There are 5 unlimited areas: Area 300 which has a 2 sheep quota and a 10 day season, the season was close after 6 days of hunting this year. Area 303 which has a 2 sheep quota with a closing date of Oct 31, this area was not closed this year. I do not know if they killed one sheep or not. Area 500 which has a 2 sheep quota, no sheep were taken this year. Area 501 which has a 3 sheep quota and closes on the last Sunday in November. The quota was filled this year and the season closed the Friday before the last day. Area 502 which has a 2 sheep quota and one sheep was killed this year,this area closes on the last Sunday of November. Some years the area have closed in a few days, this is true of 501.
Why do hunters not kill sheep? The tag is unlimited and value of the tag is less than a drawn tag, therefore hunters do not value the tag and hunt less. I have had a tag the last 20 years and have not gone hunting in the last 3 years -- just buy another tag next year.
If one goes to this web site:
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt/harvestreports.html#special
there are some very interesting statistics for the years between 2001 and 2006. I do not think that half of the total was killed in those years
Crowds: The hunting areas are so huge that one could or should never see another hunter.
Sheep Numbers and location: I do not believe that the biologists know the number or location of sheep. Funds are very limited for ariel surveys and flying at 10,000 feet is very dangerous and biologists are demanding helicopters which are in shorter supply. Wolves have push sheep from Wyoming into the very rough country of Montana Beartooths were the unlimited areas are.
This is all I want to say. There are sheep there.