https://bid.wildsheepfoundatio...ep-Show-2024_as90672


ARIZONA SPECIAL PRONGHORN TAG $90,000

NEVADA PRONGHORN $55,000

NEBRASKA ELK $140,000

COLORADO MOUNTAIN GOAT $47,500

WYOMING SHIRAS MOOSE $85,000

Anyone who would pay $90k to shoot a pronghorn is either crazy rich or just plain crazy…

MONTANA BIGHORN $380,000

ALASKA CHUGACH DALL'S SHEEP $235,000

OREGON SPECIAL PRONGHORN $32,500

NAVAJO NATION DESERT BIGHORN $75,000

STATE OF WASHINGTON CALIFORNIA BIGHORN $270,000

WYOMING SHIRAS MOOSE $90,000

NEW MEXICO DESERT BIGHORN $185,000

CALIFORNIA DESERT BIGHORN OPEN ZONE TAG $180,000

NEW MEXICO BIG GAME ENHANCEMENT PACKAGE $380,000

TEXAS DESERT BIGHORN $145,000

IDAHO BIGHORN $230,000

NEVADA NELSON DESERT BIGHORN $175,000

COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN $600,000

CHIHUAHUA DESERT BIGHORN $70,000

WYOMING ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN $190,000

NAVAJO NATION DESERT BIGHORN $60,000

OREGON BIGHORN SHEEP TAG $450,000

BRITISH COLUMBIA MOUNTAIN SHEEP SPECIAL HUNTING PERMIT $430,000

TAOS PUEBLO ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP PERMIT $260,000

NEW MEXICO ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN PERMIT $600,000

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA BIGHORN PERMIT $230,000

ARIZONA DESERT BIGHORN $430,000

ALBERTA MINISTER'S SPECIAL LICENSE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN $320,000

And just like that, you can hunt sheep all year long

Looks like the "high-end consumer" is hanging in there pretty dang well!!

$$$$$

https://www.montanaoutdoor.com...-auction-for-380000/

Montana bighorn sheep license sold at auction for $380,000


by moosetrack megan
Posted: February 7, 2024


SHEEP SHOW® SETS RECORDS FOR WILD SHEEP CONSERVATION

From the Wild Sheep Foundation

This past week, a record $6,432,500 was raised in one night for wild sheep conservation at the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) 47th annual convention in Reno, NV. During this exceptional night for conservation funding, a record $600,000 was paid at auction for a bighorn sheep permit issued by the state of Colorado, the highest amount for a sheep permit in history. The New Mexico Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit sold for another $600,000 shortly thereafter.

At this premier event for raising dedicated funding for state, provincial, territorial, and tribal wildlife agencies for their wild sheep and other big game management programs, as well as other WSF mission programs, one highlight is the auctioning of special conservation permits offered by these agencies. This year, thirteen permits were sold for record amounts, with two tying previous records. From these permits alone, $3,710,000 Million was raised.

“It’s amazing the number of records that keep getting surpassed each year,” said Gray N. Thornton, president and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “The fact that a handful of individuals stepped up at these levels to put and keep more wild sheep on the mountain for everyone, and one day put more sheep permits into the public draws, is the definition of paying it forward. That’s the backbone of conservation.”

“While some may find this type of conservation funding contrary to the North American Conservation Model, the Model’s renowned spokesman, Shane Mahoney, disagrees, noting that the Model encourages states, provinces, and tribal/First Nations to fund wildlife agencies in the most effective manner. Allowing a few individuals passionate about a wildlife species to fund the majority of an agency’s budget for that species with very limited auction and raffle permits is the most effective, keeping pace with the increasing management costs for that species,” added Thornton.

The new records and the total amounts raised by WSF from these permits include:

Oregon Bighorn Sheep tag $450,000
Record $370,000 in 2023 – $4,437,500 raised since 1992

British Columbia Mountain Sheep Special Hunting Permit $430,000
Record $275,000 in 2021 – $4,249,500 raised since 2000

Colorado Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep license $600,000
Record $320,000 in 2023 – $4,605,500 raised since 2013

New Mexico Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep permit $600,000
Record $310,000 in 2022 – $5,292,000 raised since 1990

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep $430,000
Record $380,000 in 2016 – $7,107,000 raised since 1984

Wyoming Game & Fish Commissioner tag $37,500
Record $30,000 in 2020 – $117,750 raised since 2010

Colorado Rocky Mountain Goat license $47,500
Record $37,500 in 2022 – $505,650 raised since 1989

Wyoming Governor’s Shiras Moose license $90,000
Record $67,500 in 2020 – $903,250 raised since 1987

California Desert Bighorn Sheep (open-zone tag) $180,000
Record $160,000 in 2023 – $3,975,000 raised since 1988

Texas Desert Bighorn Sheep permit $145,000
Record $115,000 in 2021 – $1,446,500 raised since 1987

New Mexico Big Game Enhancement package $380,000
Record $320,000 in 2023 – $1,810,000 raised since 2012

Alaska Chugach Dall’s Sheep tag $235,000
Record $170,000 in 2022 – $3,543,000 raised since 1989

Idaho Bighorn Sheep permit (non-Hells Canyon) $230,000
Record $165,000 in 2022 – $3,291,500 raised since 1988

Money raised from sheep permits goes toward wild sheep management and enhancement programs to maintain and grow wild sheep populations. These include trap and translocations to establish new herds or augment existing ones, habitat improvements, including water developments and controlled burns, and herd health surveillance, testing, and research.

In all, a Sheep Show® auction record of $6,522,500 Million was raised from conservation permits alone from three evening auctions. Depending on the permit, eighty-five to one hundred percent of these funds are directed back to the issuing fish and wildlife agency for their wild sheep and other big game species conservation, management, and enhancement programs. The balance that WSF retains is directed to wild sheep and habitat conservation through its own mission programs. Agencies depend on these funds and the Wild Sheep Foundation to raise them. According to a Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies study, 74% of all wildlife agency funding for wild sheep conservation programs comes from either an auction or raffle conservation permit.

Other notable Sheep Show® auction permit highlights include:

Washington California Bighorn sheep tag $270,000
Record $290,000 in 2023 – $2,755,000 raised since 1984

Montana Bighorn Sheep license $380,000
Record $480,000 in 2013 – $8,720,000 raised since 1986

Nevada Nelson Desert Bighorn Sheep tag (tie) $175,000
Record $175,000 in 2020 – $3,599,000 raised since 1984

Taos Pueblo Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep permit (tie) $260,000
Record $260,000 in 2023 – $4,273,00 raised since 2006

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Branch of Natural Resources – CA Bighorn permit $230,000 (first-time permit offered)

AZ Game & Fish Commissioner’s Special Pronghorn tag $90,000
Record $91,000 in 2020 – $630,500 raised since 2014

Mongolian Outfitters Consortium – Altai Argali permit $120,000 (first-time permit offered)

“Sheep hunting is tightly controlled, and rightfully so,” Thornton explained. “Wild sheep do not exist in the numbers we have for other big game species like deer and elk where revenue generated from license sales pays for their management programs. Even if everyone who drew a sheep tag were willing to pay $10,000, it wouldn’t be enough. Without auctioning a few special permits each year, some agencies would have no wild sheep programs, and others would be severely limited as to what they could do.”

Of the estimated 85,000 bighorn sheep and 100,000 thinhorn sheep in existence today in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, all hunting permits and tags issued to sportsmen annually by wildlife agencies represent a harvest of only 1-3 percent of the total wild sheep population if hunters are 100% successful.

"If you got the money honey----I've got the time"

and some would tell you the economy is bad?

quote:

Originally posted by eny:
and some would tell you the economy is bad?

Yeah, I would. Some tags go for high dollars and that indicates a good economy? Check the current housing costs…

And back to the thread…. The antelope tag is the biggest shocker.

Was just talking to an African Outfitter friend of mine about this very thing. America has changed to where you are either rich or poor. Middle Class are basically poor.

quote:

Originally posted by Jason P:

quote:

Originally posted by eny:
and some would tell you the economy is bad?

Yeah, I would. Some tags go for high dollars and that indicates a good economy? Check the current housing costs…

And back to the thread…. The antelope tag is the biggest shocker.

Yep. Who in their right mind would pay $90k to shoot an animal that numbers in the 100’s of thousands across 7-8 states?

quote:

Yep. Who in their right mind would pay $90k to shoot an animal that numbers in the 100’s of thousands across 7-8 states?

These auctions are not about hunting/killing a animal. It is about impressing others by showing them how much money you have spend.

That's is the true trophy

You gotta look at it as charity for game departments and the money does benefit wildlife
I don’t know who would have a problem with that

The amount of money generated truly is representative of what sportsman and women are willing to sacrifice in order to maintain our hunting rights and privileges. I salute those that can offer so much in the name of preservation and conservation of not only our wildlife but the ability to hunt in a sustainable manner!!))


Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Capt.Purvis:
Was just talking to an African Outfitter friend of mine about this very thing. America has changed to where you are either rich or poor. Middle Class are basically poor.

A cousin of a cousin owns a company he sold for $50,000,000 and then bought back during the 2008 financial crisis for $2,000,000. I don't personally know him. My uncle told me they run with the Trump boys and Jim Shockey. He has a red stag from NZ that scored something like 650 points Safari Club and was $30,0000. He is the market of these hunt like this. He has bought multiple govenors tags before.

I went to junior high with a kid that had the last name True. They are one of the richest families in Wyoming, and one of the largest land owners in America. My dad was shooting at the shotgun range in Casper, and his sister was shooting with him. Just friendly banter. She got a phone call and had to leave in a hurry and left her $30,000 Krieghoff at the range. My dad didn't know who she was and he took it to a local gunshop in Casper figuring someone there had seen it when it was shipped to her. They knew who owned it and called the lady and she came and got it. I don't know how much money they have but I am sure it is more than my cousin of a cousin.

My x-wife's parents own rental property on the beach in Kuiai Hawaii. It is a one bedroom apartment on the beach. He bought it during after some typhoon hit Hawaii for pennies and fixed it up. They own another 3 or 4 rental properties in northern California where they live. I would imagine they probably have 1-3 million in the investments and another 2-3 million in real estate. He has told me multiple times that he isn't rich. He drives a Honda mini-van. They own 3 of them. These people might be rich in the eyes of a lot of people, but they aren't really.

I have zero idea of how families that make $80,000 a year.

The problem is Utah is screwed up in their "conservation". They auction and/or raffle well over 300 conservation tags. I believe they auction off more of these tags than all other states combined! I could be wrong, but I do not believe that I am.

Now, I am not against having a few of these tags. However, more than 300 tags are ridiculous. It is said that millions of dollars go towards conservation. Maybe so, but have the herds overall improved in Utah? Is the hunting here better? Speaking in general, I do not believe that it is.

I could be wrong and will be glad to admit if I am. I do not believe going down this path of so many "conservation" tags is the correct thing to do. They are pulled, of course, directly from the public draw.

Admittedly, I do not have the answer; the answer as to what is best. However, the current model is not it in my opinion.