Thinhorn Mountain Sheep – Dunlevy and Schooler populations

The public is invited to comment on the proposed hunting regulation described below.

Status: Proposed

Region: 7B

Management unit (MU): 7-36

Regulation type: General Open Season

Species: Mountain Sheep

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

Thinhorn Mountain Sheep

7-36, 7-42, 7-43, 7-50 *7-51, 7-52, *7-54, 7-57

Full Curl Thinhorn Rams

Aug 1 - Oct 15

*Parts of MUs 7-51 and 7-54 (along the Alaska Hwy in Muncho Lake Park) is closed to Mtn Sheep hunting (see Map H30). Compulsory Inspection required.

Proposed regulation

Replace the General Open Seasons for full curl thinhorn ram mountain sheep in MU 7-36 with full curl thinhorn ram mountain sheep LEH.

Rationale

Thinhorn sheep in 7-36 are at the southernmost extent of their range within the province.  There are three mountain sheep herds in MU 7-36, the Dunlevy (east), Schooler (central), and Lower Ospika (West, and extends into MU 7-37). These herds experienced a dramatic decline in available habitat with the flooding of the Williston reservoir back in the 1960’s, having only limited connections with other adjacent population units and no known existing potential for immigration of new sheep.  In addition, the biogeographic features east and west of the Schooler Creek valley suggests the Schooler Creek drainage acts as a natural boundary between the Schooler and Dunlevy herds.  Movement data collected by the Wild Sheep Society of BC from collared Thinhorn sheep within the Dunlevy herd range and portions of the Schooler herd range indicates ewes do not move between the two distinct herds; however, rams have been observed to foray beyond the populations’ ranges. 

Currently, Thinhorn sheep harvest in BC is restricted to rams that are a minimum of 8 years old or that meet the definition of full curl by horn length.  Full Curl Thinhorn Rams in 7-36 are harvested through a general open season (GOS) from August 1 to October 15. 

Recent inventories of the Dunlevy Thinhorn sheep herd conducted between 2020, 2021 and 2022 have found fewer than 75 individuals in the last 3 aerial surveys (n = 50, 58, and 53, respectively).   

Recent inventories of portions of the Schooler Thinhorn sheep herd have produced incomplete results, however there are concerns that this population may not be sufficient to sustain a hunt. There have been no recent inventories of sheep in the lower Ospika herd, however given that this area is at the southern extent of thinhorn sheep range, and the habitat is not considered favourable for thinhorn sheep, it is expected that the populations are below 75. Government is committed to conducting a thorough inventory of these herds in the winter of 2024/2025.

Shifting these hunts to LEH is proposed at this time to ensure the licensed harvest rate is sustainable.

Additional information

Proposed sheep LEH zones for MU 7-36