Cody, Wyoming, USA.
April 16, 2014
With nearly 70 of the best and brightest convening last week in Richmond, British Columbia, an action plan for Dall’s and Stone’s sheep in Alaska, northern British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon Territory was crafted by attendees at the first-ever, multi-jurisdictional Thinhorn Sheep Summit.
“With inspiration provided by WSF Past-Chairman and current WSF Conservation Committee Chair Jack Atcheson, Jr. of Butte, MT, combined with organization led by WSF Conservation Director Kevin Hurley, the Wild Sheep Foundation hit a home run last week,” Marc Hansen, WSF Chairman, stated.
WSF brought agency managers, outfitters, resident sportsmen and women, First Nations representatives, businesses, and other interested stakeholders together to focus on the current status and management of Dall’s and Stone’s sheep, as well as to identify and prioritize ecological and human-footprint challenges faced by thinhorn sheep. Also closely examined were long-term harvest data sets and hunter opportunity and allocation policies in those jurisdictions. “We came away from this two-day summit with just what we were after, defined and prioritized action items, timelines, work assignments, and identified deliverables,” added Hansen.
Priority topics identified included the need for comprehensive management plans for thinhorn sheep in Alaska, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and the Yukon Territory, including holistic predator management; heightened awareness and need for action on potential risks of disease transmission from domestic sheep and goats to previously-unexposed thinhorn sheep; and the need for closer analysis and management of disturbance impacts to thinhorn sheep from ATVs, OHVs, and helicopter activity.
“Attendees came well-prepared, and very diligently engaged in large-group and breakout session discussions,” stated WSF Conservation Director Kevin Hurley. “It was impressive and gratifying to see the depth of knowledge, level of commitment, and enthusiasm shown by Thinhorn Summit attendees,” added Hurley.
“More than two dozen individuals, organizations, and corporations generously contributed funds to help sponsor this Thinhorn Summit,” noted WSF President & CEO Gray N. Thornton. “To us, that shows the importance of Dall’s and Stone’s sheep to many diverse stakeholders, throughout the Great North, and beyond; we thank those donors,” added Thornton."
Credit goes to two people in particular: WSF Past Chairman Jack Atcheson, who thought of the idea, and WSF Conservation Director Kevin Hurley, who organized it.
WSF is ROCKIN'!
