Efforts to help grow the bighorn sheep population in Utah continue. Bighorn sheep were first released in Duchesne County in 2022 at a nursery facility and bighorn sheep in those herds are now being transported to other locations in the state. The DWR reports that on December 22nd, desert bighorn sheep were relocated from the previous SkyRider Wilderness Ranch nursery herd facility in Duchesne County and were released onto a new property in Box Elder County where conditions are ideal for the population. “This will be remembered as one of the most significant events in preserving desert bighorn sheep in Utah,” stated Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife President Troy Justensen. The DWR tentatively plans to release additional desert bighorn sheep at the new nursery herd property later this year to help bolster the population. As the herd grows, it will be used to augment other populations of desert bighorn sheep around the state. The DWR reports that there are currently around 3,000 desert bighorn sheep and 1,500 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Utah.
