California Fish and Game Commission propose new Bighorn Sheep hunting areas and tag availability

The California Fish and Game Commission are proposing some changes to bighorn sheep hunting regulations. 

The Commission says they periodically consider recommendations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to amend bighorn sheep hunting regulations. Those considerations include recommendations for adjusting tag quotas, setting hunt periods, modifying area boundaries, and authorizing take methods to help manage the desert bighorn sheep population.

Individuals can legally hunt bighorn sheep by acquiring a tag through the CDFW’s Big Game Drawing. These tags are released in limited fashion along with bighorn sheep tags that are auctioned off for fundraising purposes.

The hunting of a bighorn sheep is authorized for an individual with a tag for a specific hunt zone and season. Tag quotas are established based on a variety of factors including density, abundance, and distribution of bighorn sheep populations.

Some of the proposed changes include adding three new hunting areas in San Bernardino County for bighorn sheep: the Granite and North Bristol Mountains, Providence, Woods, and Hackberry Mountains, and Castle Mountains and Piute Range. The season for all three zones would match the other zones in the area starting the first Saturday in December and extending through the first Sunday in February. 

There will also be an increase in available tags as well.

As always, public comment is being sought by the Fish and Game Commission, and they are requesting them before April 2nd.

You can read all about it and add your comments at this link.