Bighorn sheep are one of Montana's premier
species both for hunting and wildlife viewing.

FWP is beginning the process to create a Conservation Strategy for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

The Conservation Strategy will draw together in one document the history of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in Montana from decline to recovery. It will also offer a narrative history of all existing herds, including past and current management and the challenges facing each of the populations. Protocols for monitoring herd health, tracking the status and condition of habitat, and guidelines for trapping and transplanting bighorns will be developed or refined. Areas that might be suitable for transplanting bighorn sheep will be identified. Finally, the Conservation Strategy will inform the public about the overall future direction of bighorn sheep management in Montana.

Montana has never produced a comprehensive plan for bighorn sheep management even though Montana has successfully reestablished bighorn populations across the state.

Efforts to reestablish bighorn sheep through trapping and transplanting began 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 bighorns across Montana with 40 sustaining limited hunting in 38 bighorn sheep hunting districts. Officials estimate that 5,900 bighorn sheep inhabit Montana.

Some early issues of concern to wildlife managers include:

• occasional large-scale die-offs often associated with contact with domestic sheep or goats
• systematic long-term health monitoring
• genetic integrity of native populations
• establishing bighorn sheep populations to new areas
• loss of habitat and development impacts to some bighorn populations
• hunting and other recreational opportunities

A key component of the strategy will be to establish clear management narratives for each bighorn sheep-hunting district that will describe the methodology for recommending license and quota levels.

Trapping and transplanting bighorns in
Montana has established sheep in most
historically occupied habitat.

Some of the key elements in relation to the current status of bighorn sheep in Montana include:

• About 5,820 bighorn sheep inhabit Montana in 48 distinct populations.
• Montana's total population could be expanded to about 7,930 bighorn sheep.
• Bighorn sheep inhabit about 3.7 million acres in Montana.
• There are 38 bighorn sheep hunting districts in Montana. Four are "unlimited districts" and four are currently closed to hunting.
• In 2006, Montana offered hunters a total of 160 licenses for rams and 183 licenses for ewes.
• To see more information about bighorn sheep visit Montana's Animal Field Guide

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is in the early stages of developing a Conservation Strategy to define future management opportunities for bighorn sheep. We are soliciting feedback from the public and comments will be taken through Dec. 20th. Comments can be sent online by clicking on the link below or send written comments to: Bighorn Sheep Strategy, Montana FWP, P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701.

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