NEW MEXICO ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP PERMIT
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
Wildlife Management Division
Eric Rominger
P.O. Box 25112
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504
505.476.8045 or 505.690.3207
Booth #856
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will auction one Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit and has selected The Wild Sheep Foundation to auction this permit. As authorized by state law, the Bighorn Sheep Enhancement Program will receive 90% of the proceeds for projects to benefit bighorn sheep with 10% of the proceeds retained by the Wild Sheep Foundation. Anyone, including previous special permit holders, may submit a bid to obtain the 2015 Rocky Mountain bighorn permit unless their hunting privileges have been revoked. The permit may be transferred by the successful bidder to an individual qualified to hunt.
Currently there are 7 Rocky Mountain populations with hunts for the 2015 season. These herds are in both high and low-elevation habitats. The Wheeler Peak Wilderness produced the state record Rocky Mountain bighorn ram in 2005, a 198 4/8 ram. There have been six rams scoring >190 points taken in Wheeler Peak, and more than 50% of the rams taken from this herd have scored higher than the minimum Boone & Crockett record book score of 180. There have been 6 Rocky Mountain Boone and Crockett bighorn rams harvested from the Wheeler Peak herd during the last 3 seasons and 3 from the Latir herd in the last 2 seasons.
The successful bidder must select by June 1, 2015 one hunt from any unit open for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep hunting in New Mexico, including: Pecos Wilderness (Unit 45), Latir Wilderness (Unit 53 north of NM 38), Wheeler Peak Wilderness (Unit 53 south of NM 38), Rio Grande Gorge (Units 49, 50, 53), Dry Cimarron (Unit 58), San Francisco River/Turkey Creek (Units 16B, 22, 23, 24), or the Culebres Mountains (100% private in Unit 55). Some restrictions apply on the private land hunts in the Culebres Mountains and Dry Cimarron. Hunt dates run from August 1 through December 31 except in Wheeler Peak where the hunt dates are August 1-10 and September 1 through December 31.
A 5% buyers premium will be added to the final bid price of each special permit sold, unless prohibited by statute. Proceeds will be dedicated to WSF Conservation Initiatives. If the winner of this item refuses to pay the premiums required, the item shall be offered to the next highest bidder for the price he/she bid.
A 5% buyers premium will be added to the final bid price of each special permit sold, unless prohibited by statute. Proceeds will be dedicated to WSF Conservation Initiatives. If the winner of this item refues to pay the premiums required, the item shall be offered to the next