PRESS
RELEASE
9-1-2002
TEXAS’ ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HUNT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DESERT BIGHORNS!!!
Texas
Parks and Wildlife announced that two permits to hunt the elusive desert bighorn
would be issued by limited entry drawing to some lucky Texas hunters this
year. This is the premier hunt in the “Public Land Hunting Drawings” which
this year features over 6000 hunts in 20 categories, ranging from alligators and
aoudads to oryx and whitetails! This drawing is indicative of the success of the
desert bighorn re-introduction program, which has returned this species from
extinction in the state about 1960, to a herd numbering over 500 animals today!
TBS has played an instrumental role in this recovery effort, and would like to
encourage all our members and hunting friends to put your name and $10.00 into
the hat for this chance of a lifetime hunt.
The application will be to hunt on the
Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area, but you will automatically be
entered for a second hunt to be held on a private ranch in the Beach Mountains.
These hunts are in addition to the permit being raffled off through the “Texas
Grand Slam” in which one lucky winner wins the right to hunt whitetail, mule
deer, pronghorn antelope, and of course desert bighorn, and are open to both
residents and non-residents alike. Three additional permits will be issued, with
two going to landowners in sheep range, and one being auctioned off at the
Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS), with proceeds returning to the
state to support sheep programs.
You can get all the information about
these drawings at any TP&W office, over the Internet by linking to their
website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us and
reviewing the public hunt drawings under the “Hunting” category, or by
calling 1-800-792-1112 (Menu 5, Selection 1). The deadline for the bighorn hunt
applications to reach TP&W’s Austin headquarters is October 10th
so don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to win the hunt of a lifetime,
and show your support for the bighorn program! Keep checking back here too, as
there is even more exciting news in the works with regard to hunting bighorns in
Texas coming soon!
David
Wetzel