RMBS banquet and auction

[Oak]

Thanks to Big Fin for letting me spam his website with our non-profit's information.

The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society is holding its 36th annual banquet on April 30th in Denver. Things kick off at 10:30am with the life member brunch, followed by seminars throughout the day. The CDOW will be giving a presentation on the status of bighorn sheep in Colorado. World-traveled sheep hunter Butch White will speak on hunting sheep in Asia, as a precursor to two Asian hunts offered later in the evening at auction. Afternoon activities will conclude with the annual membership meeting.

Social hour will start at 4:00pm, with free beer (with dinner ticket) provided by Coors Brewing Company. After dinner, at approximately 7:00pm, we will draw the raffle winners of the statewide bighorn sheep, mountain goat and pronghorn tags. We will also draw the winners of the two custom Weaver rifles and the Swarovski optics. For more raffle information, photos of the custom rifles, and to purchase tickets, visit the raffle webpage. Credit cards can now be used in Colorado to purchase raffle tickets. Buy early and often. Need not be present to win.

After raffle winners are drawn we will hold the live auction. We have lined up some great items this year, including a Kyrgyzstan Marco Polo hunt from Bryan Martin of Asian Mountain Outfitters. We will also be auctioning a Kyrgyzstan mid-Asian ibex hunt from Bryan (there will be minimum bids on both hunts). As always, we will auction an oryx hunt on the Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico, as well as many other hunting and fishing trips. Many of the sponsors of OYOA are also great donors to RMBS, and you will find items from Mystery Ranch, HuntingGPSMaps, Sitka Gear, Kenetrek, Yeti Coolers, and more in the silent and live auctions.

New for this year: You must pre-register by April 24th if you intend to eat dinner at the banquet. Registration will be limited to the first 350 people, and the first 200 registrants will be entered into a drawing for a $200 credit to be used in the live or silent auctions. For more information or to register, check out the banquet webpage.

As always, we will have a taxidermy display, and would appreciate those will sheep or goat taxidermy to bring their animals for display. Please contact banquet chair Jed Prendergast. His contact information is on the banquet webpage.

 

[Zach]

Thanks for the info Oak.

I'll have to check my schedule, but there's always room for one more society to support. Just what I need, another species to chase...

 

[Oak]

Money at work:

2/28/2011
Division of Wildlife Ouray Bighorn Herd to be Studied

MONTROSE, Colo. -- A two-year research project by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service to study movement patterns of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in the Ouray area is scheduled to start in early March.

That group of animals, known as the Cow Creek-Wetterhorn Peak herd, numbers about 150 and has grown steadily during the past five years. Biologists plan to capture up to 15 animals and fit them with Global Positioning System collars which will allow habitat use and migratory patterns to be tracked.

"We want to get a better idea of where the bighorns are lambing, spending the summer and winter months, and what routes the animals take when they travel between their winter and summer ranges," explained Brad Banulis, terrestrial biologist for the DOW in Montrose.

The tracking will also allow biologists to see how the bighorns utilize summer ranges in relation to domestic sheep grazing in some areas of the northern San Juan mountains. The Forest Service has been working with domestic sheep producers to place collars on their sheep to see how grazing allotments are being utilized. Biologists are interested in the potential for interactions of bighorns and domestic sheep because disease transmission can occur that is detrimental to wild bighorns. If the study identifies circumstances where bighorns and domestic sheep are likely to occupy the same terrain at the same time, then grazing management practices can be developed to minimize the potential for interaction.

DOW biologists are encouraged by the growth of the bighorn herd during the last five years. The herd once numbered about 300 animals. But disease sparked a catastrophic die-off in the 1980s and the population was reduced to about 50 animals.

"We've been happy to see the herd begin to come back; lamb survival has been excellent in the last few years," Banulis said. "But bighorns recover very slowly and we want to do whatever we can to keep them healthy."

A contract helicopter crew will be used to capture the animals, take blood and tissue samples and put on the collars. The samples will be analyzed to determine bighorns' exposure to various bacteria or diseases.

The GPS collars send location signals every four hours, so biologists can keep close track of the animals. The collars will fall off automatically in about two years.

The project is being funded by money collected by the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society through the DOW's auction/ raffle hunting license program, and the Forest Service.

The date of the capture operation could change depending on weather. Residents of Ouray and Ridgway might notice some unusual helicopter activity, and see DOW staff along U.S. Highway 550.

 

[Oak]

More auction and raffle funds:

11/1/2010
Division of Wildlife Bighorn Returned to Northern Sangre de Cristo Range

CRESTONE, Colo. - Thirteen Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep have a new home in the northern portion of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range following a successful transplant operation by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

The Northern Sangres have been devoid of bighorn sheep since the 1980's, but with the population in the Southern Sangres thriving, the DOW decided to take advantage of an opportunity to reestablish Colorado's state animal to another part of its historic range.

"Bighorn belong in the Northern Sangres," said Dan Prenzlow, DOW Southeast Regional Manager. "Restoring native species is the kind of thing the Division of Wildlife loves to do. We're delighted to be able to make this happen."

The project, led by Brian Dreher, the senior terrestrial biologist for the Southeast Region, presented a novel challenge.

"This is the first time we've moved sheep from one high alpine location to another," Dreher said. "We hope these first 13 animals are the beginning of new self-sustaining alpine herd sheep in good habitat were bighorn were once common."

During a two-day operation in mid-October, Colorado-based Quicksilver Air, Inc. captured three rams, nine ewes and a lamb at elevations between 12,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level in the mountains southeast of Crestone. The bighorns were airlifted to a central processing station on the valley floor where DOW veterinarians took DNA and blood samples, gave each animal a thorough medical exam and recorded data. The sheep were also fitted with radio telemetry tracking collars and ear tags.

Once the animals were processed, DOW crews used trailers to truck the sheep to the upper end of the San Luis Valley. From that point, the helicopter airlifted the sheep again to their new alpine home north of Hunts Lake.

Prior to undertaking the project, Dreher did extensive research on habitat suitability and looked for historical accounts of bighorn sheep on the alpine areas of the Northern Sangre de Cristo range. His research indicated that bighorns were once common, but that over time sheep numbers dwindled. The last sighting of bighorns in the Northern Sangres was in 1980.

"In the early 1900's, local ranchers reported sheep in the Northern Sangres around Stout and Bushnell lakes," he said. "Locals even called one of the peaks Sheep Mountain. When we looked, we found no sheep but plenty of good habitat, including winter range, lambing areas and escape terrain."

Dreher added that the bighorns will be monitored monthly from fixed-wing aircraft for several years to evaluate survival, reproduction, and distribution.

 

[Oak]

This project is a continuing effort to help manage bighorn sheep and their habitat in Glenwood Canyon and the Flat Tops. This herd has experienced low lamb recruitment for the past decade or more, despite several supplemental transplants in the 1990's. Respiratory diseases have been identified in individuals in the herd. The herd has high potential for interaction with domestic sheep on grazing allotments on the Flat Tops and at the east end of the Glenwood Canyon. The goals of the project are to:

• examine the potential for interaction and disease transmission between bighorn sheep and domestic sheep on the Flat Tops and among bighorn sheep of the various Flat Tops sub-populations
• document bighorn lamb survival and recruitment
• identify areas used by bighorn sheep in order to focus habitat treatments

On February 15th, two rams were collared, and will be monitored for 5 years. A third collared sheep is already in the herd. Its collar will be refurbished and returned to service in 2012. This project is being fully funded by RMBS.

 

[Oak]

This desert bighorn transplant in December was fully funded with auction and raffle money raised by RMBS.

1/7/2011
Division of Wildlife Desert Bighorns Transplanted on Western Slope

MONTROSE, Colo. -- In an effort to improve long-term survival of desert bighorn sheep in western Colorado, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has moved15 of the majestic animals into prime bighorn habitat in the Middle Dolores River canyon.

Twenty years ago, the Division established a new population of desert bighorn in the Upper Dolores Canyon area in San Miguel County with a group of 50 sheep obtained from Nevada. Over time, the herd has grown to number about 150 animals.

In December, sheep captured from this herd were relocated to an area north of the Big Gypsum Valley in Montrose County, about 15 miles away, to augment a small existing herd. If the bighorns do well, biologists may relocate another 15 next year.

"The herd in the upper Dolores River area has been growing, but another herd in some good bighorn habitat just down the canyon isn't doing as well," said Scott Wait, senior terrestrial biologist for the DOW's southwest region in Durango. "Having more animals in more places will improve the long-term outlook for the species. Giving the Middle Dolores herd a boost will help us do that."

Desert bighorns are native to arid regions of the West. These animals -- slightly smaller than the high-country Rocky Mountain bighorns -- are well-adapted to desert canyons.

After capture on Dec. 16, biologists examined each of the transplanted sheep to assess its health and took blood samples. The sheep were then fitted with radio collars to allow biologists to monitor their movements and survival. The sheep were released the next day.

This is the third time the Division has attempted to establish desert bighorn in the Middle Dolores Canyon. Two other attempts, in 1990 and 2001, did not result in the establishment of a new herd. Biologists believe that mountain lion predation played a primary role in the outcome.

Bighorns seek security in steep, perilous terrain. With their specially adapted hooves, they can leap from ledge to ledge and traverse near vertical surfaces at great speed. But it takes time for animals to learn how to find food, water and use steep slopes or cliffs for safety in new terrain. Biologists believe that it may be important to reduce the risk of predation to improve the chances for the new herd to become established.

"We want to keep a close eye on these sheep to see how they're doing," Wait said. "If we start seeing predation, we may need to step in to give these sheep some time to get established."

As a result, the Division asked the Wildlife Commission on Jan. 5 for permission to remove individual mountain lions preying on the Middle Dolores herd for up to 24 months. Commissioners said that if a mountain lion kills more than one sheep, it should be removed. If a lion kills only one sheep, biologists would have the option to remove it.

Prompt initiation of the control effort would help ensure that the individual lion responsible for the sheep predation is removed. If sheep leave the reintroduction area and are killed by a lion, no control action would take place.

There have been no mortalities among the radio-collared sheep since their release on Dec. 17.

"Managing wildlife sometimes means making difficult choices," Wait said. "In this case we know that the mountain lion population is stable in this area and some selective removal won't hurt it. But this will give the bighorns a chance to explore their new territory and get established before they have to worry about getting chased around by lions."

The DOW will monitor the animals closely. Biologists will decide in 2011 if a second transplant will be conducted.

 

[stillkickin]

Great photo's, I am going to put the banquet on my "things to do list". Thanks for sharing the info!

 

[Oak]

This transplant in February was funded by auction and raffle dollars, as well as RMBS funds.

3/3/2011
Division of Wildlife More bighorn back in Hayman Burn

DECKERS, Colo. -- Nine years ago, the largest fire in Colorado's recorded history seared a giant burn into the rugged landscape along the South Platte River canyon southwest of Denver. The Hayman fire destroyed 133 homes and caused $40 million in damages. It also transformed the landscape into a big-game paradise.

By scouring trees off of the area's granite outcrops and knobs, the Hayman fire restored historic habitat for Colorado's state animal, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. This month, biologists from the Colorado Division of Wildlife released a band of 12 young bighorn back onto Thunder Butte near the Four Mile State Wildlife Area on the eastern side of the canyon during the second year of a three-year restoration project. Biologists anticipate that most of the nine females, or ewes, are pregnant and hope that the new band will increase in numbers in the coming years.

"Bighorn sheep are one of our most prized wildlife species and this was historically bighorn range," said Janet George, a senior terrestrial biologist with the Division's Northeast Region. "It is gratifying to be able to do something good by bringing them back to a place like this."

This year's release follows a similar operation in early 2010, when three rams and nine ewes, also from the Rampart Range herd, were released across the canyon near an outcrop known as Sheep Rock. Researchers documented that three of those sheep were lost to predators, but two lambs born last year survived to become new members of the young band of bighorn.

Bighorn were once common in the region, with settlers naming outcrops like Sheep Rock and Sheep Nose for the wild sheep. But their numbers dropped due to the hunting pressure that characterized the settlement period. During the century followed, aggressive suppression of wildfires allowed the establishment of a vigorous mixed-conifer forest.

In Colorado, bighorn typically favor exposed, steep or broken landscapes dominated by grass, low shrubs and rocky terrain for escape. With the exclusion of fire, the forest that gradually overran the meadows and knobs of the Hayman country eliminated the grassy, open landscape that bighorn, deer and elk favor. As a result, wild sheep have been absent from much of the area for the past 50 years.

In 2002, a severe drought set the stage for a massive fire, ignited on June 8 by a careless Forest Service employee. The Hayman fire burned for more than a month and at one point appeared poised to charge into the Denver suburb of Roxborough. When the smoke cleared, Coloradans were shocked by the abrupt transformation of more than 215 square miles of green and unbroken forest sweeping up from the canyon to the peaks of the Tarryall and Kenosha ranges.

While the fire left a mosaic of open land and singed-but-surviving timber, it appeared to many that the fire had created a wasteland. However, the elimination of the forest canopy and the conversion of trees to fertilizing ash allowed for the rapid establishment of grasses and reestablishment of fire-adapted shrubs.

In 2006, DOW biologists, working with additional funds from the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society, began studying the site for reintroduction. GIS mapping analysis and site visits confirmed that conditions were ripe for the return of the bighorns. Within the 138,000-acre Hayman Burn, 97,606 acres or 70 percent of the fire's footprint is now suitable bighorn habitat.

Since this year's release in mid-February, biologist Heather Halbritter has been tracking the movements of the two bands of sheep using radio-telemetry gear. Signals from the sheeps' radio collars confirm that all of the Thunder Butte bighorn are alive and exploring the terrain in their new home. Across the canyon, the Sheep Rock band is also intact and established in new habitat. Both bands of bighorn sheep will continue to be monitored for the next several years, as DOW studies the success of the transplant.

In addition to bighorn, large numbers of elk and mule deer have recolonized the area on their own, thriving on the grasses and forbs that now grow among snags blackened by fire.

"The Hayman fire was a tragedy for the people who lived here," Halbritter said. "But for wildlife, the Hayman Burn provides a new beginning in a more productive habitat for years to come."

Video of the release here

 

[T Bone]

Any Hunttalkers planning on attending the dinner/banquet?

Looks like the wife and I may be in Denver that weekend if we can get some adult supervision for the kiddos.

I'm pretty sure I'll win the sheep drawing this year.

 

[Oak]

Only 2 more days to register!

Here are a few highlights from the live auction.

Baja Mexico fishing trip for four, all inclusive meals and lodging
South American trout safari with Fish Patagonia
Marco Polo sheep hunt in Kyrgyzstan, with Bryan Martin
Mid-Asian Ibex hunt in Kyrgyzstan, with Bryan Martin
Alaska caribou hunt for one hunter, with Tom Shankster
British Columbia trophy black bear hunt with Big Boar Outfitters
S. Africa plains game safari with Zungah Safaris
Southern Colorado pronghorn hunt, including landowner voucher
New Mexico Oryx hunt, Armendaris Ranch
Alaska Sitka blacktail hunt, all inclusive for one hunter
Nebraska turkey hunt for one, all inclusive except license
Half day CO pheasant hunt at The Bluffs
Cannon gun safe
Kimber Crimson Ultra Carry II handgun

This isn't even a third of the live auction items. There is also going to be some really great things in the silent auction this year, including many from OYOA sponsors like:

Mystery Ranch
HuntingGPSMaps
Montana Decoy
Sitka Gear
Yeti Coolers
Leupold
Kenetrek

This will also be the last opportunity to buy raffle tickets for statewide sheep, mountain goat and pronghorn tags, as well as the custom .280AI build by Kevin Weaver of Weaver Rifles.

Remember that there is a hard cutoff date on banquet registration this year of April 24th! Only 2 more days for you procrastinators!

I can't overstate what a great guest speaker we have this year in Butch White. Butch has taken 23 species of wild sheep. He was one of the first people to receive permission from the Royal Family to hunt Marco Polo sheep in Afganistan, taking a ram in 1972. He received the Weatherby Award in 1983, and he is also probably one of the nicest and most humble guys you will meet. He will be presenting a slide show on his quest for the Afgan Marco Polo from 1972, at 1:00pm. If you miss it, you will regret it. Hope to see some of you there.

Reistration webpage

 

[NVLongbow]

Hope you have a good turn out Terry and that my ticket is the one pulled from the sheep hunt bin.

 

[Oak]

Good luck, Scott. I just hope it's someone I know that wins.