Sheep Fever – Details, episodes & analysis

Acclaimed and award-winning journalist and author, hunter, and sheep hunter Craig Boddington had this to say about WSF Summit Life Member Jim Manley's first book:

"Tracks On A Mountain is one man's mountain hunting odyssey. Jim Manley and I have climbed some of the same mountains, enjoyed some of the same triumphs, suffered the same disappointments, and so often wondered why we are doing this to ourselves. Jim far exceeded my efforts in North America's mountains…Wish we'd shared some campfires on chilly mountain nights out, but through his book, we all can."

In this episode, Sheep Fever hosts Gray N. Thornton and Keith Balfourd sit down with Jim to talk about his inspiration for the book and the 12 hunts over six decades contained in it. Jim shares the how of his uncanny ability as a first-time author to bring the reader with him on the mountain, experience the climbs, taste the food, smell the smells, feel the burning legs and lungs, rejoice in the victories, as well as the anguish of the defeats. In his book Jim captures the essence of sheep hunting and the sheep fever infliction in spades - you'll see why when you listen to this episode.

To order Tracks On A Mountain go to www.tracksonamountain.com. Jim will be conducting book signing sessions at the 2025 WSF Sheep Show® convention January 16-18, 2025 in Reno.

Azyre Gear founder and accomplished sheep hunter Cari Goss' goal is to inspire and empower women to pursue their hunting and outdoors passions with confidence. A great deal of that confidence comes from functional clothing that fits, keeps one warm, and dry.  

For years Cari felt that the hunting apparel industry had overlooked women and that she and others had been left to wear apparel designed for men only later to be modified for women. She also feels that women have been often offered designs that don't reflect their true femininity. 

Rather than complaining about the status quo, she wanted to do something about it. It became clear to her that she needed to create apparel as capable as the women who would wear it. In 2016 Azyre Gear was born.

Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton visits with Cari on the inspiration for her brand, what makes Cari tick, and how her passion for sheep hunting helped launch her clothing line. Cari and Gray talk sheep and sheep hunting and what's next for Cari and her brand.

For more information on Azyre Gear and to order visit www.azyregear.com.

Preparation, readiness, and confidence are everything, especially on backcountry hunts. WSF recently became the title sponsor for the next three years of  Western Hunt Fest (WHF) events, and WSF's Women Hunt® program became the title sponsor of the women's division for the same period. WSF's Sheep Fever host Gray N. Thornton, and Women Hunt founder and chair Renée Thornton, visit with WHF co-owners Jeffrey DeVaul, Guy Duplantier, and Efren Gonzalez to discuss their motivations behind establishing this next-level archery shooting, fitness, and backpack challenge across Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada this summer, as well as what shooters can expect. Archery hunting readiness has rightfully become a year-round pursuit. Giving bowhunters specialized events tailored for the type of shots and conditions they will encounter in the field elevates this preparation beyond just shooting foam in the backyard. Plus, friendly competition with like-minded hunters adds an element of community while helping duplicate the stress of making the shot count.

2024 Events:

• April 13-14 Raton, NM
• May 4-5 Palisade, CO
• May 25-26 Reno, NV
• June 1-2 Colorado Springs, CO
• June 27 Championship Baily, CO

www.westernhuntfest.com

Rifles, cartridges, loads, and bullets–the tools of trade for hunters, competition, and recreational shooters–have advanced rapidly in the past ten years. Sheep Fever host Keith Balfourd sat down with Bozeman local John Snow, Shooting Editor for Outdoor Life, to talk shooting tech and the "Era of Marksmanship" we're experiencing today. Is Grandpa's -06 still a player? Are longer projectiles better at longer range, and what about external performance? What's with the 6.5 craze? Are military snipers or competition shooters behind what is arguably some of the best shooting tools we've ever had? They cover it all but should have booked two hours.

Since the inaugural WSF Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) in 2012, and with the addition of the Shooting, Hunting & Ethics Education Program (S.H.E.E.P.) in 2013, WSF has impacted the lives of more than 114,000 young men and women introducing them to the wonders of the outdoors. The life skills they have been taught and learned include archery, shooting, game calling, fly tying and casting, tracking, game identification, and conservation principles. The numerous WSF-hosted events led by WSF Youth Programs Director Dr. Ryan Brock now also include rock climbing, kayaking, and field hunting trips. 

In this episode, Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton visits with Dr. Brock on the genesis of the YWCE, its phenomenal growth under his leadership, the launch of S.H.E.E.P. and its reach and focus, Ryan's work launching a WSF-sponsored youth archery team, and new hunting programs currently in development.

You will be inspired by Dr. Brock's enthusiasm, drive, and relentless pursuit of youth outdoors education.

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.