The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police are appealing to the public for information regarding two separate incidents of bighorn sheep poaching. Non-governmental organizations are offering rewards ranging from $30,000 to $45,000 for information leading to a conviction in each case.
The first incident occurred east of Riggins in Idaho County, Idaho, where a poached bighorn sheep ram was discovered by a sportsman above Big Salmon Road near Partridge Creek. The ram was shot between Nov. 20-22, with no attempt made to recover the animal.
The second incident took place outside Asotin, in Asotin County, Wash., around Dec. 13. It involved the unlawful killing of a yearling bighorn ram, which was shot and left in the Peola Game Management Unit (GMU 178). Investigators believe the animal was shot in the middle of the night between Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.
Currently, authorities do not believe the two incidents are connected. IDFG urges anyone with information about these incidents to contact the Idaho Citizens Against Poaching hotline at (800) 632-5999 or the Idaho Fish and Game Clearwater Regional Office at (208) 799-5010. For information on the Asotin case, contact WDFW at 877-933-9847, email WDFW’s poaching tip email, or send a text tip to 847411. Tips can also be submitted online on WDFW’s website, and anonymity is assured.
Illegally killing a bighorn sheep in Washington is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 per violation. Additionally, a penalty of $4,000 per animal can be assessed upon conviction, doubling if the animal was shot with the aid of artificial light. Hunting privileges may also be suspended for up to two years.
Various groups and private citizens have contributed to a collective reward of over $60,000 for information leading to convictions in these cases. The Washington Wild Sheep Foundation, Hunter Nation, and the Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation are among those offering rewards, alongside private donations.
Bighorn sheep, the largest wild sheep in North America, are a priority species under WDFW’s Priority Habitat and Species Program. They require protective measures for survival due to their population status and sensitivity to habitat alteration. Bighorn sheep hunting in Washington is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, limited to permit-only hunting.
Historically, there were an estimated 1.5 to 2 million bighorn sheep in North America, but today fewer than 70,000 remain. Overhunting, habitat loss, and the spread of pneumonia from domestic sheep to wild herds led to their extirpation from Washington by the mid-1920s. Reintroduction efforts have restored the native sheep to Washington, but disease remains a threat to their long-term success.
WDFW Police are committed to protecting public safety and preserving fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities.