TEXAS BIGHORN SOCIETY
ESTABLISHED 1981

 Accomplishments
Projects and Activities, 1983-2003

     Following is a partial list of contributions made by TBS and it's membership to the Desert Bighorn Sheep restoration efforts in Texas.  These projects reflect our on-going commitment to returning bighorns to the people of Texas.  You can become part of this success story by joining our organization and getting involved with the efforts that have helped put nearly 500 sheep in the mountains of West Texas today!

• May 1983          Cave shelters built for the brood pastures in Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area.  
  

• June 1983          Sierra Diablo brood pens completed. 
    

• July 1983          Transplanted 15 sheep from Nevada to the brood facility. 
  

• August 1983     Transplanted 10 sheep donated by Arizona to the brood        
                            facility.
  

• 1983                  Attempted an embryo transplant to domestic sheep using embryos from
                            "BIG MAMA".    
  

• January 1984   TBS member Bill Leach purchased a Utah sheep permit for $40,000 at the
                            FNAWS Convention.  Instead of harvesting a ram, Bill captured one and
                            donated it to the Texas Restoration Program.  This inspired the Governor
                            of Utah to donate an additional ram to Texas.   
  

• 1985                  Installed a water guzzler and water lines for the sheep at Dr. Glaze's
                            veterinary facility, Mr. C.G. Johnson, a TBS member, donated the 23,000 acre
                            Elephant Mountain Ranch to the State of Texas to be used primarily for
                            wild sheep propagation. 
  

• 1986                  25 sheep from the Sierra Diablo brood facility are transplanted to the
                            Elephant Mountain Ranch.
  
                            Hosted a meeting of experts to discuss the upper respiratory problem at the     
                            Sierra Diablo pens. 
  
                            TBS member Pat Latham carves a door depicting the Chadwick Ram and
                            donated it to be used as the front door of FNAWS Headquarters in Cody,
                            WY.  
  
                             TBS member Doc Thurston purchased the first Texas sheep
                             hunting permit since 1903 at the Nashville FNAWS Convention for
                             $60,000.  This money funded the transfer of sheep captured in Nevada to
                             the Van Horn Mountains and to the Baylor Mountains.  25 Nevada sheep
                             were transplanted to the Van Horn Mountains on the Lado Ranch.
   

• 1988                   Watering hole put in at Molcajete Springs, Elephant Mountain.  Water
                             guzzler installed on top of High Lonesome Peak on Lado Ranch.  This
                             project was funded through sale of a fishing trip donated by TBS member
                             Carlos Sanchez.  TBS member Paul Webster donated $2,500 to TBS for
                             the funding of a study of desert bighorns.
  
                              Paid $1,001.50 of water trough pipe expense.
  
                              Donated 20 solar powered radio collars to TP&W.
  

• 1989                    Installed a water storage tank on the McAdoo Ranch. 
  

• March 1990        Built a horse and mule trail on Elephant Mountain. 
  
                              Funded a study by Dr. Swank on long range plans  for the desert
                              bighorn sheep program in Texas.
  
                              Co-hosted a round table in Van Horn, Texas, focusing on Bighorn sheep.
  

• December 1990  First ram harvested out of Sierra Diablo W.M.A. by David Abbey of
                              Dallas.
  
                              Installed a water guzzler on Beach Mountain.
  
                              Assisted in the release of 27 sheep at Black Gap W.M.A.
  
                              Funded the furnishings for the Dick Travis Room at the Elephant
                              Mountain TP&W facility.
  

• March 1990        Installed two water guzzlers at Black Gap W.M.A.  "Texana" mascot
                              refurbished.  He's a native Texas bighorn sheep given to TBS by Col.
                              Snow, one of Texas' first game wardens.
  

• March 1992        Installed two water guzzlers at Victorrio Canyon, the principle contributor
                              being TBS member David Terk.
  

• March 1994        Installed two more water guzzlers at Victorrio Canyon with the
                              sponsorship of Pat Auld, Joe Bishop, Marc and Mary Barrett.
  

• October 1994     20 sheep transplanted from Nevada to the Black Gap W.M.A.
  

• March 1995       Installed two water guzzlers at Black Gap with funds provided by Alice
                             and Gerald Sutherland.
  

• March 1996       Built two slick rock guzzlers and one crash shack at Black Gap W.M.A.
  

• March 1997       Built a slick rock guzzler and rebuilt Molcajete Springs at Elephant
                             Mountain.  Erected two water guzzlers in the Del Nortes Mountains.  This 
                             was sponsored by the Water for Wildlife Foundation of Lander, WY and 
                             TBS.
  

• March 1998       Built two slick rock guzzlers and one apron guzzler at Black Gap W.M.A.
  

• March 1999       Built 3 guzzlers (2 slick rock and 1 conventional) at Black Gap W.M.A.
  

• March 2000       Built 3 slick rock guzzlers at Beach Mountain Ranch.
  
                             Built 2 slick rock guzzlers at Baylor Mountain Ranch.
  
                             Built 1 slick rock guzzler at Sierra Diablo Ranch.
  

• May 2001          Sponsored an interpretive exhibit in the Ft. Worth Zoos' "Texas Wild"
                             and donated 3 bronze statues of desert bighorn sheep.
  

• March 2001       Built 2 conventional guzzlers on private ranches in Victorrio Canyon
                             in the Sierra Diablo Mountains.

• Sept. 2001         Installed a web camera at a guzzler north of Big Bend.

• April 2002         Repaired guzzlers and replaced drinkers in the Sierra Diablo Mountains and 
                            replaced the web cam drinker.
  

• August 2002     Purchased a fuel trailer and donated it to TP&W for use in flying their annual bighorn                  
                            surveys and  during our work projects, allowing better useage of expensive helicopter time.
  

• March 2003     Replaced tanks, drinkers, hoses, and cleared brush at 9 guzzler locations on the Black Gap WMA.
  

• June 2003        Auctioned off the first ever TBS Desert Bighorn permit for a state record $102,000.00 to Mr.      
                           Glen Thurman of Mesquite, TX. 

   The Texas Bighorn Society is actively involved with Texas Parks and Wildlife, and private landowners, in this on-going success story. But we need your help! Please consider joining us in these efforts by clicking on the "Membership" link below, and adding your name to the list at our next work project.

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