EWE Tags

[boneaddict]

I think the sheep population in this state is hanging on by a thread.  Why would there be Ewe hunts.  If there is an access amount of them, why don't we transplant them or continue to supplement populations.  I know a lot of places that could sustain sheep in this state but there are no animals.  Why not let them make babies so we can have more ram tags.

[bearpaw]

I agree, antlerless tags are used to control population numbers, if they think there are too many sheep in an area, let's get a new herd started or augment a struggling herd. 

[NWBREW]

I voted for how I think although I will be the first to say that I do not know as much about the sheep population as others. I put in for rams every year and have for many, many years. I would like to see the population grow.....especially since the outbreak of illness they suffered last couple of years.

[bearpaw]

I didn't vote because I forgot to apply in WA... 

[NWBREW]

I didn't vote because I forgot to apply in WA... 

Oh, OUCH. I did but I got the same tag as you.......nothing. 

[piledup]

So far, from the results, it seems like not much people care about the sheep population.

[jager]

Why not let them make babies so we can have more ram tags.

I agree 100%

Although, I put in because that ram I got a couple of years ago was the best meat I've ever eaten bar none!

I don't really live or hunt in sheep country so I don't really know the population dynamics.

I do know that the SW corner has been hammered by disease.

It seems to me that the tag numbers in the Yakima area have been pretty consistent for the last several years.

The north central/north eastern areas population seem to be the most sketchy in my opinion...again I'm no expert.

Now that you bring it up though... it's silly to think that the "experts" know either.

[bobcat]

There are only three ewe permits altogether, in this state. I don't think that's going to have much affect on the overall sheep population. They have one permit in the "ewe" category, and one in the youth category, and one in the over 65 category. Two of those are for Mt Hull, and one is for Vulcan Mt. I'm not familiar with either of those areas, but I assume the sheep are doing well enough to allow the harvest of a couple of female sheep. That's why I voted for "it's ridiculous to give them more money". Odds for one of those tags is probably around 1 in 2000, or worse. Why bother? I'd rather put $6 into a raffle ticket.

[boneaddict]

Thats good to know Bobcat.   If the population was doing that well though, I'd take one of the ram tags in those areas. 

[Kowsrule30]

I see no point in taking out the ewes.....    It's not like you bump into sheep everywhere you go...... 

[MtnMuley]

I agree.  Stupid management taking out ewes in this state with our sheep populations.  I have zero desire to shoot a ewe, but don't hold it against anybody else that wants to, since WDFW issues ewe permits.  Can't fault the people for applying.

[jackmaster]

why would anyone in there right mind want to shoot a ewe, i dont see the point in it, dont give me the "they need to have there numbers managed" wrong they manage themselves just fine.... IMO we should be bringing in a alot more sheep and goats and try to help there populations and do away with any ewe tags....

[NWBREW]

why would anyone in there right mind want to shoot a ewe, 



Over 65, maybe a person would like to kill a sheep before they kick the bucket. I see nothing wrong with that.

Youth, that would bring such a huge boost to the youth and possibly solidify a long term feeling for sheep as well as all wildlife. I see nothing wrong with that.

It's not for me........yet, but I'm not over 65 or under 16 either. If I was 80 (my fathers age) and I had a chance to kill a ewe but no chance to kill a ram.....I would take it. Not everyone will have the opportunity to take a sheep...ram or ewe. Just my 

[NWBREW]

So here's a question to try and put it in perspective a little better.

If you were in the last years of your life and have never been drawn for a Ram and had the opportunity to kill a ewe......would you take it? Knowing there were only 3 ewe permits given out.

I would if I thought it would not be detrimental to the herd.......in a heartbeat.

[CAMPMEAT]

Darling Ewe send me, yes Ewe do..

[provider]

We are at (or exceeding) the population objectives in each of our California bighorn herds here in Washington.  That means we currently have no place to put surplus animals, and it is really expensive to transplant them if we do.  Like you guys, I would love to have more bighorns in the state but we are limited by available suitable sheep habitat.  Not long ago an assessment was done looking for more bighorn habitat, but found that we are either out of it, or nearly out of it.

Bighorns require escape terrain, lambing areas, open space, water, food, etc… so habitat improvements are common (prescribed burns, noxious weed spraying, guzzlers, etc…)  Then especially with Cali’s, which are lower elevation dwellers putting them in closer proximity to humans, we have a number of other concerns.  The biggest is overlap with domestic sheep/goats and disease transmission, vehicle collisions, private land access issues etc…

If we let the population exceed the management plan we greatly increase the risk of the concerns I stated above, and jeopardize the future of the entire herd.  So we have few options.  One solution has been to capture many bighorns and give them to the Tribes (which we have been doing).  Another option was/is to provide hunting opportunity through limited special permits (like we do with other species).

I agree that 3 ewes over two herds harvested is not having an impact.  It is just some additional hunting opportunity, and without question… a bit of a revenue gimmick by the WDFW selling special permit applications.

Oh, and I have no problem hunting the females of species if the population allows it.

[boneaddict]

Thanks for your input Provider.

[jackmaster]

yep thanks for that info provider, you know more about them than i ever will thats for sure...