Sheep Changes Coming

norskie said:
yep its unique - beside a national park too. Also unique because you could drive your pick-up right into the basins. And then there are a few other things make it unique.

Why would full curl help in establishing a population (numbers of sheep)?

I see nice rams come out of there every year now - so I think the rule helps develop larger rams.

And my guess is it will get restrictions because of the anticipated hunting pressure when the other zones go full curl...
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The bulk of zones in the proposed change area are adjacent to parks. Full curl helps the population because there are less legal rams to kill. It likely reduces ram harvest by 75-80% in the short term and 50% in the long term. Many rams will never be legal to kill as is evident in 400 and to the west in BC.

Sure there are some nice rams coming out of 400 but no nicer than the rest of the province despite it's full curl regulation. I really don't see the success story in 400 at least as its related to full curl regulations. The population drop there was disease related. Mother nature taketh away and then she provides.
 
patty59 said:
I would guess they have a statistic that proves a good amount of rams in WMU 400 are killed in the last week of the season so by shortening it will keep them alive.
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They do have those stats but if full curl is the magic bullet why should it be an issue?
 
The elk one is a similar conundrum - they want to grow big bulls for some reason.

The reason for that is that hunters demanded it. ;)

Grizz
 
Grizzly Adams said:
The reason for that is that hunters demanded it. ;)

Grizz
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The majority or a small vocal group? I suspect the same could be said of the sheep issue. Not everyone is upset with this change. I have little doubt it will benefit me personally but I'm trying to look at the bigger picture.
 
sheephunter said:
The majority or a small vocal group? I suspect the same could be said of the sheep issue. Not everyone is upset with this change. I have little doubt it will benefit me personally but I'm trying to look at the bigger picture.
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The bigger picture I see is that it will enable the rams to live another year or two and maybe have an opportunity to breed. No doubt our sheep population is healthy, but what is the ratio of breeding rams to ewes ? I always maintain, in the areas I hunt, the life of a Legal ram can be measured in minutes.

Grizz
 
Grizzly Adams said:
The bigger picture I see is that it will enable the rams to live another year or two and maybe have an opportunity to breed. No doubt our sheep population is healthy, but what is the ratio of breeding rams to ewes ? I always maintain, in the areas I hunt, the life of a Legal ram can be measured in minutes.

Grizz
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What benefit is there to allowing a ram to breed a few more years? There are lots waiting in the wings to take his place.
 
sheephunter said:
What benefit is there to allowing a ram to breed a few more years? There are lots waiting in the wings to take his place.
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Guess the question is, are there and what kind of maturity should a breeding ram have ? Lot's of sickle horns out there, but by the time they get that magic 4/5, which used to be 3/4 at one time, the numbers plummet dramatically. Background to the elk thing was it was felt that certain zones should be reserved for raising trophy class animals.
 
Grizzly Adams said:
Guess the question is, are there and what kind of maturity should a breeding ram have ? Lot's of sickle horns out there, but by the time they get that magic 4/5, which used to be 3/4 at one time, the numbers plummet dramatically. Background to the elk thing was it was felt that certain zones should be reserved for raising trophy class animals.
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Trophy class is a human desire....nothing to do with successful breeding. Genetics don't change as a ram or bull elk ages. When was Alberta 3/4 curl? It hasn't been for the past 30 years.
 
I live in this area, ewes, ewes everywhere.

As for elk hunting etc it seems a lot of these animals stick to the bow only zones, towns or protected land.
I saw at least 30 elk, all cows except for one small two point bull standing around in town a few weeks ago.

The rifle areas near Banff are mostly LEH and place is a jigsaw puzzle of areas where hunting is allowed and where it is prohibited, and where hunting is allowed with bow but prohibited with firearms.
 
Grizzly Adams said:
Guess the question is, are there and what kind of maturity should a breeding ram have ? Lot's of sickle horns out there, but by the time they get that magic 4/5, which used to be 3/4 at one time, the numbers plummet dramatically. Background to the elk thing was it was felt that certain zones should be reserved for raising trophy class animals.
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Hey grizz when was the last time you spent 5 days in sheep country? No the yaha but real honest to goodNess sheep country... I've hunted from crowsnest pass to the wilmore and I've never seen a lack of mature rams. I finally took my first last year when I found a ram I "wanted" every trip I've made in the hills in the last 3 years I could have killed both old and young rams. My personal time in the hills past the quaders and truck hunters and horseback hunters has shown lots of rams and lots of legals. Why change something that isnt broken
 
buckbrushoutdoors said:
TJ is there anywhere I can voice my thoughts on the subject?
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Let the groups you are a member of know your position...groups like AFGA and WSFAB and SCI and ABA that have a seat at the AGMAG table. The represent the wishes of their membership there so it's critical that they know how you feel. Write a letter to the ESRD minister and your own MLA. They do make a difference.
 
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