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.

 

[bigsky2]

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.

It will be a sticky situation. Everyone wants to see more sheep on the landscape, but a lot of hunters are only seriously interested in more sheep if they have the ability to eventually have a chance to hunt those sheep.

 

[cgasner1]

It will be a sticky situation. Everyone wants to see more sheep on the landscape, but a lot of hunters are only seriously interested in more sheep if they have the ability to eventually have a chance to hunt those sheep.

This would be a great time to use what New Mexico did with its sheep and how well that has worked for them. Spoiler alert it involves a evil land owner

 

[Forkyfinder]

It will be a sticky situation. Everyone wants to see more sheep on the landscape, but a lot of hunters are only seriously interested in more sheep if they have the ability to eventually have a chance to hunt those sheep.

Are we supposed to pretend that no one has an interest in hunting them if they are located on private?

Im curious what incentives are possible - besides explicit landowner permits. It will be interesting what follows - im not sure how much principle should be given away in search of pragmatic solutions.

Whatever the result will be - it will take collaboration with landowners including "hobbyist" landowners to manage the risk.

 

[bigsky2]

Are we supposed to pretend that no one has an interest in hunting them if they are located on private?

No, I’d certainly have an interest in hunting them. On the other hand, even if we established a new herd in eastern MT that I knew I could never hunt, it would bring me some joy just knowing they were there. Maybe we end up with a herd that isn’t hunted at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if they would thrive in certain places in eastern MT and they could be used to supplement other herds to prevent the herd from getting too big and minimize the chances of getting disease.