CouesWhitetail Report post Posted October 16, 2008 FROM AGFD: Hello all, Some of you may already be aware of the AZGFD Research Branch's Highway 93 sheep project that is about to hit the ground. We wanted to bring everyone up to date on the capture we have planned to deploy 30 collars for the first phase of that study. We have a helicopter, fixed-wing, net-gunner, plane observer, and a core ground crew set to go for November 7th - 9th (Friday - Sunday). We are in contact with B of R and NPS in an attempt to determine a better staging location than the Boulder City airport. We are also awaiting a permit/permission from BLM for the capture which we should have soon. With 30 collars to deploy, it may take several teams searching the study area from the ground in order to finish on schedule. Some of our team will likely arrive on site on Thursday the 6th in order to generate some sheep locations so we can get captures going first thing Friday morning. We are enlisting Bighorn Sheep Society volunteers to help scout out sheep. We are planning on camping out in the vicinity of Kingman Wash, but the specifics are not yet set. We'll provide those details to our recruits as we get them (likely next week). In the field we'll need to be in touch with each ground crew to relay sheep locations so if any folks have any of the following items that they could bring, it would be helpful: Walkie-talkies (preferably something compatible with Motorola Two-Way or Talkabout radios) GPS units Optics: binos and/or spotting scopes You'll probably also need to supply your own firewood if you're interested in having a fire at the camp site. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you're interested in participating please contact me at your convenience. If you let me know if you can provide any or all of your own GPS, walkie-talkie, and / or optics, that will help me figure out what I need to try and scrounge up. The best way to reach me is by e-mail: ssprague@azgfd.gov. You can also try my cell at 623-826-7362 or leave a voice-mail for me at AZGFD HQ: 623-236-7252. You can also e-mail the lead biologist for the project: jeff_gagnon@yahoo.com Thanks and we look forward to working with you, Scott Sprague Wildlife Specialist Research Branch, Arizona Game and Fish Department ssprague@azgfd.gov 623-236-7252 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tines Report post Posted October 17, 2008 Why do they schedule on such an inopportune weekend!?!?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
