In the mid-1950s, bighorn sheep were pretty much all gone but since, efforts to restore the majestic animal in the mountainous and difficult terrain of west Texas have proven quite successful.
Officials there claim a conservative estimate of over 800 sheep roam that area. Those same officials unofficially say there could be as many as 1,000.
This year a dozen hunting permits have been issued to hunt sheep on private land. Permits issued to private land owners often times are sold to raise money to provide for better sheep habitat. One such rancher who owns 32,000 acres in far west Texas, just sold one of his permits for $60,000. He will use the money to pay for 80 miles of water pipe that in turn will be used to provide better sheep habitat.
You can read much more about the efforts to restore the bighorn sheep in this article in the Houston Chronicle.
Tom Remington
