Licensed Hunters Have Shots at Free Bighorn Sheep Hunts

(Details may be found on http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/hunt/public_hunting/bighorn/)

AUSTIN, Texas — Without the support of Texas sportsmen through their purchase of hunting licenses, one of the state's premier wildlife restoration efforts could not have happened. As a way of saying, "thanks for helping" the recovery of the desert bighorn sheep, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is giving away two prized guided permit hunts in a drawing among hunters who purchase their license on or before Oct. 17.

"By purchasing hunting licenses, the hunters of Texas have stepped up to the plate over the years to help pay for conservation programs like desert bighorn sheep restoration," said Robert L. Cook, TPWD Executive Director. "Without their support, this initiative would never have happened. Now that we've surpassed our goal of returning the bighorn sheep to historic levels, it's time to give something back to the hunters."

Anyone who buys a resident hunting type license (excluding TPWD employees) by midnight on Oct. 17 will automatically be entered into a drawing for one of two Texas bighorn sheep hunting permits. If you already have purchased your resident license, you are already entered in the drawing. A random drawing among license holders will be held in mid-October, with winners notified immediately following the drawing. One non-hunting companion may accompany each winner on the hunt and meals and lodging during the hunt are included in the package. The guided hunts will take place by the end of the year.

Because the hunts are physically demanding, TPWD has included a provision whereby the winners may transfer, but not sell, with permission, the permit to an immediate family member or youth 8 to 16 years of age. Hunters must be able to negotiate rugged terrain at high elevations and in extreme temperatures.

Additional information, including complete rules and restrictions, can be found on the TPWD Web site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/) or by calling the TPWD Wildlife Information Hotline at (512) 389-4505 or toll free (800) 792-1112.

Cook said the decision to offer the hunts was based on evidence of additional surplus bighorn sheep observed during recent aerial census surveys. By conducting annual helicopter survey counts, TPWD biologists can ascertain not only how many animals are present, but also if there are surplus bighorn rams. This year's survey documented 104 more sheep than last year, a 22 percent increase.

More than a century ago, wildlife biologists estimated there were about 500 desert bighorn sheep in Texas. About fifty years later, there were none. Today there are nearly 700 of these majestic animals in the state.

Coincidentally, one of the guided permit hunts will take place on the Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area (WMA), where the last sighting of a native Texas bighorn sheep occurred in 1958 and where restoration efforts began. The other hunt will be held on the Black Gap WMA, where a major transplanting effort in 2001 brought in 43 bighorns from the Elephant Mountain WMA; that population of sheep has nearly doubled in size.

Since 1988, when TPWD reinstated hunting for desert bighorns on an extremely conservative basis, 53 permits have been issued. More than half of the rams harvested in Texas have qualified for the Boone and Crockett Club's big game record book, including the new state record taken earlier this year by Glenn Thurman of Mesquite.

Bighorn sheep program director Clay Brewer points to the impressive increase in population as well as the record-book quality of Texas' bighorns as indicators of the success the restoration effort is having.

RamDreamer,

How is your back? Whats the word from NM?

Hi Ramslam,

Thanks for checking on me. Unfortunately I had a setback late last week and thus had a second spinal injection yesterday (pain killer, steroids and nerve block). I was supposed to be ewe hunting in Montana but that tag looks like it's going to go unused. Three nice rams spotted two weeks ago by Eric. Tyson is there scouting for me now.

Winners in these drawings are supposed to be posted on November 1st, according to the website.

Good Luck to all Texas resident members of GSCO!

Press release from TPWD names winners:

Nov. 1, 2004

Pair of Firefighters Claim Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunts

AUSTIN, Texas — There may not be “fire on the mountain” in the Trans Pecos this winter, but there will be two firefighters there anyway. Instead of fighting fires and smoke and rescuing folks, they’ll be hunting desert bighorn sheep after being selected for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hunt giveaway in a random computer drawing among licensed hunters in Texas.

Flower Mound firefighter Kelley Cato and Kerrville firefighter Jerremy Hughes were picked from among more than 668,000 hunters who purchased a hunting type license by the Oct. 17 deadline for the bighorn sheep drawing. One non-hunting companion may accompany each winner on the hunt with meals and lodging included in the package. The fully guided package hunts will take place by the end of the year.

TPWD officials had difficulty contacting Hughes to let him know he was selected. “He was actually out hunting on one of our special drawing archery hunts at Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area near Rocksprings,” said Kelly Edmiston, TPWD Wildlife Division information specialist. “It took awhile for our personnel on the area to locate him for us.”

“Me and a bunch of other firefighters were drawn on an archery hunt at Devil’s Sinkhole,” recalled Hughes. “It was kind of funny; I was already on a hunt one minute and looking forward to an even bigger hunt the next. I couldn’t believe I got selected, especially after seeing that everybody that bought a hunting license was eligible.”

The coincidence that both hunters happen to be firefighters didn’t escape Cato. “That’s exciting that we’re both firefighters,” he beamed. “I really didn’t appreciate the rarity of the bighorn, but I know a whole lot more about them now. Just winning a drawing of this size, it’s just incredible. I am very excited about this opportunity.”

TPWD Wildlife Division director Mike Berger noted that without the support of Texas sportsmen like Hughes and Cato through their purchase of hunting licenses, one of the state’s premier wildlife restoration efforts could not have happened.

“Going from no sheep in the 1950s to a very strong, sound, expanding population over several mountain ranges now gives us the opportunity to give something back to the sportsmen who have supported this program since the beginning,” Berger said. “This is our way of saying, ‘thanks for helping’ the recovery of the desert bighorn sheep.”

Berger said the decision to offer the hunts was based on evidence of additional surplus bighorn sheep observed during recent aerial census surveys. By conducting annual helicopter survey counts, TPWD biologists can ascertain not only how many animals are present, but also if there are surplus bighorn rams. This year’s survey documented 104 more sheep than last year, a 22 percent increase.

More than a century ago, wildlife biologists estimated there were about 500 desert bighorn sheep in Texas. About 50 years later, there were none. Today there are nearly 700 of these majestic animals in the state.

Coincidentally, one of the guided permit hunts will take place on the Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area (WMA), where the last sighting of a native Texas bighorn sheep occurred in 1958 and where restoration efforts began. The other hunt will be held on the Black Gap WMA, where a major transplanting effort in 2001 brought in 43 bighorns from the Elephant Mountain WMA; that population of sheep has nearly doubled in size.

Since 1988, when TPWD reinstated hunting for desert bighorns on an extremely conservative basis, 53 permits have been issued. More than half of the rams harvested in Texas have qualified for the Boone and Crockett Club’s big game record book, including the new state record taken earlier this year by Glenn Thurman of Mesquite.

Bighorn sheep program director Clay Brewer points to the impressive increase in population as well as the record-book quality of Texas’ bighorns as indicators of the success the restoration effort is having.

In addition to the permits being offered in the drawing among Texas hunting license buyers, TPWD offers the chance to hunt a bighorn through the Big Time Texas Hunts Grand Slam hunting package. For a $10 fee, hunters can enter in a drawing for the opportunity to hunt all four of Texas prized big game animals: the desert bighorn, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. Permit applications are available wherever hunting licenses are sold. Permits may also be purchased using a major credit card through the TPWD Web site or by calling (800) 895-4248. Deadline to apply for the Big Time Texas Hunts is Nov. 6.