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Welcome to the Wild Sheep Foundation

Since 1977, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) has led the charge in restoring North America’s wild sheep populations from historic lows in the mid-20th century to today’s thriving populations. Powered by member support and proceeds from its annual Sheep Show®, WSF and its Chapters and Affiliates have invested over $145 million in conservation and management actions that include trap and translocations to establish new populations or enhance existing ones, habitat restoration, research and disease mitigation. Thanks to these efforts, wild sheep numbers have more than tripled, creating one of wildlife’s most remarkable conservation success stories. With over 11,000 members worldwide, WSF continues its purpose “To Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain”—and the work is far from over.

Our Latest Features

Beyond the Ridge

More than the headlines and daily updates, this is where the deeper stories live. 

WSF Features Articles!

America Already Has a Sustainable Meat Source We’re Just Not Talking About It
America Already Has a Sustainable Meat Source. We’re Just Not Talking About It.
Regulated big-game hunting produces roughly 520 million pounds of edible wild meat—or 1.4 billion meals—each year in the United States. Yet its contribution to food security, nutrition, and sustainable food production is largely missing from the national conversation.
The Wildlife Economy How Hunters Helped Build Modern Conservation
The Wildlife Economy: How Hunters Helped Build Modern Conservation
For generations, hunters have invested in wildlife. The result is a wildlife economy that funds science, restores habitat, rebuilds populations, and helps keep wild places—and wild sheep—on the landscape.
How Do You Prepare for High-Elevation Hunting
How Do You Prepare for High-Elevation Hunting?
High-elevation hunting. To the uninitiated, it might sound postcard-perfect, but for those who've tasted the raw, unfiltered reality of a mountain hunt without adequate prep, it's a stark reminder of a brutal showdown with Mother Nature herself.
What Food Should You Eat At High Elevation
What Food Should You Eat At High Elevation?
In the mountains, your body needs fuel that works just as hard as you do. When your pack weighs as much as your ambition, carrying all the sustenance for the journey, nutrition can’t be an afterthought.
Stone’s Sheep Mysteries
Stone’s Sheep Mysteries
Researching Habitat, Nutrition, and the Future of a Northern icon.
Wild Sheep Partnership for Central Asia
Wild Sheep Partnership for Central Asia
In 2025the Wild Sheep Partnership for Central Asia (WISPA-CA) was establish. An international regional network focused on the study, monitoring, and conservation of wild sheep populations across Central Asia.
A Right as Old as America
A Right as Old as America
Two hundred fifty years after America’s founding generation wrote hunting and fishing into the laws of a new nation, Colorado voters, and perhaps soon Oregon, are confronting those questions again.
Roadless Rule Rescission
Roadless Rule Rescission
Wildfire, forest management, public access, wildlife habitat and the future of millions of acres of public land have all become part of the discussion as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers rescinding a rule that has been in place for 25 years.
50 Facts of Wild Sheep
50 Facts of Wild Sheep
As the Wild Sheep Foundation prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, a new youth learning station will be introduced at the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) during the upcoming Sheep Show in Reno.
From Learning to Shoot to Learning to Hunt Parker Moton’s S.H.E.E.P Journey
From Learning to Shoot to Learning to Hunt: Parker Moton’s S.H.E.E.P. Journey
A simple opportunity to learn archery at his elementary school would eventually set him on a path that, four years later, would lead to his first successful big-game hunt.
AI Wildlife Bogus Stories and Big Lies in Bighorn Country
AI Wildlife: Bogus Stories and Big Lies in Bighorn Country
An investigation into the rise of fake wildlife content.
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End of Year Fundraising campaign with Bass Pro Shop

Your gift today goes twice as far for wild sheep. Our longtime conservation partner, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is leading the way with $150,000.
Help us match their generosity with another $150,000 for wild sheep.

Donate Today

Chadwick Ram Society Webinar Series Promotion

Range Day

Register now for Sheep Show 2027

Fifty Years in the Making—and the Celebration is Finally Here

 Registration for the 50th Anniversary Sheep Show is now open!

Planning for this milestone celebration began long before the 2026 Sheep Show, and we’re continuing to add special experiences and memorable touches worthy of our 50th anniversary/ This will be a Sheep Show unlike any other, and you won’t want to miss it.

Don’t wait—register today to secure your place, and we’ll see you in Reno as we celebrate 50 years of wild sheep conservation and the Wild Sheep Family together!

REGISTER NOW!

Your Next Epic Adventure with TWO Tags in Your Saddlebag!

Your Next Epic Adventure with TWO Tags in Your Saddlebag!

Hunt Mountain Caribou and Grizzly in the spectacular Yukon backcountry with Tombstone Outfitters.

WSF and Tombstone have teamed up to offer an amazing horseback adventure in some of the wildest and gamiest country in North America.

This is a 10-day, 1-on-1 fully guided horseback hunt in the Yukon for August 20 – 31, 2027. Value: $45,000 USD.

Buy Your Tickets Now!

The Latest News

Bringing Wild Sheep into the Classroom

Impact

From examining real bighorn sheep skulls to analyzing wildlife population data, the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Teacher Check-Out Kits give students a hands-on introduction to wild sheep biology and conservation. With hundreds of students reached and more classrooms participating, the program is helping inspire the next generation of wildlife stewards.

Read more...
Steve Rinella on Wild Sheep

Wild sheep embody the rugged landscapes they call home—and the enduring human desire to explore, challenge ourselves, and protect wild places. MeatEater, Steve Rinella reflects on their historic decline, the promise of recovery, and the Wild Sheep Foundation’s commitment to ensuring future generations inherit more sheep on more mountains. 

What We Do

The Wild Sheep Foundation has many programs that all work toward our mission. See below for details.

Wild sheep being released from research capture

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

The Wild Sheep Foundation’s purpose is “To Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain.” One of the ways we accomplish this is to raise funds and direct this money to state, provincial, territorial, and tribal/first nation wildlife agencies to help finance their wild sheep conservation and management programs.

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Youth attending the Sheep Show Expo in front a taxidermy display

YOUTH PROGRAMS

WSF engages future conservationists through its year-round S.H.E.E.P. program and the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience. These initiatives provide hands-on learning in wildlife, habitat, outdoor skills, and conservation, reaching youth nationwide and at the annual Sheep Show in Reno, inspiring the next generation of outdoor stewards.

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Woman learning how to shoot a rifle

WOMEN HUNT

Our Women Hunt program trains, mentors, and empowers women in hunting and conservation, fostering ethics, skills, and community. Through education, connection, and the Rubye Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund, it promotes healing, strength, and giving back, grounded in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

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bighorn in the badlands with the US capitol building in the background

ADVOCACY

WSF advocates for policies that protect wild sheep, habitat, and hunting heritage. Focus areas include disease prevention, public land access, habitat improvement, migration corridor protection, conservation funding, and collaborative management with agencies and tribes, ensuring North America’s hunting and conservation traditions endure.

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Mission Program Funding

During the twelve months of July 2025 to June 2026, WSF funded $11.704 Million in Mission Program Funding.

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State, Provincial, and Tribal Agency Conservation Funding
$6,951,043

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Habitat Restoration, Separation, Transplants, Management Plans and Research
$2,311,544

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Dedicated Auctions for GIA Funding
$546,150

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Education, Advocacy and Other
$1,250,337

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Industry Support
$270,783

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International Conservation
$374,424

This is the third year in a row of $11+ Million in MPF and eighth consecutive year of $6+ Million MPF.

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