Bighorn Sheep unit 620
Those applying for this unit should use extreme caution and have low expectations in terms of quality as 2023 could be the ending of what this unit was producing. For nearly a decade, unit 620 was silently one of the top sheep units anywhere. In 2022 there were signs of quality starting to slip and after 2023, 620 will be producing middle of the road quality at best.
In 2023 MFWP changed the quota in unit 620 from one to three. This unit is co-managed with the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and as of now, they are keeping their quota at one, but this could change. The Reservation also still has a permit outstanding that has not been filled. The last several years, both the state and reservation have each offered one permit. The increase that happened in 2023 is a drastic move sure to hinder the quality that we were accustomed to in 620. FWP should consider 620 as a place to trap and relocate sheep as increasing quotas is really going to take away from hunter experience and demolish any chances of older age class rams. These sheep are isolated to a smaller range on the south end of the Little Rockies, putting all tag holders in one area.
Along with the increase in quota, from 2019 to 2022, the governors tag was filled 3 out of the four years. So, in a four-year span, rather than four rams being harvested, there were seven. And after 2023, there will most likely be ten rams harvested, when normally there would have been five. This is a drastic measure of over harvesting the available mature rams and could take several years, if ever, to return to what it was. The Little Rockies was traditionally not an area that put out large caliber rams compared to the three other units, and we will talk later about why we think that is.
There is still a chance that not all the Rams were accounted for, as there is a lot of timber for them to go undetected during FWP’s herd counts. They are mainly counted in an area known as “the pits.” With the two recent fires in the last few years, the habitat has changed for the sheep a lot. Anyone that spends time looking at sheep in Eastern Montana, knows these burns create an absolute magnet for sheep. We saw this in unit 622 just a short time ago. Predation could also become more of an issue as deer numbers dropped and mountain lions can often be seen near sheep herds.
I do not blame FWP entirely, but the quota adjustment was a little bit of a knee jerk reaction and should have been discussed more before such a radical change took place. In years past, tag holders were able to harvest rams in the 180’s to upper 190’s + (for seven years to be exact). Please know that this will not be the case for those lucky enough to draw a Ram permit going forward.
To some the Little Rockies is a special place, and they would be more than happy to have a chance harvesting a Ram here. For those building a lifetime of points and wanting a chance to chase a mature Ram in Eastern Montana, I would consider elsewhere.