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If you guys are unaware, WSF has made some formal outreach to western state wildlife agencies to look for opportunities to create more unlimited sheep units.
You have any idea on the status of this? Are the other wildlife agencies open to the idea?
 
If you guys are unaware, WSF has made some formal outreach to western state wildlife agencies to look for opportunities to create more unlimited sheep units.
After Gray Thornton's successful unlimited hunt there was some discussion to open up some new unlimited sheep and goat areas. Wyoming was mentioned. Nothing has materialized from that effort that I know of. Good project for some you young guns to jump on and renew this effort.😉
 
You have any idea on the status of this? Are the other wildlife agencies open to the idea?
I don't. I believe it was brought up at a WAFWA meeting, and IIRC states were open to considering it. I didn't give it much thought because there are not really places remote enough in CO to support the idea. Kevin Hurley would be the best to talk to.
 
I don't. I believe it was brought up at a WAFWA meeting, and IIRC states were open to considering it. I didn't give it much thought because there are not really places remote enough in CO to support the idea. Kevin Hurley would be the best to talk to.
Just sent out an email, I will post an update on what I hear.
 
So had a conversation with Kevin, he had mentioned that WSF pitched the idea of open more unlimited tags/quota sheep/goat hunts 4-5 years ago. Like @Oak had mentioned. He sent me a copy of what was pitched. Was focused around how the MT unlimited bighorn hunts runs, as far as quotas, population density, terrain, prices, and pretty much all the other stuff that guys doing this hunt already know about. He mentioned that WSF isnt in the business of setting regulations but have advocated towards this type of hunt ( where applicable ). But it is ultimately up to the state wild life agency to decide.
 
Thanks for reaching out. So my question is- is there a big enough need/separator to have an Unlimited Chapter? I think the resources would obviously be much more hyper focused on working with state agencies to promote those specific opportunities versus the broad based focus of WSF as a whole in regards to wild sheep.
I see the logic, but man there are already a ton of organizations out there at the state and national level. My thought is show MWF or BCHA the demand and they will apply focus to draw in more dollars.
 
I fully support more unlimited areas. Is a “chapter” the best way to organize ourselves and approach individual state game agencies to push them on the idea? I don’t think a “chapter” would be the right structure. More like a task force, across chapters, showing national level interest?

I also think the meetings of the “chapter” would be hilarious. A bunch of hardcore hunters sitting around NOT sharing hunting stories or photos. “Man I just got back from an awesome hunt in……nevermind. Here is a macro zoomed in photo of the rams horn base.” It would be some quiet meetings!
 
Sounds like a natural match to the concept. Would Montana's 48 hours to report work there?
A lot of people fly in to a backcountry strip to start the 27-1 hunt so the ability to check a ram in within 48 hours could be dependent on arranging a flight out.

Also, for non-residents, the tag costs are quite a bit steeper than Montana — $2626.75 tag + $185 license.
 
I would never advocate for an unlimited hunt in Wyoming for sheep.

I would rather see the current management system stay in place where a sheep hunter that draws doesn't have to fall victim to a short, compressed seasons where people are killing barely legal rams.

I'd much rather see sheep hunters get to enjoy a reasonable season length and be able to look over a lot more rams. That gives hunters the opportunity to select rams over 8 years old, rather than pound on 4-5 year old barely legal sheep. Much better for herd health and much better trophy quality.

One of the best parts of my Wyoming sheep hunt was the ability to spread the season out over a couple months with no pressure to kill the first legal ram I saw. The late part of my hunt was pretty awesome, very few hunters with a tag left and new rams that moved out of the park...rams that would never be hunted in an early unlimited deal. Quality of a sheep hunt matters, and my experience in the MT unlimited units I hunted (2 of them 300 and 301) wasn't near the quality of my WY hunt.

The other issue with an unlimited season in Wyoming is the wilderness guide law...NR's would be forced to use a guide or hunt with a resident which would mean a $10-11K unlimited sheep hunt.
 
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Politely, it just sounds like unlimited sheep hunts aren’t for you. And they certainly aren’t for everyone.

Some solutions to the issues you pointed out though:

If we don’t want 4.5 year old rams getting whacked then change it to 7/8 curl instead of 3/4 curl.

Wyoming’s wilderness guide rule is stupid and needs to be eliminated regardless of unlimited sheep hunts.

Don’t hunt the 300’s if you want solitude on an unlimited sheep hunt.
 

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