NM Sheep

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 29, 2018

I attended the New Mexico chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation banquet here in ABQ. It was very informative and pretty fun talking to new people about hunting and hunting bighorns and seeing the new plans for bighorns here in our state. I did however see a stat that rather bothered me. It was the stat of how much $$$ us NM residents put towards our NM wild sheep. I'm not sure totally on if it was donated $$$ or what??? It was something like 72k+. from out of state and only I think 6k from us Residents. Pretty staggering IMO considering us residents want all the tags pretty much (Including me). Seems kinda of unfair to me in a way when us residents are not putting up the $$$ compared to non residents. What ya guys think?

cosmic_cowboy · Apr 29, 2018

Cost of tag for BHS Resident 160.00 Non resident 3173.00

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 29, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Apr-29-18 AT 08:05PM (MST)[p]>Cost of tag for BHS Resident
>160.00 Non resident 3173.00

I don't think the numbers have anything to do with price of tag. What I'm talking about is the $$$ that directly go to wild sheep in NM. Those tag fees go to all sorts of stuff.

12ring · Apr 29, 2018

How about you go ahead and pay extra then. Leave me out of your plan for NM residents to pony up more money to a animal that most of us will never have the chance to hunt. I punt in 8 apps every year, just for me. That doesn't include my kids. It can add up. I can't afford to put out more money toward sheep.

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 29, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Apr-30-18 AT 01:01AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Apr-30-18 AT 00:57?AM (MST)

Gotta love monstermuleys and all the haters that are on here. Hey 12ringer it was just a discussion, a thought, something we could all discuss like a normal forum. U don't have to be an a butthead. Nobody is making u pay anything. I was just stating the facts that I heard about and was wondering what other people think is all. Hey I put in for all the species here in NM also and I too might not ever draw BH tag. Goodluck to you on any tags you may have drawn.

Trad Bow 1979 · Apr 30, 2018

I hear what your saying but it goes both ways. Last time I did OTC elk in Colorado I paid $630 for my elk tag and as a NR I was forced to also buy a year long fishing license. We aren't the only state that takes a lot of money from its NR hunters. In Wyoming if a unit has a certain percentage of wilderness in it a NR is also required to hire an outfitter. I don't feel bad at all that a NR has to put up 2K in order to apply/hunt BHS. I think the rates NR are charged in NM is pretty consistent with other states too,Montana charges $880 for elk, Colorado charges $2,000 for moose (cow or bull).
The only thing that matters to me is that the money is utilized properly.

swampokie · Apr 30, 2018

>I hear what your saying but
>it goes both ways. Last
>time I did OTC elk
>in Colorado I paid $630
>for my elk tag and
>as a NR I was
>forced to also buy a
>year long fishing license. We
>aren't the only state that
>takes a lot of money
>from its NR hunters. In
>Wyoming if a unit has
>a certain percentage of wilderness
>in it a NR is
>also required to hire an
>outfitter. I don't feel bad
>at all that a NR
>has to put up 2K
>in order to apply/hunt BHS.
>I think the rates NR
>are charged in NM is
>pretty consistent with other states
>too,Montana charges $880 for elk,
>Colorado charges $2,000 for moose
>(cow or bull).
>The only thing that matters to
>me is that the money
>is utilized properly.

2k?? 2k will barely by two nr hd elk tags. Better try 3200$ ridiculous!

264mag · Apr 30, 2018

California non resident sheep tag $1600, we now have over 4000 sheep here and very few tags to draw the rest are for predators.

philthy · Apr 30, 2018

Was the money being discussed at the beginning funds from the raffle tag that NMWSF was selling tickets for? That would sound about right as far as numbers and would go directly to the sheep program like the tags auctioned at the Wild Sheep Convention.

live4muleys · Apr 30, 2018

I was also at the Banquet also. It was a good time. Yes the money he is referring to is the money raised on the raffle tags only. Sheep get money from the raffle and the two auction tags they sell. This is money that goes back directly to Bighorn Sheep.

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 30, 2018

>Was the money being discussed at
>the beginning funds from the
>raffle tag that NMWSF was
>selling tickets for? That would
>sound about right as far
>as numbers and would go
>directly to the sheep program
>like the tags auctioned at
>the Wild Sheep Convention.

Yes I believe it was just for the raffle tickets I think. I guess maybe I shouldn't have posted anything apparently about it I guess it's a touchy subject. I would?ve thought it would?ve been higher on our end (residents) is all considering how much of NM are hunters. Yes, I also realize they are not elk or deer and don't get the attention as much I guess.

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 30, 2018

>I was also at the Banquet
>also. It was a good
>time. Yes the money he
>is referring to is the
>money raised on the raffle
>tags only. Sheep get money
>from the raffle and the
>two auction tags they sell.
>This is money that goes
>back directly to Bighorn Sheep.
>

Thanks for clearing it up lol!

Reuben_Soady · Apr 30, 2018

I think that big horn are pretty expensive critters to import and to (re)establish a viable population.

Lots of folks find that a wasteful government boondoggle, like so many other government programs, and chafe pretty badly if they were told to pay more taxes.

I bet the big horn budget per critter is miniscule compared to the Mexican wolf programs, though.

Lots of folks find that ...

Muleman · Apr 30, 2018

NM has a small economy compared to other states and sheep are
a rich mans choice thus the non-res contributing more money. i have a hard time with the sheep foundation and game and fish departments catering to the rich. Gov tags and the foundations that support them are a bad deal for the common man. They both promote turning hunting to a rich mans game and it's heading that way.

It really pisses me off the the game and fish department in all western states are allowing and promoting it. They say they need the money, I call on BS on that.

cosmic_cowboy · Apr 30, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Apr-30-18 AT 06:53PM (MST)[p]>I think that big horn are pretty expensive critters to import and >to (re)establish a viable population.

>Lots of folks find that a wasteful government boondoggle, like so >many other government programs, and chafe pretty badly if they were >told to pay more taxes.

>I bet the big horn budget per critter is miniscule compared to the >Mexican wolf programs, though.

>Lots of folks find that ...

The BHS transplants are their "Pet" Project... I constantly complain about to many predators killing to many Deer and it falls on deaf ears. BUT let a Lion move in and kill their Sheep... All hell breaks out and that Lion is killed Pronto !
The expense of funding ******* Wolves is a different topic.
Jack

NMhunter4life · Apr 30, 2018

I think it is ridiculous when you hear all these people whining about the price of applying for tags for themselves and their kids/wife/etc.
I paid close attention last year driving through the forest past numerous camps during both deer and elk season. Nearly everyone had an ATV or side-by-side, camper trailer or giant wall tent and a fancy roto-molded cooler. There were also 2-3 newer model pickups in most camps. I saw only one camp with a cheap Walmart tent, old truck and no ATV. I guarantee you that many of these people complaining about the price of tags are the same ones that have 100K tied up in all the junk they take on a hunting trip.

If that was the money generated from the raffle tickets, then it is easy to see why the NR's had the R's beat badly. NM has a very small population compared with the rest of the USA.

mozey · Apr 30, 2018

I was there too, and was coincidentally wondering how many fellow MMers were in attendance. Sounds like there were at least a few of us.

I didn't win anything other than an Outdoor Edge knife, but would still do it again. I initially guessed the ram within 7/8", but didn't believe my own math, so I went with my eyeball test and ended up way underestimating him. It was a fun time hanging out with my dad and a hunting buddy.

I think the serious raffle buyers are probably those who are trying to complete their slams, and that's almost always going to be nonresidents. Most the rest of us are content to buy one or two chances while putting in for the draws (same odds).

mozey · Apr 30, 2018

Now that I've got a desert, I'm going to be one of those crazy nonresidents applying in all the other states and their raffles myself... ;-)

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 30, 2018

Mosey you are a lucky dude to have drawn a tag congrats! . I hope one day to draw here in NM or another state. I'm pretty new to being a member of the WSF going on my 3rd year. I was the dude who won the shirt that Mr. Bartlett made a joke that it wasn?t going to fit. Lol.

mozey · May 1, 2018

Yup--I was really lucky to draw that tag--hardest of the slam to get.

I was sitting in the very front, and raised my hand when he asked if I was there after putting the picture of my ram up.

NMBOWHNTR27 · May 1, 2018

Shoot and I'm just trying to be apart of a sheep hunt other than barbs, at very least. My dad has a friend in flagstaff has 24-25 points there so maybe he might draw if he is lucky and I'll go then for sure.

JFWRC · May 1, 2018

Guys-

Sometime you should ask Bryan Bartlett or Eric Rominger what NR's have pitched in terms of dollars to the Wild Sheep conservation program in NM.

Don't hold me to this but I believe I heard from the past NMWSF President, the late Lanny Rominger (not related to Eric), that NR's have pitched in $6 +/- million out of the $7 +/- million in Wild Sheep conservation programs.

He and I both would honestly say without the National WSF and Pittman Robertson Act money from all taxpayers....the bighorn would not be doing well in NM. Now sit back and look where a majority of the sheep live......yes, on Federal Lands.

My .02.

Jim

philthy · May 1, 2018

>Guys-
>
>Sometime you should ask Bryan Bartlett
>or Eric Rominger what NR's
>have pitched in terms of
>dollars to the Wild Sheep
>conservation program in NM.
>
>Don't hold me to this but
>I believe I heard from
>the past NMWSF President, the
>late Lanny Rominger (not related
>to Eric), that NR's have
>pitched in $6 +/- million
>out of the $7 +/-
>million in Wild Sheep conservation
>programs.
>
>He and I both would honestly
>say without the National WSF
>and Pittman Robertson Act money
>from all taxpayers....the bighorn would
>not be doing well in
>NM. Now sit back and
>look where a majority of
>the sheep live......yes, on Federal
>Lands.
>
>My .02.
>
>Jim

Exactly! NM may not be as "rich" as some of the other states, but there are people here with enough money to win an auction tag. There are only 4 or so tags donated by the state and the money going directly to sheep is put to good use. The two Rocky and desert tags given to the WSF brought in over $400K and that's just this year. Think about it, less than 10 years ago there was ONE desert sheep tag.

Mozey is right, as most people are trying to complete their grand slam and desert is usually the last, since it's hardest to get a tag. You can go to Mexico, but one the size of mine would probably be $75K minimum. I drew my tag after 3 tries, so everyone has an equal chance! I'm too old to get in the point game in other states and can't afford the other three in Canada and Alaska, so the slam will never happen for me. I'm happy to have coffee with my lifetime book mount every morning, though!

One other thing to think about when people complain about sheep restoration. How many elk were here a hundred years or so ago?

nmbighorn · May 1, 2018

Philthy, you drew in 3 tries, man I wish that would happen to me, I've been trying for 35yrs here in NM.

NMBOWHNTR27 · May 1, 2018

>Philthy, you drew in 3 tries,
>man I wish that would
>happen to me, I've been
>trying for 35yrs here in
>NM.

Right!! Hahaha. That's so awesome! The only thing I would argue is that the Rocky is the hardest. You have to pretty much draw for those and odds suck everywhere. The desert you can buy for around the price stated more or less. Rocky?s I bet if anyone tried to buy one wouldn't go less 100K. Don?t get me wrong,I agree with ya guys for the most part.

RdRdrFan · May 2, 2018

>>Philthy, you drew in 3 tries,
>>man I wish that would
>>happen to me, I've been
>>trying for 35yrs here in
>>NM.
>
>
>Right!! Hahaha. That's so awesome!
>The only thing I would
>argue is that the Rocky
>is the hardest. You have
>to pretty much draw for
>those and odds suck everywhere.
>The desert you can buy
>for around the price stated
>more or less. Rocky?s I
>bet if anyone tried to
>buy one wouldn't go less
>100K. Don?t get
>me wrong,I agree with ya
>guys for the most part.
>

You can buy a hunt for a Rocky in Alberta for much less than that.