Bighorn Sheep

Thanks for answering my question about one hunter shooting once and finding two dead rams. What was the IDF&G statement about that?
Answer: 
Here is the Fish and Game statement: INFORMATION REGARDING SHOOTING OF TWO BIGHORN RAMS BY ONE HUNTER IN UNIT 11 IDFG issued two bighorn sheep tags in Unit 11 in 2014.  On October 6, 2014, in the South Fork of Captain John Creek drainage near Craig Mountain, one of these hunters shot two rams.  The licensed guide who was with the hunter immediately reported the incident from the field to Idaho Fish and Game.  By cell phone a conservation officer advised them what to do at the scene. Two Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers went to the scene the next day to look at the evidence and interviewed those involved, the hunter, guide, and a second guide who had been scoping the sheep. The hunter and guide said they had initially observed one ram for about 40 minutes, with the hunter choosing not to shoot this animal.  A second ram appeared, and the hunter took a shot at approximately 130 yards.  That ram did not react to the shot.  The hunter paused, received advice from the guide, and took a second shot.  The other ram bolted and was hit, dropping to the ground right away.   The hunter fired a total of two shots, each hitting one ram.  The first ram that was shot did not react until after the second ram had dropped to the ground.  The officers found two empty casings at the scene.  In the ram that did not initially react to the shot, the bullet barely clipped the back of one lung, passed through the diaphragm, and lodged between the skin and ribs.  Although the officers did not locate the other bullet, the second ram’s wounds indicated it was shot through both lungs.  Fish and Game reviewed the matter with the county prosecutor’s office.  Based on the apparent accidental nature of the circumstances and the bolting of the second ram, the prosecutor declined to file criminal charges.  Fish and Game enforcement officials agree with this decision.  Following the prosecutor’s decision, Fish and Game issued a formal warning on November 13 to the hunter regarding the killing of the second ram.  Fish and Game will also use this incident to remind other hunters to be careful in confirming their targets, and exercising caution when multiple animals are in an area. The hunter placed his tag on the first ram shot, and the law allows him to keep the animal.  Fish and Game will use the second ram for hunter education purposes.  The two rams were distinct in color, with horns similar in size.  Fish and Game green scored the second ram at 170 3/8.   Under Idaho Fish and Game laws, reimbursement payments to the state for loss of trophy and big game animals are tied to criminal convictions and proceedings.  Fish and Game has kept the second ram but will not receive payment from the hunter in conjunction with issuing a warning. It’s understandable for anyone who cares about bighorn conservation and has dreamed of this hunting opportunity, as many of us have, to be upset by the loss of the second ram.  Everyone involved with the incident and investigation is troubled by this loss.  We realize people may disagree with the decision not to proceed with criminal charges, and this decision was not made lightly.   Unit 11 is a high-quality, trophy unit for bighorns.  In early December the Department will conduct a regularly scheduled ground count of sheep in Unit 11 for herd numbers and composition.  Fish and Game will use this information to make recommendations for the 2015 Unit 11 tag allocation that the commission will approve this winter.  
Answered on: 
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 - 3:15 PM MST