The Wild Sheep Foundation had been authorized to auction a Desert Bighorn Sheep Permit for the 2008 hunting season. The highest winning auction bidder will have first choice of hunt dates. This hunt will take place in the Ejido Alfredo V. Bonfil, located inside the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. Outfitting, guiding, and all necessary permits to hunt will be included in the sale price of the permit. The hunt purchaser may be accompanied by one (1) non-hunting companion at no extra fee. The hunt will take place in an area from sea level to an altitude over 4,000 feet, utilizing 4 wheel drive vehicles, pack animals and hunting on foot. Excellent base camp accommodations will be provided. As an added bonus the Reserve also offers numerous cultural and historical sites and other areas of interest. An average of five permits are issued per year, with the average score of the trophies ranging from 159 points to 169 points. 36 of the 37 hunters since 1996 have been successful.
The two largest rams were taken in the past two years and scored over 175+ B&C in 2004 and last year 1 180+ B&C ram was taken. Every dollar raised for this program goes to improving sheep habitat or the lives of the people that live there. 190 Square miles of sheep habitat within the Reserve has been set aside for sheep hunting. Helicopters are used for sheep surveys to determine the appropriate harvest levels. The money from the sale of the permits has been used for building a base camp, to hire guides, cooks, wranglers and packers during the hunting season, permanent employees to keep the water holes clean and take on other projects to upgrade sheep habitats year round. Most of all the people who help are descendants from the original 143 landowners. These same people also receive funds directly from the hunting program, which they use to improve their lives and livelihoods as fishermen, ranchers or farmers. Buying this permit not only allows you the opportunity t o harvest a Trophy Desert Bighorn, but a chance to help an entire community and a way of life! Information on the Biosphere can be found at www.vizcaino.gov.mx . Contact Gray N. Thornton, WSF, 307-527-6261.
Rules Governing the Telephone Auction
PHONE IN AUCTON JUNE 26, 2008! 2:00 – 3:00 PM MDT
For your convenience, two toll-free phone-in numbers have been set aside for this Auction.
(800) 653-6297 and (888) 743-3711
- Telephone bidder will register name, address, phone number and method of payment with their initial phone bid on June 26, 2008.
- Minimum bid increases will be in $500 increments.
- The highest bidder at the closing of the phone-in auction will win the bid.
- By registering and participating in this phone-in auction, the bidder agrees to remit the winning bid, or make arrangements for remittance at the close of the auction.
For additional information concerning this phone-in auction, call Gray N. Thornton, WSF President/CEO
(307) 527-6261 or email: gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org
