AK Sheep, Population Observations

[Bambistew]

There was 5 rams killed in 19c last fall. I'm unsure of total hunter numbers as they don't don't get tallied until the spring. If I was going to guess, total hunter numbers will be down, but I doubt it will be that much of a drop. Total hunter numbers averaged around 2,300-2,400 for 2013-2020, then declined to 2,000 in 2021, 1800 in 2022, and I'd guess we'll be around 1700 this year. Many of the people I knew that sat out last year, hunted this fall. Almost all of them were unsuccessful.

 

[AlBeartoe]

I think surveyed and projected sheep numbers strongly influence hunter participation. AK sheep numbers are down and so is OTC participation. I know exactly how hard a sheep hunt is when the population is up. With numbers down the last 2-4 years I've sat a few years out entirely to spent time hunting other critters I otherwise don't have time for when I dedicate 10 days to a sheep hunt. I have hunted unit 20 for many years and the drop in legal rams and sheep in general is staggering. I believe in the ADF&G biologists though and don't think we need to implement any more regulations than the current full curl reg. On any given year, regardless of hunter success, we are taking ~2% of the entire population. If the AK sheep population is struggling it is not the human hunters that are driving the decline.

 

[ColeyG]

Well, the 2024 season is well underway at this point.

As per the norm, the weather sucked pretty bad in most places for the opener and following days. The social media index is starting to reflect some successful hunts and rumors of sub-legals are starting to float around.

What are folks seeing out there so far? Similar numbers to the last few years? Lamb to ewe ratios?

I have yet to make my first foray into the hills this years so no real firsthand observations to share yet.

 

[schmalzy]

Well, the 2024 season is well underway at this point.

As per the norm, the weather sucked pretty bad in most places for the opener and following days. The social media index is starting to reflect some successful hunts and rumors of sub-legals are starting to float around.

What are folks seeing out there so far? Similar numbers to the last few years? Lamb to ewe ratios?

I have yet to make my first foray into the hills this years so no real firsthand observations to share yet.

I’ve been eagerly checking the meat pole thread hoping to see some success.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I spent 6 days out on a solo hunting recently. Passed on these guys, which I believe to both be 8.
I'll head out again and see if I can't fine a 9+.

 

[ColeyG]

How about that weather eh Ben. Didn't get much of a window around the opener where one could hunt very effectively.

In another year or two those will be some pretty solid rams. Way too close for comfort for me as well and definitely would have let them walk. Beautiful creatures. Good on ya.

How were sheep numbers overall compared to past experiences in your zone?

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

How about that weather eh Ben. Didn't get much of a window around the opener where one could hunt very effectively.

In another year or two those will be some pretty solid rams. Way too close for comfort for me as well and definitely would have let them walk. Beautiful creatures. Good on ya.

How were sheep numbers overall compared to past experiences in your zone?

Similar numbers to last handful of years. No more, no less. Not from the area that we are both familiar with.

 

[nate907]

My observations reflect Ben's. I was new to the hunt area, but it appeared to be comparable to where I've spent the last few seasons. Came up empty the past few years and not for a lack of effort. I did manage to bring one home this time.

 

[ColeyG]

Well that is good news in a sense at least, Ben. Hopefully most populations have stabilized and can start to climb back out of the hole soon.

I heard through the rumor mill that some of the biologists are predicting more harvest this year than last year (340 rams total) due to the lamb crops corresponding to rams (7/8 y/o) that should be approaching legal this year.

Personally I don't think that will be the case as I don't feel like I have seen nearly the number of young rams on the landscape as even a handful of years ago. Not nearly as many up-and-comers in most places.

Also noteworthy, the average age of rams killed the last few years has been trending down fairly significantly. If I remember correctly, the average age of rams killed last year was something like 8.08 years old and something like 40% of rams killed were less than 8. That data would seem to poke a little bit of a hole in the full curl management strategy. Six and seven year old rams still have a lot to contribute at the population level. Losing them before they are on the downhill slide, I think, probably has more of a net negative impact on the population than "we" are aware.

It will be interesting to see how things shake out.

 

[ColeyG]

My observations reflect Ben's. I was new to the hunt area, but it appeared to be comparable to where I've spent the last few seasons. Came up empty the past few years and not for a lack of effort. I did manage to bring one home this time.

View attachment 751226 View attachment 751225

Congrats man! That is awesome and sounds like well earned after the last few years of grinding it out.

What did they age him at out of curiosity. It sounds like there is still some inconsistent application of aging methods going on yet again. Mainly which annuli should be counted as the ear 3 annuli from a few reports I've heard so far.

 

[nate907]

Congrats man! That is awesome and sounds like well earned after the last few years of grinding it out.

What did they age him at out of curiosity. It sounds like there is still some inconsistent application of aging methods going on yet again. Mainly which annuli should be counted as the ear 3 annuli from a few reports I've heard so far.

Thanks, F&G just sealed him at 8. On the hoof i knew he was at least 8, but was hoping for 9. The distance and conditions made things difficult.

 

[ColeyG]

Thanks, F&G just sealed him at 8. On the hoof i knew he was at least 8, but was hoping for 9. The distance and conditions made things difficult.

Cool. Thanks for that. He has some tricky annuli/false annuli towards his bases for sure.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Thanks, F&G just sealed him at 8. On the hoof i knew he was at least 8, but was hoping for 9. The distance and conditions made things difficult.

Makes FC regardless though, right?

 

[ColeyG]

Here is some interesting info in the context of avg age of rams getting killed and avg horn measurements from the last handful of years, 2019 tp present. Some of this will likely be a repeat for those that have been following along for a few years.

Data from ADFG's harvest data tool: https://secure.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=harvest.lookup

Rams Harvested
2019 = 840
2020 = 627
2021 = 487
2022 = 424
2023 = 340

Avg Age of Rams Harvested
2019 = 8.65
2020 = 8.81
2021 = 8.28
2022 = 8.21
2023 = 8.06

Avg Horn Length
2019 = 35.09
2020 = 35.25
2021 = 35.03
2022 = 35.88
2023 = 35.32

Average Horn Base
2019 = 13.02
2020 = 12.72
2021 = 12.79
2022 = 12.78
2023 = 12.91

Interesting how the average age of rams killed has gone down 1/2 to 3/4 of a year, but the horn measurements haven't really changed much. If anything it seems like horn dimensions proportionate to age have improved/increased.

 

[nate907]

Makes FC regardless though, right?

He does

 

[nate907]

Here is some interesting info in the context of avg age of rams getting killed and avg horn measurements from the last handful of years, 2019 tp present. Some of this will likely be a repeat for those that have been following along for a few years.

Data from ADFG's harvest data tool: https://secure.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=harvest.lookup

Rams Harvested
2019 = 840
2020 = 627
2021 = 487
2022 = 424
2023 = 340

Avg Age of Rams Harvested
2019 = 8.62
2020 = 8.77
2021 = 8.25
2022 = 8.18
2023 = 8.06

Avg Horn Length
2019 = 34.97
2020 = 35.08
2021 = 35.59
2022 = 35.62
2023 = 35.32

Average Horn Base
2019 = 12.97
2020 = 12.66
2021 = 12.99
2022 = 12.69
2023 = 12.91

Interesting how the average age of rams killed has gone down 1/2 to 3/4 of a year, but the horn measurements haven't really changed much. If anything it seems like horn dimensions proportionate to age have improved/increased.

This pretty much lines up with the data presented a couple years ago by F&G. Similar event in the 90's


Full presentation here.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Here is some interesting info in the context of avg age of rams getting killed and avg horn measurements from the last handful of years, 2019 tp present. Some of this will likely be a repeat for those that have been following along for a few years.

Data from ADFG's harvest data tool: https://secure.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=harvest.lookup

Rams Harvested
2019 = 840
2020 = 627
2021 = 487
2022 = 424
2023 = 340

Avg Age of Rams Harvested
2019 = 8.62
2020 = 8.77
2021 = 8.25
2022 = 8.18
2023 = 8.06

Avg Horn Length
2019 = 34.97
2020 = 35.08
2021 = 35.59
2022 = 35.62
2023 = 35.32

Average Horn Base
2019 = 12.97
2020 = 12.66
2021 = 12.99
2022 = 12.69
2023 = 12.91

Interesting how the average age of rams killed has gone down 1/2 to 3/4 of a year, but the horn measurements haven't really changed much. If anything it seems like horn dimensions proportionate to age have improved/increased.

So the average length over those 5 years is just over 35 1/4". Man, assuming that the vast majority of them weren't broomed (may or may not be a big assumption), that seems awfully small. So, for every 40" ram killed there was a 30 incher killed. Or, for every 40" killed, there were 5-34" rams killed.

 

[mtwarden]

How many 40" rams killed? Two, three?

I think 40" rams are talked about like 30" mule deer (or 16" antelope)- but they are rare; very, very rare- yet it seems like everyone has killed one

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

How many 40" rams killed? Two, three?

I think 40" rams are talked about like 30" mule deer (or 16" antelope)- but they are rare; very, very rare- yet it seems like everyone has killed one

Rare for the general population of resident hunters, but probably not so rare for those of us that are serious and frequent Rokslide. So I get Troutbum’s surprise at the stats.

 

[mtwarden]

Rare for the general population of resident hunters, but probably not so rare for those of us that are serious and frequent Rokslide. So I get Troutbum’s surprise at the stats.

If they are rare for resident hunters, probably rare for non resident hunters as well (maybe more rare???); thus it shouldn't be a huge surprise.

When I was a game warden you would have thought 30" mule deer were a dime a dozen by the way people talked- I checked maybe 4-5 in a 24 year career