Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is preparing to create a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep conservation strategy next year and is seeking public comment now on issues and concerns associated with bighorn sheep and bighorn sheep hunting in Montana.
" The conservation strategy for bighorn sheep will draw together into one document Montana’s bighorn sheep management history and future goals and objectives," said Tom Carlsen, who is managing the project for FWP in Helena. The document will include survey priorities and techniques, hunting seasons, recommended permit levels, and guidelines for health and habitat monitoring, trapping and transplanting activities.
Montana has never produced a comprehensive plan for bighorn sheep management, though efforts to reestablished bighorn populations across the state have been successful.
The state began trapping and transplanting bighorn sheep in the early 1940s. By 1950 there was an estimated 1,200 sheep in Montana. Populations continued to slowly recover and limited hunting began again in 1953. By the early 1970s there were 11 major herds and nine successful transplanted populations of bighorns. There are now 49 populations of bighorn sheep across Montana with 40 sustaining limited hunting in 38 bighorn sheep hunting districts. Officials estimate that 5,900 bighorn sheep inhabit Montana.
"Bighorn sheep are one of the premier wildlife species in Montana, both from a hunting and wildlife viewing perspective," Carlsen said. "Along with the responsibility to manage bighorns comes the challenges of managing wildlife in a rapidly changing environment. We really need Montanans and others to let FWP know what they see as the issues facing Montana’s bighorn sheep."
Some early issues of concern to wildlife managers include:
health affects related to contact with domestic sheep or goats, systematic long-term health monitoring, genetic integrity of native populations, establishing bighorn sheep populations in new areas, loss of habitat and development impacts on some bighorn populations, hunting and other recreational opportunities. FWP will take public comment on any issues associated with bighorn sheep and bighorn sheep management in Montana through Dec. 20.
"Right now we need to uncover the issues or concerns people have about bighorn sheep in Montana," Carlsen said. "Once we compile the issues, we’ll turn to solutions to address them."
FWP has arranged to take comment through Dec. 20 via FWP’s website at
fwp.mt.gov . Click on "Bighorn Sheep Strategy," or you can send written comments to: Bighorn Sheep Strategy, Montana FWP, P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701.
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