FWP Seeking Applicants for Bighorn Sheep Advisory Group

[Randy11]

This isnt about creating private sheep herds.

Private land adjacent to and inclusive of suitable bighorn range is a lot simpler from a red tape perspective to transplant to than federal lands.

These are examples for conversations sake not actual transplant plans, but imagine if you wanted to restore sheep to the Snowies, Crazies, Bridgers, or any other mixed ownership range. A successful transplant would result in a sheep herd occupying suitable, and currently unoccupied habitat. To physically achieve that, it doesn’t matter who owns the land the sheep are dropped off on, but to legally achieve that there is a major difference in what it takes to do a federal transplant vs a private one.

The department already seeks adjacent landowner support (read the departments documents on the Madison/Hilgard project) to do public land transplants and public land transplants result in sheep on private property just like a private land one would result in sheep on public property.

If there is no federal action, there is no NEPA, from my understanding, which is a major factor in resources and time.

Where does State land and WMA factor in? Is that the sweet spot between fed and private?

 

[MTGomer]

Where does State land and WMA factor in? Is that the sweet spot between fed and private?

I believe so.

 

[bigsky2]

Bighorn sheep stocking on private lands? FWP explores possibilities

Earlier this month, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks convened a public panel to explore the re-establishment of bighorns in central and eastern Montana where private lands dominate.

billingsgazette.com

 

[MTLabrador]

It’s too bad the Big Snowies and the Crazies are probably out of the question with a lot of domestics around. They would be phenomenal sheep habitat.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Seems unfortunate to me that a probable barrier to more sheep in MT is going be how we answer the question of eventual tag allocation will take place on herds introduced onto private and that would live on private land.

 

[DFS]

Seems unfortunate to me that a probable barrier to more sheep in MT is going be how we answer the question of eventual tag allocation will take place on herds introduced onto private and that would live on private land.

I think in eastern Montana the ranchers get an outweighed opinion on wildlife than people that don’t own land. We don’t need domestics but suggest getting rid of them and step back and watch the fireworks.