Sheep are considered by many to be among the most regal of all game animals. One of the most important success stories in wild game management has been the recovery of our wild sheep populations. Return of Royalty: Wild Sheep of North America is a celebration of the return of wild sheep to many of its historical ranges. The unregulated hunting of the pioneer days and disease from the introduction of domestic livestock nearly decimated wild sheep populations in North America by the late nineteenth century. Within four decade's time, the all-time low of 9,000 bighorn sheep in 1960 has been replaced today by an impressive number of 70,000 sheep. This remarkable recovery has been documented in a new book by two widely-respected wildlife biologists (Drs. Dale E. Toweill and Valerius Geist) and provides fascinating accounts of the decline and recovery of North American wild sheep in every state or province where wild herds exist.
The authors have compiled a wealth of condensed information on wild sheep evolution, behavior and management, and a perspective on the importance of sheep to the lives of Native Americans and explorers. This book includes state-by-state accounts of each race of sheep; historic numbers; transplants and restoration efforts; and present day numbers and distribution. Each account offers current maps of distribution and includes photographs of wild sheep, and sheep habitat, for each state or province.
Toweill and Geist also provide their insights into wild sheep management for the future - identifying landmark projects such as the Hells Canyon Initiative, National Parks Wild Sheep Restoration effort, and new programs to "create" wild sheep habitat.
Although written by professional wildlife biologists, this book is nontechnical and is intended for a diverse audience of conservationists, photographers, sportsmen, and everyone who enjoys wild sheep. Famed wildlife artist Ken Carlson provided a painting of Rocky Mountain bighorns for the dust jacket, and his sketches of wild sheep are liberally scattered throughout the chapters.
Return of Royalty was published through a joint effort between the Boone and Crockett Club and the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep.
