FAQs

Through cooperative efforts by western fish & game agencies and conservation organizations like the Wild Sheep Foundation, bighorn sheep now number more than 80,000 in the western U.S. and Canada. Across North America, current estimates of ALL wild sheep are 170,000 to 190,000, with over 50% being Dall’s and Stone sheep in Alaska, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon.

More than 20,000 bighorn sheep have been translocated by western fish & game agencies, in over 1,400 discrete transplant actions, over the past 90-plus years. These transplants and restoration of bighorn sheep to many of their historic ranges have largely been paid for via revenues from hunting licenses and contributions from conservation, pro-hunting organizations, such as the Wild Sheep Foundation.

In almost 40 years, the Wild Sheep Foundation has raised and helped direct almost $100 Million toward conservation and management of wild sheep and their habitats. Without adequate habitat, wild sheep, like so many other wildlife species, will simply not survive into the future.

Virtually everywhere bighorn sheep are found in 15 states in the West, hunting opportunities are very rare, with licenses issued via highly-competitive lottery systems or drawings. Hunters lucky enough to have hunted wild sheep, and thousands more who are still awaiting their opportunity, have contributed many millions of dollars in license fees and applications, plus excise taxes on firearms and ammunition, to wild sheep conservation and management.

No other segment of society has contributed as much to the conservation and management of wildlife as hunters have, and they continue to do so. Dollars raised and spent by hunters have maintained and/or enhanced millions of acres of wildlife habitat, for literally thousands of species, the majority of which are NOT hunted, fished for, or trapped. Hunting opportunities for wild sheep and other wildlife accrue ONLY as a result of sound, science-based conservation programs and strategies.

Sheep hunting is arguably the pinnacle of big game hunting adventures. As a limited and rightfully tightly controlled resource, hunting opportunities are also limited. However, if you’re a good combination of determined, lucky, and knowledgeable, you can go on a sheep hunt. Then, of course, there is pay-to-play.

Some provinces and states (BC, AB, AK, MT, to name a few) offer over-the-counter sheep tags to their residents, meaning tags are readily available for purchase or draw. Check your hunting regulations to see if your area of residence offers this opportunity. If it doesn’t, you have these options: apply for and draw a sheep tag, purchase lottery or raffle tickets, or purchase an outfitted hunt.

All states in the Lower 48 that have a hunting season for wild sheep, have a draw system for tags. Draw odds vary from state to state and depending on your residency and the hunt unit you’re applying for. For example, residents typically have better odds of drawing because states allocate more tags for residents, and the annual harvest quota may be higher or lower depending on the Game Management Unit (GMU). Many states operate with a points system, wherein you can build points over time when unsuccessful in the draw. These can be bonus points or preference points systems. Bonus points give you more chances in a random computer draw for each year you’re unsuccessful. Preference points accumulate to a level where, theoretically, you will eventually draw a particular unit if you have max points for what it will take to draw that unit. Other states have no points system. Here, applicants have equal odds of being drawn regardless of the number of years they have applied. Sorting all this out will take some homework. A good recommendation is to apply for a balance of states that offer bonuses and preference points, and no point system.

Outside of the Lower 48 states, in Alaska, Canadian Provinces, and Mexico, there are guided hunting opportunities for wild sheep if you don’t want to play the waiting game in the draws and can afford or have saved up for the cost of these trips.

Past draws and purchasing an outfitted hunt, many states and provinces offer auction tags available to the highest bidder. These tags are assigned by fish and wildlife agencies to a selling organization, such as WSF, and others for the sole purpose of raising funds for the conservation of wild sheep in their state or province. Auction tags are an excellent opportunity to give back to the resource. Another option is to participate in raffles and lotteries. WSF, along with dozens of our chapters and affiliates, as well as other organizations, regularly hosts raffles for sheep hunts.

Lastly, going with someone you know who has drawn a tag to help with the logistics, spotting, and packing duties is “going” on a sheep hunt. In fact, there can be no greater reward than sharing a sheep camp with family and friends. It’s one of the many reasons why sheep hunting is so special.

Sheep hunts are expensive because there are fewer wild sheep on the landscape than more common big game species, such as deer and elk. Nor is wild sheep habitat as vast as deer, elk, or antelope habitat. Sheep need specific habitats and environmental conditions to thrive and those are typically remote and challenging terrain areas with limited access. All these factors add up to equal a short supply of wild sheep and generally more expensive costs to get to where sheep live it’s a matter of supply and demand. Outfitted hunts are expensive because of the sheer amount of work it takes to safely transport, guide, feed, and return clients to civilization; with an outfitted hunt, you are paying for knowledge, equipment, and experience that outfitters and guides have spent years, if not decades, preparing for.

Because licensed harvest is closely monitored by government agencies that employ conservative management approaches, hunting is often not the cause of wild sheep population declines. Disease die-offs are, without question, the largest threat wild sheep face today. Different populations of wild sheep also face a variety of challenges, including predation, habitat destruction, and drought. But overall, across all wild sheep populations, nothing threatens survival like the transmission of respiratory bacteria such as Movi, which can result in pneumonia and can wipe out entire populations. When some adults survive, subsequent adverse effects of disease will compromise lamb survival for many years following the initial health event.

Yes, there is at least one confirmed extinct wild sheep subspecies: the Audubon’s bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis auduboni), also known as the Badlands Bighorn. It was a subspecies of bighorn sheep that inhabited the northern Great Plains of North America. This subspecies went extinct around 1925.

First, resource management. When a population exceeds the habitat's carrying capacity, it can lead to resource scarcity and disease outbreaks. Selectively removing a small number of ewes can help bring the population back to healthy numbers. Second, disease management. If a portion of the ewe population is chronically infected with respiratory disease, targeted removal of these individuals can almost immediately improve lamb survival and benefit the long-term survival of the herd. Without this effort, chronic carriers of disease can pass down illness to the next generation, causing lamb die-offs that have been observed to recur for many years.

Identification and registration. Horn plugs help track the origin and history of individual rams by including important info, such as harvest location and year. They also link to harvest records that agencies keep, recording things such as horn length and circumferences, annual growth, and estimated age. These records, through time, can support an understanding of ram growth and habitat condition, herd age structure, and fitness. For more than 45 years, WSF has provided horn plugs for harvested and/or picked-up ram skulls to the various jurisdictions that manage wild sheep in the western U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central Asia.

Preventing Illegal trade and Poaching. By requiring hunters to have horns plugged after harvest, wildlife agencies aim to deter the illegal trade and sale of horns by creating a verifiable record of the individual ram. This makes it more difficult for horns taken illegally to be passed off as legitimate. Again, consult the local jurisdiction’s regulations on horn plugging and picking up “dead heads” in the field or along highways where vehicle strike may kill wild sheep.

This is a loaded question, no pun intended. The answer is that it depends on factors such as weight, accuracy, power, and shot distances, as well as terrain. And the comfort level/proficiency of the person behind the trigger.

Extreme long-range shots are rarely needed in sheep country. In addition to accurately judging the age of a ram, getting within 300 yards is typically not a problem. Sheep also don’t require a heavy, terminal velocity bullet to take down quickly. The only advantage here would be concerns with bucking the wind on a longer shot.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a worthy contender due to its flat trajectory, low recoil, and ability to handle various bullet weights for different hunting conditions.

Another longstanding favorite is the Winchester .270. This rifle has a proven track record of delivering on sheep hunts. It’s reliable, generates moderate recoil, and can be loaded to achieve over 3000 fps with a 130-grain bullet or around 2900 fps with a 150-grain bullet.

The 7mm Remington Magnum is a powerful option that offers excellent long-range performance and is suitable for a variety of game animal, sheep included. It has less recoil than a .300 Win Mag and can be loaded with bullets ranging from 139 to 175 grains.

Dall’s and Stone’s sheep are subspecies of thinhorn sheep and can generally be distinguished by their hair color. Dall’s are typically white; Stone’s sheep are darker bodied with a mix of brown and black, and often a white face and head. Fannin sheep, a descendant of Dall’s sheep is not a unique subspecies, but it diverges just enough that it comes in a mixture of color-morphs that range from nearly all white, to resembling the color pattern of a Stone’s; this is the likely result of a very long-ago hybridization event between Stone’s and Dall’s, where the genes for darker hair color were passed into the Dall’s genetic mix.

Dall’s are found in Alaska, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and northwestern British Columbia. Stone’s have a much more limited range, mainly in the mountain ranges of northern British Columbia and along those mountain ranges into southern areas in Yukon. Fannin sheep, with intermediate coloration and some with grey saddles, occur west into Alaska. The most common occurrence of the Fannin dark-bodied phenotype is predominantly found in the Pelly Mountains of south-central Yukon, and the extreme north-westerly extents of the Cassiar range and eastern Atlin Mountains in British Columbia.

Dall’s sheep are named after William Healey Dall, an American naturalist and early explorer of Alaska. He was instrumental in exploring Alaska in the decades following its purchase from Russia and described many of the iconic Alaskan species we know today.

Stone’s sheep are named after A.J. Stone, who collected the first specimens in 1897. Specifically, he found them in the Stikine River in British Columbia. Stone was a hunter and conservationist, and his discovery led to the sheep being scientifically classified and named in his honor.

Yes. Although this question has been debated over the past several decades, very recent genetic research using cutting-edge analyses has confirmed that Rocky Mountain, desert, Sierra Nevada, and California bighorn sheep are separate subspecies. Part of the confusion in the past is likely related to the complex way in which population restoration actions that recovered bighorn populations in the lower 48 occurred, resulting in some areas with sheep from different source areas hybridizing. New research from the past 5 years shows that bighorn sheep originating from British Columbia populations, and likely those of northern Washington state, form a distinct evolutionary lineage of California bighorns. These populations have helped create robust populations today in states such as Oregon. The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep were once referred to as California bighorn sheep, but they are now recognized as a distinct subspecies from the broader “California bighorn” group.

For their record-keeping programs, the Boone and Crockett Club and Pope and Young Club recognize four categories of North American wild sheep: Dall’s and Stone’s, Rocky Mountain Bighorn, and desert bighorn.

As of 1850, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska had wild sheep populations. Canadian Northwest Territories, Alberta, Yukon Territory, and British Columbia, as well as Mexico, also have historic populations.

No, not all desert sheep hunting in Mexico is high fence. While some outfitters do offer high-fence hunts, there are also reputable outfitters/landowners who provide free-range, fair chase hunts. It’s crucial to research and verify the specific hunt you’re booking to ensure it aligns with your preference.

Yes, all bighorn and thinhorn sheep species are scored using the same method for the Boone and Crockett Club’s and Pope and Young record books. The scoring system focuses on horn length and mass measurements, with deductions made for asymmetry to reward well-matched trophies. The WSF Ram Awards requires entries to be measured by these systems. SCI score charts are not accepted for the Ram Awards.

A FNAWS (Four North American Wild Sheep) is a Wild Sheep Foundation Awards Program recognizing those who have successfully taken all four species of North American wild sheep. Grand Slam® is a registered trademark of Grand Slam Club Ovis, which recognizes the same accomplishment for this organization. Being two separate programs, you would have to register for each program separately.

Volunteer opportunities at WSF vary throughout the year. Sheep Show, which takes place in January or February, is an excellent opportunity to volunteer. One of the best ways to stay informed about volunteer opportunities is to become a member. Members receive 4 issues of the Wild Sheep magazine throughout the year, where you can learn about WSF Chapters and Affiliates near where you live or would like to volunteer. Getting involved with a WSF Chapter or Affiliate is an excellent way to participate in on-the-ground conservation projects.

State/Provincial/Territorial/Tribal/First Nation Fish and Game Agencies (who allocate sheep tags to WSF for auction) receive 85-100% of the proceeds raised from the sale of auctioned wild sheep tags. Often, 100% of the money raised by these auction tags go directly back to supporting sheep conservation efforts in the tag-issuing jurisdiction.

Yes! WSF habitat enhancement projects, such as controlled burns and water guzzler installations, have a direct, positive impact on a wide range of wildlife. Along with sheep, mountain lions, javelina, whitetail deer, elk, mule deer, quail, wild turkeys, and many small game and non-game species have all been observed using WSF-assisted guzzlers. Additionally, enhancing and growing wild sheep populations often has a positive impact on the entire ecosystem. Wild sheep are an integral part of high-altitude and mountainous ecosystems, acting as both grazers and prey animals. Their grazing habits can contribute to habitat management by controlling the growth of particular plant species and promoting biodiversity. In areas scarce of prey animals, wild sheep are an essential part of the diet of high-altitude predators, such as wolves, golden eagles, and mountain lions. Putting more sheep on the mountain often means improving the health of many species.