Gun Control - A theory espoused by some monumentally stupid people; who claim to believe, against all logic and common sense, that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from robbing, raping, kidnapping, torturing and killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them that they cannot own a gun.
Posts: 992 | Location: Spokane, WA | Registered: 19 July 2005
One of my best friends bought the tag on the Newfoundland Range this past year. He gave the tag to his daughter and she killed a beautiful ram. I'm literally boarding a plane to Mexico for a week of mule deer hunting but PM me and I can get you in touch with them and you can get all the info you would want
Drummond
Posts: 2093 | Location: Windsor, CO | Registered: 06 December 2005
Utah has 3 units which offer Cali Bighorn hunts. Antelope Island, Stansbury, and the Newfoundlands. I don't think there is an auction permit for the Stanbury unit. All Cali sheep in Utah are transplants from the Antelope Island herd.
Antelope Island is a State Park which sits in the Great Salt Lake. It has been hunted for 2 years, with 2 tags given each year. The auction hunter is allowed to hunt first, then the public hunter goes later. You can Google Antelope Island to see the terrain/size/etc. The island sits 15 minutes from hotels. There is a but of bad publicity with havin the hunt on the Island.
The Newfys are on the boarder of Utah and Nevada. Steeper and farther away from any lodging. It is really the middle of no where. Beautiful country. Steep and rocky, but you can catch sheep from the base to the top. Lots of sheep out there, good mature ram potential. The Utah WSF actually has asked the UDWR to give more ram tags as there is an abundance. (it is rare for them to ask for more permits). The UDWR only issues a handful of permits each year.
I would choose the Newfys for the experience. Antelope Island is a literal walk-in-the-park. Which unit are you considering?
Posts: 787 | Location: Utah, USA | Registered: 14 January 2005
Well, there has been some confusion. The December auction of the CA bighorn tag is for residents only. The Newfoundland tag is being auctioned in February.
Drummond, I will make contact with your friend early next year.
Anything near Price will be Rocky Mtn Bighorns. The Cali bighorns are in the central/west portion of the state. The Range Creek Unit is near Price and is a great hunt. The Rattlesnake unit, south of the Range Creek, is the best Rocky unit in the state.
Utah also has no "resident only" auctions. Not that I am aware of anyway. They want all the $$$$ they can get off those tags.
Another avenue is with the Ute Indian Tribe. They shoot some 190+ Rockies there.
Larry- That is very interesting about the auction. Thanks for the information. I think they are hurting the program by only allowing Utah Residents to bid on the permits. The auction tags are given to fund special programs and disallowing non-residents to participate diminishes the money and thus the program. That stance on the those 2 permits will cost the programs tens of thousands.
Sorry for the hijack of the thread. The Nine-Mile permit would be a good hunt for Utah Rocky Bighorns. The Cali Bighorn (called rocky in Utah DWR management) permit on the Newfys will sale in Feb most likely-- as you already stated. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
Posts: 787 | Location: Utah, USA | Registered: 14 January 2005
Larry, I would Talk to Randy Johnson about anything sheepy in Utah! I drew the Dirty Devil Desert Sheep tag at the Expo in 2010. I didn't Hire Randy, long story about a tuff time financially, but if it wasn't for him I might not have killed my ram. He will be there in Feb No doubt and if you are coming in could talk to him personally. Here's his web site www.highdesertsheepguides.com . Even if you don't hunt with him I guarentee you will enjoy talking sheep with him. Good Luck.
Posts: 265 | Location: Corvallis,montana | Registered: 10 January 2011
Originally posted by larryshores: I am being lobbied hard to big on a tag in an upcoming auction. Has anyone ever hunted the CA bighorns in UT? If so, could you provide any details.
Thanks.
Larry, I must ask you, what do you hope to really leave as your lasting conservation legacy? I mean, do you really feel that your efforts will be remembered for actually making a difference in conservation? if so, where?
Honestly, I don't care if what I have done is remembered or not. If I buy that tag, that will be something north of $100,000 I have contributed to the conservation of wild sheep in Utah over the last 3 years. Surely, this will have been helpful to conservation of the sheep.
