Bozeman, Montana — During the recent Sheep Show in Reno, NV, The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) and Mongolia Wildlife Association (MWA) signed a landmark agreement where WSF would supply the horn plugs, drill bits, and training to the MWA. The MWA will implement horn plugging per their MOU with the Ministry. This collaboration marked an important step in conservation, focusing on implementing horn-plugging for the legal harvest of argali, the largest wild sheep and a prized game animal for international hunters.
“Late last year, the Mongolia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change signed an MOU with the Mongolia Wildlife Association where the Ministry mandated horn-plugging for all legally harvested argali starting in the 2025 hunting season, explained Gray N. Thornton, president, and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “It was their desire to implement this action, and we fully support them in this effort.”
Horn plugging is widely used across North America and involves inserting a plug into the base of a harvested sheep’s horn. This plug serves as a tamper-proof indicator that the animal was taken legally and recorded by the proper authority. Historically, high-value wild sheep horns were a target of illegal trade, and distinguishing legal harvests from illegal ones was a challenge. By mandating horn plugs, Mongolian officials could immediately identify legally harvested animals.
“Beyond its anti-poaching benefits, the system aids in tracking key data, such as age, offering invaluable insights into population health and habitat conditions over time,” said Kurt Alt, WSF’s Director of International Sheep & Goat Programs. “It opens the door for deeper research. For example, horn shavings taken at the time of horn plugging can provide genetic information, while horn morphology can reveal subtle changes in habitat quality over time. This data, tied to specific animals, provides biologists with reliable information to guide future conservation decisions.”
The agreement, signed by Thornton and Dr. Samiya Ravchig, President of MWA & Professor at the University of Mongolia, brought WSF and the MWA into an active partnership supporting the Ministry and the MWA in implementing this initiative. Under the MOU, WSF is committed to providing the necessary horn-plugging materials, as they have done throughout North America. WSF has supplied horn plugs to state, provincial, tribal, and territorial wildlife agencies for the past nearly 40 years.
“This isn’t just about plugs and drills. It’s ensuring sustainability and protecting the legacy of the wild sheep. The MOU will enhance the management of argali and ensure that import permits are not delayed, which we discussed with the US Fish & Wildlife Service before signing. We are honored to be working with the Service and the Mongolian Wildlife Association on the sustainable use and conservation of the country’s argali populations,” Thornton added.
The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), based in Bozeman, Mont., was founded in 1977 by sportsmen and other wild sheep conservationists. WSF is the premier advocate for wild sheep, having raised and expended more than $145 million, positively impacting these species through population and habitat enhancements, research and education, and conservation advocacy programs in North America, Europe, and Asia "To Put and Keep Wild Sheep On the Mountain”. In North America, these and other efforts have increased bighorn sheep populations from historic lows in the 1950s-60s of 25,000 to more than 85,000 today. WSF has a membership of more than 11,000 worldwide.
Tags: Argali, International, Press Release