The Latest

Dan Gates with Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management is on the frontlines of a ballot box biology battle in Colorado and the hits just keep on coming. Now it’s a push to restructure how wildlife is managed “or not” by establishing a new replacement to Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) recently released a statement on the disposal of federal public lands, which is available here. Consistent with this statement, WSF opposed the House Natural Resources Committee reconciliation bill that included directions to sell and exchange public land and is pleased that this was stricken from the bill before Senate voting.  

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) applauds the passage and Governor Greg Gianforte’s signature of House Bill 932, which establishes a Habitat Legacy Account administrated by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks (FWP).

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) and many others in the hunting, conservation and ranching communities are concerned about a recent outbreak of New World screwworm in Mexico that is quickly moving north towards the U.S. This parasite is devastating to livestock and native wildlife and WSF strongly supports legislation being proposed to prevent and mitigate this infestation.

US federal public lands are home to the majority of bighorn, desert bighorn, and Dall’s sheep in the country.  The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) cannot sacrifice these lands any more than we could sacrifice these wild sheep that are our life’s mission.  We are committed equally to the entirety of the public land estate beyond the ranges of wild sheep.  The many values of these lands held in trust exceed the value of any other use or tenure.

Colorado's Proposition 127, which would have banned hunting mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx, failed at the ballot box. The Wild Sheep Foundation applauds the efforts of all those who stepped up and supported those who worked tirelessly to defeat this misguided anti-wildlife measure but cautions that scientific wildlife management that works for people and wildlife still has a target on its back.

Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation Organizes Conservation Groups, such as the Wild Sheep Foundation, in Opposition to Colorado Proposition 127. As reported recently, the fight against Proposition 127 is on as the election draws near—and with the statewide release of mail-in ballots beginning October 11, there’s no time to waste.  This latest round of ballot box biology goes against all proven, scientific wildlife management practices, as well as CSF’s core mission.

Today, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) released its seventh volume of Wildlife for the 21st Century (W21). The comprehensive publication focuses on solutions to conserve wildlife and their habitats nationwide, bolstering public access, and protecting our outdoor traditions. 

The Wild Sheep Foundation is donating $100,000 to Colorado's Wildlife Deserve Better (CWDB) to defeat the ballot initiative Proposition 127 to ban the hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx. The Initiative will be on the state's November ballot after obtaining the required signatures.

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued the latest Hunt-Fish Rule in a decades-long process of expanding hunting and fishing opportunities on wildlife refuges and a few fish hatchery lands. The 2024 Hunt–Fish Rule proposes 53 new distinct hunting and sport fishing opportunities on approximately 211,000 acres nationwide in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

A bill, the “Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act,” was introduced in the US Senate today by Senator Alex Padilla (CA-D) and Representative Ryan Zinke (MT-1-R), who together hold important committee seats for enacting and funding the habitat improvements directed in the bill.

In this episode of Sheep Fever, we visit with Mark Truax, President and CEO of Pac/West Strategies, to discuss the attempted ban on mountain lion, bobcat, and lynx hunting in Colorado. This ban, proposed through a voter’s ballot initiative backed by out-of-state animal rights groups, raises important questions.