Nube, the gov. doesn't seem to want to release the numbers for registered Treaty harvested sheep.

 Native harvest may be a concern in some areas. Whether or not Native harvest in the two SMAs of concern (4B and 4C)  is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Native harvest and poaching could be an issue elsewhere. The word is that by the end of January 2012 there were over 20 sheep killed in the Crowsnest corridor. While present sheep numbers are good here, this may not last with the high post hunting season harvest.

If you change "non native competition" to "native hunting", you'd be onto something.  And motorized access is an overblown factor that is driven by other agendas, IMO.

Anyway, WB, you certainly do good work.  Thx.

 Motorized access is an issue that is being addressed by the government. Closures are happening now, with more to come, in the name of Grizzly Bear and Caribou protection. Restricting motorized access to sheep country will be accomplished through this program.

 I mentioned Feral horses for good reason. Evidence from ongoing Feral horse research may show that Feral horses have become a competion factor to BH sheep on some Sheep wintering grounds.


As the talks with F&W get narrowed down to the facts, details become important. If habitat quality, predetors, feral competition, treaty harvest and poaching are shown individually or in combination to be limiting factors for BH sheep in areas of concern, then we have the opportunity to deal with these issues rather than just playing ostrich and further restrict hunting as the only solution.

 

the stats show that mtotrized access is not an influence on sheep hunting success.  it was presented on another forum that the harvest records show that in areas where atv access has opened there was basically no change in sheep harvest....and the other way too.  where motorized access has been restricted, there has been no change proving the access issue to be moot.

If they opened the gates in WMU 400, you could drive a truck up the mountain. Also it's good to keep the gates closed as it reduces the Native Harvest in that area. Winter Ranges are gated for a reason.

SG,

 Most sheep wmu's have trails where motorized access could become restricted. Unfortunately, the government is being very secretive in their plans for restricting public access in the name of Caribou and Grizzly bear management. To get an idea of what is being developed, you can read this study.

FLMF 2009-03 -- Report: Access Management Study Finalhttp://issuu.com/foothillsresearchinstitute/docs/flmf_2009_03_report_accessmgmtstudy_final


To backtrack a bit, you brought up this concern....

But right now I am more concerned on the fact that they say populations are stable but yet many areas I frequent and have frequented for 24yrs that used to winter a lot of ewes, lambs and many park rams as well as the resident sheep populations are void of any sheep in the winter(and a pile of others have mentioned this to me as well). Makes me worry about what is causing this and what it is affecting!

SG
 

New developments in the Cadomin research has lead to this question. "Are sheep from outlying areas migrating to the Mine and taking up permanent residence?"

Evidence is starting to show that there are "new" sheep taking up permanent residence on the mine site. New telemetry studies in southern Alberta are revealing that sheep will migrate much farther than previously anticipated.

Researchers are confident that Jasper sheep that migrate to the mine in winter are returning to Jasper.

So. where are the sheep coming from?

 I'm sure the mine does have new sheep taking up residence but that explains in no way why in many other areas wintering grounds have few to no sheep. They sure aren't heading up to the mine! And the studies are done per area and if populations are stable then if sheep have moved off native grounds they have only moved within the area not out of it. Most areas that the studies I've seen from the last couple years have included aren't huge areas and have only certain amount of wintering and summering grounds so when they are not feeding on certain spots that were for the last 20yrs or more as main food source then they are obviously putting more pressure on other non traditional food sources. Now maybe it's not affecting things but we have nothing to show that so I do worry as I know of many spots that wintered up to 150 sheep that your lucky to see 20 now. So like I say if they say populations are stable where are these sheep hanging now? Sorry Buff but in some areas the study numbers just don't make sense with what people are seeing that spend allot of time in them areas.