Washington Sheep Auction Tag

[huntrustdog]

I hope the funds go to help keep the sheep herds in good shape and that he kills a great ram with his bow.  If they give it for one year and then pull it, it would appear to be a good move.  I had the tag on 2011 and there were a lot more sheep and Rams than the biologist/state had as an objective.  It is really fun to see what calls that unit home each year. 

[BKMFR]

The neat thing about the tag holder is that he is a super guy and I hope he gets the biggest Ram on the mountain, glad he could afford to drive the price up as high as it went helping our sheep herds here in Washington!

[popeshawnpaul]

Come on phool you know what I'm saying . We are talking about a very fragile herd of sheep with a couple large rams . I'm not throwing a pick axe in anyones back I'm just saying  what we know right . I don't blame anyone for wanting to be part of a sheep hunt or any hunt for that matter . But we have to live with the outcome of taking the largest rams from the mountain . Its very tough taking a old 170 ram when you know there is a 185 around . I'm a piker compared to these heavy hitters a couple grand worth of raffle tickets isn't 25k worth or 150k worth of a auction tag , Be assured If I had deep pockets and could afford to play that game I would in a second . we are on the same side here . That 150k will go along ways and is a small price for the herd to pay if it keeps many off the highway.

It's not a fragile herd.  It's very stable and has been for a while.  The fence helped with that.  That being said, I won't apologize about helping a good guy get an 11.5 year old ram, maybe the oldest in the unit, and likely in his last year or so instead of a 6.5 year old 175" ram that is just starting to come into his prime.  I think most experts would agree that taking the oldest ram out and leaving the 6-8 year old rams to grow is the best course for management of a unit.

[Buckjunkie]

+1

[coachcw]

Right Pope but we have to agree that with one tag most likely the biggest of big get hunted . I we want to fully benefit and harvest those 170 class rams then we need to add tags . I'm right with you in harvesting some of the older rams . I would never fault a guy that's passionate about sheep for helping someone out  , but it comes with a cost right ? adding tags is logical but it would have to affect the number of larger rams . Like you said the reality is if one tag is given out old rams will die off .

[huntnphool]

Right Pope but we have to agree that with one tag most likely the biggest of big get hunted . I we want to fully benefit and harvest those 170 class rams then we need to add tags . I'm right with you in harvesting some of the older rams . I would never fault a guy that's passionate about sheep for helping someone out  , but it comes with a cost right ? adding tags is logical but it would have to affect the number of larger rams . Like you said the reality is if one tag is given out old rams will die off .

 You are kidding right? Addition by subtraction?

 You actually believe that giving out more tags in a unit will result in older class rams surviving longer? How's that theory working out in Clemens and Manson?

 I will reiterate my last post addressed at you. While you were out helping the raffle tag winner, you were not looking to perpetuate the herd and older class rams, you were looking to tag the largest, highest scoring ram in the unit. So please explain how that is any different than what you are railing against by us helping those that ask?

 Your hypocrisy knows no bounds.

 

[kentrek]

By shooting a lesser ram the old ram lives another day

I think that's what coach is getting at

[huntnphool]

By shooting a lesser ram the old ram lives another day

I think that's what coach is getting at

 Yeah, and by giving out more tags, the odds increase for rams to live longer right?....lmao

[kentrek]

By shooting a lesser ram the old ram lives another day

I think that's what coach is getting at

 Yeah, and by giving out more tags, the odds increase for rams to live longer right?....lmao

Don't ask me, I'm not a sheep guy at all...I'd assume people  would "value" it less and be less likely to hire guides in order to get the oil critter. ..kind of like people are with moose

[Rainier10]

I think the only way to harvest the long in the tooth 165-170 rams that are just not going to get any bigger and die of old age is use a hunt coordinator from WDFW. That way you would give more opportunity and harvest the rams before they just die.  Of course that would have to be closely monitored and some years you could harvest one or two older rams and others there would be no extra opportunity.

[huntnphool]

I think the only way to harvest the long in the tooth 165-170 rams that are just not going to get any bigger and die of old age is use a hunt coordinator from WDFW. That way you would give more opportunity and harvest the rams before they just die.  Of course that would have to be closely monitored and some years you could harvest one or two older rams and others there would be no extra opportunity.

 Happened this past season on the Butte.

[Dan-o]

I'm not a sheep guy either, bu that seems like a good idea. 

I'be as pumped shooting an old 160 as a prime 170+.

[The scout]

  but I think that is how most people who are lucky enough to draw a sheep tag, the guys that have so much money invested to better the herds are the ones most likely to shoot the biggest ram in the herd

[huntnphool]

but I think that is how most people who are lucky enough to draw a sheep tag, the guys that have so much money invested to better the herds are the ones most likely to shoot the biggest ram in the herd

 I would rather like to see the best tag (not restricted) go to the lucky guy that draws it, and leave the "restricted" opportunities go to auction. If the state wants to auction off a couple old rams then fine, but the best tag should go to the draw.

 I don't think someone should be able to "buy" the largest ram in each unit. That being said, I don't begrudge those that are taking advantage of the opportunity, I blame WDFW, I do not agree with them selling off our largest rams.

 "Don't hate the player, hate the game."

[Rainier10]

I'm not a sheep guy either, bu that seems like a good idea. 

I'be as pumped shooting an old 160 as a prime 170+.

Same here, a 160" ram would be the biggest one that ever went on my wall.  I might even do a full body mount just because they are so cool and then hope to get drawn for a ewe someday and make a scene.