I have been bitten by the sheep bug!

I disagree on that once in a life time concept.

Montana has plenty of sheep and goats. What percentage do residents get?

I reckon the folks that live in Montana ought to get the lions share of those tags. I hope it is at least 60%.

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Originally Posted by HuskyMusky

33 years for MT sheep and you have not drawn!?!? did you gain a point each of those years?

avoid 680 and 482 and I think you'd draw a sheep tag this year if you apply for any of the other sheep units.

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Husky, they have only been giving points out for the past 11 years. Until this year all a point did for you was put your name in the hat one more time. So ... if you had 5 points your name went in 5 times for your points and once for your name that year. It didn't really give you a tremendous advantage. However, starting this year, your ponts are SQUARED, giving you much better chance. So ... if you have 5 points this year, your name goes in 25 times for the points and once for your name this year.

I've got it pretty bad myself. Helped a buddy guide for a nelson last year and game over after getting your hands on the mass and feeling the weight of those horns that have survived with little to nothing for years. There truly monarchs. My dad always raised Wierd animals growing up (ostriches,emus,turkeys,Barbados sheep,) so I haven't been overly intrigued to hunt sheep until now. Also. I went scouting for turkeys with a buddy this year and gobbling them in is quite a bug as well.

While archery deer hunting last season I had a billy goat come and check me out while I was glassing he came to about 10 yards and just Hung out for a few I gained a new respect for those guys also. There big bodied buggers! Needless to say ndow is getting a lot more money from me this year I'm literally in for every species nv offers.

There's awesome sheep hunting in MT in units other than 680 and 482, I think most people should consider all sheep units when applying, esp non-res when they rotate certain units you can apply for each year.

I wonder currently how many people apply for the toughest/best units just to gain another point, ie hunters who want a point and not a sheep tag, which makes odds in those great units even worse!

MT really needs a points only option.
my suggestion be to require half the tag fee, so it's a win-win, ie if a guy has to front the full tag fee he may be inclined to just apply for a unit, as a chance/maybe, and at $0 required to build points, everyone and their mother would start applying. of course I'm speaking as a non-res $375/$750 every resident of MT could front the full sheep tag fee to just build a point...


btw I'm shocked max points in MT for sheep is 11, but that's awesome ;) I'll be sheep hunting MT within 10 years!

I remember reading an article stating that most/all of the breaks sheep genetics came from herds near Missoula, they even specified the unit or units.


I know personally I apply for moose with the hopes not to draw the tag, and rather than applying for the worst odds, I apply for the best unit with the worst odds.

Almost all sheep transplanted throughout MT, including the Breaks, originally came from the Sun River Herd, according to FWP. Subsequent supplemental plants have come from various places, including recent transplants from Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake.

Husky, I could not agree more about the points only option. I also agree that there are practically no poor limited sheep units. There are big sheep throughout MT.

I drew a tag for a California Bighorn in Nevada in 98. It felt like I had hit the lottery! I had a great self guided hunt with a good friend and took this 8 1/2 year old ram. I'm sure this will be my "once in a lifetime" sheep hunt. I had 17 points for Desert Bighorn and I drew this tag on my second try. Gave up on the Desert Bighorn tag when I moved to California. I still get the itch to go...

Moose:D