Feral sheep legalaties?

[oregonoutdoors]

I have a small population of feral sheep living on BLM land while out scouting today. The two males that I saw had very long curly horns and shaggy coats, one was brown and the other was brown and white as were the females. They are feral for sure; wish I had my camera with me. They were pretty wary and seem like they would offer a perfect chance to brush up on the stalking and shooting before archery season. I found nothing the regs pertaining to feral sheep only swine. I have not yet contacted the BLM or ODFW about them, but do plan on contacting someone at the BLM before I start flinging arrows. This is in central/eastern Oregon.

[Bendman]

Sounds like you found yourself a pretty good time. Congrats on the find. If you want a buddy let me know.

[GSD]

This might be helpful info...or not

Source: ODFW



Putting Invasive Species on the Map
"To have a fighting chance at controlling them, we have to know where they are and how many of them there are," says Jim Gores speaking about Oregon 's invasive species. As ODFW's Invasive Species and Wildlife Integrity Coordinator, Jim is currently walking the walk as he travels around the state, working with district biologists to create a map of invasive species infestations in Oregon . Species being mapped include nutria; opossum; feral populations of swine, goat and sheep; bullfrogs; crayfish; and goldfish. Fallow, axis and sitka deer that have escaped from captivity are also being mapped.
The goal is to put this information into a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Web-friendly format that can be shared with partners and overlaid onto the Strategy's Conservation Opportunity Areas map. Oregonians can then see what control and eradication projects are needed in their area.
Some of Jim's initial findings include:
Feral swine are not nearly as prevalent in Oregon as believed, which means we have a good chance of keeping them from spreading-and maybe even eradicate them.
Nutria are thick throughout the Willamette Valley and are beginning to spread south to Roseburg and Medford .
Feral sheep, goats, and escaped fallow, axis and sitka deer are emerging as a significant threat to wildlife habitat in Oregon .
For more information on invasive species, contact Jim via email, James.K.Gores@state.or.us .

[Elkslayer67]

Oregonoutdoors,

go kill yourself some muttin.:grin:

[Tide Change]

Mmmm....

Mouflon....



Find out if they're legal and if so, put one in the freezer. I got a couple with a bow a few years ago, and they were pretty good table fare. Might be dependant on what they've been eating though. Sage diet might not be the best, but some sheep sausage might make good stocking stuffers for the in-laws.

[Hawk]

So, how do you tell a feral sheep from somebody's ram that got out of its fence? Feral hogs would be easier to identify based on the habitat they occupy, but a lot of folks range sheep all over the place and rams can be expensive if you pop the wrong one.

[huntinfool]

In Cameron Hanes' book "Bowhunting Trophy Blacktails" there is a picture and paragraph about him and Ted Nugent shooting a bunch of these goats in the Springfield/Eugene area quite a few years back.

[baltz526]

i have seen feral sheep while deer hunting the juniper unit in the mid 90's they looked simular to these
Mouflon or wild type, light (tan) and dark- phase (brown)

[CombinationLicense]

Hey OregonOutdoors, feral sheep are a relatively significant find due to the threat that they pose to Oregon's Bighorn population. As I understand it, domestic sheep carry a virus that is deadly to Bighorns. Nose to nose contact can infect an animal that in turn, goes back to the wild herd spreading the infection. This obviously is a huge threat which can result in the death of an entire bighorn herd. I would really urge you to contact ODFW asap to relay the information. If you want more information first check out the Oregon FNAWS website.

"CL"

[Norm]

I would make sure they are not domestic sheep grazing under BLM permit first .

[Don Becker]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CombinationLicense
This is pretty old news guys - . . . . . I called ODFW and there was nothing to be done about it, except that they had to tell me who they sold the information to Freedon of Information Act again....
. . . . It actually got published and exposed the activist for what she was to all the local folks. I was told that it had a negative impact on her business "CL"

Rick, I'm absolutely amazed that they didn't feel obligated to protect her identity. Did they actually give you information equal to that she was able to obtain about you? How VERY NICE you were able to give her some of her own . . . . . Don

[Bill Monroe]

You definitely need to talk with the nearest local state wildlife biologist.

He may say go ahead, but at least make that your first step.

Last year or the year before, the Fish and Wildlife Commission was ready to declare feral sheep legal targets, like hogs.

But some sheep ranchers showed up and by the time all the legalese settled and the air cleared, the commission looked as if it had just been in the woodshed.

The subject, to my knowledge, hasn't come up again...yet.

[CombinationLicense]

I'm pretty sure that all the sheep grazing permits have been bought out in Oregon. There may be one or two left and I'm sure there is at least one still active on the Idaho side of Hell's Canyon. ODFW and FNAWS have been buying the permits for years for just this reason. The ones left are hold outs but eventually they will go too. Vic Coggins is the ODFW "Man" for everything sheep related.

"CL"

[Bendman]

As far as the the ODF&W are concerned they are completely legal to hunt. As many and as often as you want to. If there is any feral sheep on public land they are trespass animals and completely legal to shoot.

The only way you could run into a sticky situation is if a near by landowner claimed they were his sheep and tried to sue you for market value. (good luck with that) If the sheep look like the picture Baltz posted then have a good time and can I go:grin:

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

In Cameron Hanes' book "Bowhunting Trophy Blacktails" there is a picture and paragraph about him and Ted Nugent shooting a bunch of these goats in the Springfield/Eugene area quite a few years back.

I've read that book backward and forward and don't remember reading that. What chapter is that in??

[huntinfool]

Originally Posted by BlacktailBowhunter

I've read that book backward and forward and don't remember reading that. What chapter is that in??

You're right. I just checked and did'nt see it there. I must have seen it on his website or in an old Eastmans. Anyway, the pic was of Cam, The Nuge and his good friend Roy Roth and they had a Toyota pickup full of white, shaggy horned goats they had laced. I'll keep an eye out for the picture, I don't have time right now to go through my archives.

[lor]

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

I'm pretty sure that all the sheep grazing permits have been bought out in Oregon. "CL"

There is still a permitholder in Eastern Oregon around the John Day/Prairie City area. The sheep are grazed in Malheur National Forest.

[CombinationLicense]

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

I'm pretty sure that all the sheep grazing permits have been bought out in Oregon. There may be one or two left and I'm sure there is at least one still active on the Idaho side of Hell's Canyon.

Yeah, I'm not surprised - I couldn't remember for sure but thought there might have been a couple left, hence the disclaimer. The other thread Bighorn sheep in trouble describes exactly what I was talking about though. Hopefully Oregon and Idaho will both get rid of all the domestic permits asap.

"CL"