Bad news for Yakima Canyon sheep

[Buckshot Bill]

This royaly sucks big time!  I love driving by through Ellensberg Canyon and seeing them up on the hillside.  This could be devastating for years.  Hope they can get this under control quickly and with the least amount of kill ratio.

[sako223]

We've seen rams walking between the herds several times. WDFW should get a full scale lashing if they don't let the hunters in on this. The WDFW also has a record of bungling efforts of handling game. Animals and people die when they do large game activities.
I will be really shocked if the Indians aren't already lining up. They will end up with the sheep if the WDFW handles it.

[Birdguy]

Just plain sucks. Our wildlife woes in this state are stagering. Hope the WDFW has a real plan  .

[blacktailer]

This indeed really sucks.  One option from F & W was to have hunters come in and thin them out as many others on here have suggested.  I agree fully and would be the first one to throw my name in the draw.  Not to get off track here, but those that were defending the moronic archery guys that shot the elk in Concrete can now kiss this possibility goodbye.  Legal is one thing, but ruining future hunts for the rest of us who hunt legally, ethically and morally is another.  I cannot imagine F & W would even consider having hunters take care of this problem after the backlash they have received from the elk hunt and the coincidental timing of it all.   It would be a PR nightmare!!!  My 2 cents

[boneaddict]

I agree blacktailer...

[WDFW-SUX]

I think I would pass on the oppertunity to cull bighorns.. I think its sad as hell.  Would you guys like shooting a sick ram?

[Rowdy]

This indeed really sucks.  One option from F & W was to have hunters come in and thin them out as many others on here have suggested.  I agree fully and would be the first one to throw my name in the draw.  Not to get off track here, but those that were defending the moronic archery guys that shot the elk in Concrete can now kiss this possibility goodbye.  Legal is one thing, but ruining future hunts for the rest of us who hunt legally, ethically and morally is another.  I cannot imagine F & W would even consider having hunters take care of this problem after the backlash they have received from the elk hunt and the coincidental timing of it all.   It would be a PR nightmare!!!  My 2 cents

Agree, especially with the road running through the canyon.  There would be people and cameras everywhere!

[bobcat]

I have no interest in shooting a sick sheep.

[boneaddict]

I think I would pass on the oppertunity to cull bighorns.. I think its sad as hell.  Would you guys like shooting a sick ram?

Not at all but would like a 100 or so folks to be culled out of our point pool, though thats a drop in the bucket.   Think about what this means if the whole Yakima basin gets whipped out with this bug.  I wasn't kidding about the coughing sheep over in the Clem herd.     Even if that cross doesn't happen.  The clem herd will be used to translplant the Canyon.   Wonder if we can get some of those Rez sheep back.

[WDFW-SUX]

yeah its FUBAR..if they let folks do it I hope its considered a OIL opportunity.  I bet Oregon would give us some new stock...They have plenty.

[pat2bear]

I think I would pass on the oppertunity to cull bighorns.. I think its sad as hell.  Would you guys like shooting a sick ram?

Or a sick ewe? But there going to have to be killed by someone. And I bet there's a lot of people that would love the opportunity to do it, that would never get the chance otherwise. I really don't care how they do it as long as they can keep this thing contained. Bone, I sure hope the ram you saw was just clearing his throat. That would be the end of the Cleman and the Tieton herd also.

[Rowdy]

I almost forgot about this, not sure if it has anything to do with this illness but it was really odd.

Earlier this season I was Chukar hunting the Canyon and my pup REALLY likes the smell of those sheep but after an early dose of electricity he no longer chases.  He will put a half ass tail waging point on them sometimes, I nick him with the collar and just move on.  This one time he was down the ridge aways and I first thought he might be working some birds so I started heading down to him.  As I got close he locked up and the tail started wagging, I was already almost to him so I thought I would take a peek over the mound he was next to.  I walked up, pulled my camera out, and there was a Ewe (I think that's what they're called) balled up sleeping.  What was odd was there were no other sheep around and I was probably 30' from him.  When he saw me he slowly stood up and started walking off.  He looked sick to me but I couldn't see any wounds or other noticable problems.  I thought it best to get the pup and I out of there so we headed back up and I didn't see him again.  Odd.

Jake

[yakimarcher]

this sucks

[bearpaw]

Very sorry to hear, they might as well sell permits to hunters to do the eradication, that would at least create some revenue.

[andrew_12gauge]

I almost forgot about this, not sure if it has anything to do with this illness but it was really odd.

Earlier this season I was Chukar hunting the Canyon and my pup REALLY likes the smell of those sheep but after an early dose of electricity he no longer chases.  He will put a half ass tail waging point on them sometimes, I nick him with the collar and just move on.  This one time he was down the ridge aways and I first thought he might be working some birds so I started heading down to him.  As I got close he locked up and the tail started wagging, I was already almost to him so I thought I would take a peek over the mound he was next to.  I walked up, pulled my camera out, and there was a Ewe (I think that's what they're called) balled up sleeping.  What was odd was there were no other sheep around and I was probably 30' from him.  When he saw me he slowly stood up and started walking off.  He looked sick to me but I couldn't see any wounds or other noticable problems.  I thought it best to get the pup and I out of there so we headed back up and I didn't see him again.  Odd.

Jake

if it was a male they are rams but no matter, on the terminoligy, in response to the story this really sucks as many of you know my dad took a ram out of the umptanum last hunting season, it would suck to lose that herd both for hunting opportunity and i always just enjoyed driving through the canyon and watching sheep as well, hope wdfw handles this, although if jeff bernatowitz is on it that guy knows his sheep and hopefully he can find a solution that will save the herd