IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME Virgil Moore, Director Surveys and Inventories FY2015/FY2016 Statewide Report BIGHORN SHEEP July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016 Prepared by: Clay Hickey ............................................................................................ Clearwater Region Craig White, Rachel Curtis, Jake Powell .................................. Southwest (Nampa) Region Regan Berkley ........................................................................... Southwest (McCall) Region Daryl Meints ....................................................................................... Magic Valley Region Curtis Hendricks .................................................................................. Upper Snake Region Greg Painter, Bret Stansberry ....................................................................... Salmon Region Summer Crea ............................................................................................. Data Coordinator David Smith ............................................................................... Grants/Contracts Specialist Compiled and edited by: Hollie Miyasaki, Program Manager 2017 Boise, Idaho Idaho Department of Fish and Game (Department) adheres to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations related to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, disability or veteran’s status. If you feel you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility of the Department, or if you desire further information, please write to: Idaho Department of Fish and Game, PO Box 25, Boise, ID 83707 or US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: WSFR, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, Telephone: (703) 358-2156. This publication will be made available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact the Department for assistance. Please note that Department databases containing this information are dynamic. Records are added, deleted, and/or edited on a frequent basis. This information was current as of 9/16/16. Raw data do not have the benefit of interpretation or synthesis by the Department. The Department requests that you direct any requests for this information to us rather than forwarding this information to third parties. TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEWIDE .................................................................................................................................. 1 California Bighorn Sheep ............................................................................................................ 2 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep ................................................................................................. 2 POPULATION MANAGEMENT UNITS CALIFORNIA BIGHORN SHEEP ........................... 1 OWYHEE FRONT PMU ............................................................................................................... 3 GMU 40; Hunt Area 40 .................................................................................................................. 3 Description .................................................................................................................................. 3 Historical Perspective .................................................................................................................. 3 Issues ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Management Direction ................................................................................................................ 4 Management Actions................................................................................................................... 5 OWYHEE RIVER PMU................................................................................................................. 7 GMU 42; Hunt Areas 42-1, 42-2 .................................................................................................... 7 Description .................................................................................................................................. 7 Historical Perspective .................................................................................................................. 7 Issues ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Management Direction ................................................................................................................ 8 Management Actions................................................................................................................... 9 JACKS CREEK PMU................................................................................................................... 12 GMU 41; Hunt Areas 41-1, 41-2 .................................................................................................. 12 Description ................................................................................................................................ 12 Historical Perspective ................................................................................................................ 12 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Management Direction .............................................................................................................. 13 Management Actions................................................................................................................. 14 BRUNEAU-JARBIDGE PMU ..................................................................................................... 17 GMU 41 (east), 46, 47; Hunt Area 46 .......................................................................................... 17 Description ................................................................................................................................ 17 Historical Perspective ................................................................................................................ 17 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Management Direction .............................................................................................................. 18 Management Actions................................................................................................................. 18 SOUTH HILLS PMU ................................................................................................................... 21 GMU 54 ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Description ................................................................................................................................ 21 Historical Perspective ................................................................................................................ 21 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Management Direction .............................................................................................................. 22 Management Actions................................................................................................................. 22 JIM SAGE PMU ........................................................................................................................... 24 GMU55; Hunt Area 55 ................................................................................................................. 24 Description ................................................................................................................................ 24 Historical Perspective ................................................................................................................ 24 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Management Direction .............................................................................................................. 25 Management Actions................................................................................................................. 26 POPULATION MANAGEMENT UNITS ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP............. 28 HELLS CANYON PMU .............................................................................................................. 30 GMUs 11, 13, 18, 22; Hunt Area 11 ............................................................................................. 30 Description ................................................................................................................................ 30 Historical Perspective ................................................................................................................ 30 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 31 Management Direction .............................................................................................................. 31 Management Actions................................................................................................................