Sheep Fever

Unlike a traditional story where fathers, grandfathers, mothers, and grandmothers handed down generations of stories, hunting locations and secret spots, techniques, ethics, ethos, and even weapons, Blood Origins Founder Robbie Kröger's story is a little different. He had everything of the hunting life given to him, all but the personal experience of it. He was surrounded by the tools, the trophies, the stories, and even a letter from his grandfather telling him that the hunt was "In My Blood."

Born and raised in South Africa, conservation and hunting was in his blood, but access to it was a dream. Now a proud American and avid hunter and conservationist, and with a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Ole Miss, Robbie created Blood Origins, a global non-profit whose mission is to convey the truth about hunting and conservation to the non-hunting majority.

Sheep Fever Co-Host Gray N. Thornton visits with Robbie on his vision for Blood Origins, its messaging, its impact, and most important, how Blood Origins and Robbie's voice can move the needle to ensure our hunting heritage remains not only in our blood, but as a pursuit, passion, and privilege all can enjoy if we choose.

Conflicts over land use, conservation vs. preservation, sustainable use vs. protectionism, rural vs. urban values and politics, historical vs. contemporary knowledge, my science vs. your science, and even what constitutes an indigenous person are topics covered in this fast-paced conversation between award-winning filmmaker Tom Opre and Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton. Opre's latest film, The Last Keeper, dives into the history and lives of Game Keepers in the Scottish Highlands and the challenges they and other rural peoples face while attempting to live, work, and stay on a landscape their forefathers have lived for generations. While centered in Scotland, the conflict over lifestyle, values, and land use is being repeated across the globe as the human population exceeds 8 billion, and competition for land, water, wildlife, resources, and their use is debated and fought over. Whether on the Isle of Skye, the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana, the forests and mountains of British Columbia, or the wilds of the Yukon, the issues are the same. This podcast pulls no punches. Enjoy!

To view the trailer for The Last Keeper, click HERE.

Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton joins WSF Director Emilio Rangel, founder and co-owner of Rancho La Palmosa in Coahuila, Mexico, Dr. Sam Cunningham, Texas Bighorn Society President, Froylan Hernandez, Desert Bighorn Sheep Program Director with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and Jim Breck Bean of High West Outfitters to discuss aoudad as a big game animal, their value to Texas landowners, and their impact on the health and viability of desert bighorn sheep.

Aoudad were introduced into Texas from northwest Africa (Barbary sheep) in the late 1940s and have taken hold, increasing more than 1800% to more than 30,000 in Texas today. By contrast, desert bighorn sheep were extirpated from Texas in the 1960s, but through the cooperative efforts of private landowners, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and organizations such as Texas Bighorn Society and WSF, were restored, reaching a population high of 2,000 in the mid-2010s. Tragically, those 2,000 have been reduced to about 500-600 desert sheep in the Lone Star State today. A significant factor contributing to this decline has been competition for habitat with aoudad and pathogens such as M.ovi transmitted from them, causing all age die-offs.

This is a very complex issue with no simple answer. This esteemed panel discusses these challenges, opportunities, as well as possible solutions.

The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-1988 hunting season. The ban became nationwide in 1991. Over the concerns of lead fragments in gut piles and the non-recovered game being ingested by other wildlife, namely scavenging birds, some states now require non-lead ammunition for big game hunting, and pressure is being placed on the USFWS to make non-lead the norm on all National Wildlife Refuges. Chris Parish, President & CEO of The Peregrine Fund, Leland Brown, Non-Lead Hunting Education Coordinator with the Oregon Zoo, Paul Juergens, The Peregrine Fund VP of Conservation all with the Non-Lead Partnership, and WSF Lobbyist Charlie Booher join Sheep Fever co-hosts Gray Thornton and Keith Balfourd to speak on the issue of lead vs. non-lead big game hunting ammunition, proposed legislation regarding its use, what the science says, and the role sportsmen could play as this issue is brought to the fore.

Join Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton for a fascinating and educational conversation on wild sheep predation with four career wildlife biologists with a combined ~180 years of agency and NGO experience. Kevin Hurley, WSF Vice President of Conservation, Kurt Alt, WSF Conservation Director – International Programs, Tom Lohuis, Dall's Sheep Research Biologist, for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and Eric Rominger, (Retired) Bighorn Sheep Biologist, with New Mexico Department of Game & Fish have managed and studied a wide spectrum of ungulate species across multiple western states and Central Asia. These four biologists have focused on wild sheep for many decades, and share their perspectives on predator-prey dynamics, biological and social factors influencing wild sheep management, stakeholder expectations, and the multiple, complex, and often controversial factors involved in managing wild sheep in ecosystems with a full suite of mid- to large-sized carnivores, plus efficient aerial predators of wild sheep, particularly lambs.

From "top down" predation-driven systems to "bottom-up" vegetative communities, these seasoned wild sheep biologists offer at times diverse but fully interesting thoughts on the challenges of wild sheep/predator interactions.

Founded by Roy Weatherby in 1945, to say the company that bears his name is an iconic brand in the firearms industry would be a gross understatement. The Mark V Deluxe with super high gloss blued barrel, mated to the "strongest in the industry" 9-lug action, bedded into diamond patterned inlaid fine walnut Monte Carlo styled stock and pistol grip , has been for decades the epidemy of the gunmaker's art. Times have changed and so has Weatherby. Third generation leader of this fine brand, Adam Weatherby joins Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton to share the company's beginnings in South Gate, California to its current state-of-the-art factory and headquarters in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Adam shares his vision for the transformation of the brand and products which still include the Mark V Deluxe, to ultra-lightweight sheep rifles borne from titanium and carbon fiber, new Weatherby magnum and non-magnum calibers, the new Model 307 700 action-based platform named for Wyoming statewide area code, and an expanded line of sporting and field shotguns. Adam uses what he makes and sells testing new products and calibers from the first game animal with the then new 6.5 x 300 Weatherby, his Dall's sheep in NWT, to his Oregon bighorn also with the 6.5x300, to his third wild sheep, a Fannin taken with the Weatherby WSF Thinhorn Edition in 6.5 RPM.

Adam is donating the Thinhorn Edition he used in the Yukon and Brenda Weatherby's WSF Bighorn edition used in a Montana's Unlimited unit for auction at the upcoming Sheep Show® to complement their Presenting Sponsorship of WSF and our convention.

The Sheep Show® is without a doubt the Ferrari of mountain game hunting and conservation expos. Sheep Fever co-hosts Gray Thornton and Keith Balfourd sit down with Team WSF – the staff of the foundation to share what's lined up and what is new for the January 18-20, 2024 convention in Reno. A dozen sheep hunts to be given away, many, many more on auction as well as $3 million in hunts, trips, gear, art, and other offerings of all genre. $95,000 in auction and/or floor credits to win! The best-in-class banquets, live entertainment, raffles, seminars, the Full Curl Cinema, Camp Chef Culinary Corner, a Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience and the finest guides, outfitters, and equipment purveyors from around the world. There is something for everyone at the Sheep Show®! Come for the Sheep, Stay for the Party™!

December 6th is the last day for Early Bird Registration discount. Don't delay, register for the Sheep Show® today!

Within the hunter-conservationist and outdoor writing, film, and television communities, Jim Shockey needs no introduction. Now an internationally best-selling novelist, Jim visits with Sheep Fever host Keith Balfourd and WSF's Development Manager, Paige Culver, to discuss his new book, Call Me Hunter.

His debut novel has only been out a month to rave reviews. As a member of the Wild Sheep Family and an advocate for conservation and hunting, we wanted to learn more about his motivations for this novel, which we learned he had been planning for most of his life. Published by Simon & Schuster, Call Me Hunter is fast-tracking up the bestseller list. In this episode, Jim graciously shares far more about his book and life's travels than we bargained for, which is very much like the book itself: a surprise and great read.

There was a time when hunting was only found within a circle of those who participated in this traditional outdoor pastime and lifestyle. No longer. Hunting is now available to anyone with a television, computer, or cell phone through videos, films, and social reels.

While some have celebrated hunting's "coming out party," others had concerns. Would these public mediums represent hunting and the killing of wildlife in the proper light and context? Would the non-hunting public, now with total access, understand what they were seeing and remain supportive? Ultimately, this would be up to the television networks, individual producers of these shows, videos, and films, who was showing them and where, and what was been shown and not shown.

On the heels of a new Films & Video Standards Policy passed by WSF's Board of Directors, this episode of Sheep Fever peels back the curtain on the topic of what has been gained by hunting going mainstream media, what are the ramifications, what's appropriate where, and who should decide.

The Wild Sheep Foundation fall 2023 Director Elections begin October 15th and conclude December 15th. Per WSF Bylaws every WSF member in good standing as of September 15, 2023 has been sent a ballot and biographies for the seven director candidates running for four WSF Board of Director positions for the May 1, 2024 through April 31, 2027 three-year term.

The seven candidates running include (in alpha order by last name with start times) are: 1. Clint Bentley 00.01.58 Nevada, USA 2. Sam Cunningham 00.09.55 Texas, USA 3. Larry Jacobs 00.22.16 Oregon, USA 4. Rob Kopecky 00.32.29 Alberta, Canada 5. Emilio Rangel 00.42.07 Nuevo Leon, Mexico 6. Kyle Stelter 00.52.49 British Columbia, Canada 7. Frank Turner 01.01.51 Alberta, Canada

We hope this bonus podcast helps WSF members make informed decisions and help encourages members to exercise your right to vote in the election to determine WSF's leadership.