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Following the close of its most recent fiscal year, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) released its 10-year Mission Program Funding report, which shows over $70 Million directed by WSF to wild sheep conservation and management, hunting advocacy, public outreach, and education.
“We are certainly proud to be able to facilitate this level of funding for wild sheep in North America and internationally,” commented WSF President and CEO, Gray N. Thornton. “But to be honest, we just manage the books for sheep hunters, other wild sheep enthusiasts, our chapters and affiliates, and the good men and women we send this money to who do the work on the ground. They deserve a lot of the credit for this impressive level of giving and the conservation successes that have resulted.”
The report encompasses the Foundation’s fiscal years from 2015-16 to 2024-25. The funds are allocated to state, provincial, territorial, and tribal wildlife agencies to finance their wild sheep conservation programs. This includes habitat and water enhancements, research, and trap and transfers of wild sheep to establish new populations or enhance existing ones. Included are also Grant-in-Aid application requests that have been funded, as well as initiatives for wild sheep education and hunting advocacy. Additionally, it provides financial support to the Foundation’s industry and other conservation partners.
Bighorn sheep populations in North America hit their historical lows of 25,000 in the 1950s-60s and have since recovered to more than 85,000 today.
For its fiscal year 2024-25 alone, WSF directed a one-year record $11.5 Million to its Mission Programs. The majority of this money was raised at the Foundation’s annual Sheep Show® Convention and Expo held in Reno, NV.
“There are a lot of dedicated people responsible for this level of conservation funding, especially sportsmen,” Thornton added. “To all groups trying to paint them as the enemy to wildlife as their fund-raising strategy that invests nothing in wildlife conservation, I say, show me your books and I’ll show you ours.”
Further details can be found at this link.
The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), based in Bozeman, Mont., was founded in 1977 by sportsmen and other wild sheep conservationists. WSF is the premier advocate for wild sheep, having raised and expended more than $145 million, positively impacting these species through population and habitat enhancements, research and education, and conservation advocacy programs in North America, Europe, and Asia to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep On the Mountain”®. In North America, these and other efforts have increased bighorn sheep populations from historic lows in the 1950s-60s of 25,000 to more than 85,000 today. WSF has a membership of more than 11,000 worldwide. www.wildsheepfoundation.org
Media Contacts:
Keith R. Balfourd
406-404-8750