Get ready for a possible OTC Sheep free-for-all in Montana

[BackcountryMT]

My apologies, the way I was understanding it was that FWP would only sell the allotted amount. If they do run it like an UL unit it's going to be an absolute shit show.

While the allure of finally being able to hunt sheep in MT is strong I want no part of this hunt. Sounds like the sheer amount of people possibly in the unit would absolutely destroy my enjoyment of the experience. No thanks.

 

[slick]

Sheep disease question: this pneumonia that's showing up is different from the lungworm outbreaks that affected northern herds as well as some in BC, correct? I believe I remember that being a result of heavy grazing in areas of high fecal concentration....not to derail this discussion.

mt100gr. The pneumonia and lungworm are completely different. While both affect the lungs, they are not related. The lungworm is Protostrongylus stilesi, a nematoda. A worm. The pneumonia is Pasteurella multocida, a type of bacterium. They both affect the respiratory tracts of mammals.

 

[mt100gr.]

Thanks. I was pretty sure that was the case.

 

[Archerm]

I noticed they redrew the 315 boundary for this hunt. looks like license will be on sale Aug 3rd. This is going to be a circus!! I wonder how many permits they are selling. I hope the hunters look at the new boundaries for 315 and not go by their old maps!!

 

[6mm Remington]

My understanding on this is if you shoot any sheep whether it's a decent ram, half curl, ewe, or lamb, you will have to wait 7 years to apply again. I think it's going to be an awful lot of people down there trying to get a sheep and I'm glad they are using hunters to do this, but somehow they should limit it a little bit. If it turns into a circus it wont' get hunters any good press in the news.

Speaking of 7 year wait, we need to get Montana on line with other states and make moose, sheep, and goat (male species, not talking about cow moose or ewe sheep) a once in a lifetime permit. We need to give more folks an opportunity to hunt one of these fabulous animals. No it will not increase odds dramatically, but I'm tired of hearing about way too many people who have drawn multiple ram, bull moose, and mountain goat tags. I drew a west side of the Bitterroots mountain goat tag in 2011 and I never got a goat. I had an awesome summer and fall scouting and hunting, but because numbers of goats tanked, I did not get one! Heck I only saw one goat the whole time from mid-June to the end of November, but I had quite a journey and loved every minute of it. I think someone else now should get that experience!

This was my 37th year in a row to put in for moose and sheep and still no tag. It was 33 years for me to get my goat permit!! If you feel the same way as I do, now is the time to approach FWP in Montana to get this done. We have a very smart and reasonable guy who is the head of the agency finally after the last idiot that they had in there for a few years. Start writing some e-mails and get your friends on board who also would sure like a "reasonable chance" of drawing a tag if they apply for 20 years or more.

 

[ozyclint]

outside perspective here-
from what i understand this whole situation has come about because of a diseased herd that needs to be culled and this should be the primary objective. is it year round till they are gone or still during a normal hunting season?
issuing hunters with one tag is not culling. given one tag, the hunters aren't going to shoot the 1st ewe they see are they? sounds to me that even after allowing a special season for hunters there would still exist the problem of a diseased herd. if the sick herd isn't wiped out then all that's been achieved is a circus while still allowing the original problem to exist allowing the risk to other herds to continue.

 

[ozyclint]

a great way to contain a sick herd is to let heaps of hunters in there and push them around. atleast they might git rid of the sick rams...

 

[tipsntails7]

Whatever it is, wish I had known about it earlier, might have been the only shot at ever hunting ram for me, much less getting one.