arrived! Other groups only had one or two birds that were not shot. Regardless, every participant was able to harvest at least one pheasant.

The lessons that took place while hunting was invaluable and cannot be learned from a simple book or even a hunter safety class. For example, remembering to turn off your safety on the gun when ready to shoot. Communicating and understanding who the main shooter is and who would be backup and being in place before the bird jumps up was another lesson practiced over and over. My crew of new hunters all grew as hunters while out in the field. With one young man, the frustration of remembering so many things, trying being safe, and missing time and again started to get to him. He took a small break and then rejoined the

CONSERVATION EDUCATION

group. Eventually, with only one pheasant left, he was successful, and his entire body language and facial expressions changed after his bird hit the ground. He was successful. He was a bird hunter. Each group returned to headquarters as they finished the hunt. A BBQ lunch and cold drinks were waiting. Upon completion of the meal, everyone headed to the cleaning station on the ranch. The owner showed how to clean a pheasant and then participants took their own birds and began the feathery process of cleaning them. As families finished bagging up their bird meat and headed home, everyone seemed grateful for an amazing experience and excited to cook up the meat.

Within 24 hours I was contacted by three of these families who had cooked up the birds within a day of harvesting them. Each had tried a different way of cooking them. This experience not only provided opportunities to improve on shotgun shooting and bird hunting, but also provided an understanding to many families how one can use hunting to provide food for their families. This event has been one in the making for a few years and I feel the hard work has paid off and has truly helped us with our overall mission. We are already working on duplicating this event next September.

The 14th Annual Y.W.C.E

The Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) will hold its 14th year at this year’s Sheep Show® in Reno, Nevada on January 16, 17, and 18th. The youth area, which resides outside the actual exhibit

hall, is only a short walk down the hall to what many have said is its own convention. The three-day event buses in students from local schools for a private experience on Thursday and Friday and then opens to the public on Saturday.

The reserved event for school groups begins with a keynote presentation on wild sheep and their adaptations and then moves into wildlife conservation and how the Wild Sheep Foundation and its chapters and affiliates help wild sheep. Students then attend three of an offered 12 seminars on outdoor careers. As they eat lunch, an awardee of the Life Membership Fund Scholarship will give a keynote on what it takes to major in an aspect of wildlife management, biology, or pathology. This gives the students an opportunity to learn from someone currently pursuing that path who can give valuable insights and suggestions on what they can do now and over the next few years if they are interested in moving in that direction for a career. The afternoon involves exploring hands-on learning stations designed to excite and inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists.

Saturday, the event is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The entire day, youth and their families rotate on their own through the hands-on stations. Youth also receive free raffle tickets for a chance to win various outdoor related items to help get them engaged in some aspect out of nature and outdoor recreational adventures.

Last year we had 42 hands-on stations and set a record of 2,754

youth experiencing the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience. We have a new pre-registration process this year where families can register for the YWCE ahead of time through our Sheep Show® registration website. We are on track for another great event and excited to inspire this year’s youth who attend!

Life Membership Fund Scholarship

The deadline for this year’s Life Membership Fund Scholarship is approaching on March 1, 2025. The Life Membership Fund Scholarship is to be awarded to a student in a field related to the Wild Sheep Foundation endeavors. Specifically, degrees in wildlife management, wildlife biology, and wildlife pathology. Area of focus on wild sheep is preferred, but not necessary. This year, two scholarships will be awarded: one to an undergraduate and one to a graduate student. Each awardee will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship for schooling. Additionally, each awardee would be invited to the Wild Sheep Foundation’s national convention, the Sheep Show® in Reno, Nevada (travel expenses covered) for networking and to get first-hand experience with understanding the financial side of wildlife conservation as well as inspiring the next generation at the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE).

To apply, contact Ryan Brock at Rbrock@wildsheepfoundation. org or visit our website’s “Conservation” tab and click on “Youth Education Programs”. WS

Dedicated to education, Dedicated to education, supporting the research & supporting the research & conservation of mountain goats conservation of mountain goats

Memberships available through

Memberships available through WSF for $40 per year. WSF for $40 per year. Join our efforts today!

SHEEP SHORTS

by Wayne Lennington

HE’S A BEAUTY CLARK!

Landen Collings got to the ram first, and the title of this story was the first thing out of his mouth! We were surfing scree to the ram, but I mostly fall in scree, so I got there last. To Landen’s credit he didn’t touch the ram until after I’d had a chance the get my hands on him. We knew he was a great ram, we saw him about 6:00 a.m. and it was now 3:30 p.m. and three basins later. He was bigger than I thought, pushing 40” on his left side and maybe 2” less on his right. His coat was nearly pure white with just a smattering of black hairs, a far cry from the first ram Landen and I killed in 2017, that was nicknamed “Blue”. This was sheep number three for me with Landen, but as we stood there admiring our ram the layers of significance with this ram blew my mind.

This was my FNAWS ram, three of four with Landen, the first ram killed at Keele River outfitters, which Landen and his wife Meghan now operate.

Meghan grew up in this unit when her father Stan Simpson ran Ramshead Outfitters from 1982-2016, and Stan was in camp helping get things off on the right foot. Additionally, Landen’s uncle

Alan Douglas was guiding me and had guided for Stan from '83 to '86 and had not been back since. I flew in with Alan and it was apparent that the trip brought back lots of memories. There was a lot to take in from this one hunt.

The preceding four months I did my usual pre-hunt workouts, but despite preparation, my anxiety

steadily increased as my hunt dates approached. Apparently so much so that my wife was actually worried about me. Once I saw the ram flop down the steep bank and onto a grass patch, all that anxiety disappeared. I have no idea what Landen or Alan thought, and as this was Oak’s first guided sheep hunt, it was all new for him. There

Photo: Duncan Gilcrest

Three generations of sheep hunter with my ram.

was some laughing over Landen’s first remark and smiles, then a weddings worth of pictures and the hunt rehash, followed by a pack out that was easier than the climb.

With that background, let’s go back to the start. We were the first hunters in camp the Saturday before the Monday season opener.

We were dispersed and I went out with Alan and Oak. We set up camp in a tight draw between two mountains that ran west into a big green rolling flat. The first hike that evening revealed a band of 12 rams, but with the wind and heat, we really couldn’t tell if any of them were shooters.

Sunday morning we headed to the top of the opposite mountain and headed west—sheep were everywhere we looked except the

flat where the 12 rams had been the night before.

Finally, later that Saturday, the rams made their way onto the flat, but they were broken up into a small group of young rams and a more distant group of eight that might have had a shooter in the bunch. We contemplated staying up and going after the eight after midnight, but with no obvious prospects, we headed back to camp around 11 p.m. This is where the twist comes—about 3 a.m., I woke up and was having palpitations (skipped heart beats).

I had them before, but not on a sheep hunt, and siding with caution, I made the tough decision to go back to camp on opening morning. Things settled down for me by the next morning and at

noon, I told Landen I was here to hunt and needed to get back out. We hatched a plan to explore two mountains separated by a huge wash, just two miles from camp.

Early the next morning, we headed out and up the big wash. Twenty minutes later, we found five rams skylined on the top. After some quick spotting scope work, it was clear that two were shooters. One was heavier and broomed and the other was longer and probably older with less mass. They were skylined and we were climbing to them, staying in grass and moss where we could. We got to about 500 yards, but a smaller ram was bedded below them and 300 yads above us—we were stuck. Its hard to lay there and watch four rams feed around and over

the ridge out of sight. Finally, the small ram got up and went the opposite direction of the other four and out of sight. We climbed up to where we had last seen the rams to find nothing. We crossed into the next basin to nothing as well, but we knew they couldn’t be far so into the scree. We hike, trying not to lose the altitude we had gained on the climb—ankles and legs were

burning as we snuck over the next ridge to a wide ledge and again, nothing. Landen crawled out on the ledge and in a few minutes found our rams, left of and below us, but all facing us and bedded. We devised a shooting plan and I crawled out to the edge of the ledge. My gun and pack were ferried to me and I got set up for the shot and waited.

Twenty minutes later, our ram

stood up and made a slight turn to the left. The shot angle was decently steep, so I held at the base of the ram’s neck just above his shoulder. I squeezed the 240yard shot and heard the bullet impact—and then from both Landen and Oak “dumped him”. I watched him roll head-over-heels down the mountain and the rest you already know. WS

The dream team: Landen, Alan, Oak and Me.

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4 - DAY FREE RANGE

CUSTOMIZED HUNT - IBERIAN RED DEER OR ROE DEER FOR 1 HUNTER (Trophy fee for Iberian red deer or roe deer is included) EUROHUNTS SPAIN & ALVARO VILLEGAS

Alvaro Villegas

P: +34.670.90.86.55

E: info@eurohunts.es

W: www.eurohunts.es

E10

4 - DAY CANTABRIAN CHAMOIS HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER CANTABRIAN MOUNTAINS OF SPAIN

IBERIAN HUNTERS

Luis Ruiz Del Olmo

P: +34.620.28.3418

E: luisruizdelolmo@outlook.es

W: www.iberianhunters.com

E11

5 - DAY EUROPEAN MOUFLON HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER AND 1 N0N-HUNTER IN MACEDONIA (Trophy fee for 1 European mouflon and daily rates for 1 non-hunter is included and daily rates for 1 hunter) (100% FULLY DONATED)

SAFARI INTERNATIONAL MACEDONIA

Zlatko & Toma Sokolik

P: +389.71.346.994 or US 239.331.1611

E: safariinternacional@gmail.com W: www.interhunts.com

E12

5 - DAY IBERIAN RED STAG HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER AND 1 NON-HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED) SPAIN SAFARIS

Luis Berga

P: +34.66.981.4458

E: luis@spainsafaris.es

W: www.spainsafaris.es

E13

4 - DAY CANTABRIAN CHAMOIS HUNT IN SPAIN FOR 1 HUNTER (Trophy Fee for 1 Cantabrian Chamois)

GIUSEPPE & CURRO CARRIZOSA - SPAIN

Curro Carrizosa

P: +34.607.585.224

E: giuseppecarrizosa@gmail.com

W: www.giuseppecarrizosa.com

THE CONKLIN FOUNDATION

Bradford Black

E10

E11

E12

E13

EUROPEAN HUNTS

E14

5 - DAY CANTABRIAN CHAMOIS HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER

(Trophy Fee included for 1 Cantabrian chamois) HEREDEROS HUNTING

Rafa Navazo

P: 34.629.033.7620

E: rafa@herederoshunting.com

W: www.herederoshunting.com

THE CONKLIN FOUNDATION

Bradford Black

E15

3 - DAY RED STAG HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN SPAIN IBERIAN HUNTERS

Luis Ruiz Del Olmo

P: +34.620.28.3418

E: luisruizdelolmo@outlook.es

W: www.iberianhunters.com THE CONKLIN FOUNDATION

Bradford Black

FIREARMS/OPTICS

F1

COLT SAUER SPORTING RIFLE

.300 WIN MAG W/CUSTOM ENGRAVING OF A BIGHORN SHEEP (Made between 1974-1985) (100% FULLY DONATED)

JIM MILLER

P: 916.804.9225

F2

SIG SAUER - CROSS-MAGNUM SAWTOOTH 7 PRC WITH TANGO - DMR RIFLESCOPE (100% FULLY DONATED)

SIG SAUER

P: 603.418.8102

E: samantha.knight@sigsauer.com

W: www.sigsauer.com

F3

CUSTOM BUILT INTER ARMS .375 H&H MAG WITH 6X32 ZEISS SCOPE

JIM TRAVIS

P: 520.241.0641

E: jtravis17@hotmail.com

F4

“SPECIAL FNAWS EDITION” REMINGTON 700 7MM MAG (100% FULLY DONATED)

DALE & DONNA GAUGLER

P: 610.909.6000

E: gauglerd@aol.com

E14

F4

FNAWS LOGO ON REVERSE OF STOCK

F2

F5

ONE-OF-A-KIND CUSTOM ENGRAVED .44 DESERT EAGLE PISTOL (100% FULLY DONATED) MAGNUM RESEARCH Jodi Deporter www.magnumresearch.com

F6

CUSTOM BUILT SHEEP SHOW EDITION 7 PRC RIFLE (100% FULLY DONATED) HIGH VOLTAGE ARMORY

Troy Sturgill P: 541.260.1751 E: hvarmory@aol.com

F7

SWAROVSKI BINOCULARS SLC 10X42

LIFE MEMBER: CLEVE HOLLOWAY

F8

HUSKEMAW OPTIC - BD

5-20X50 SCOPE (100% FULLY DONATED) BEST OF THE WEST/HUSKEMAW P: 866-754-7618

E: info@bestofthewestarms.com W: BestoftheWestArms.com

F9

VORTEX RAZOR HD 13-39X56 ANGLED SPOTTING SCOPE (100% FULLY DONATED) VORTEX Paul Neess P: 608.662.1067

E: pneess@vortexoptics.com W: www.vortexoptics.com

F10

VORTEX RAZOR HD LHT 3-15X42 RIFLESCOPE (100% FULLY DONATED)

VORTEX Paul Neess P: 608.662.1067

E: pneess@vortexoptics.com W: www.vortexoptics.com

F11

MATHEWS BOW - 70LBS MODEL VERTIX LIFE MEMBER: CLEVE HOLLOWAY

F12

BI-CENTENNIAL LIMAN 45-70 - COLLECTORS FIREARM IN WOOD CASE (100% FULLY DONATED) DAVID & LORI PALMER

FIREARMS/OPTICS

F13

GUNWERKS MAGNUS MTX

RIFLE SYSTEM IN 7 MM PRC

W/TRAINING SCHOOL

(100% FULLY DONATED)

GUNWERKS

Neal Emery • P: 307.290.7289

E: n.emery@gunwerks.com

W: www.gunwerks.com

F14

WOMEN HUNT ® WEATHERBY VANGUARD CAMILLA WILDERNESS

RIFLE 6.5 CREEDMOOR

(right-handed)

FRIENDS OF WSF • P: 406.404.8750

E: knieters@wildsheepfoundation.org

F15

CUSTOM 7 SAUM ULTIMATE SHEEP RIFLE - WITH A SWAROVSKI RIFLE SCOPE

ARROWHEAD RIFLES (100% FULLY DONATED)

Luke Horak

P: 319.558.8621

E: sales@arrowheadrifles.com

W: www.arrowheadrifles.com

BOOTH #564

FURS

FU1

MAHOGANY MINK FULL

LENGTH FUR (This fur is non-exchangeable, size roomy large)

WILLIAM FURS

Caline Asmar

P: 775.828.0995

E: williamsfurs@yahoo.com

W: www.williamfurs.com

FU2

BLUE FOX BOMBER JACKET

(This fur is non-exchangeable, roomy size small)

WILLIAM FURS

Caline Asmar

P: 775.828.0995

E: williamsfurs@yahoo.com

W: www.williamfurs.com

FU1

FU2

JEWELRY

J1

THE PEARLS OF ORHID (100% FULLY DONATED)

SAFARI INTERNATIONAL MACEDONIA

Zlatko Sokolik

P: +389.70.219.080

E: safariinternacional@gmail.com

W: www.interhunts.com

J2

NATURAL TANZANITE AND DIAMOND BRACELET SEET IN 14K WHITE GOLD

BARANOF JEWELERS

Tony Hernandez P: 435.658.3877

E: baranofjewelers@msn.com

W: www.Baranofjewelers.com

BOOTH #1031

J3

NATURAL TANZANITE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE SET IN 18K GOLD

BARANOF JEWELERS

Tony Hernandez P: 435.658.3877

E: baranofjewelers@msn.com

W: www.Baranofjewelers.com

BOOTH #1031

J4

NATURAL FANCY YELLOW DIAMOND NECKLACE SET IN 18K GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS

Tony Hernandez P: 435.658.3877

E: baranofjewelers@msn.com

W: www.Baranofjewelers.com

BOOTH #1031

J5

ONE-OF-A-KIND 14K GOLD MEN'S BIGHORN SHEEP RING - SIZE 11 1/2 (100% FULLY DONATED)

R. Keith Hite

P: 717.433.0101

E: hiterk@verizon.net

J6

ALEXANDRITE & DIAMOND RING (Accompanied by a GIA Certificate & 3rd party appraisal)

BRILLIANT STARS

P: 516.365.9000

E: nicole@brilliantstars.com

W: www.brilliantstars.com

THE CONKLIN FOUNDATION

Bradford Black

JEWELRY

J7

NATURAL ZAMBIAN EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING SET IN 14 KARAT WHITE GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS

Tony Hernandez

P: 435.658.3877

E: baranofjewelers@msn.com

W: www.Baranofjewelers.com BOOTH #1031

J8

NATURAL OPAL AND DIAMOND RING - SET IN 14K GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS THE CONKLIN FOUNDATION

Bradford Black

J9

NATURAL DIAMOND RIVIERA NECKLACE SET IN 18K WHITE GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS

Tony Hernandez

P: 435.658.3877

E: baranofjewelers@msn.com

W: www.Baranofjewelers.com

J10

NATURAL TANZANITE AND DIAMOND RING SET IN 14 KARAT WHITE GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS

Tony Hernandez

P: 435.658.3877

E: baranofjewelers@msn.com

W: www.Baranofjewelers.com BOOTH #1031

J11

NATURAL BLUE ZIRCON AND DIAMOND RING SET IN 14 KARAT WHITE GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS (100% FULLY DONATED)

J12

NATURAL COLOMBIAN EMERALD AND DIAMOND NECKLACE SET IN 18 KARAT WHITE GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS

J13

NATURAL YELLOW DIAMOND RING SET IN 18K WHITE GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS

J14

NATURAL PIGEON BLOOD RUBY AND DIAMOND BANGLE SET IN 14 KARAT WHITE GOLD BARANOF JEWELERS

MERCHANDISE

M1

FNAWS HORN MUGS ORIGINAL ART ANTLERED ART

Todd Strupp P: 715.642.3937

E: toddstrupp@gmail.com W: www.antleredmugworks.com

M2

TWO HORN GOBLET ORIGINAL ART ANTLERED ART

Todd Strupp

M3

(2) WOLF HIDES FOR AUCTION

JIM TRAVIS

P: 520.241.0641

E: jtravis17@hotmail.com

M4

HOME THEATER SIMULATION

HUNTING PACKAGE - INCLUDES WEAPONS AND MULTIPLE GAMES

LASER SHOT

Alan Winslette

P: 281.240.1122

E: tradeshows@lasershot.com W: www.lasershot.com

M5

CALIFORNIA KING SIZE SHEARED BEAVER BEDSPREAD

JIM TRAVIS P: 520.241.0641

E: jtravis17@hotmail.com

M6

WSF - VIP TABLE FOR 2026 LADIES LUNCHEON IN RENO WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION - LADIES LUNCHEON COMMITTEE P: 406.404.8750

M7

WSF - UPGRADED VIP TABLE 2026 SHEEP SHOW Sold at Each Live Auction!

M8 SINGLE SHEEP HEAD JUNIPER CHANDELIER

WYO BACKCOUNTRY DECOR

Josh & Jenny Taylor

P: 307.899.4553 or 4645

E: wyobackcountrydecor@gmail.com

W: www.wyobackcountrydecor.com

SAMPLE OF WORK

SAMPLE OF WORK

MERCHANDISE

M9

WYO BACKCOUNTRY CUSTOM REPLICA OF YOUR NA WILD SHEEP

WYO BACKCOUNTRY DECOR

Josh & Jenny Taylor

P: 307.899.4553 or 4645

E: wyobackcountrydecor@gmail.com W: www.wyobackcountrydecor.com

M10

DALL SHEEP HORN VASE ON A ROCK BASE WYO BACKCOUNTRY DECOR

M11

THE TACTICAL - T-4-16-HD CUSTOM SERIES

TACTICAL HEARING

Tim Sparks

P: 801.822.6888

E: tim@tacticalhearing.com W: www.tacticalhearing.com

M12

BIGHORN SHEEP SKULL EMBEDDED IN TREE - FOUND BY STANLEY POTTS - IDAHO (100% FULLY DONATED)

JIM PARKER - PARKER TOYOTA

P: 208.661.0806

M13

BEARTOOTH BILLY

(100% FULLY DONATED)

MOUNTAIN GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY

Tessa Fowler

P: 307.250.9424

E: wyomingmountaingirl@hotmail.com W: www.mountaingirlphotography@ shootproof.com

M14

TROPHY ROOM CLEANING

(100% FULLY DONATED)

HEADHUNTER TROPHY CARE LLC

Wade West

P: 817.988.2312

E: trophycare@rocketmail.com

M15

KENETREK BRIDGER HIGH HIKER

KENETREK (100% FULLY DONATED)

Jim & Christine Winjum

P: 406.556.5780

E: jim.w@kenetrek.com W: www.kenetrek.com

M16

KENETREK MOUNTAIN EXTREME 400 MEN’S BOOT

M17

KENETREK MOUNTAIN EXTREME 400 WOMENS BOOTS

M11

M10 M12

M13

M14

M18

CUSTOM FELT HAT (100% FULLY DONATED)

CHAZ MITCHELL CUSTOM HATS

P: 435.559.1917

E: chaz@chazhatz.com

W: www.chazhatz.com

M19

CUSTOM HORN CRADLE W/WSF LIFE & SUMMIT CHALLENGE COIN

FRIENDS OF WSF AND SUMMIT LIFE MEMBER TIM SCHOMMER

M20

DELUXE EDITION OF GARY SWANSON'S WORLD OF WILDLIFE

PAINTINGS LIMITED EDITION #15/1245 BOOK (100% FULLY DONATED)

KRUGER FAMILY TRUST

M21

M1 MATRIX TARGET SYSTEM MODULAR ARCHERY TARGET (100% FULLY DONATED)

MATRIX TARGETS, LLC

Kevin Peterson

P: 406.698.8235

E: kevin@matrixtargets.com

W: www.matrixtargets.com

M22

KIFARU HUNTING GEAR (100% FULLY DONATED)

KENZIE GATES

P: 307.370.7981

E: kenzie@kifaru.net

W: www.kifaru.net

M23

AZYRE - WILDLY HIGHPERFORMANCE GEAR FOUNDED BY AVID HUNTER AND OUTDOORSWOMAN (100% FULLY DONATED)

AZYRE Cari Goss

E: contact@azyregear.com

W: www.azyregear.com

M24

KING OF THE CLARKS FORK (100% FULLY DONATED)

MOUNTAIN GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY

Tessa Fowler

P: 307.250.9424

E: wyomingmountaingirl@hotmail.com

W: www.mountaingirlphotography@shootproof.com

M25

ZEBRA RUG FROM ZIMBABWE PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE STUDIOS (100% FULLY DONATED)

Chris Cammack

P: 605.515.0769

E: prairiemountain@goldenwest.net

M18 M19

M20

M21

M23

M24

M25

N. AMERICAN HUNTS

NA1

10 - DAY DALL’S SHEEP/ ARCTIC GRIZZLY/BARREN GROUND

CARIBOU HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN ALASKA’S ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE OR (Hunter’s Choice) 10 DAY DALL’S SHEEP/ BROWN BEAR/BLACK BEAR IN THE LEGENDARY SOUTH WRANGELLS (Wrangell St. Elias Preserve) ALASKA OUTFITTERS UNLIMITED

Aaron Bloomquist

P: 907.982.2471

E: bloomya@hotmail.com

W: www.alaskaoutfittersunlimited.com

W: www.huntalaska.net

NA2

10 - DAY SPRING GRIZZLY BEAR & WOLF HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER

MIDNIGHT SUN SAFARIS

Coke Wallace

P: 907.978.0929

E: info@midnightsunsafaris.com

W: www.midnightsunsafaris.com

NA3

12 - DAY MOUNTAIN GOAT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA FOR 1 HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED FOR WSF THINHORN INITIATIVE)

GOLDEN BEAR OUTFITTING

Blake Williams

P: 250.794.8350

E: gbowilliams@gmail.com

W: www.goldenbearoutfitting.com

NA4

5 - DAY ARIZONA MOUNTAIN LION HUNT WITH HOUNDS FOR 1 HUNTER

DIAMOND OUTFITTERS

Dan and Terri Adler

P: 520.730.8147

E: Dan@DiamondOutfitters.com

W: www.DiamondOutfitters.com

NA5

5 - DAY COUES DEER HUNT FOR 4 HUNTERS (with free mountain lion bonus) IN ARIZONA DIAMOND OUTFITTERS

Dan and Terri Adler

P: 520.730.8147

E: Info@DiamondOutfitters.com

W: www.DiamondOutfitters.com and www.ZeroOutfitterFees.com

NA6

2 PERSON/2 HOUR HELICOPTER HOG HUNT HELIBACON

Chris Britt

P: 281.802.0397

E: chris.britt@helibacon.com

W: www.helibacon.com

NA2

NA3

NA4

NA5

NA6

NA7

12 - DAY SPRING KODIAK ISLAND

BROWN BEAR HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER

ROHRER BEAR CAMP

Sam Rohrer

P: 907.486.4074

C: 907.539.1828

E: sam@kodiakbearcamp.com W: kodiakbearcamp.com

NA8

10 - DAY ALASKA-YUKON

MOOSE HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN NORTHWEST ALASKA

FREELANCE OUDOOR ADVENTURES

Lance Kronberger

P: 907.854.2822

E: freelanceOA@mac.com

W: www.freelanceoutdooradventures.com

NA9

5 - DAY COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL DEER AND BLACK BEAR COMBO HUNT IN OREGON FOR 1 HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED)

EDEN RIDGE OUTFITTERS

John McCollum

P: 541.290.2671

E: edenridgehunts@gmail.com

W: www.edenridgeoutfitters.com

NA10

10 - DAY MOUNTAIN CARIBOU HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN NWT CANADA (100% FULLY DONATED)

RAVEN’S THROAT OUTFITTERS

Griz & Ginger Turner

P: 867.332.7286

E: hunts@ravensthroat.com W: www.ravensthroat.com

NA11

4 - DAY MULE DEER HUNT FOR 2 HUNTERS

SHOSHONE LODGE OUTIFTTERS & TRAILS WEST OUTFITTERS

Josh Martoglio P: 307.899.4673

E: shoshonelodgeoutfitters@gmail.com

W: www.shoshonelodgeoutfitters.com

NA12

10 - DAY ALASKA YUKON MOOSE BACKPACK HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER NWT OUTFITTERS

NAHANNI BUTTE OUTFITTERS

Jim & Nadine Lancaster/Clay Lancaster

P: 250.847.1855

E: jladventures@xplornet.com

W: www.lancasterfamilyhunting.com

N. AMERICAN HUNTS

NA13

2 - DAY HUNT FOR HYBRID EUROPEAN MOUFLON/HAWAIIAN SHEEP FOR 1 HUNTER AND 1 DAY DEEP SEA FISHING FOR UP TO 3 PEOPLE (100% FULLY DONATED)

MAUNA LOA OUTFITTERS

Colin Onaka - WSF Life Member

Steven Onaka • P: 808.960.7373

E: MaunaLoaOutfitters@gmail.com

Capt. Mark Bartell of the Ambush P: 808.366.4808

NA14

9 - DAY ALASKAN HUNT FOR 2 MOUNTAIN GOATS AND 1 SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER FOR 1 HUNTER KODIAK OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Paul Chervenak • P: 907.486.3008

E: paul@kodiakoutdoors.com W: www.kodiakoutdoors.com

NA15

14 - DAY SPRING ARCTIC GRIZZLY BEAR ADVENTURE (Tag and license are included)

CANADA NORTH OUTFITTING

Tony Mudd • P: 775.690.6300

E: Tmudd@canadanorthoutfitting.com

W: www.canadanorthoutfitting.com

NA16

7 - DAY WALRUS ARCTIC ADVENTURE HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER (Tag and license are included)

CANADA NORTH OUTFITTING

Tony Mudd P: 775.690.6300

E: Tmudd@canadanorthoutfitting.com W: www.canadanorthoutfitting.com THE CONKLIN FOUNDATION

NA17

5 - DAY BULL ELK HUNT IN NEW MEXICO FOR 1 HUNTER AND 1 NON-HUNTER (PROCEEDS OF THIS HUNT WILL GO TO BENEFIT THE RANCHITOS DE LOS NINOS CHILDRENS HOME IN NEW MEXICO) FOUR DAUGHTERS RANCH

Mike Mechenbier P: 505.388.2902

E: accounting@4dcattle.com W: www.elranchitonm.org

NA18

5 - DAY COUES DEER HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN ARIZONA LET’ER RIP OUTFITTER & GUIDE SERVICE

Bill Babiash • P: 520.370.5457

E: badbullz@aol.com

NA19

10 - DAY LA PALMOSA DESERT SHEEP HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER AND 2 NON-HUNTERS (100% FULLY DONATED)

LA PALMOSA - HUNTING OUTFITTER

Emilio Espino

P: +521.811.916.4668

E: info@lapalmosa.com

NA20

6 - DAY ALBERTA WHITETAIL DEER HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED)

CARTER OUTFITTING LTD.

Scott Carter

P: 780.977.8188

E: carteroutfitting@gmail.com W: www.carteroutfitting.com

NA21

12 - DAY DALL’S SHEEP/WOLF/ WOLVERINE HUNT IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES FOR 1 HUNTER & 1 NON-HUNTER

GANA RIVER OUTFITTERS LTD.

Harold Grinde

P: 403.357.8414

E: ganariver@pentnet.net

W: www.ganariver.com

NA22

3 1/2 - DAY AOUDAD HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN WEST TEXAS HIGH WEST OUTFITTERS

Jim Breck Bean P: 915.526.3001

E: highwestoutfitter@yahoo.com W: www.highwestoutfitter.com

NA23

12 - DAY STONE’S SHEEP HUNT IN NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA (100% PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT NW BC STONE’S SHEEP INITIATIVES) SPATSIZI RIVER OUTFITTERS

P: 250.847.9692

E: mike_gilson@bcsafaris.com

E: admin@spatsizi.com

W: www.spatsizi.com

NA24

5 - DAY COLUMBIA BLACK-TAIL DEER & COASTAL BLACK BEAR HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED) SPOON CREEK OUTFITTERS

Ken Wilson

P: 541.396.2726

E: spooncreek13@gmail.com

NA19

NA20

NA22

NA24

NA23

NA21

N. AMERICAN HUNTS

NA25

10 - DAY CHIHUAHUA DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP HUNT

RANCHO LA GUARIDA

Jose Antonio Vallina Laguera

P: 011.52.1614.427.0840

E: jav@laguaridaranch.com

W: www.laguaridaranch.com

NA26

WWO 6-DAY ALASKA PENINSULA BARREN GROUND CARIBOU HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER & 1 WWO HUNTER WOUNDED WARRIOR OUTDOORS

Cherise Tredo

P: 863.860.2322

E: wwocherise@gmail.com

W: www.woundedwarrioroutdoors.org

NA27

4 - DAY GATOR, HOG AND THERMAL PREDATOR HUNT IN FLORIDA FOR 1 HUNTER AND 1 NON-HUNTER WITH WWO WOUNDED WARRIOR OUTDOORS

Cherise Tredo

P: 863.860.2322

E: wwocherise@gmail.com

W: woundedwarrioroutdoors.org

NA28

6 - DAY RIFLE ONLY HUNT FOR ELK IN MONTANA FOR 1 HUNTER

JACK CREEK PRESERVE FOUNDATION

Abi King

P: 406.682.3358

E: aking@jackcreekpreserve.org

W: www.jackcreekpreserve.org

NA29

3 - DAY ILLINOIS WHITETAIL DEER MUZZLELOADER HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER & 1 NON-HUNTERHOSTED BY JANA WALLER BAIR & FILMED FOR SKULL BOUND CHRONICLES ON CARBONTV (100% FULLY DONATED)

ALPHA WHITETAILS

Jeff Mealy

P: 717.648.4178

E: alphawhitetails.net

W: www.awhitetails@gmail.com

NA30

2025 YETI SURPRISE PRESENTS!!

5 - DAY MULE DEER HUNT IN NEW MEXICO FOR 1 HUNTER & BEST OF THE WEST CUSTOM SHEEP RIFLE W/HUSKEMAW SCOPE (100% FULLY DONATED)

FRONTIER OUTFITTING & BOTW/HUSKEMAW

7 OPPORTUNITIES TO WIN!! FUNDS WILL GO TO WSF ENDOWMENT

N. AMERICAN

NA31

7 - DAY SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER AND SEA DUCK HUNT FOR 4 HUNTERS ON KODIAK ISLAND

DEREK BLAKE - ENCHANTRESS EXPEDITIONS

Derek Blake

P: 907.830.8528

E: akderek@gmail.com

WOMEN HUNT

RUBYE MAYFLOWER

BLAKE LEGACY FUND

NA32

10 - DAY CANADIAN MOOSE HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED)

FULL CURL STONE OUTFITTERS

Luke Vince

P: 587.988.2930

E: luke_vince@hotmail.com

NA33

6 - DAY BEAR HUNT FOR 2 HUNTERS IN ALBERTA (Includes 2 bears each hunter) (100% FULLY DONATED) SHERWOOD OUTFITTERS

Tyler McMahon

P: 780.914.0431

E: sherwoodoutfitters69@gmail.com

W: www.sherwoodoutfitters.com

NA34

5 - DAY AOUDAD SHEEP HUNT ON THE WILLIAMS RANCH IN TEXAS FOR 1 HUNTER

ROWDY MCBRIDE HUNTING SERVICES

Rowdy McBride

P: 432.837.2047

C: 432.553.4724

E: rowdymcbride@sbcglobal.net

NA35

NEVADA UNIT 231 PRIVATE LANDOWNER ELK TAG FOR 1 HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED) PEPPERMILL CASINO & GEYSER RANCH

Albert D. Seeno Jr. & Blue Mountain Ranches of Nevada LLC

P: 925.671.7711

S. AFRICA HUNTS

SAF1

3 - DAY BLESBOK & BLACK WILDEBEEST HUNT AND 2 DAYS OF FISHING FOR 1 HUNTER IN SOUTH AFRICA

(100% FULLY DONATED)

J P BIG GAME SAFARIS

Dean & Juan Pace

P: +27.732.137.902

E: jpsafaris@outlook.com

W: www.jpsafaris.com

SAF2

3 - DAY COW BUFFALO HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN SOUTH AFRICA (100% FULLY DONATED)

J P BIG GAME SAFARIS

Dean & Juan Pace

SAF3

5 - DAY WATERBUCK HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER IN SOUTH AFRICA (100% FULLY DONATED)

J P BIG GAME SAFARIS

Dean & Juan Pace

SAF4

7 - DAY SOUTH AFRICAN HUNT FOR 4 HUNTERS ($1,000 credit towards trophy fee, single hunter can be entitled to one credit) (100% FULLY DONATED)

IBAMBA SAFARIS

Johan & Zelda Pretorius

P: +27832261690

E: johan@ibambasafaris.com

W: www.ibambasafaris.com

SAF5

5 - DAY/5 NIGHT EXCLUSIVE “BIG 5” PHOTO SAFARI FOR 2 PEOPLE WITH LUXURY LODGING MATTHEW GREEFF SAFARIS

Matthew & Sylvia Greeff

P: +27.83.265.2824

E: mgsafari@iafrica.com

W: www.matthewgreeffsafaris.com

SAF6

7 - DAY KUDU, GEMSBUCK, ZEBRA & WILDEBEEST FOR 2 HUNTERS

(100% FULLY DONATED)

QUAGGA SAFARIS

Erik Visser

P: 27.827.795.207

E: safari@quagga.co.za

W: www.quaggasafari.com

SAF7

5 - DAY HUNT FOR RED HARTEBEEST, BLUE WILDEBEEST, ZEBRA, BLESBUCK, WARTHOG & IMPALA FOR 3 HUNTERS (Trophy Fees for 6 mentioned species to be split between 3 hunters)

SUPERIOR AFRICAN HUNTING SAFARIS

Eli Van Der Walt/Jeffrey Austin

P: 830.313.8724

E: rancho1024@yahoo.com

W: www.superiorsafaris.com

NAMIBIA

SAF8

NAMIBIA VELD TO FORK

10 - DAY SAFARI ADVENTURE FOR 12 PEOPLE

ARU

Danene vd Westhuyzen

P: +002.648.1129.5536

E: danene@arugamelodges.com W: www.arusafaris.com

SAM1

3 - DAY/3 - NIGHT DOVE HUNT IN ARGENTINA FOR 4 HUNTERS AND 4 NON-HUNTERS (100% FULLY DONATED)

NORTE HUNTERS

Paula Cardelle

P: 972.528.4770

E: nortehunters@gmail.com W: www.nortehunters.com

SAM1

S. PACIFIC HUNTS

SP1

5 - DAY NEW ZEALAND RED

STAG HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER AND 1 NON-HUNTER (Trophy fee for 1 red stag scoring up to 550” SCI included)

SPEY CREEK TROPHY HUNTING

Wyatt McBride

P: 830.444.2128

E: hunt@sctrophyhunting.com

W: www.sctrophyhunting.com

SP2

10 - DAY NEW ZEALAND BIG GAME SAFARI FOR 2 HUNTERS

($5,000 trophy fee for red deer up to 360 SCI is included, each hunter is responsible for paying trophy fees for a bull tahr ($7,500) and the Alpine chamois ($4,500)

NEW ZEALAND HORN & ANTLER SAFARIS

Craig Dempster

P: +64.3.689.1377

E: hunt@hornandantler.com

W: www.hornandantler.com

SP3

5 - DAY BULL TAHR HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER (100% FULLY DONATED)

BLACKSTONE OUTFITTERS NZ

Sarah Walker

P: 64.27.488.6601

E: info@blackstoneoutfitters.nz

W: www.blackstoneoutfitters.nz

SP4

5 - DAY HIMALAYAN BULL TAHR HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER AND 1 NON-HUNTER IN NEW ZEALAND REAL KIWI HUNTING LIMITED

Maddie Brennan

P: 64.27.506.7316

E: contact@realkiwihunting.com

W: www.realkiwihunting.com

SP5

5 - DAY/4-NIGHT TAHR HUNT IN NEW ZEALAND & $500 CREDIT TOWARDS CHAMOIS 1 HUNTER AND 1 NON-HUNTER

(Trophy fee for Tahr and $500 hunt credit towards a chamois included) ZION HUNT NZ

Zion Pilgrim

P: 64.275.604.952

E: zion@zionhuntnz.com

W: www.zionhuntnz.com

SP2

SP3

SP4

SP5

S. PACIFIC HUNTS

SP6

5 - DAY HIMALAYAN BULL TAHR HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER & 1 NON-HUNTER IN NEW ZEALAND (100% FULLY DONATED)

RANGITATA HIGH COUNTRY HUNTING - NEW ZEALAND

Steve Brown

P: +64.03.696.3969

E: steve@rangitatahunting.com

W: www.rangitatahunting.com

SP7

5 - DAY NEW ZEALAND HUNT FOR 2 HUNTERS FOR 2X RED STAG, ALPINE GOAT, ARAPAWA RAM & CHAMOIS (Trophy fees for 1 chamois, 1 Arapawa ram, 1 Alpine goat and a $1,000 credit towards 2 red stags is included.)

FOUR SEASONS SAFARIS NEW ZEALAND

Shane Johnston

C: 011.64.274.399129

USA Cell- Jan/Feb: 214.535.9265

E: info@fourseasons.co.nz

W: www.fourseasons.co.nz

BOOTH #1230

TAX1

LIFE-SIZE NORTH AMERICAN SHEEP MOUNT (100% FULLY DONATED) THE WILDLIFE GALLERY

Dan & Charlotte Catlin

P: 989.561.5369

E: dan@thewildlifegallery.com

W: www.thewildlifegallery.com

TAX2

LIFE-SIZE WILD SHEEP MOUNT WITH HABITAT AND BASE DEER CREEK WILDLIFE STUDIO

Josh Hunt

P: 307.272.3718

E: deercreekwildlife@icloud.com

W: www.deercreekwildlifestudio.com

TAX3

LIFE-SIZE WILD SHEEP MOUNT WITH HABITAT (100% FULLY DONATED) CEDAR MOUNTAIN TAXIDERMY

Donny & Rachel Paul

P: 307.250.8918

E: cedarmountaintaxidermy@gmail.com

TAXIDERMY

TAX4

LIFE-SIZE WILD SHEEP MOUNT WITH BASE ZIMMERMAN WILDLIFE

Marcus & Ken Zimmerman

P: 814.793.2821

E: ken@zimmermanwildlife.net

W: www.zimmermanwildlife.net

TAX5

SOFT MOUNTED WOLF FOUNDATION FOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (F4WM)

Justin Webb – Executive Director

P: 208-610-4455

E: info@f4wm.org

TRIPS/ADVENTURES

TR1

WINE TASTING FOR 50 PEOPLE ANYWHERE IN THE CONTINENTAL USA (2 of these Wine Tasting will be available for auction) AFRICAN TRADITION

Clive Botha • P: 561.379.8243

E: blksem7@aol.com

W: www.sabestwine.com

TR2

4-DAY/3-NIGHT FISHING TRIP FOR CHINOOK SALMON, COHO SALMON, LINGCOD AND HALIBUT FOR 2 ANGLERS (100% FULLY DONATED) QUEEN CHARLOTTE LODGE (QCL HAIDA GWAII)

Travis Smith • P: 604.992.4310

E: tsmith@fishocl.com

W: www.fishqcl.com

TR3

2 - DAY INAUGURAL BIGHORN ON THE BOW FLY FISHING TOURNMENT

- HOSTED BY ALBERTA WSF! (100% FULLY DONATED) WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION ALBERTA

Mike Smith

P: 403.700.7746

E: mike@wsfab.org

W: www.wsfab.org

TR4

6 - DAYS IN ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO WITH 4-DAYS OF FISHING FOR 1 ANGLER AND 20% OFF FOR ADDITIONAL ANGLERS (100% FULLY DONATED) LAD SHUNNESON ADVENTURES & KEN WILSON CONSULTANT

Lad Shunneson

P: 303.258.7777

C: 720.503.7666

E: ladadventures@webtv.net

TR5

4 - DAY/3 - NIGHT EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURE AT LA PALMOSA FOR 6 PEOPLE

(Culinary experience, wildlife viewing, spa and much more!) 100% FULLY DONATED

LA PALMOSA

Emilio Espino

P: 52.818.181.2924

E: info@lapalmosa.com

W: www.lapalmosa.com

TR6

(2 TRIPS FOR 2025 SHEEP SHOW) 8TH ANNUAL WILD SHEEP

JURASSIC CLASSIC STURGEON FISHING TOURNAMENT • 2 - DAY TRIP FOR 2 ANGLERS JURASSIC CLASSIC COMMITTEEWSSBC AND GOABC

Trevor Carruthers

P: 250.919.5386

E: trevor.carruthers@shaw.ca

TR7

$3,800 CREDIT FOR TWO PEOPLE FOR A RAFTING TRIP IN IDAHO (credit can be used for 4 days or buyer can upgrade for 6-7 days) (100% FULLY DONATED)

BARKER TROPHY HUNTS / BARKER RIVER EXPEDITIONS

Jon Barker

P: 208.836.5551

C: 509.780.9599

E: barker@barkerriver.com

W: barkerriver.com

TR8

5 - DAY ALL INCLUSIVE FRESHWATER FISHING ADVENTURE FOR 2 ANGLERS AT THE BEAUTIFUL AYLMER LAKE LODGE - NWT CANADA (100% FULLY DONATED) CANADIAN WILDLIFE ADVENTURES

Kevin McNeil

P: 780.536.7290

E: kevin@canadianwildlifeadventures.com

W: www.candianwildlifeadventures.com

TR9

5 - DAY/4 - NIGHT LODGING FOR 6 PEOPLE IN CABO

2 - DAYS FISHING

MAR VIDA

Nicole O’Neil

P: 512.966.2004

E: stayandplay@redrumcabo.com

W: https://marvidacabo.com

TRIPS/ADVENTURES

TR10

ONE WEEK STAY IN A MOUNTAIN CABIN IN THE BEAUTIFUL BIGHORN MOUNTAINS OF WYOMING (100% FULLY DONATED)

JEFF GEIGER

P: 614.668.8222

E: jeffrey_geiger@ml.com

TR11

6 - NIGHT/5 - DAY HALIBUT & SALMON FISHING TRIP FOR 2 ANGLERS IN KENAI, ALASKA SALMON CATCHER LODGE

Justin & Gloria Hilgendorff

P: 518.965.5264

E: salmoncatcherlodge2001@gmail.com

W: www.salmoncatcherlodge.com

PERMITS

ALASKA CHUGACH

DALL’S SHEEP TAG ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME

Thomas Lohuis

P: 907.267.2412

E: thomas.lohuis@alaska.gov

ALASKA UNIMAK ISLAND BROWN BEAR GOVERNOR’S PERMIT

Director: Caleb Martin

P: 907.740.1702

E: direector@akoutdoorcouncil.com

W: www.alaskaoutdoorcouncil.com

WYOMING GAME & FISH COMMISSIONER TAG 2025 WYOMING GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT

DARYL LUTZ

P:307.332.2688

E: daryl.lutz@wyo.gov

WYOMING WILDLIFE FEDERATION & MORE THAN GATHERS

Joy Banno - Executive Director

PERMITS

ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE, ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP

ALBERTA PROFESSIONAL OUTFITTERS

Jeana Schuurman

P: 780.404.0588

E: jeana@apos.ab.ca

W: www.apos.ab.ca.com

ARIZONA DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP

ARIZONA GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT

Callie Cavalcant - Terrestrial Wildlife Branch

P: 623.236.7355

E: ccavalcant@azgfd.gov

ARIZONA GAME & FISH

COMMISSIONER’S SPECIAL PRONGHORN TAG

ARIZONA GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT

Callie Cavalcant - Terrestrial Wildlife Branch

P: 623.236.7355

W: www.azgfd.gov

ARIZONA ANTELOPE FOUNDATION

E: info@azantelope.org

W: www.azantelope.org

BRITISH COLUMBIA MOUNTAIN SHEEP SPECIAL HUNTING PERMIT

BC FISH & WILDLIFE BRANCH, MINISTRY OF FORESTS AND THE HABITAT CONSERVATION

TRUST FOUNDATION

Michael Burwash

P: 250.312.7305

Alicia Bates

P: 250.739.8683

PERMITS

COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN

BIGHORN SHEEP LICENSE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

BIGHORN SOCIETY

Terry Meyers, Executive Director - RMBS

E: meyers.terry@gmail.com

P: 970.640.6892

(2 Navajo Tags Available for 2025 Sheep Show)

NAVAJO NATION DESERT BIGHORN

NAVAJO NATION DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE

Jeff Cole

P: 928.871.6595

E: jcole@nndfw.org

NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION

BIGHORN SHEEP PERMIT

NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION

Todd Nordeen

P: 308.763.2940

STATE OF NEVADA NELSON

DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP TAG

STATE OF NEVADA

DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

P: 775.688.1556 – Mike Cox

STATE OF NEVADA PRONGHORN TAG

STATE OF NEVADA

DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

P: 775.688.1659 – Cody Schroeder

2025 OREGON BIGHORN SHEEP TAG

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE

Don Whittaker

P: 503.947.6325

don.whittaker@state.or.us

2025 OREGON SPECIAL PRONGHORN ANTELOPE AUCTION TAG

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE

Don Whittaker

503.947.6325

don.whittaker@state.or.us

TAOS PUEBLO ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP PERMIT

TAOS PUEBLO DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Michael A. Martinez- Hunt Manager P: 575.779.4105

E: hunting@taospueblo.com

STATE OF WASHINGTON

CALIFORNIA BIGHORN SHEEP

STATE OF WASHINGTON

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Kyle Garrison

Ungulate Section Manager

Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

P: 360.584.3315

E: kyle.garrison@dfw.wa.gov

PERMITS

NEW MEXICO DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME & FISH - WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Nicole Tatman

C: 505.469.3966

Katie Piecora

C: 505.538.0825

Caitlin Ruhl

C: 505.414.5029

NEW MEXICO ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP PERMIT

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME & FISH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Nicole Tatman

C: 505.469.3966

Katie Piecora

C: 505.538.0825

Caitlin Ruhl

C: 505.414.5029

NEW MEXICO BIG GAME ENHANCEMENT PACKAGE

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME & FISH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Nicole Tatman

C: 505.469.3966

Katie Piecora

C: 505.538.0825

Caitlin Ruhl

C: 505.414.5029

COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT LICENSE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT ALLIANCE

Carla Rhyant

E: info@goatalliance.org

STATE OF MONTANA

BIGHORN SHEEP LICENSE

MONTANA FISH

WILDLIFE & PARKS

Emily Cooper

P: 406.444.2663

E: Emily.Cooper@mt.gov

WYOMING GOVERNOR’S SHIRAS MOOSE LICENSE (2 FOR 2025 SHEEP SHOW)

WYOMING GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT

Tim Thomas (WGFD)

P: 307.752.0659

E: tim.thomas@wyo.gov

Kurt Eisenach (WY-WSF)

P: 307.751.6251

E: keyes555@msn.com

WYOMING ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP LICENSE

WYOMING GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT

Daryl Lutz - WGFD

P: 307.332.2688

E: daryl.lutz@wyo.gov

Kurt Eisenach - WY-WSF

P: 307.751.6251

E: keyes555@msn.com

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS BRANCH OF NATURAL RESOURCES - CA

BIGHORN SHEEP PERMIT CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS BRANCH OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Austin Smith Jr - Branch of Natural Resources General Manager

P: 541.553.2046

E: wildlifetags@ctwsbnr.org

JAN . 16 -18 RENO, NV

SPONSORS ARE CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME

WSF SALUTES OUR 2025 CONVENTION SPONSORS

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PATRONIZE THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION

OFFICIAL SHEEP WEEK® SPONSOR

PRESENTING SPONSORS

DIAMOND SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS PLATINUM SPONSORS

Jeff & Jann Demaske

John & Jane Babler

Paul Baird

Max Banwell

Mike Borel

Wendy & Peter Burchfield

Angela Cain (3CS Timber Cutting)

Frank Cain (3CS Timber Cutting)

Julie Chapman

Sam & Tracy Cunningham

Caleb Curtis

Denis Dale

Sandra Fields

Foss

Dale & Donna Gaugler

Kevin Gilbert

Kevin Gilbert

Alan Hayes

Jeff Haynie

Martin & Jeanne Hendrix

Zach Higgins

Tom & Denise Hoffman

Shad Hulse

Bailey & Landrus Hunting Co.

Kevin Hurley

Larry & Gay Johns

Kevin Kehoe

Dan & Jessica Kluth

Robert & Marion Logan

Gordon Lyons

Josh & Kelcie Martin

Jim McEnroe

Larry & Joanne McGovern

Don & Danette Perrien

Drs. Glen & Caroline Pyne

Steve Quisenberry

Hank Raats

Mark Schall

Steve & Sue Skold

Kevin & Tuesdy Small

Jim & Alisia Stager

Gray & Renée Thornton

William Tittle

André Van Hilten

Bob Wallock

Jamie & Janice Wisley

JAN . 16 -18 RENO, NV

EXPO HALL DAY PASSES

THE HOLD UP: Long lines to get into the Expo Hall at the Sheep Show® mark good things coming for wild sheep conservation. It's not so good if you're standing in them.

THE SOLUTION: New for 2025, we've added a new system for easily ordering Day Passes online ahead of time. You will receive a confirmation email with a QR code to scan at a self-help station that will print your Passes.

WITH OUR THANKS: Everyone who gets their Passes online will be entered into daily drawings for optics packages from many of our optics partners.

GET YOUR DAY PASSES HERE

JAN . 16 -18

RENO, NV

JANUARY 14 - 18 • 2025 | CONVENTION SCHEDULE

TUESDAY - JAN 14

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor Registration Open RS-CC

8:30 am – 5:00 pm WAFWA Wild Sheep Initiative Meeting RS-CC – Room A8

WEDNESDAY - JAN 15

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor & Attendee Registration Open RS-CC

8:00 am – 7:00 pm Exhibitor Move-In RS-CC

8:30 am – 4:30 pm Test & Remove Workshop 3.0 RS-CC – Room A8

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pint Hour – Complimentary Beer Reception Tuscany Foyer

Sponsored by: Stone Glacier

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Hosted Bar Tuscany Ballroom

Sponsored by: Peppermill Hotel, Resort & Casino

6:00 pm – 9:30 pm Grand Opening Banquet & Auction Tuscany Ballroom

Sponsored by: 1 Shot Gear, Boone & Crocket Club, Global Rescue, & Stone Glacier Award Presentations:

• WSF Exhibitor & Donor Recognition

• Special Recognition

• Gordon Eastman’s Grass Roots Award

• Wild Sheep Biologist’s Wall of Fame Award

Entertainment: Legends of the North Campfire

Grand Opening Conservation Auction

9:30 pm – 1:00 am Sheep Camp Hospitality Tuscany Ballroom

THURSDAY – JAN 16

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor & Attendee Registration Open RS-CC

8:00 am – 9:30 am Exhibitor Welcome Breakfast RS-CC - Mt. Rose Ballroom

9:00 am – 3:00 pm ................ Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience ................................................................. RS-CC – F1-10 & Hall 5 Sponsored by: MidwayUSA Foundation

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open RS-CC Silent Auction Open - Sponsored by: Wyoming WSF RS-CC

10:00 am – 4:00 pm Book Signings RS-CC Hall 3 - WSF Dream Rams of the North – Bill Pastorek ................................................................ Membership Area Tracks on a Mountain – Jim Manley

10:00 am - 4:00 pm WSF Studio (Filming/Interviews) RS-CC Room D6

10:30 am – 2:30 pm Seminars RS-CC Rooms A2, A3 & A5

10:30 am – 3:30 pm Camp Chef Culinary Corner with Chef Joshua Schwencke Hall 3 11:00 am – 3:30 pm ............... Full Curl Cinema ........................................................................................................ RS-CC - Room A1/A6

10:30 am – 10:45 am RSCVA Press Conference – Show Opening Hall 1 Entrance

10:30 am – 11:00 am Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

From Field to Table: Breaking Down Whole Game Animals

10:30 am – 11:30 am Seminar: Trophy Importation - Kurt Alt & USFWS & Central Asian Delegation RS-CC Room A3 11:00 am - 12:00 pm .............. Full Curl Cinema: Together We Carry On ............................................................. RS-CC Room A1 Q&A with Cole Kramer

11:30 am - 12:00 pm Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3 Blade Basics: Knife Skills = Life Skills

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm............... Seminar: Glass Like & Pro & Long Range Hunting Ethics - Dan Adler ...............

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm...............

Ram/FNAWS/Mtn. Monarchs Awards Lunch

RS-CC Room A2

RS-CC - Mt. Rose Ballroom

Sponsored by: Boone and Crockett Club, WildHunting in Turkey & Asia, Terminous Mountain Outfitters, Pope and Young Club, Safari Club International, Boyt Harness Co., Alaska Professional Hunters Association, and Guides and Outfitters of British Columbia

Camp Chef Culinary Corner ................................................................................... Hall 3

Beyond Backstrap: Cooking Lesser Known Cuts

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Full Curl Cinema: Roots - A Gordon Eastman Film

Q&A with Ike Eastman

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

RS-CC Room A1

Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Wild Game Flavor Profiles: Herbs, Spices & Smoke

Seminar: Central Asian Ibex - An Affordable Argali Alternative?

Jack Atcheson, Jr.

2:00 pm – 3:15 pm Idaho-Oregon-Nevada (ION) Partnership

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Nutrition While Hunting: Chef Jaime Teigen

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Full Curl Cinema: The Summit - Full Curl Brands

3:30 pm

Q&A with Rob Gerstner

5x $1,000 Floor Credit Drawings

Need not be present to win – Check LED Wall for Winners

Sponsored by: New Mexico WSF, Northern Nevada SCI, & WSF Alberta

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Today, Tomorrow, & Forever for Wild Sheep & Past

Room A3

– Room A9

RS-CC Room A1

RS-CC - Raffle Area

President’s/Chairman’s Reception & Full Curl Spirits Tasting EDGE Nightclub

Sponsored by: Jeff Geiger/Merrill Lynch

Tasting Sponsored by: Full Curl Spirits

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm ................ Beer & Bubbly - Complimentary Reception..................................................... Tuscany Foyer

Sponsored by: Women Hunt®, Women in Hunting®, & Rubye Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Conservation Night – Banquet & Auction Tuscany Ballroom

Sponsored by: Alaska WSF, Browning, Kenetrek, SITKA Gear, Southeast Chapter WSF, Vortex, & YETI

Award Presentations:

• International Statesman Award

• Outstanding Achievement Awards

• Jack O’Connor Writers Award

• Townsend Youth Conservation Award

Drawings: (Immediately prior to Auction)

Thursday Raffle Drawing

Conservation Night Auction

10:00 pm – 2:00 am .............. Sheep Camp Hospitality .......................................................................................... Tuscany Foyer

Entertainment: Horse Packing Competition

Sponsored by: Midnight Sun Outfitters, Sherwood Outfitters & Custom Pack Rigging

FRIDAY

– JAN 17

8:00 am – 10:00 am .............. Exhibitor Breakfast ....................................................................................................

8:00 am – 1:00 pm TOUGH SHEEP workout

Sponsored by: MTN Tough

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor & Attendee Registration Open

9:00 am – 3:00 pm Sporting Clays Shoot Capitol City Gun Club

Sponsored by: Beretta USA

9:00 am – 3:00 pm Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience RS-CC – F1-10 & Hall 5

Sponsored by: MidwayUSA Foundation

9:00 am – 10:30 am WSF Annual Membership Meeting RS-CC – Room A1/A6

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open RS-CC

Silent Auction Open Sponsored by: Wyoming WSF ............................................. RS-CC

10:00 am – 4:00 pm Book Signings

RS-CC Hall 3 - WSF

Dream Rams of the North – Bill Pastorek Membership Area Tracks on a Mountain – Jim Manley

10:00 am - 4:00 pm WSF Studio (Filming/Interviews)

RS-CC Room D6

10:30 am – 3:00 pm .............. Seminars .................................................................................................................... RS-CC Rooms A2, A3 & A5

10:30 am – 3:00 pm Camp Chef Culinary Corner with Chef Joshua Schwencke Hall 3

10:30 am – 11:00 am Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Infused Marinades & Brines: Maximizing Flavor in Wild Game

10:30 am – 11:30 am Seminar: Trophy Hunting For Elk Secrets Revealed - Dan Adler

11:00 am - 12:00 pm .............. Full Curl Cinema: Conservation Permits - History, Impact, ..................................

RS-CC Room A2

RS-CC Room A1 and Relevance to the North American Wildlife Conservation Model

Q&A with Shane Mahoney, Gray N. Thornton & Corey Mason

11:00 am – 3:30 pm Full Curl Cinema

11:00 am – 1:00 pm Nevada Working Group Meeting

11:15 am – 11:45 pm

Sponsored by: Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn

RS-CC Room A1/A6

RS-CC – Room A8

Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Science Lovers Guide to Cooking Protein

11:30 am – 12:30 pm ............. Seminar: Tents For Sheep Country - Petra Helleberg ..........................................

11:30 am – 1:00 pm WSLF Board of Trustees Meeting

RS-CC – Room A3

RS-CC – Room A9

11:30 am – 1:00 pm ............... Ladies Luncheon “Lady In Red” .................................................................... Capri Ballroom

12:30 pm – 12:45 pm

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Sponsored by: Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s

Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Sausage Crafting and Smoking: Wild Game Edition

Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Outdoor Appetizers: Small Bites and Appetizer Boards From Wild Game

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Full Curl Cinema: 100 Rams - This One’s for Lee

Q&A with Tyler Johnerson & Lee Hart

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm ................ Seminar: Q&A with Remi Warren ..........................................................................

RS-CC Room A1

RS-CC Room A2

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Elevated Campfire Cooking: Crafting Campsite Cuisine

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Seminar: Lead Alternative Ammunition For Hunting - Chris Parish RS-CC Room A3

3:30 pm 2x $2,500 Floor Credit Drawings

Need not be present to win – Check LED Wall for Winners

Sponsored by: Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn & Texas Bighorn Society

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm SITKA Gear Happy Hour

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm <1 Club & <1 iClub Reception & Drawings

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

RS-CC - Raffle Area

SITKA Gear Booth - 1105

RS-CC – Mt. Rose Ballroom

Sponsored by: Jeff & Jann Demaske, Kevin & Tuesdy Small, Blue Moon Brewing Company, New West Distributors, Leupold, Montana Knife Company, Wyoming WSF, Idaho WSF, & Washington WSF

Legacy Night – Banquet, Conklin Award & Auction Tuscany Ballroom

Sponsored by: Alaska Outfitters Unlimited, Best of the West, Montana WSF, Schnee, Shikar Safaris, & Wild Sheep Society of BC Award Presentations:

• Chair Award

• State Stateman Award

• WSF Awards of Excellence

• Conklin Award Presentation

Drawings: (Immediately prior to Auction)

• Friday Raffle Drawing

• Full Registration Bighorn Sheep Hunt Drawing

Legacy Night Conservation Auction

10:00 pm – 1:00 am Sheep Camp Hospitality Tuscany Foyer

Entertainment: Backpack Races ......................................................................... Tuscany Foyer

Sponsored & Hosted by: Stone Glacier Outer Circle Club Initiation Tuscany Foyer

SATURDAY – JAN 18

7:00 am – 9:00 am Exhibitor Breakfast RS-CC

7:15 am – 10:00 am Life Member Breakfast & DBHS Drawing Tuscany Ballroom

7:15 am – 8:15 am .................. Doors Open & Breakfast

8:15 am

Program Begins

Sponsored by: Life Member Patrons

Keynote Address: USA Olympian Dania Vizzi

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibitor & Attendee Registration Open RS-CC

8:00 am – 5:00 pm ................ Nevada Hunter Safety Course ................................................................................ RS-CC – A4

9:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibit Hall Open RS-CC

9:00 am – 2:30 pm ................ Silent Auction Open .................................................................................................. RS-CC

Sponsored by: Wyoming WSF

10:30 am – 2:00 pm Seminars

9:30 am – 10:30 am .............. Seminar: Yoga for Hunters – Erika Putnam...........................................................

10:00 am - 3:00 pm WSF Studio (Filming/Interviews

10:00 am – 3:00 pm Full Curl Cinema

10:00 pm - 11:00 pm Full Curl Cinema: Hard Truths of Conservation

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Keeping Sheep on the Mountain Q&A with Bill Jex

Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience

Sponsored by: MidwayUSA Foundation

10:00 am – 4:00 pm Book Signings

RS-CC Room A3

RS-CC Room D6

RS-CC Room A1/A6

RS-CC Room A1

RS-CC – F1-10 & Hall 5

RS-CC Hall 3 - WSF Dream Rams of the North – Bill Pastorek Membership Area Tracks on a Mountain – Jim Manley

10:30 am – 2:30 pm Camp Chef Culinary Corner with Chef Joshua Schwencke Hall 3

10:30 am – 11:00 am

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Breakfast in the Wild: Smoked Game and Eggs, Hashes, and More

Seminar: Hunting Western States – Dan Adler

RS-CC Room A2

10:30 am – 11:30 am ............. Seminar: MTNTOUGH – Dustin Diefenderfer ...................................................... RS-CC Room A3

11:30 am – 11:50 am

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Sous Vide and Smoke: Marrying Modern Techniques with Traditional Game

Seminar: Layering For Warmth – John Barklow

RS-CC Room A2

Full Curl Cinema: Putting & Keeping Wild Sheep On The Mountain® RS-CC Room A1 Fraser River Project (BC), & Muddy 7 (NV)

Camp Chef Culinary Corner Hall 3

Backcountry Butchery: Essential Knife Skills and Field Dressing Tips

Q&A with Kyle Stelter & Pat Cummings (& Bergara)

Seminar: Women Hunt® Panel & Skills Demo RS-CC Room A5

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm ................ Camp Chef Culinary Corner ................................................................................... Hall 3

Full Curl Bourbon Barrel Tasting with Rob Gerstner

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Full Curl Cinema: Next Ridge RS-CC Room A1

Q&A with Brad Brooks, CEO, Argali Outdoors

2:30 pm Silent Auction Closes RS-CC

2:30 pm .................................... $5,000 Floor Credit Drawing .............................................................................. RS-CC - Raffle Area

Need not be present to win – Check LED Wall for Winner

Sponsored by: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society

3:00 pm Raffles Close - Drawings Held RS-CC - Raffle Area

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Marco Polo Society Reception & Full Curl Spirits Tasting (Invitation Only) EDGE Nightclub

Tasting Sponsored by: Full Curl Spirits

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Exhibitor Move Out

6:00 pm Cocktails Tuscany Ballroom

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm ............... Grand Finale Banquet & Auction .................................................................. Tuscany Ballroom

Sponsored by: Freelance Outdoor Adventures, Leica, Silencer Central & Weatherby Award Presentations:

• Annuli Photo Contest People’s Choice Award

• Special Recognition

• G.C.F. Dalziel Outstanding Guide Award

• Frank Golata Outstanding Outfitter Award

• Artemis Outstanding Woman Conservationist Award

• Chris Klineburger Mountain Hunter Hall of Fame Award

Drawings: (Immediately prior to Auction)

• Sheep Show 50/50 Drawing

• 1 More For 4 Drawing

Grand Finale Conservation Auction

10:00 pm – 2:00 am Sheep Camp Hospitality Tuscany Foyer

SUNDAY – JAN 19TH

8:00 am – 12:00 pm Exhibitor Move Out

Make Plans for Sheep Week® and Sheep Show® 2026! January 22-24 in Reno, Nevada JAN . 22 - 24

CULINARY CORNER

THURSDAY • FRIDAY • SATURDAY

HALL 3 • RENO-SPARKS CONVENTION CENTER SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING SOON! in collaboration with

Direct from south Texas, Chef Joshua Schwencke joins the ranks of Wild Sheep Foundation to offer a wide array of culinary instruction at the 2025 Sheep Show. As a wild game chef and hunter, Chef Schwencke has brought his instruction and knowledge nationwide of taking game proteins beyond the simple chili and sausage recipes and into modern cuisine. Short, targeted courses throughout the expo will offer instruction in deboning, preparing stock, knife skills and so much more, all leading to a final cooking course centered around using wild game in modern home cooking.

• Over 75,000 sq. ft of wall-to-wall exhibits

• Now famous <1Club drawing for six sheep & goat hunts

• Chance to win over 20 epic hunts

• More special Conservation Tags and Permits than anywhere else!

• Nightly Banquets and Auctions

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

full curl CINEMA

Current as of press time

TOGETHER, WE CARRY ON

11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Thursday, Jan. 16

Q&A with Cole Kramer

Limitations are only what you allow them to be: a story of purpose and friendship in sheep country.

If you attended the 2023 Sheep Show®, you might have had the privilege of seeing or meeting medically retired Marine Johnathon Blank. His story inspired us all, so much so that one of our members decided he needed to go on a sheep hunt.

Jonathon Blank embodies the shared resilience of our armed service members. During his service, Jonathon sustained injuries that resulted in the loss of both his legs. Throughout his recovery, Jonathon searched for something that replicated the brotherhood, camaraderie, and adventure he’d experienced as a Marine. He found what he was looking for in hunting. In the company of fellow Kansan, Cole Kramer, Jonathon took to the mountains of the Northwest Territories, home to an animal many hunters dream of, the Dall sheep.

ROOTS - A GORDON EASTMAN FILM

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Thursday, Jan. 16

Q&A with Ike Eastman

Come along with Gordon Eastman on an adventure steeped in the roots of modern day sheep hunting. Starting off in the mid-1950s Gordon will take you to the untamed mountains and peaks of Alaska where he got his start as an outdoor film maker. Hunt majestic Dall’s sheep on the skree slides of the rugged Alaska range with Gordon Eastman as your guide. Then travel to the legendary McKenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories of Canada after rams that have never seen a person before. And concluding with a very dramatic family sheep hunt with Gordon and son Brad both taking magnificent Stone’s rams in the high rocky terrain of the Cassiar Mountains of Northern British Columbia, Canada in the mid-1960s. A film nearly 75 years in the making.

ROOTS

THE SUMMIT - BY FULL CURL BRANDS

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm - Thursday, Jan. 16

Q&A with Rob Gerstner

Full Curl Brands founder – Rob Gerstner traveled to Northern BC on a quest to complete his archery FNAWS with a mature Stone’s sheep ram.

CONSERVATION PERMITS

HISTORY, IMPACT, AND RELEVANCE TO NORTH

AMERICAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MODEL

11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Friday, Jan. 17

Q&A with Shane Mahoney, Gray N. Thornton & Corey Mason

Wild sheep are special, and so is the system created to provide durable funding for their conservation and management. This includes the sale of highly coveted permits through drawings, lotteries, raffles, and auctions.

Despite the conservation successes achieved for wild sheep and other big game species due to this funding model, questions arise over how these monies are raised. Specifically, whether the process is fair and equitable, where the money goes, and how it is used. If this legacy of conservation funding is to continue, these are legitimate questions that should be answered.

100 RAMS - THIS ONE’S FOR LEE

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - Friday, Jan. 17

Q&A with Tyler Johnerson & Lee Hart

Wild sheep are special, and so is the system created to provide durable funding for their conservation and management. This includes the sale of highly coveted permits through drawings, lotteries, raffles, and auctions.

Reliable funding year after year is the key to the success of wild sheep conservation because areas of greatest need and on-the-ground projects to address these needs can take several years to pay out in more sheep, healthier sheep, and healthier habitats.

Regardless, questions arise over how these monies are raised, primarily based on whether the process is fair and equitable, where the money goes, and how it is used. If this legacy of conservation funding is to continue, now is a good time to have this conversation.

HARD TRUTHS OF CONSERVATION

KEEPING SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN

10:00 pm - 11:00 pm - Saturday, Jan. 18

Q&A with Bill Jex

Wild sheep are one of, if not the most iconic species of big game in North America. Their resilience to survive in some of the most rugged yet picturesque places has drawn hunters from around the world to the areas they call home. However, like many cherished species, wild sheep are not immune to challenges for their future.

In this film, Dan Cabela travels to the northern wilderness of British Columbia to hunt Stone’s sheep. However, where this episode really shines is in the work being done on the mountain outside of hunting season. We partnered with the Wild Sheep Foundation and local scientists/biologists to conduct a capture this past winter to learn more about the issues Stone’s sheep in this area are facing. It was a genuine team effort that yielded some incredibly valuable research and extremely cinematic footage of real conservation in action.

PUTTING & KEEPING WILD SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN® FRAZER RIVER PROJECT (BC), & MUDDY 7 (NV)

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - Saturday, Jan. 18

Q&A with Kyle Stelter, Pat Cummings & Clint Bentley

M. ovi (Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae) is the most significant conservation concern for wild sheep. Domestic sheep carry this strain of bacteria, and it is easily spread to wild sheep. Once it infects a wild herd, the population can be catastrophically affected.

The Fraser River Project is taking swift action to minimize the spread of M. ovi. By capturing 100% of the ewes and culling all clearly positive sheep, the results have been fruitful, and the herd is recovering with increased lamb survival rates.

See the people and the work behind the Fraser River Project in SITKA Gear’s latest Ecosystem Grant Profile.”

The Muddy Mountains are home to one of the largest populations of desert bighorn sheep in Nevada. This mountain range is also located in the Mojave Desert. To combat drought-related die-offs, the largest water guzzler in the state’s history was installed in the spring of 2024. This is the story of Muddy 7.

NEXT RIDGE

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Saturday, Jan. 18

Q&A with Brad Brooks, CEO, Argali Outdoors

For Argali’s Brad Brooks, adventuring in wild landscapes rises to the top as one of the utmost motivators for him as a big game hunter. That’s why when the opportunity to finally embark on his first ever Dall sheep hunt arrived, Brad chose one of the wildest and most far flung Arctic landscapes in which to complete this great hunt. Next Ridge follows Brad as he experiences all that the Brooks Range and the high Arctic has to offer, from notoriously unpredictable weather to rugged mountains and wild river valleys, all while looking for the oldest ram on mountain.

Women Hunt Beanie Burgundy

High Camp Flask

“Enjoy a Drink on us!”

OPEN TO EVERYONE

5-6 PM• THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 TUSCANY FOYER

BEER& BUBBLY SOCIAL FREE &

JOIN US FOR BEER & BUBBLY AND DISCOVER THE WOMEN IN HUNTING® COMMUNITY!

Beer & Bubbly Social: Open to All Sheep Show® Attendees! Kick off your evening with our Beer & Bubbly social, taking place Thursday, January 16, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Tuscany Ballroom Foyer at the Peppermill Resort. This gathering is the perfect opportunity to connect with friends, meet new faces, and relax with a complimentary glass of beer, bubbly, or a non-alcoholic alternative— open to all attendees!

Enjoy the company of the Wild Sheep community and take a break from the usual rush to the Circle Bar. Hosted by Women Hunt®, Women in Hunting®, and the Rubye Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund, this one-hour social is a fantastic way to mix, mingle, and set the tone for an unforgettable night.

Discover and Join the Women in Hunting® Community. Our Women in Hunting® community is a vibrant part of our mission, uniting women who share a passion for wildlife conservation and the outdoor lifestyle. It’s a welcoming space for women to build connections, exchange knowledge, access resources, and celebrate each other’s unique journeys in the wild.

Women of all ages are invited to join us by sharing your story. Scan the QR code to upload a favorite photo and a short story about an outdoor activity you love—whether hunting, scouting, fishing, hiking, cooking game meat, or working on wildlife projects. All photo submissions will be entered for a chance to win outstanding prizes drawn at the Beer & Bubbly event and displayed on the big screens in the Tuscany Ballroom Foyer!

Join us in building a legacy that celebrates wildlife, conservation, and the enduring spirit of the outdoors.

Women of all ages please submit your photos and short story by scanning the QR code for chances at some great prizes!

Annuli

37th ANNUAL DUNCAN GILCHRIST PHOTO CONTEST

PHOTOS JUDGED AT THE 2025 SHEEP SHOW

People’s Choice winner receives a pair of Leica 10x42 Geovid HD binoculars

UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSIONS HERE

2024 People’s Choice winner MORGAN WESTBY

$500 PER TICKET

500 TICKETS SOLD

IN PERSON SALES AT SHEEP SHOW ONLY

NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN DRAWING DATE JAN 18, 2025 RENO, NV

RAFFLE ITEMS ARE CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME TO PRE-ORDER TICKETS CALL WSF: 406.404.8750

12 - DAY STONES' SHEEP HUNT IN NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

SPATSIZI RIVER OUTFITTERS + PEDESTAL MOUNT

WILDLIFE REVOLUTIONS

$200 PER TICKET

1,000 TICKETS SOLD

14 - DAY BIGHORN SHEEP HUNT

CARTER OUTFITTING LTD. + PEDESTAL MOUNT

WILDLIFE REVOLUTIONS

10 - DAY SONORA DESERT SHEEP

SIERRA El ALAMO

ALCAMPO HUNTING ADVENTURES + PEDESTAL MOUNT

WILDLIFE REVOLUTIONS

GOLDEN TICKET

$40,000 CREDIT W/CHOICE OF YOA OUTFITTER

YUKON OUTFITTERS ASSOCIATION + 3 OZ GOLD NUGGET + PEDESTAL MOUNT

WILDLIFE REVOLUTIONS

$100 PER TICKET 1,000 TICKETS SOLD

10 - DAY CAPE BUFFALO PACKAGE W/CRAIG BODDINGTON

ZAMBEZE DELTA SAFARIS

$50 PER TICKET

500 TICKETS SOLD

3 - DAY PRONGHORN HUNT IN NEW MEXICO FOR 1

HUNTER & GEAR PACKAGE

FRONTIER OUTFITTING • WEATHERBY

SITKA • SCHNEE • MYSTERY RANCH

BUCK KNIVES

$40 = 1 TICKET

$100 = 3 TICKETS

$300 = 12 TICKETS

$500 = 25 TICKET

$1,000 = 65 TICKETS

10 - DAY ALASKAN MOOSE & BROWN BEAR COMBO HUNT

ALASKA OUTFITTERS UNLIMITED FULL CURL OUTDOORS

5 - DAY ALASKAN CARIBOU HUNT FOR 1 HUNTER

ALASKA HUNTING EXPEDITIONS, LLC

8 - DAY SPRING MUSKOX ADVENTURE FOR 1 HUNTER CANADA NORTH OUTFITTING

10 - DAY BROWN BEAR HUNT ON THE AK PENINSULA

ALASKA HUNTING EXPEDITIONS, LLC

ULTIMATE FLORIDA EXPERIENCE FOR TWO PEOPLE

(2 alligators, peacock bass, snook, redfish, tarpon, sea trout cobia & much more!) BIENVENUE OUTDOORS

5 - DAY AOUDAD SHEEP HUNT ON THE WILLIAMS RANCH IN TEXAS FOR 1 HUNTER

ROWDY MCBRIDE HUNTING SERVICES

7 - DAY LATE SEASON

MOUNTAIN GOAT HUNT IN ALASKA FOR 1 HUNTER

ULTIMA THULE OUTFITTERS

BOSWELL'S CUSTOM RIFLE CUSTOM CALIBER

BOSWELL'S CUSTOM RIFLES

LOUIS VUITTON PACKAGE

iHUNT & WSF

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 provides Retail and E-Commerce businesses with ultracompetitive rates for credit/debit card processing.

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.

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.

LOST CREEK RANCH

Peoa, UTAH | $6,250,000 | 75± ACRES

Lost Creek Ranch is a luxurious property on 37.5± acres in the Wasatch Back of the Uinta Mountains. The custom-built, 5 Bed/5 Bath home offers 5,736 square feet of open-concept living, featuring wooden beams, vaulted ceilings, and a stone wood-burning fireplace. The main floor boasts a spacious kitchen with a large island and breathtaking window views. Downstairs, the walkout basement includes a bar area, recreation room, and a full bath with a steam shower. A highlight of the property is the large gym overlooking the pond and barn.

Lost Creek Ranch offers hunting opportunities for a variety of big game and small game species. Among the big game species are Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, and Mountain Lion, while Small Game includes Coyote and Bobcat. For Mule Deer (GMU 7), the ranch boasts a year-round population with trophy caliber bucks, especially during colder weather and rutting season. It has abundant hunting opportunities for archery, rifle, and muzzleloader enthusiasts. Similarly, the area hosts a resident Elk herd and provides owners with opportunities throughout the different hunting seasons (Elk General Unit). Rifle and Muzzleloader seasons offer more opportunities for elk as winter pushes more elk into the area.

Lost Creek Ranch offers total privacy and abundant wildlife, with hunting, recreation, and relaxation opportunities. Despite its secluded location, the ranch is just minutes away from the amenities of Park City, Utah. Travel is convenient with the Salt Lake International Airport 45 minutes away and a nearby private airport only 23 minutes away.

ADVENTURE PROFILES

Keith Atcheson

SPECIES: Gobi Argali

OUTFITTER: Mongolia Hunting Consortium

LOCATION: Mongolia

Pat Archer

SPECIES: Desert Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Self-Guided

LOCATION: New Mexico

My father, Jack Sr., hunted Mongolian Gobi argali in 1969 and took a great ram. Being a good taxidermist, he personally mounted it life size and I always marveled at this impressive species and dreamed to go one day myself.

Fast forward 55 years, that day arrived in September 2024 when I was able to venture to the land of Chinggis Khan and pursue one of the biggest sheep species in the world. I shared the trip with my son Andrew as well, and we enjoyed every minute.

The culture, rich history, Ulaanbaatar staff, translator, hunting guides, incountry travel and the hunting camp, meals, and the hunt itself, all made for a great adventure. My only regret is not having traveled to Mongolia sooner. With so many other species to hunt, a return trip is already in my sights.

Go hunting now while you are physically able!

WS

I spent three months scouting the mountains, learning the area, and finetuning my spotting and field judging skills. I’m certain that this ram was the same fellow I’d spotted and watched during my scouting trips. There was a group of about 15 young rams, and about 30 ewes and lambs in the same area. The big ram stayed closer to the females, and the younger ones stayed to themselves.

I did most of my scouting and hunting alone. On the day I took this old ram, I had two friends with me. It was a great experience to have them there and watch the hunt unfold from a mile away while I stalked for nearly an hour-and-a-half to get into position on the ram. I came over a ridge and spotted the ram at 70 yards. The wind changed direction, and he took off down a canyon and stopped on the other side. I got to within 200 yards and was able to get off a good shot with my .30-06. What a relief!

The ram was 14 years old. Lucky for me, my friend is a rancher, so he brought his horses up the side of the mountain to help retrieve him. Memories I will never forget! WS

Diana Rupp

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Rio Grande Outfitters

GUIDE: Jesse Bauer–Crazy Horse Outfitters

LOCATION: New Mexico

I had the incredible good fortune of drawing a Colorado bighorn tag in 2023 after 14 years of applying. After a tough summer of hiking, strength training, and recovering from injuries, it all came together on one glorious September day at 11,800 feet in the San Juans when we spotted a group of four rams that included this beauty. After a hard climb and a stalk across a windy, scree-covered slope, I was able to get into position and make a 264-yard shot with my good ol’ .30-06. Huge props to my outstanding guide, Jesse Bauer of Crazy Horse Outfitters, and his team. I am tremendously grateful to have had the opportunity to hunt these beautiful animals in their high alpine world. Heartfelt thanks to WSF for its tireless work to keep sheep on the mountain and make hunts like this possible. WS

Kip Fowler

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Willow Creek Outfitters

GUIDE: André Van Hiten

LOCATION: Alberta

My hunt for a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep began with a threeday horseback ride deep into the wilderness. Once we reached our basecamp, we traded the horses for backpacks and climbed up to our final destination high above the drainage floor.

Two days later we were able to close the deal on a beautiful mature ram as he made his way across a rockslide 350 yards below us.

Harvesting my ram was a perfect ending to an absolutely incredible hunt. André and his crew at Willow Creek outfitters were everything I could have hoped for on a once-ina-lifetime hunt like this. They were honest, hardworking, well prepared, and extremely knowledgeable about the area. All these qualities contributed to the success of my hunt. I can’t thank them enough! WS

Clint Baker

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Legacy Bighorns

GUIDE: Cameron

LOCATION: Alberta

I spent a total of 31 hunting days over two hunts to find a legal ram. It took more patience than I knew I had! I finally harvested my bighorn on the tenth day of a twleve-day hunt. We had been weathered out multiple days from extreme wind, rain, and snow. We spent five hours evaluating video to determine if this ram was legal. Once we determined he was, I took a head-on, uphill shot with my bipod sitting on top of a backpack. All four of my North American rams fell with one shot. I feel very blessed! WS

Sean Whipple

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Back Country Bighorns

GUIDE: Daniel Gratton

LOCATION: Alberta

I was able to take this nine-yearold, broomed-off ram on the second day of a 10-day horseback adventure! The guides (Daniel Gratton, Dawson Jacobs, Justin Griffin), horses, and accommodations were top notch, and I can’t speak highly enough about their operation.

This ram pinned us in the open as we helplessly watched from 700 yards as he lay bedded above us on a throne of shale protected by cliffs on all sides. After what seemed like an eternity of game planning, we realized it was going to have to be a 700-yard shot or nothing at all. The good Lord and a .28 Nosler were on my side that day, and this ram completes my FNAWS. Epic hunt! WS

Joel Faestel

SPECIES: Dall’s Sheep

OUTFITTER: Gana River Outfitters

GUIDE: Clayton Hood

LOCATION: Northwest Territories

This was my first trip to the Northwest Territories, and it proved to be the wildest place left on earth in my opinion. Makes most any place in the lower 48 feel like your backyard. Just getting to the drainage your hunt starts in is an adventure. Gana River and Harold’s outfit only adds to this experience, using Super Cub aircraft and horses ONLY! Loved every minute of my hunt and can’t imagine a better experience with better people than Harold Grinde, his extended family, overall team, and my guide, Clayton Hood. WS

Samuel Hayes

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Shoshone Lodge Outfitters

GUIDE: Josh Martoglio

LOCATION: Wyoming

We scouted and found this band of 10 rams the day before the Wyoming season opener. The next day we hunted found them again and made four attempts at stalking within a reasonable distance. I made a great shot on the heaviest ram in the group. WS

Peter Spear

SPECIES: Tyrrhenian Mouflon (French Corsican)

OUTFITTER: Club Faune, Philliipe Bernard

LOCATION: France

I thought this was going to be an easier hunt than it turned out to be. We climbed over 1,000 vertical feet into the crags to locate this nineyear-old ram. We didn’t know he was previously injured when we stalked and shot the bedded him. He would not have survived the winter. This was an excellent hunt in a beautiful part of the world. WS

Lou Rupp

SPECIES: Waterfowl

LOCATION: Alberta

Member Lou Rupp and his friend Bob Kaiser couldn’t wait until the waterfowl migration progressed to the Missouri/Illinois areas. They “kicked off” the season by traveling to northeastern Alberta, Canada, in the Cold Lake area the first week and experienced some unbelievable goose hunting with daily limits along with a few ducks. From there they drove to middle south Alberta in the Carnation area, again enjoying great duck hunting with a few geese to boot. Yes, they will be returning to the Waterfowl Factory of Alberta Canada! WS

Scott Homrich

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Guinn Outfitters

GUIDE: Scott Kenedy

LOCATION: Alberta

After not getting within archery range the previous day, we were fortunate to spot the ram first thing the next morning. He was bedded above camp and started to follow the other rams in the group, we set up in a perfect ambush spot as the rams crossed valley sides and I made a clean, 12-yard shot on this ram. This bighorn qualifies me for the One More for Four drawing at the 2025 Sheep Show®. WS

Ellen Smitheal

SPECIES: Rocky Mountain Bighorn

OUTFITTER: Vermejo Park Ranch

GUIDE: Lance Bernal

LOCATION: New Mexico

This hunt was amazing! We were hunting every day over 12,000 feet. We spotted the ram in the afternoon on our fifth day of the hunt. My guide Lance Bernal made a plan, and we set off on a long, epic stalk. We were able to get within 310 yards from ram. It was truly an incredible adventure, and it was even more special because my husband and daughter were with me. WS

“Did You Know?

In your 20’s, your body naturally produces about 5,000 mg of hyaluronic acid each day. In your 30’s your natural production of hyaluronic acid starts to significantly decline. At age 50, your body is producing only 2,500 mg per day. At age 75, it is producing just 1,250 mg of hyaluronic acid daily. Bringing your levels of hyaluronic acid back up to former levels once produced by the body has a wide range of therapeutic benefits for joint, spine, skin and eye health.”

HUNTERS

Sheep hunters are a unique breed. The pursuit of their quarry involves traversing some of the most rugged, inhospitable, and magnificent country on Earth. For many ardent sheep hunters, though, advancing age and years of climbing mountains loaded down with backpacks often weighing 100 pounds or more can lay a beating on knees, hips, and intervertebral discs of the spine. The resulting joint and back pain can take the excitement out of hiking and hunting for wild sheep and everyday life when one is not afield.

Fortunately, there is now a world-class solution to help combat joint and intervertebral disc degeneration - SLIDE™. Originally developed to treat joint pain and cartilage damage in racehorses, SLIDE™ is the most powerful joint and spine supplement in the world for people, dogs, and horses by virtue of its industryleading amounts of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. It dramatically helps increase and maintain sufficient lubrication in joints, as well as the gel-like, shock absorbing fluid found inside discs of the spine. SLIDE™ also contains optimal amounts of glucosamine and collagen type II, which is the major collagen sub-type found in joint cartilage and intervertebral discs.

NOW YOU CAN PUT AN END TO JOINT AND LOW BACK PAIN

SLIDE™ founder, WSF Life Member, and avid sheep hunter Rick Stewart knows a thing or two when it comes to developing innovative solutions to help combat joint and back pain. Stewart grew up in horse racing and had one of the top standardbred racing stables in California and western Canada before changing careers to dedicate his expertise full-time to creating supplements for joint and intervertebral disc degeneration in people, dogs, and horses. He is the developer of Equi-Block®, the world’s first and #1 selling topical pain reliever for race and performance horses. He also developed LaKOTA®, one of the top-selling joint supplement and topical pain relief brands in Canadian pharmacies and mass market retailers (Walmart, Costco, Shoppers Drugmart, etc.).

Stewart developed SLIDE™ in the early 1990s but was unable to get it to market affordably over the decades due to the extremely high cost of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and collagen type II, the specific hyaluronic acid and collagen needed to maintain joint and intervertebral disc health. “I got tired of having veterinarians constantly inject the joints of my horses suffering from joint pain and started experimenting with feeding

them 200 mg a day of hyaluronic acid. I did that for a couple of months and gauged the results”. According to Stewart, feeding 200 mg a day of hyaluronic acid didn’t produce any noticeable benefits in his horses, neither did 500 mg or even 1,000 mg of hyaluronic acid daily. “It wasn’t until I started feeding my horses 2,500 mg of hyaluronic acid a day that I began to see some pretty good results”, he says. “I finally settled on a total of 5,000 mg daily, and I’ve been feeding those dosages of hyaluronic acid to my horses for three decades now. I’ve never had a joint problem in my horses or injected a joint since. SLIDE™ is the very best supplement in the world for joints and intervertebral discs of the spine. There’s nothing better. I guarantee it”.

A preventative approach is the key to keeping joints and intervertebral discs healthy and pain-free as humans and animals age, Stewart claims. “Most people don’t have a preventative mindset when it comes to joint and intervertebral disc health. Everyone seems to wait until they have joint or back pain and then they try and fix the problem. That’s the wrong approach because you can’t fix damaged joint cartilage or intervertebral discs”, he says. “SLIDE™ will definitely help those who already have damaged joint

cartilage and intervertebral discs. Users will notice a big improvement, but more people need to develop a preventative mindset about joint and back health if they really want to ward off joint cartilage and intervertebral disc degeneration as they get older. Prevention is the key”.

According to Stewart, keeping your joints and spine healthy and pain-free is all about keeping joints well lubricated and maintaining or increasing the gel-like fluid inside intervertebral discs of the spine so that the discs don’t compress and herniate, which often leads to debilitating low back pain and sciatica. “Having sufficient synovial fluid, which is the lubrication inside joints, is what protects the cartilage on the bone ends from damage. It’s like oil in your vehicle engine; it’s the oil that protects the moving parts. If there isn’t enough oil, engine parts, especially the piston rings, wear down faster and eventually disintegrate. The same concept holds true when it comes to protecting your joint cartilage; you must make sure that the joint always has sufficient lubrication, and hyaluronic acid, in optimal amounts, is the compound that creates that lubrication”, he says.

“In our 20s, our bodies naturally make about 5,000 mg of hyaluronic acid each day, but internal production begins to decline dramatically in our 30s. By age 50,

our bodies only make 2,500 mg a day of hyaluronic acid, half the amount it made in our 20s. “It’s no wonder joints and intervertebral discs fall apart, and people get joint and low back pain as they get older, there’s not enough hyaluronic acid being produced by the body anymore to maintain sufficient lubrication in joints or enough gel-like fluid inside intervertebral discs. Most people are completely unaware of the correlation between their hyaluronic acid levels and cartilage and intervertebral disc degeneration as they age. If you bring your hyaluronic acid levels back up closer to what they once were when you were in your 20s you’ll see some magical things begin to happen. I personally take 2,800 mg of hyaluronic acid every single day, and I have no joint or back pain, and I’m 60 years old. I’ve climbed and packed a lot of game off mountains in my lifetime, and I’m still going strong”, he states.

Stewart points out that other hyaluronic acid supplements on the market for people don’t contain enough hyaluronic acid per day to see any significant benefits. “The daily recommended amount of hyaluronic acid in supplements for humans is 100 mg to 200 mg a day, depending on the brand”, he says. “That’s way too low to see any significant results. If you’re 50 or older and your daily internal production of hyaluronic acid is down by 2,500 mg or more from

what it was in your 20s, do you really think you’re going to see great results at 100 mg or 200 mg a day? I guarantee you won’t. For decades, I’ve said that I believe hyaluronic acid is the ‘Fountain of Youth’ nutrient mankind has long been searching for. However, you must take enough of it each day to see real benefits”.

We encourage you to read the SLIDE™ human eBook online at slidejointcare.com as it describes in detail what makes SLIDE™ the premier joint and spine supplement in the world today. It’s well worth the read and full of great information many people don’t know about hyaluronic acid.

SLIDE™ is just $60.00 USD per bottle (shipping is free within the continental USA). There isn’t a better value in the world for 84,000 mg of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.

GIVING BACK

SLIDE™ is pledging an incredible 20% of their sales back to WSF for all of 2025. So, whenever you order a bottle of SLIDE™, WSF gets 20% of every sale. It’s a great way to help keep your joints and spine healthy and pain-free while directly contributing to wild sheep conservation efforts.

Please order SLIDE™ from www.SlideJointCare.com using code WSF2025.

See you on the mountain! Stay

BOOK SIGNINGS

This book is written with the purpose of not only recording the sheep hunting history of North America, but also with the purpose of entertaining you. With over 60 sheep hunting stories and many hundreds of images of trophy rams, I hope you enjoy.

There is no doubt wild sheep are special. Ask a hundred sheep hunters why they are so and why they pursue them with feverish passion, and you’ll likely get a hundred different answers. Yet, you will also see patterns and themes. You’ll hear responses such as the mountains they call home, the beauty of those mountains, the challenge and the physical demands of sheep hunting, the mental demands, the rarity, their stunning horns which as Jack O’Connor notes “they write their autobiography,” and similar. Speak with a hundred sheep hunters and another fact will be clear – sheep hunters and sheep conservationists are special too. Bill Pastorek’s superb Dream Rams of British Columbia and this fine tome Dream Rams of the North covers the rams, as well as those who have hunted and taken them. Bill dedicates his latest work on these spectacular rams to the many volunteers and their organizations who have dedicated their time, talent, and treasure to ensure that wild sheep are, and remain, on the lofty mountains they call home. In this Foreword, I too want to salute these heroes of the heights and through their noble efforts, the wild sheep that inhabit them.

The adventures in this book stretch from Alaska to Mexico, and over 200 color pictures reveal the beauty of nature explored. An appendix of 12 delicious wild game recipes provides the opportunity to enjoy and respect the animals we harvest.

A native of Oregon, Jim was raised by an outdoor-loving family in a small logging town nestled on the west slope of the Cascade Mountains. Fishing and hunting were part of their weekend getaways and yearly vacations. Fish, Fowl, and game harvested found its way to the dinner table daily.

In 1979, after finishing an electrical apprenticeship, Jim moved his young family to the Redmond-Sisters area of the Cascades, where he still resides. In the shadow of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area and on the edge of the High Desert of Central Oregon, he hunted, fished, and hiked while engraining in his three children the same love for the outdoors.

An excellent high school English teacher and one term of creative writing in college instilled in Jim the desire to express himself on paper. After six decades of adventures and while recovering from shoulder surgery, he decided to write this book. Jim shares the highs and lows of his 12 North American sheep hunts and his transition from a once-in-a-lifetime sheep hunter to a sheep fever-afflicted outdoorsman who sets challenging goals.

$100 PER TICKET • MAX 500 TO BE SOLD

This auction and/or floor credit is valid for redemption for WSF Live or Silent Auctions purchases during the 2025 Sheep Show® and/or use with a 2025 Sheep Exhibitor(s) ONLY and is not valid beyond January18, 2025. You may use this credit for multiple live/silent auction or exhibitor purchases up to the face value of $25,000. There will be no cash refund for any unused credit.

BUY TICKETS NEXT TO THE WSF MEMBERSHIP BOOTH IN RENO • IN PERSON SALES ONLY

DRAWING HELD 5:00 PM JANUARY 17

LESS THAN ONE CLUBS RECEPTION MT. ROSE BALLROOM

OFFICIALLY KICKED OUT!

The following <1 Club® or <1iClub® members have LOST their membership status by taking their first wild sheep rams! Congratulations!

Dana Kurtila Dall’s/Alaska

Thank you to Alaskan Perimeter Expeditions (APE), specifically Master Guide Henry D. Tiffany IV and my guide Mike Nichols, for an awesome Brooks Range hunt culminating in a successful harvest on the last day and a five-hour pack out under the Northern Lights in late August, 2024.

Mike took me on an adventure that included multiple spike camps, a grizzly bluff charge, sleeping through rain/snow on the mountain under a tarp to stay close to “Pretty Boy” (he got away after a day-and-a-half chase), miles upon miles of climbing/ hiking, and a last day harvest of “Han Solo” that included lowering packs down multiple cliff faces to stay safe (under head lamps). I’m a bit embarrassed to say I named him, but this beautiful ram was independent (living in the very steep tops), solo (all other rams we saw were in bands), and very handsome. Overall, I believe we saw only three (possibly a fourth) legal ram in total.

I’m happy to have been kicked out of the <1 Club® and also recently became a life member. I feel very grateful to have had this adventure—my first trip to Alaska—and hope to have the good fortune of hunting with Mike and APE again in the near future. This one tested pretty much everything I had to give, physically and emotionally, and won’t soon be forgotten. I definitely have grown from this experience observing and pursuing these beautiful, persevering animals. My family will enjoy the meat this year during the holidays and into 2025. WS Dana, hopefully this doubles as your Christmas present then—because you are Kicked Out!

Rob Munn Mid-Asian Ibex/Tajikistan

I was able to take a Mid-Asian ibex in the last hour of our hunt in Tajikistan. Unfortunately we couldn’t get to him that night as it was snowing and the snow was waist deep there. We had to leave the next morning for the 14-hour drive back to the airport so the guides went back for the recovery. I never got to see the ibex until it showed up at my house over a year-and-a-half later. WS Rob, you won’t have to wait to be Kicked Out though!

Mark Schall

Dall’s/Yukon

My 2024 sheep hunt was with Ruby Range Outfitters, Ross and Dustin Elliot. My guide for the 12-day sheep hunt was Aidan McKibben (pictured), a 14-year, Ruby Range veteran. I did have a mountain caribou tag as well, but didn’t find a bull worthy of harvesting. I was able to harvest this nine-and-a-halfyear-old ram the first day we hunted, August 27, 2024, but this wasn’t so much a case of beginners luck.

I had hunted with Ruby Range Outfitters in 2021, unsuccessfully, although it wasn’t anything about Ross and his operation that factored into that outcome. Ross and his group are first-class as far as I’m concerned. I met Ross and Dustin the third

year I attended Sheep Show® in Reno. I had done my due diligence, talking to most of the outfitters who regularly attended the show. Because of my age, turning 60 in 2021, I didn’t want to hedge my chances at the <1Club® Beer Social any longer and made the decision I would hunt with Ross and Dustin—never thought twice about it after that. I booked my 2024 hunt with Ruby Range Outfitters at the Sheep Show®, January 2022. I’d turn 63 on August 15, 2024, just before I’d leave for the Yukon on August 24th.

I started training February 1st, 2024, doing crossfit classes and trekking with a fifty-pound pack, three to five miles a day, five to six days a week. I did two-a-day workouts, often trekking and crossfit class the same day. I practiced at the range almost weekly, becoming totally confident with my rifle out to five hundred yards. So, even though I harvested my ram on the first day, in my mind, I’d been sheep hunting since February 1st—seven full months—and it feels great to be “kicked out”.

This hunt was very special in another way, it was redemption after my 2021 experience, achieving a goal that I set for myself when I was forty years old. I know this must all sound a bit cliché, but you hear stories like this all the time in the sheep hunting community.

WS

Mark, even at 62, you are still Kicked Out!

Dan Greer

Dall’s/Yukon

We spotted the ram late on day one from a bench way above the creek bottom. He had crossed underneath us and was standing on the opposite side about to start his climb up. There was no chance of going after him, so we just watched through the scope as he climbed up and then disappeared over the top and into the next drainage. The next morning the search was on! We covered drainage after drainage and finally had to move spike camp to another large drainage to continue our search. Finally, around noon on day five, we ran into him in a dry creek bottom and stalked into about 200 yards. I had installed my small bipod and set up to shoot, but it was way too high and had to be removed. The ram spotted the movement and quickly disappeared, then showed up half-an-hour later on top of the mountain. The next 28 hours were excruciating. I’d blown my chance and figured I’d never get another one. On the morning of day six, we checked the next drainage over and couldn’t find him. We decided to return to camp and glass the mountain above for the afternoon. Shortly after we sat down, my guide spotted our old ram bedded on top of the ridge straight above camp! We immediately

took off and climbed the 1,500 vertical feet up to his level in under an hour just to find he was gone. Not sure what to do next, we sat there and had some lunch snacks talking over our options. About 20 minutes had passed when my guide exclaimed, “There’s a ram!” He’d just moved over into the shade for awhile after getting warm laying out in the sun. He was on his way back out to feed. I prepared to shoot (without the bipod this time) and asked

Ray Maack

Rocky Mountain Bighorn/Alberta

I had been applying for tags in the state draws for the last 20-plus years and coming up short. My buddy Dominic Rowley said he was going to Reno to attend the Wild Sheep Foundation’s 2024 Sheep Week® and asked if l wanted to come along. Dominic told me there are many raffle opportunities, the <1Club® social gathering, and other options for winning a tag. With my cousin Alan Piorobo retiring and moving to Reno, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to visit Alan, and the three of us go to the Sheep Show®.

As we walked around the booths, we came across the Wild Sheep Foundation’s raffles. I bought a handful of tickets and put 11 of them in the hunt for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Alberta, with Carter Outfitting.

Fast-forward to Saturday afternoon when the raffle drawing began. One by one, the winners were announced. They got to the bighorn hunt, where I had put my tickets in, and unbelievably, my name was called. Standing there and hearing my name didn’t quite register. I was frozen in shock.

After completing my paperwork, I tracked down the Carter Outfitting booth and introduced myself to Scott. Scott told me the hunt would occur in the fall of 2024

for a yardage. My guide called out 330. I made the adjustment on my scope and our big old skinny ram hit the ground! There was not a single tooth left in his front jaw so he probably wouldn’t have made it through the winter. It was a gorgeous afternoon about 4 p.m. on the first blue sky, sunny day we’d had on the entire hunt. WS

Dan, you didn’t blow it, you are Kicked Out!

on September 1 and that we would be in contact.

Near the end of August, Dominic and I started making our way to Hinton, Alberta, from my home state of Oregon. Upon arriving in Hinton, we met up with my guide, Rhett, to review last-minute details. It was a seven-hour ride to camp.

On the evening of day eleven—yes, eleven— assistant guide, Nick, and wrangler, Trey, finally turned up a ram worth investigating further. The following day, we were up early and headed out for a long horse ride to the base of the mountain, followed by a long climb to the top. We finally made it to the top of the hill and located Nick. Unfortunately, fog greeted us as well. We continued glassing through the fog breaks but could not find the ram from the previous night.

Rhett decided we should ease down the ridge, looking off both sides as we went. Nick climbed higher, paralleling our ridge to glass across to us. The ram was gone. However, Nick looked over the other side of the ridge he was on, found the rams, and motioned for us to hurry over to him. I took one look at how far down we had to go and back up the other side, and asked Rhett “Are you guys trying to kill me?”

Quitting was not an option, so we both laughed and busted butt over there. When we arrived, Nick had the ram in the spotting scope. Rhett and Nick talked back and forth and quickly determined the ram was legal, and we needed to make a stalk on it. The closest we could get was just over 500 yards. I settled in behind my Night Force scope and asked if everyone was ready for the shot. It was a yes, and the shot rang out. I heard, “You hit him good, but put another round in him!” I did, and then all I heard was, “He’s down.”

It was one hell of a hunt with great people. It was the most challenging and fun thing I have ever done! Patience and a never-give-up attitude paid dividends on this hunt.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible and to the Wild Sheep Foundation for providing opportunities like this, that allow a common person to have the hunt-of-a-lifetime. WS Ray, you didn’t quit, but you are Kicked Out!

Taylor Sledge

Dall’s /Yukon

I spent a year training for the hunt and getting in “sheep shape”. I traveled from Mississippi to Canada, and arrived in the Yukon bush via float plane in midAugust of this year.

After many miles of trekking and glassing, we came across a group of nearly sixty sheep, which included a band of 14 rams. I harvested the oldest one in the group. The ram seems to be eleven years old, is broomed on one side, and scored 156” B&C. WS Beautiful old ram Taylor, but you are Kicked Out!

Taylor Paul Desert Bighorn/Mexico

This was my first sheep hunt and my first time in Mexico. It was a last-minute cancellation hunt that I was able to take advantage of and bring my dad along for a retirement gift (he’s never been on a sheep hunt). The morning I shot my ram we saw a band of five rams with a couple really nice ones in the mix. As the day went on, they fed off, and as we were making a plan to go after them, two rams popped over the ridge we were on and ended walking right toward us. I was able to make a great shot on the older ram. It was a special moment that my dad was able to be there and film the shot for my first North American wild sheep. WS Well done Taylor! You are Kicked Out!

OUR VALUES

Join Today !

Quarter Century Celebration! Join our team at Bear Trust International in celebrating our 25th Anniversary of Youth Education and Bear Conservation! After an incredible 25 years of bear projects and striving to educate the next generation our core values still remain the same.

(208) 401-2023 main | (855) 299-8675 toll-free delongj@stifel.com www.dhwealthadvisors.com 800 W. Main Street, Suite 1260 | Boise, Idaho 83702

“Helping Mentor Kids Into The Great Outdoors”

Bear Trust has an effective, common-sense conservation policy based on four basic values:

1. Conservation should be based on sound science and make economic sense; the result of conservation action should help ensure the long-term sustainability of bear populations and economies.

2. Conservation should care for both public and private lands.

3. Nations, communities and people have a shared responsibility to conserve bear populations and their habitats for present and future generations.

4. Hunting is part of the world’s natural heritage and should be used as one of many tools for effective wildlife management.

LAST SHEEP CAMP

Elden Kristiansen

Elden Kristiansen, 93, of Billings, passed away peacefully on Sept. 5, 2024.

Elden was born on Sept. 1, 1931, in Watford City, North Dakota, to Even and Agnes (née Levang) Kristiansen. Elden grew up in Scobey, where he grew up helping in his father’s hardware store. Later in his high school years, the family relocated to Billings, where he graduated from Billings Senior High School and then attended Billings

Business College, where he met his wife, Donna Bekel. They married on April 22, 1951. The couple had five children.

Elden worked for years at Sears, where he was honored with a national award for sales. He eventually retired after working at Odegaard’s Drug & Hardware in Billings. He was blessed with a brilliant business mind that served him well throughout life.

Elden was an avid hunter and conservationist. He traveled all over the U.S. and Canada for his hunts. He was especially proud to complete his Four North American Wild Sheep. He always enjoyed taking family and friends through his trophy room and sharing memories of his adventures. His love of hunting is something that he passed down to his children and grandchildren. Elden also enjoyed fishing, gardening, and traveling with Donna.

Elden was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Billings. He was especially proud to have served on the committee that planned and designed the beautiful stained-glass

windows that parishioners still enjoy today.

Donna and Elden were married for 69 years when she preceded him in death in 2020. Elden was also preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law, Tim Ross and daughterin-law, Deborah Kristiansen. Survivors include two sons, Gary Kristiansen of Robins, Iowa, and Don Kristiansen (Leigh Ann) of Billings; three daughters, Sharon Ross of Billings, Carol Stoltz (Jerry) of Billings and Diana Holwegner of Scottsdale, Arizona; 13 grandchildren, David, John and Lisa Ross of Billings, Cory Gardner (Sue) of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, Adam (Tonya) Kristiansen of Milton, Wisconsin, Daniel and Christina Stoltz of Billings, Amber Romano of Phoenix, Arizona, Josh Holwegner ( Bridgitte) of Beach, North Dakota, Jay Holwegner (Lindsay) of Phoenix, Brendan Kristiansen (Meghen) of Sheridan, Wyoming, Anna (Zach) Hurt of Aurora, Colorado, Gabriel Kristiansen of Billings; 16 great grandchildren and two great-greatgrandchildren. WS

Steven Leonard Werbelow passed away Oct. 23, 2024. He was a loving father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend. Steve was born in Powell, Wyoming, June 25, 1958, to Clarence and Barbara Werbelow. He

William Allan Keebler, affectionately known as Bill, passed away on August 10, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska, at the age of 79 after a brief illness. Born on August 8, 1945, in Phoenix, Arizona, he was the son of Harold and Edna Jean (Brannen) Keebler. Bill graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1967 and dedicated his career to the Internal Revenue Service, where he worked as a certified public accountant until his retirement in 2000.

spent his childhood in California and moved to Wyoming the day after his high school graduation.

Steve worked for nearly 25 years for the City of Powell but it was his love of hunting and the outdoors that drew him to his greatest passion —taxidermy. During his 40 years as a professional taxidermist, Steve earned multiple recognitions and awards, including Artisan Award from the Wyoming Association of Taxidermy Artists in 2019 and a Best in Show from the National Taxidermist Association for his mount of a white-tailed deer.

Steve worked for Leading Edge Taxidermy in Cody, Wyoming, for many years and worked on multiple taxidermy projects at the Draper Museum of Natural History at the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum. He also worked for Dewey Wildlife Studio in Cody, where he spent

In addition to his professional achievements, Bill proudly served in the Arizona National Guard, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Following his retirement, he and his wife, Mary, settled in Happy Jack, Arizona, where they became integral members of the community and the Blue Ridge Community Church.

Bill was passionate about the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing. He held leadership roles as a past president of both the Arizona Antelope Foundation and the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, including a term as ADBSS president in 2003. He also served multiple terms as treasurer and chaired the annual fundraiser, showcasing his commitment to wildlife conservation. Bill and Mary were known for their culinary contributions to the Arizona Antelope Foundation, serving as the official project “Cooks” for many years. Bill supported and served with many conservation organizations throughout his lifetime

16 years perfecting his craft and developing lifelong friendships with colleagues. He retired in June 2023.

Steve was a close friend to many throughout the community. He had a natural gift for storytelling, was competitive by nature (most apparent during family game nights) and was quick to invite others on his outdoor adventures.

He shared his home, time and resources so others could also enjoy the activities he loved so much. His knowledge of the Wyoming terrain was matched by his desire to include the people around him.

Steve was devoted to the Werbelow family, remaining close with his three siblings throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Werbelow, who passed in 2023. WS

and was proud to be a Life Member of the Wild Sheep Foundation, the AZ Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, the AZ Antelope Foundation.

A skilled hunter, Bill took great pride in his accomplishments, including being one of the first to achieve his FNAWS with a muzzleloader. He was an official Boone and Crockett scorer and contributed to the Arizona Wildlife Federation Trophy Book Committee, reflecting his dedication to preserving wildlife and sharing his knowledge with others. Bill’s trophy room, filled with memories from his adventures, was a testament to his love for the outdoors.

Bill’s passion for the outdoors was a legacy he shared with his family, and it was fitting that he spent his final days on a cruise to Alaska with his loved ones. A Celebration of Life Service was held in October at the Blue Ridge Community Church in Happy Jack, Arizona, to honor Bill’s many accomplishments and the life he lived to the fullest. WS

Steve Worebelow

Bill Keebler

George Van Der Berg

George Andrew Van Den Berg, age 90, passed away on Friday, Nov 1, 2024, at home in Bayfield surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 1, 1934, to Andrew and Kleo Van Den Berg in Crawford, CO. He is survived by his wife, Grace Sossaman, daughters Jody Paulek (Nick), Sheryl Rogers (Adam), Diana (Susan) and Carla Van Den Berg along with grandchildren (Brady, Mindy, and Tanner Paulek; Kyra, Katera and Austin Rogers; Ethan Beck; Trevor and Devan Wolf, and four greatgrandchildren; stepchildren, Laura, Pamela and KoKo Sossaman and their families. He is also survived by his brothers, Bud (Willa), Les (Chris), and sister, Dollie Van Den Berg. George felt one of his luckiest

Richard William “Dick” Gunlogson

It is with a heavy heart to announce the passing of Alaskan Master Guide Dick Gunlogson, an icon of the North and our wild sheep family. For those that knew Dick, he always had a warm smile, a big hug, and handshake that left you knowing you just met a friend. Dick served on the FNAWS Board of Directors in the 1990’s and has always been a great supporter with hunts on the auctions. Dick’s storied career, life in Alaska, the early days of Super Cub polar bear hunting,

moments in life (and there were many), was his marriage to whom he referred to as “Amazing Grace” Sossaman. They found much happiness in their years together and shared a love for history, the local community, and watching the Denver Broncos. He was a member and past Elder of the Florida Mesa Church in Durango where he met Grace. He grew up with his siblings on a ranch in Crawford, CO, which was foundational to his farming and hunting roots. He served as a barber in the Navy and had the opportunity to see much of the world while serving his country.

He loved nothing more than a “good-looking” horse, anticipating a new spring foal, a properly irrigated alfalfa field, or straight windrows of freshly cut hay. He made a living in his early days as a uranium miner, rancher, and logger, and spent much of his life providing custom-haying services in La Plata County.

George later became a longtime resident of the Durango/Bayfield area. In that time, he sought the adventure of having a “birds-eye view” of Colorado and became a skilled mountain pilot. He spent many years flying the high country and keeping track of bighorn sheep. He was known as a local businessman and served as President of the Durango Chamber

and of course, Dall’s sheep and other hunts in the Last Frontier. No obituary has been written up on him at this time, however WSF will post it in the spring 2025 issue once it is completed. If you haven’t had the opportunity to listen to The Wild Sheep Foundations Podcast with, he and Board of Director Larry McGovern, you can find it on our Wild Sheep Foundations Instagram page, “Icon of Alaska”. Rest in peace Dick, you were a legend and a great friend to many. WS

of Commerce, La Plata County Planning Commission, and first chair of the county’s Living with Wildlife Advisory Board. He was most proud of serving two terms as a Colorado Wildlife Commissioner.

George was very sociable and established many lifelong friendships in the area and with the outdoor community. He remained determined to attend daily breakfasts at Oscars, drop by friends’ homes, or venture into the mountains with his closest friends or family.

He possessed an extraordinary passion for the mountains, wildlife, family, and friends. We know him best as a storyteller of many journeys in the high country, Canada, and Mexico. He was a lifelong hunter, which later transitioned to capturing wildlife through photography. He held a deep desire and knowledge specifically of wild sheep and dedicated much of his life to their preservation.

A service for George was held on Friday, November 8th at 1:00pm at the Durango Cowboy Church, located at 1867 SH-172 in Durango, CO. Any donations to be directed toward the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Society, “In the Memory of George Van Den Berg” at www.bighornsheep. org/donate WS

by:

Photo

Richard Wong

Featured Product: Boyt 10"

Travel & Gear TRAVEL & GEAR

Photo: Tim Shinabarger

HUNT:

Sheep, Moose, Goat, Caribou, Elk, Black Bear & Wolf

BCTMO Conservation Club

Photo: Tim Shinabarger

Advertiser’s Index

ON THE ADVENTURE TRAIL

by Ken Nowicki

HURRICANE ON THE MOUNTAIN

I can see clearly now the rain is gone I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day*

*by Jimmy Cliff

After I get home from any sheep hunt I am quick to get down to Ruby’s Café to visit with my friends Lead-On Highfee and Packtrain MacNamee. These old outfitters know pretty much all there is to know about mountains, horses, and hunting for rams.

I haven’t had a productive tip out of them on where to get myself a big ram, but they are entertaining old codgers and full of advice. Sometimes they joke so much I don’t know what to believe. I just keep hoping they let slip a good place to find a buster old twister. After all, they guided for a combined total of nearly 100 years and they accounted for untold numbers of rams.

“Skunked again, Boy?” LeadOn fixed me with his sharp blue blinkers and made me squirm. “I knew it,” added Packtrain. “He don’t listen—hire an outfitter. We done told him time and time again.”

“Guys,” I interrupted before they really got working on me. “You won’t believe what happened. I did hire some help to get some horses. My son Glen and I and our friend and guide Jeff were up in the Sheep Creek drainage and glassing from the burn. It was early morning and

I thought I heard a shot, and then after about 10 minutes I heard more. Crack-boom. Crack-boom.”

“Then I happened to look up and I saw the air whirling from the west and trees started snapping and falling right in front of me. We all ran to beat hell. It was terrifying.”

“That bad, huh,” drolled LeadOn. “Scared the pants off you.”

“I’m not kidding. I was terrified. It was a hurricane. We sat for two hours and watched hundreds of trees falling. I bet there were another 500 we heard smash the ground.”

“That were no hurricane, Boy. That were a williwaw. But I don’t blame you for being sceered. An old burn is no place to be in the wind.”

“What’s a williwaw?” I was exasperated and not sure they were funning me again.

“True story, Boy,” said Packtrain. “I took a couple horses through a burn one time and the trees were dropping like pick-up sticks. I had to chop for two days to get into the ram pastures. Then I had to chop my way back down.”

“What a williwaw is Boy, is a perfect storm of rain and cold and wind.” Lead-On stroked his stubble and mused. “It starts with

a rainy day. Conditions have to be just right. A fifteen-year-old burn is just about the perfect age to start dropping. The tree roots are dry and punky. A heavy rain gets it all soft and spongy.”

“And then the wind blows,” added Packtrain. “In the mountains there are times that cold air up in the peaks is flooding down into the valleys, and combine that with a Chinook, and you have a recipe for a disaster.”

I knew about Chinooks. I was born and raised in the shadow of the Rockies down in Southern Alberta. The wind down there is legendary. One minute it can be 20 below and an hour later it can be 20 above. The wind speed can tip 100 miles an hour on occasion.

“A Chinook is just a big puff in the face. A williwaw is incomparable to anything on earth except for a hurricane or a twister. We’re talking wind speeds of 150 to 200.” Packtrain nodded his head. “And the strange thing is the williwaw comes with clear skies. It’s like the clouds get blasted to smithereens.”

“With a williwaw, Boy, you have no choice but to run for your life, or head for a spot the trees have

just dropped. Then get right down under a fallen log and hope the shrapnel doesn’t hit you.” Lead-On gurned.

“It’s like spittle from a big sneeze,” added Packtrain. That’s an analogy I could understand after sitting beside him so many

times. He seemed to never pull his chew, even when slurping Ruby’s coffee and pie. “Sometimes the shale rocks get to skipping on the ridges and if you are on the lee side of the mountain you get pelted with stones. Now that’s when your cowboy hat needs to be made of

Teflon.” He yucked at his own joke. It was no joke to me. “We took off for the green standing timber,” I said. “Even those huge spruce trees were rocking in the wind.”

“You ain’t completely safe in the living trees. They can fall just like a burned snag. All you can do is hunker down and pray.”

“We sure did,” I said. “God was on our side that day.”

“So the rams Boy, what did you see?” I guess the big wind story of mine was finished and inconsequential compared to the big news about Hurricane Helene and Milton, but it was my story— and to use words made famously by a politician, “You’ve never seen anything like it. It’s never been seen before, probably.” I doubt I will ever experience another williwaw.

“Rams,” I said. “We never saw a single one. It was like the wind swept the country clean.”

“I bet youse pulled up stakes and ran for the flats,” sniggered Packtrain. “You got chicken, pluck pluck.” He got flapping his arms bedecked by a checkered shirt and this drew a scowl from Ruby. It also nearly knocked me off my seat. It smelled like horse manure mixed with packrat pee. I bet that shirt hadn’t been washed in a month.

”We hung in there, but it was hopeless,” I recalled. “The whole valley was a mess of fallen timber and all the trails were blocked in a thousand places. We got lucky and had our camp far enough down the valley by the lake. It wasn’t too bad down there.”

“You got home without a scratch on your hide. I think you done pretty good,” remarked LeadOn. “When are you going to bring home some sheep ribs for us to feast

on? I never pulled out for home until my hunters got their sheep.”

Before I could answer, Packtrain started blowing up like a balloon and crowing about his great success finding rams for hundreds of clients over the years. And Lead-On was quick to start puffing up too, and they were soon haggling about who was the best guide ever packed the great divide.

I was still feeling a bit shaky days later about my near miss in the burn. Five trees had crashed down right where I was sitting—it had been an experience I hope will never be repeated. It had been so weird to have the scary winds under blue skies. I got up and picked up the tab and met Ruby at the till. She runs the only decent café in our little town and she has heard a thousand lies swapped at the counter by the various characters that come in for her wonderful pies. I wanted to get home and check

nowickilinks for a definition on williwaw, if it even existed.

“I can spoon out some ice cream or another banana cream,” she said with a smile. “You’re leaving kind

Editors Note

of early today.”

“No, but thanks,” I said and nodded at the two roughnecks gesturing at each other. “It’s getting a little too windy around here. WS

Nowicki has been researching the relationship between slope aspect, prevailing wind directions, velocity, and temperature in an attempt to correlate ram populations and pattern movements from summer to winter ranges in order to further the baseline aggregations of data collected by researchers dedicated to the study of the various Ovis populations in northern Canada. He has tendered the theory that apocryphal observations from old-time outfitters would be a good starting point for biologists and other managers who establish the open seasons and size and age and curl regulations for the hunting purposes in the many jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S. blessed with healthy and huntable numbers of sheep. He maintains that too much emphasis has been placed on empirical data collected by University graduate students and the Environmental Consultants pandering to industry, and that his friends Packtrain and Lead-On would be valuable sources of data and opinions on these subjects. He intends on pressing the point with anyone who will listen. Nowicki also advises he knows many WSF members in the Helene and Milton impact areas and suggests we all check on those folks and help them if we can.

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, 47 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

David W. Campbell

Rick & Heather Carosone

Dr. Robert W. & Cynthia Cassell

David & Sona Combs

Monty & Becky Davis

Howard & Mary Deters

Doug & Patty Dreeszen

Buddy DuVall

Tom Grimes

Eric & Sue Hansen

Robert & Arlene Hanson

Dr. Paul F. & Kathy J. Havey

Zach & Amber Higgins

John R. & Mary Ann Justus

Blair A. & Victoria M. Kenewell

Robert M. Martin, Jr.

Robert and Lisa Mays

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. *

Roger McCosker

Kyle & Joanne Meintzer

Chuck Middleton

David Mode

John & Leslie Pearson

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

Zachary Walton

Wayne W. Webber

The William H. Donner Foundation, Inc

Aron Snyder

Hilleberg Team

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