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States relocate bighorn sheep, antelope to Southern Idaho

Fish and wildlife agency workers from Arizona, Idaho and Nevada handle some of the 500 antelope captured in Utah in December during one of the biggest round-up and relocation projects ever completed by wildlife agencies. (Photo courtesy of Idaho Fish and Game Department / The Spokesman-Review)
Rich Landers Outdoors editor
Fish and wildlife agency workers from Arizona, Idaho and Nevada handle some of the 500 antelope captured in Utah in December during one of the biggest round-up and relocation projects ever completed by wildlife agencies. (Photo courtesy of Idaho Fish and Game Department / The Spokesman-Review)

Southern Idaho, and wildlife lovers who visit there, received a Christmas gift last month from Oregon, Nevada and Utah — 35 bighorn sheep and about 200 antelope.

Idaho Fish and Game Department staff released 15 bighorns from Oregon and 20 from Nevada into the Independence Peak area of the state’s Magic Valley region. These animals will bolster the 13 bighorns released in the area in 2003.

These bighorn sheep, combined with sheep transplanted in the Jim Sage Mountains in 2000 and 2001, have brought the area’s wild sheep numbers to about 80, said Randy Smith, Fish and Game’s regional big game manager.

The herd could produce enough rams for a few hunting permits by 2006, he said.

One of the West’s biggest antelope capture and relocation operations has brought 200 Utah pronghorns to Idaho.

The capture involved wildlife agency employees from Arizona and Nevada as well as Idaho and Utah in a two-day roundup that captured more than 500 antelope. Idaho’s share went to Boise, Pocatello and Idaho Falls areas.

“This was a rare opportunity,” Idaho state big-game manager Brad Compton said, noting that Utah surveys found a huge surplus of antelope in one region.

“We have areas in the state where the antelope populations are relatively low. While transplanting the antelope will not magically increase these populations, we wanted to take full advantage of this one-time opportunity.”