Gotta love a good re-run....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chukar Hunter
Limit the maximum number of sheep killed per hunter to 2 or 3 in a lifetime. This is the case in many states. Shorten the season towards the end and more than anything educate hunters how to distinguish between young and older rams. Many of the F&W guys who are actually in charge of measuring rams for age are not experienced and trained enough to do it right. I have seen many erroneous rams scored wrongly. Pay for seasoned wildlife sheep biologists to educate them on aging.
Full curl rule; That's a tough one but as my good friend and mentor said;
Yes, many broomed old rams never hit full curl but then that is your biological reserve.
Predator control is also in dire need of a serious boost.
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There must be fifty threads from the last ten years discussing this, which will include the hard fought for data from F&W.
The numbers of hunters that kill more than one ram is small.
It's just not worth worrying about unless jealousy is the reason.
Besides, once a hunter knows how to kill rams, they typically share the skill with family and friends to get their first sheep. Lots of guys with a ram or two holding out for their dream while still helping to kill sheep.
Full curl does not increase age of harvest, as the Alberta harvest stats show.
If there is a concern for selective hunting causing genetic shifts, the full curl rule would exacerbate the potential for such harm.
Full curl regs in 400 have reduce harvest by 90%, with rams Younger than the provincial average.
Is this the desired result?
Nothing wrong with more predator control, in conjunction with every sheep hunter taking up smoking and filling those ewe tags.
If we want more old rams on the hill, then don't shoot old rams.
