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Within-Range Translocation of Bighorn Sheep in Madison Mountain Range, Southwest Montana, Phase 2 FWP-SEA-WLD-R3-25-021

May 23, 2025 2:17 PM

Description of Proposed Project:  The proposed project would be to translocate, over the course of 10 years, 50 to 100 bighorn sheep from existing herds within the Madison Mountain Range to a historic but unoccupied winter range in the center of the Madison Mountain Range at Bear Creek WMA (Figure 2).  The timeline of the proposed project would extend from 2025-2035 due to the need to draw bighorn sheep from the source herd, monitor its numeric recovery, and repeat as necessary until the new herd is established.  

 

Project Objectives:  The objectives of this project would be to 1) restore native bighorn sheep to available but unoccupied habitats within the Madison Mountain Range, 2) increase the number of occupied bighorn sheep winter ranges in the Madison Mountain Range, 3) increase connectivity between isolated herds in the Madison Mountain Range, and 4) to use translocations as a tool to maintain the source herd at Quake Lake within winter carrying capacity to prevent overabundance and potential die-offs. 

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Public Comment Opportunity

Deadline: Comments will be accepted from May 27, 2025, through June 26, 2025 at 5:00 pm.

Written comments can be mailed to:

Julie Cunningham

FWP

1400 S. 19th Ave.

Bozeman MT 59718

 

Email comments can be sent to:  juliecunningham@mt.gov