Nevada 272 desert sheep?
- Thread starter NVMDF
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dwalton
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NVMDF,
Here's what the NDOW 2003 Big Game Status Book has to say. The population is estimated to be 80 sheep. Aerial surveys where taken in Sept. 2002. A 3.6 hour survey yielded 26 bighorns in the Gold Buttes (9 rams). A 4.4 hour survey in the Virgin Mountains yielded a sample of 4 sheep (1 ram). It also states that some of the area is in a degraded state due to burros. 20 sheep were transplanted in 1998 in the Gold Buttes, but the release has not hastened expansion of that population.
As for rams, 24 tags were issued from 1992-2002. Hunter success was 58%. Average days hunted: 9.2, Avg age: 5.4 yrs, Avg B&C score: 144 7/8, Maximum B&C: 164 7/8.
Looks to me like a tough hunt with smaller than average rams and lower than average success. If it were me, I'd look to a better area. There are several units that have better drawing odds, along with bigger rams. Hope this information helps.
Here's what the NDOW 2003 Big Game Status Book has to say. The population is estimated to be 80 sheep. Aerial surveys where taken in Sept. 2002. A 3.6 hour survey yielded 26 bighorns in the Gold Buttes (9 rams). A 4.4 hour survey in the Virgin Mountains yielded a sample of 4 sheep (1 ram). It also states that some of the area is in a degraded state due to burros. 20 sheep were transplanted in 1998 in the Gold Buttes, but the release has not hastened expansion of that population.
As for rams, 24 tags were issued from 1992-2002. Hunter success was 58%. Average days hunted: 9.2, Avg age: 5.4 yrs, Avg B&C score: 144 7/8, Maximum B&C: 164 7/8.
Looks to me like a tough hunt with smaller than average rams and lower than average success. If it were me, I'd look to a better area. There are several units that have better drawing odds, along with bigger rams. Hope this information helps.
