Texas Bighorn Sheep Numbers Continue to Climb
October 2, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -The last wild desert bighorn sheep in Texas was seen in a remote area of far West Texas a half century ago, in October 1958. That might have been the last chapter for the majestic animal in the Lone Star State, but today, thanks to ongoing efforts to restore this majestic game animal in far West Texas, there are more sheep than you can shake a stick at with numbers unseen since the late 1800s.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists recently completed annual desert bighorn sheep counts and report a record 1,193 desert bighorn sheep observed, up from 991 sheep last year.
“We rocked along for years with very low numbers, and that makes it hard for a population to gain momentum,” said Mike Pittman, TPWD Trans-Pecos Wildlife Management Area project leader. “You’ve heard of safety in numbers? With sheep that’s very true. With larger herd groups, there are more eyes to help avoid predators. Also, increased social activity means ewes going to lambing areas are able to produce more sheep.”
By conducting annual helicopter survey counts, TPWD biologists can ascertain not only how many animals are present, but also if there are surplus bighorn rams.
The number of harvestable rams seen on the survey makes possible a record number of sheep hunting permits to be issued during the 2008-09 season. The Department will issue 15 permits, 11 of which will be given to private landowners who have been instrumental in sheep restoration through habitat management, and four permits which will be used by the department.
Of those four permits, one will be auctioned by the Wild Sheep Foundation, with proceeds returned to fund the department’s bighorn program, and the remaining three will be included in TPWD’s public hunting program.
One lucky applicant in the Big Time Texas Hunts Grand Slam category will be selected to hunt a desert bighorn ram. Entries are $9 online at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/bigtime
or for $10 at retail locations where licenses are sold or by phone at (800) 895-4248. There is no limit to the number of Big Time Texas Hunts entries an individual may purchase, and entries may be purchased as gifts for others. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older. The deadline to apply for this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts is Oct. 15 to give the winners more time to prepare for their trips.
Two applicants in TPWD’s drawn hunts will be selected for a guided bighorn sheep hunt package. Application fee is $10 and the deadline for applying is Nov. 4. For more information, including an application, visit the public hunting section of the TPWD Web site.
The desert bighorn sheep was once prominent in the remote mountains of West Texas, with populations of more than 1,500 animals in the late 1800s. Largely because of unregulated hunting, bighorn numbers dwindled to about 500, according to the survey conducted by Vernon Bailey in 1903.
Protective measures for bighorn sheep began as early as 1903 with the enactment of a hunting prohibition; however, numbers continued to decline to an estimated 35 sheep by 1945. The last reported sighting of a native bighorn sheep in 1958 came from what would later become the first wildlife management area in Texas, the Sierra Diablo WMA. Biologists believe the last native Texas bighorns were gone by the early 1960s.
Efforts to restore bighorns in Texas began in 1954 with the development of a cooperative agreement among state and federal wildlife agencies and private conservation groups. Through landowner and Texas Bighorn Society support, remote mountains in the Trans-Pecos have been enhanced to meet the basic needs of the desert bighorn, including construction of numerous man-made water guzzlers. These capture the area’s limited rainfall to provide more reliable water sources for bighorn sheep and other wildlife.
“Although the restoration efforts to date have been a tremendous success, desert bighorn restoration in Texas is not complete,” reminded Calvin Richardson, TPWD desert bighorn sheep program leader. “Our immediate focus is on Big Bend Ranch State Park and the surrounding area, which have substantial quality habitat for desert sheep, particularly when including the rugged mountain ranges in Cañon de Santa Elena Protected Area immediately to the south in Mexico.”
Richardson noted that, with the help of partners in Mexico, including Cemex Corp., and Texas partners like the Texas Bighorn Society, Dallas Safari Club, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, and private landowners, TPWD will be working to address some challenges over the next few years and prepare Big Bend Ranch State Park for eventual restoration of desert bighorns to this historic range.
Other historic ranges are still unoccupied, including the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, the Chinati Mountains, and the Guadalupe Mountains.
“Natural expansion is occurring to some degree and bighorns will continue to colonize suitable habitat, provided the unoccupied mountain range is not too distant and there are few existing barriers like fences and major highways,” said Richardson.
Some of those barriers can be overcome through trapping and relocation of bighorns and Richardson said the restoration tool of restocking historic range through translocation will continue to be used when suitable mountain ranges are isolated from other bighorn populations, preventing re-establishment through natural movements.
Additionally, translocations may be used to augment small populations that typically require many years to “get past” the multiple sources of mortality that threaten herd viability when bighorn numbers are few.
“Despite the dramatic success with the desert bighorn program in West Texas, particularly in recent years, TPWD and our partners must be persistent in management,” said Richardson.
Among the challenges facing bighorn restoration efforts are: control of exotics, control of predators in some situations, water development and maintenance and vigilance regarding one of the greatest threats to bighorn sheep — disease.
Because bighorns are highly susceptible to some diseases, contact with domestic sheep, goats or certain exotics, like aoudads, can potentially wipe-out an entire population. From the perspective of a bighorn sheep, West Texas is a very different environment than it was 300-400 years ago, with more barriers, more disturbance, and sources of disease that historically were absent.
“And, with an increasing human population hungry for petroleum products, wind energy, and minerals hidden in the mountains, I don’t anticipate a decline in the threats to desert bighorn survival,” Richardson predicted. “Regarding the desert bighorn program in Texas, we’re not done . . . and it will require a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to maintain what we’ve achieved.”
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Watching Bighorn Sheep in Nevada - From A Distance
September 12, 2008
Wildlife watching is fast becoming a popular, low-cost outdoor sport, and an increasing number of people want to know where they can go to have a good chance of seeing wild animals. In Southern Nevada, one the most popular animals for wildlife watchers is the desert bighorn sheep — Nevada’s state animal.
Though most animals tend to be very skittish, some herds of bighorn sheep are more tolerant of human activity than others. This makes bighorn sightings fairly common in Southern Nevada. However, there are still some things wildlife watchers need to keep in mind when seeking them out.
First and foremost, bighorn sheep, no matter where one finds them, are wild animals. As such, their behavior is unpredictable at best, and our behavior can put undue stress on the sheep. When we get too close to them, for example, sheep can exhibit defensive behavior or retreat. Sometimes, in an attempt to put distance between themselves and people, the sheep will actually move into an area where they are in more actual danger, said Pat Cummings, a wildlife biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
At Hemenway Park in Boulder City, for example, people can enjoy a close encounter of the sheep variety by simply having a seat beneath one of the gazebos. The sheep can frequently be seen feeding in the park and relaxing in the shade.
“If people will just sit quietly and hold still, the sheep will come as close as they feel comfortable, but when people try to get closer the animals exhibit avoidance behavior. The problem is the sheep may react by leaving the park and moving to the grassy areas along the highway (US 93) where they are sometimes hit by automobiles. This, of course, is an unacceptable situation for both the sheep and human beings alike,” Cummings said.
Another concern is the rut or breeding season. Due to Southern Nevada’s variable climate, bighorn ewes (females) can cycle and give birth year round. Rutting, or breeding behavior, can occur at almost any time but reaches its peak in August and September. During this time, the rams (males) vigorously pursue receptive ewes and can become aggressive when competing with each other for a ewe’s affections. Rams also can be aggressive toward people if cornered.
To avoid putting stress on the animals, wildlife watchers should always maintain their distance when observing bighorn sheep, or any big game animal for that matter, said Cummings. At Hemenway Park, “the gazebos are plenty close. There is no reason to approach any closer,” said Cummings. In other locations, wildlife watchers should keep an eye out for any behavior that might indicate the sheep are anxious. Walking away is one indicator, stomping of the feet is another.
People also might see bighorn sheep along the highway below Boulder City or near the Hoover Dam, but motorists should not stop because they may startle the sheep and cause them to jump into a travel lane.
Cummings said many people don’t realize what a unique opportunity we have in Southern Nevada to regularly view desert bighorn sheep. The chance of viewing these striking animals in more remote desert areas is far more improbable.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.
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TPWD Discounts Online Entries in Big Time Texas Hunts
July 31, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — The Lone Star State boasts some of the finest hunting anywhere in the country, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Big Time Texas Hunts offer hunters a chance to experience the best of the best.
Tommy H. Bridgers would agree. Last year, the 65-year-old steel plate fabricator from Duncanville was selected the Big Time Texas Hunts winner in the Texas Grand Slam category.
“They advertise this as a hunt of a lifetime and I would agree,” exclaimed Bridgers upon returning from three days of hunting desert bighorn sheep in the rugged mountains of West Texas. “This was probably the most physically demanding hunt I’ve ever been on, but it was also the most rewarding. I would never have the resources to buy a desert bighorn hunt, so I got mine the lucky way!”
The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals — the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.
Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold or by calling 800-895-4248. They may also be purchased online this year at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase, and entries may be given as gifts for others. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.
“This is something I’ve participated in over the last five years, but I never gave it a thought that I’d win,” said Bridgers. “It has really added a new aspect to my hunting and just goes to show sometimes good things happen.”
Proceeds from the Big Time Texas Hunts are dedicated to providing more public hunting opportunity and to funding wildlife conservation and research programs in Texas.
Here’s a summary of the Big Time Texas Hunts offerings:
- The Texas Grand Slam - This truly is the hunt of a lifetime. The bighorn sheep hunt is very exclusive; TPWD issues only a handful of permits a year. The bighorn sheep hunt takes place on a West Texas Wildlife Management Area. The other three hunts included in the Texas Grand Slam will be on some of the most exclusive private ranches in the state. The winner may also bring along a non-hunting companion to share in this awesome outdoor adventure.
- Texas Whitetail Bonanza - 10 winners will each get to experience a high-quality white-tailed deer hunt, something legendary to Texas on popular ranches known to produce big bucks. Guide service, food and lodging are provided on these 3-5-day trips during hunting season. Each winner can also bring along a companion to hunt as well.
- Texas Gator Hunt - One winner and a guest will enjoy a rare and unique three-day trip pursuing alligators at the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area on the Gulf Coast. Each hunter may harvest one alligator. All necessary equipment, expert guides, lodging and gator hide removal are included. The winner and guest will also be treated to an airboat tour of the marsh to view alligators.
- Texas Waterfowl Adventure - One winner and as many as three invited guests will win a series of three exciting waterfowl adventures. The hunts are located on some of the best waterfowl areas in Texas. Trips include a Coastal Prairies guided hunt for snows, blues and white-fronted geese; a guided duck hunt in the Coastal Marshes; and an East Texas hunt for wood ducks and mallards.
- Texas Exotic Safari - Two winners will experience the thrill of hunting African exotic game right here in Texas on the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the Texas Hill Country. Each winner can take two exotic species, including, gemsbok, scimitar-horned oryx and impala. Hunters may choose to shoot modern rifle, muzzleloader, archery or crossbow. Winners can also bring along a companion to hunt a management exotic. Food and lodging will be provided at the scenic Mason Mountain WMA lodge. Taxidermy service will be provided for the two winners. Proceeds go to benefit wildlife conservation and research on Mason Mountain WMA.
- Texas Big Time Bird Hunt - One winner along with as many as three hunting buddies will enjoy a unique package of upland game bird hunts: two days of quail, two days of pheasant hunting in the Panhandle and two afternoons of dove hunting. There will also be a two-day guided spring turkey hunt for two included in the package. Food, guide service and lodging are included on all bird hunts, and pointing dogs are provided for quail and pheasant hunts.
- Texas Premium Buck Hunt - This is the ultimate deer hunting experience-an opportunity to harvest a trophy white-tailed buck in the rugged South Texas brush country. One winner and a guest will enjoy the finest deer hunting trip that Texas can offer. Professional guide service, food and high quality accommodations are included to provide each hunter comfort as well as great hunting.
The deadline to apply for this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts is Oct. 15. Winners will be announced in November.
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Visit Sunnyside To See Bighorn Sheep
June 11, 2008
DWR hosts a free June 14 viewing event in Carbon County
SUNNYSIDE — Those who live in Sunnyside have an advantage no one else in Utah has — they get to share their town with a herd of wild desert bighorn sheep!
You can enjoy what the residents of Sunnyside get to enjoy at a free viewing event. The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the event on June 14.
Biologists will be available from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 14 to help you locate the animals and answer your questions. Late afternoon until dusk is usually the best time to see the sheep.
Sunnyside bighorn sheep herd
The Sunnyside bighorn sheep herd consists almost entirely of rams, which number from 25 to 40 depending on the day and the year.
Each year, the sheep spend the summer in the general vicinity of the Sunnyside fire station and cliffs that surround the area near the station. They water at Grassy Trail Creek and forage on native and reclaimed vegetation in the area.
This band of bighorns is used to cars and people, so you can often observe and photograph them at close range.
“We’ll have spotting scopes and binoculars available for people to use, but we encourage those who have their own optics to bring them,” says Brent Stettler, DWR regional conservation outreach manager.
The viewing event is free, and Stettler encourages everyone to attend. The sheep can be viewed from the road, so those who have physical challenges don’t need to worry about hiking or walking.
Stettler also has some requests. “Please leave your dog at home,” he says. “Dogs can startle the sheep. And noisy children can have the same effect. We encourage you to bring your kids, but please help your kids stay quiet as they view the sheep.”
Directions
Sunnyside is less than 20 miles east of Price. To reach the town from Price, travel southeast on US-6 to its junction with SR-123 (the East Carbon/Sunnyside junction). On SR-123, travel east to Sunnyside. Signs will guide you to the viewing area.
If you need gasoline or food, there’s a gas station in East Carbon and a grocery store in Sunnyside.
Viewing continues through the summer
If you can’t make it to the event on June 14, don’t be disheartened. Stettler says you can drive up another day.
“The sheep stay in the same general area until early fall,” Stettler says. “You can often see them near the road at the far side of the town or in the canyon up to the rodeo grounds.
“Although seeing the band of sheep is a gamble any time you go, you’ll have the best luck from late afternoon until dark.”
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Enter the Big Game Super Raffle and Help Wildlife Conservation
May 12, 2008
Hunters have an opportunity to win a unique year-round big game hunt while helping wildlife conservation efforts at the same time, thanks to Arizona’s Big Game Super Raffle.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission sets aside special tags for each of the nine big game species to be used in the Super Raffle to raise money for wildlife conservation. A consortium of conservation organizations partners with the commission to raffle these special tags. The money raised goes to the benefit the big game species for which the raffle is held.
Last year’s raffle raised more than $550,000.
Raffle tickets range in price from $5 to $25, depending on the species (antelope, black bear, buffalo, Coues whitetail deer, desert bighorn sheep, elk, turkey, javelina and mule deer). The season dates for each hunt will be 365 days starting August 15, with very few limitations on hunting areas.
The Super Raffle also includes a chance at one incredible Swarovski optics package.
Purchase an “All Ten” raffle ticket package for $150 for a chance at all nine species plus the optics package.Â
Visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com for more information and to download an order form. Ticket purchases can be made with check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Mail orders must be received at the Big Game Super Raffle mailing address (P.O. Box 61713, Phoenix, AZ 85082) by June 27, 2008. Online sales will end July 13. The public drawing will take place July 19; exact time and place to be announced.Â
Sponsors of the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle are the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Bowhunters Association, Arizona Chapter of Safari Club International, Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Wildlife Federation, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Mule Deer Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Arizona Chapters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
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