Date Posted:13:50:43 02/25/02 Mon Author:Bill Author Host/IP: coproxy5.avaya.com / 198.152.13.71 Subject: Anybody want to bid on a big horn sheep license?
The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society and Foundation for North American Sheep auctions off a single bighorn sheep hunting license each year to raise money for bighorn habitat improvement and education.
The high bidder for the bighorn license this year paid $88,000 on Jan. 25 at the auction in Reno, Nev. Dennis Gardner, president of the RMBS, said $60,000 will clinch a permanent lease from Clear Creek County to protect 1,800 acres of prime bighorn lambing habitat near Georgetown from development.
The ram hunting license is provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which receives 90 percent of the license price, targeted specifically for bighorn conservation projects. The FNAS receives 10 percent. Decisions on how the money is spent are made by the RMBS, Forest Service, Division of Wildlife and Bureau of Land Management.
The RMBS also oversees bidding for other big-game conservation programs. Here's what single bidders in Reno paid for some other Colorado hunting licenses: $11,000 for mountain goat, $16,000 for moose, $22,000 for elk.
The Denver-based RMBS has 1,200 members, about 800 of whom live in Colorado. For membership information, call Gardner at (303) 697-4896.
The group also raises money -- $175,000 last year -- for bighorn programs through its annual Denver banquet and auction. The next banquet is scheduled for March 2 at the Denver Merchandise Mart. Information: Kevin Wilson, (303) 697-6453.
