Juvenile Bighorn Sheep Drawing

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Is fish and game getting hungry already? I just got an email pointing out to me that there is a drawing for Juvenile Bighorn Sheep that I should apply for.  Not putting in for it.  But wondering how much of a drop they've had in sales this year.

[LDennis24]

Yeah my brother sent me this earlier today...  Please please please send us money! Lol

[bobcat]

They created a new category so they can sell more applications. Last year the juvenile ram permits were included in the "ewe" category. So with this new category everyone is going in without any points. I've got 16 points in the ewe category but zero in juvenile ram.

[Mtnwalker]

They created a new category so they can sell more applications. Last year the juvenile ram permits were included in the "ewe" category. So with this new category everyone is going in without any points. I've got 16 points in the ewe category but zero in juvenile ram.

Of course they did... what’s another 7 bucks   

[Bob33]

They created a new category so they can sell more applications. Last year the juvenile ram permits were included in the "ewe" category. So with this new category everyone is going in without any points. I've got 16 points in the ewe category but zero in juvenile ram.

Ware'e legacy lives on.

[bobcat]

They created a new category so they can sell more applications. Last year the juvenile ram permits were included in the "ewe" category. So with this new category everyone is going in without any points. I've got 16 points in the ewe category but zero in juvenile ram.

Ware's legacy lives on.

Exactly.

They could have put those juvenile ram permits in the youth category. Or, maybe half in youth and the other half in the regular ram category.

[fishngamereaper]

The zero points aspect though will make it hands down the best opportunity to draw a sheep tag.

[Boss .300 winmag]

The zero points aspect though will make it hands down the best opportunity to draw a sheep tag.

 

If I liked the meat I’d do it, but I don’t, plus I’ve been on a successful ram hunt with Lokidog, my curiosity is satisfied.😉

[BreezyBear]

Do any other states hunt juvenile rams?  This seems stupid to me 

[HillHound]

Not sure about other states. Here  I thought they said the juvenile ram tags were issued due to a disease in the heard that was causing them to have more males than females and they are trying to get the ram to ewe ratio where they want it

[fishngamereaper]

I would prefer they let em grow another year and get the mature ram tags up where they used to be year's ago...pipe dream i know.

[bobcat]

A juvenile ram is defined as a male bighorn sheep having at least one "unbroomed" horn that does not extend past an imaginary line beginning at the point on the animal's forehead where the front of the horn base adjoins the skull, and continuing downwards and in a posterior direction through the posterior edge of the eye. A "broomed" horn is defined as a sheep horn that has been broken, splintered, frayed or rubbed in the wild, thus shortening its length and disrupting its natural taper.
This hunt contributes to a program designed to eliminate or greatly reduce prevalence of pneumonia in this herd. As such, hunters will be required to retain lungs and head for submission within ten calendar days to the Washington department of fish and wildlife regional or district office for veterinary sampling.

[huntnphool]

Is fish and game getting hungry already? I just got an email pointing out to me that there is a drawing for Juvenile Bighorn Sheep that I should apply for.  Not putting in for it.  But wondering how much of a drop they've had in sales this year.

 It’s why Inslee opened up hunting, they are way down in license revenue.

[Hilltop123]

"This hunt contributes to a program designed to eliminate or greatly reduce prevalence of pneumonia in this herd", someone school me. How does removing young rams from the herd, help with this? Is it because, males are more apt to roam. Thus, having a higher likelihood of coming into contact with pneumonia, then bringing it back to the herd?

[jackelope]

"This hunt contributes to a program designed to eliminate or greatly reduce prevalence of pneumonia in this herd", someone school me. How does removing young rams from the herd, help with this? Is it because, males are more apt to roam. Thus, having a higher likelihood of coming into contact with pneumonia, then bringing it back to the herd?

There are ram hunts where guys don’t want to shoot the young rams. There are ewe hunts where they have to kill the ewes. Now there are juvenile ram hunts to kill the little dudes. They want them all dead. Hunter opportunities or USDA shooters. Your choice.

[jackelope]

They created a new category so they can sell more applications. Last year the juvenile ram permits were included in the "ewe" category. So with this new category everyone is going in without any points. I've got 16 points in the ewe category but zero in juvenile ram.

Is this accurate?
@greenhead_killer
Multiple people on the forum here drew juvenile ram tags last year. Was it either or?

[bobcat]

All you gotta do is look at the 2019 pamphlet. Juvenile ram permits were a new thing last year, and they were in the ewe category. There was no juvenile ram application to purchase like there is this year. I know this because I purchased both applications, for myself and my daughter.

[B4noon]

They split them off supposedly because having it last year with either a ewe or juvenile ram most tag holders tried for the ram and they didn’t kill enough ewes.  That being said they did a great job on the rams but not many of them were actually classified as juveniles rather mature rams thus the cut in actual mature ram permits.  I was told that this is a trial attempt at trying to control pneumonia by reducing overall herd numbers thus reducing the amount of contact which will then if all goes as planned there will be an increase in herd immunity.  My guess is if it doesn’t work next year juvenile rams will have to shelter in place until a vaccine is created

[greenhead_killer]

They created a new category so they can sell more applications. Last year the juvenile ram permits were included in the "ewe" category. So with this new category everyone is going in without any points. I've got 16 points in the ewe category but zero in juvenile ram.

Is this accurate?
@greenhead_killer
Multiple people on the forum here drew juvenile ram tags last year. Was it either or?

they were combined last year but everyone, nearly everyone, who had this tag shot a ram. The idea was to reduce overall herd to make it manageable to deal with(pneumonia). Also I do not know 100%, but was told that the disease does make the ewes have like a 98% chance to birth a ram. Not sure why, but that’s what they are learning. It’s a reduction hunt. Like Jackalope said, it’s either we get the opportunity or they hire shooters. I think splitting up the hunts this year, it’s to make sure ewes are taken out as well. Keep it balanced.

[Rob]

I drew a Clemons Ewe tag last year and was only allowed a Ewe.  no Juvi ram allowed.  Was a little stressful to be honest!

[greenhead_killer]

The Clemens isn’t being hit with pneumonia like the yak canyon is.

[Oh Mah]

Are hard copies of regs. out anywhere yet?

[bobcat]

Are hard copies of regs. out anywhere yet?

Good question. You would think they would be by now.

[fishngamereaper]

Are hard copies of regs. out anywhere yet?

Good question. You would think they would be by now.

The nice gal I talked to said maybe a couple weeks because no one is allowed to be working right now so they weren't getting made yet.

[Oh Mah]

i can understand that.

[greenhead_killer]

I drew a Clemons Ewe tag last year and was only allowed a Ewe.  no Juvi ram allowed.  Was a little stressful to be honest!

i think it finally clicked. I completely understand the stress of this. Very easy to confuse young ram/ewe. Have to be very patient and watch them to verify you’re on the right target

[Rob]

Yes sir.  When i shot mine i thought i saw a flash of testicles as she went down (even though I was positive I had correctly IDd her prior to taking the shot).  It was an uncomfortable walk over to the sheep!

[klickman]

They split them off supposedly because having it last year with either a ewe or juvenile ram most tag holders tried for the ram and they didn’t kill enough ewes.  That being said they did a great job on the rams but not many of them were actually classified as juveniles rather mature rams thus the cut in actual mature ram permits.  I was told that this is a trial attempt at trying to control pneumonia by reducing overall herd numbers thus reducing the amount of contact which will then if all goes as planned there will be an increase in herd immunity.  My guess is if it doesn’t work next year juvenile rams will have to shelter in place until a vaccine is created

There were only a couple legal juvenile rams in the unit my son hunted.  My son passed on a not quite legal juvenile ram opening morning.  The ram went over a ridge and got smacked by an adult hunter.  Everyone wanted a ram and shot some "adult" rams.  Not much recruitment for younger rams in these units for the next few years.  We only saw four lambs in the entire unit also. The Yakima canyon is not what it used to be.  Hopefully this cull get this disease out of the herd.

[MtnMuley]

I would love to see some proof and facts of legitimacy just how bad this latest cause of "pneumonia" is. I've certainly not noticed any of the factors present now that were there were with the last real bout of pneumonia there. 

[klickman]

I would love to see some proof and facts of legitimacy just how bad this latest cause of "pneumonia" is. I've certainly not noticed any of the factors present now that were there were with the last real bout of pneumonia there. 

The biologist said this round of pneumonia is hammering the lambs.  Out of 44 sheep we saw one day of scouting we saw four lambs.  The lambs are fine until they are weaned off of their mother.  Then they die. 

[MtnMuley]

Interesting. I didn't notice any less lambs with the ewes last year in my scouting there and honestly never paid attention to any ewes during the ram season.

[greenhead_killer]

the juve ram i shot last year was full of pneumonia. not sure how he was still running around as well as he was. we only saw 2 lambs in our unit.

[MtnMuley]

That sucks. No sign of it in the mature ram I dealt with, but sounds like they won't have it anyways.

[greenhead_killer]

i think the rams can handle it, but lamb recruitment is like 5% in infected sheep. kills just about every one of them.