Idaho Sheep tag benefits Hell's Canyon

[Mojo]

I just read this article on a local news web-site. I think it's cool that the guys hunting these great critters are actually willing to pay for habitat and herd improvements, and research. Putting their money where their mouth is...


"BOISE - An Idaho bighorn sheep tag went for $90,000 at auction this year and most of that money will go to increasing the numbers of sheep in the Hells Canyon area.

Fish and Game officials announced the sale Monday.

The hunting tag was auctioned at the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep's annual meeting, and 85 thousand dollars will go to the Hells Canyon Initiative.

The project was launched in the mid-1990s by Idaho, Washington and Oregon, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the foundation. More than 800 bighorn sheep in 15 different herds are estimated to live in Hells Canyon.

The amount of money the tags draw varies from year to year, based on the hunting areas available."

[skein]

Wow, 90 grand! I guess I won't be hunting Bighorn's for a while.

I have a good friend who has a North American Grand Slam and the stories of his hunts are always welcome around the campfire. He's a real blue-collar guy, so when he did a big-bucks hunt, it was a serious commitment.

He now lives in Baker City, and the ODFW office there has a very nice ram that came from Hell's Canyon - a cougar kill. I hope while they're "increasing the herd" they give some consideration to the predators who are "decreasing" it.

Skein

[Mojo]

Skein,
We can still run cats using hounds. Some of the best I know are in Cambridge, Riggins, and Council. Those dogs know every square inch of the Idaho side. Their owners all have a few rugs.

A few years ago there was a big problem with some sort of bacterial pneumonia going through the sheep in Hell's Canyon. I know the University of Idaho has done a bunch of work on that issue. Apparently it's not a problem any more.

I wish I had enough dough to be able to afford something like that. Maybe the boys at work will give me one for a retirement present...someday. :grin:

[ 04-22-2003, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Mojo ]