Santa Catalina Bighorn Restoration Project

[audsley]

Here's the Arizona Daily Star's latest on the sheep reintroduction. I thought AGFD did a great job with the responses.

 

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/game-and-fish-respond-to-questions-about-bighorn-lion-deaths/article_719f9da4-1f49-5122-81eb-08953e1e4269.html

[AZLance]

Love how the AZ G&F always claims they use no tax dollars... But in fact the Pittman Roberston act is a tax, also license fees are a tax, and most of the grants that AZGFD relays on so much from are from tax dollars as well.

[decon]

Whoever said every transplant since the 1960s has failed doesn't have a clue what they're talking about. There are numerous examples of successful sheep transplants that have resulted in thriving herds today. The Superstitions, Peloncillos, Galiuros and Mazatzals are prime examples. The big difference here is were next to an urban population with an activist, AGFD-hating, liberal press that enjoys inciting the clueless mob to a frenzy, and an urban population that understands little about wildlife and is easily misled by a few rabblerousers. I salute Game & Fish for standing strong and continuing to do the right thing. Arizona sportsmen should be standing behind them and speaking up. I do happen to share an interest in fixing southern Arizona's lakes, but that's another thread whenever someone gets inspired to start it.

Thanks Larry, you're always an informed voice of reason.

[decon]

Im no biologist but doesnt the Helicopter surveys say it all? Since the 60's whether or not they came in on their own or were placed there (assuming they came in on their own), they never stayed! Data is right here on this thread...they never sustained a population in 50 years of data.....what changes now?

Archeological evidence indicates sheep arrived in North America from Asia about 40,000 years ago. Evidence also indicates they had populated most western mountain ranges at least 20,000 years ago. It's likely the sheep that were eliminated from the Catalinas by the 1990's had been living there continuously for thousands of year. We'll never know exactly what happened to those sheep but with all the current sheep gps collared we'll know what happens to them for the most part. This project is mostly restoration effort and part experiment.

[decon]

Love how the AZ G&F always claims they use no tax dollars... But in fact the Pittman Roberston act is a tax, also license fees are a tax, and most of the grants that AZGFD relays on so much from are from tax dollars as well.

I'm surprised you've got any ax left to grind!

[kwp]

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/fourth-bighorn-released-into-catalinas-has-died/article_9c16a154-5d63-51a6-9cc5-f15e6c315ce1.html

 

A 4th sheep has died.

[Big Tub]

Love how the AZ G&F always claims they use no tax dollars... But in fact the Pittman Roberston act is a tax, also license fees are a tax, and most of the grants that AZGFD relays on so much from are from tax dollars as well.

 

Not from the general tax fund (income, property, etc). The excise tax is on sporting goods and the state money which is requires a match is from hunting licenses and tags. The point is WE as sportsmen are footing the bill and not the "non-users."

[AZLance]

Love how the AZ G&F always claims they use no tax dollars... But in fact the Pittman Roberston act is a tax, also license fees are a tax, and most of the grants that AZGFD relays on so much from are from tax dollars as well.

 

Not from the general tax fund (income, property, etc). The excise tax is on sporting goods and the state money which is requires a match is from hunting licenses and tags. The point is WE as sportsmen are footing the bill and not the "non-users."

 

Where does the Grant money, that this project and so many other grants they get come from? I never mentioned the general fund... But since you did...

[AZLance]

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/fourth-bighorn-released-into-catalinas-has-died/article_9c16a154-5d63-51a6-9cc5-f15e6c315ce1.html

 

A 4th sheep has died.

 

Azgfd has killed another bighorn...