A bighorn sheep is a grayish-brown wild sheep of mountainous and desert regions of western North America. | Wikimedia Commons/Jakub Frys
A bighorn sheep is a grayish-brown wild sheep of mountainous and desert regions of western North America. | Wikimedia Commons/Jakub Frys
All bighorn sheep hunting in unit 501 ended on Sept. 17 when the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission ordered the discontinuance of all hunting of bighorn sheep.
"By order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, hunting district 501 will close to all hunting of bighorn sheep one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, Sept. 17," according to NBC Montana. "The order halting the hunt came after the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met."
The harvest quota for the district, however, is only two.
"Through ethical and responsible hunting, we can make sure the Montana tradition of hunters and landowners working together remains," FWP Director Hank Worsech said, according to FWP Hunting Regulations. "Remember, respect the land, respect landowners, respect wildlife, pass it on."
Certain bighorn sheep hunting districts, such as district 501, have unlimited (one per hunter) license opportunities and have limited sheep harvest quotas of two legal rams per district. Once the quota is met, the district will close with 48 hours' notice.
Bighorn sheep hunters must personally report their harvest by calling the Harvest Reporting Line at 1-877-FWP-WILD or 406-444-0356. They can also report through the MYFWP portal within 48 hours of the kill. When the quota is reached or approached, the bighorn sheep season in that particular district will close.
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