2025 MT rams

DFS said:
What rainbow you looking at shrap? In 2006 Montana issued 332 sheep tags in 2025 105.
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What was the mortality rate from lung related issues and other causes of death other than hunting?

I had a permit in 214 in 1990 and there were 12 permits available by drawing, and I do believe the numbers of sheep were high enough to support even more permits given that year.

2 years later, they almost shut that area down due to die off. Sheep are a fragile species and I think their numbers are subject to more than just hunting for their stability in population.

That is not good news for sheep or sportsman, but I am more likely to look to the areas that still have huntable numbers and be positive, because I can't do anything about the deterioration of sheep.
 
shrapnel said:
I can't do anything about the deterioration of sheep.
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From a disease related mortality standpoint you’re right. There are things we all can be doing though. I have an agreement with my Houndsman buddy, if we catch any legal lion in, or reasonably close to, sheep country it dies. He’s the typical Houndsman that just likes to see lions in a tree and can’t fathom shooting an 80 lb female, but that’s the deal we have or I don’t help him look for tracks in other areas.
 
shrapnel said:
What was the mortality rate from lung related issues and other causes of death other than hunting?

I had a permit in 214 in 1990 and there were 12 permits available by drawing, and I do believe the numbers of sheep were high enough to support even more permits given that year.

2 years later, they almost shut that area down due to die off. Sheep are a fragile species and I think their numbers are subject to more than just hunting for their stability in population.

That is not good news for sheep or sportsman, but I am more likely to look to the areas that still have huntable numbers and be positive, because I can't do anything about the deterioration of sheep.
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Having a positive outlook is nice but I think we need to be realists about what is happening. Unless people stop encroaching bighorn sheep range with their domestic flocks especially small hobby flocks than I just don’t see the trend changing. I think Nevada might be the only state in the west with continued positive trends. Maybe Colorado
 
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It really is amazing how big the sheep in Montana get compared to most other states. At 8.5 years old with just over 14" bases and just over 31" length, my Colorado ram would be in the top 25% or 30% in terms of age of animals harvested, but in terms of horn size it would have been in the bottom 25% or 30%. In the unit I shot him in, he was one of the biggest rams killed in the last 5 years.

Some of that is that he was double broomed which I actually think is cool, but there is no doubt that the average ram in Montana would probably be in the top 10% in Colorado and probably several other states.
 
Last edited:
Labman said:
Gotcha. I thought their role was to manage the game, not the level of difficulty of a hunt. If that’s the case make it 15 Aug - 15 Sept.
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I mean, difficulty of the hunt directly affects success rate which directly affects tag allocations....some would call that management.
 
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