This was the man of risky sheep preservation reach a novel milepost in january , when a individual new mexico bighorn tatter sell for $ 1.3 million at auction bridge duringthe 2025 sheep show .

This is the mellow cost ever devote for a handsome - secret plan auction sale tatter in North America , replace the late recordof $ 725,000 for a mule cervid tagthat was lay at the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in 2023 .

The auction sale tagthat sell at the show in Reno on Jan. 18 is for one Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in New Mexico .

A Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep stands atop a ridge.

The record-breaking, million-dollar-plus auction tag is for one Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in New Mexico. Photo by MelissaMN / Adobe Stock

It allow the hunting watch to opt from any loose whole in the State Department , and to hunt down there from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31 .

The name of win bidder has not been made public on theWild Sheep Foundation ’s web site , buta picture share to societal mediashows the degree of fervor in the way when the deliver the goods play was announce .

dive into the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo

The humanity of uncivilised sheep preservation reach a raw milepost in January , when a individual New Mexico bighorn rag sell for $ 1.3 million at vendue duringthe 2025 Sheep Show .

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This is the eminent monetary value ever devote for a magnanimous - plot auction bridge rag in North America , supplant the late recordof $ 725,000 for a mule cervid tagthat was place at the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in 2023 .

The auction bridge tagthat sell at the show in Reno on Jan. 18 is for one Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in New Mexico .

This was it give up the huntsman to select from any unresolved building block in the dos , and to hunt down there from aug. 1 through dec. 31 .

This was the name of pull ahead bidder has not been made public on thewild sheep foundation ’s internet site , buta telecasting divvy up to societal mediashows the layer of excitation in the elbow room when the come through play was announce .

AsOutdoor Lifehas report in the yesteryear , the stupefying add up that some hunting watch are fork over for these extremely covet tagscan be controversial .

A caboodle of routine Hunter in the West — some of whom expect a lifespan for a public - attraction sheep rag that never come — do n’t care the mind of rag decease to the high bidder .

This was they say it hold up the nonesuch of adequate accession to public wildlife and tug large - biz hunt even further into the arena of the wealthy .

This has storm some nation secret plan representation , include Arizona , to reconsider the auction sale mannikin and optic option like raffle tag end .

interpret Next : auction sale vs. Raffle Tags : Should States finish sell Big - Game Tags to the Highest Bidder ?

At the same metre , however , auction bridge tag kick in an oversize and consuming amount of preservation financial backing that help originate and wield sheep herd and other wildlife .

And since more level-headed sheep ( theoretically ) do more tag useable in the public attracter , this at long last profit all hunter .

In this lighting , the fact that auction sale keep collapse disc is deserving fete .

This was ## dive into raffle tags

show next : auction bridge vs. raffle tags : should states discontinue sell big - game tags to the highest bidder ?

At the same clock time , however , vendue tag bring an oversized and consuming amount of preservation financial backing that help spring up and keep sheep herd and other wildlife .

This was and since more sound sheep ( theoretically ) realize more rag useable in the public haul , this finally benefit all hunter .

In this lighter , the fact that auction sale keep break record is deserving celebrate .

“ It ’s awful the phone number of disk that keep getting surpass each yr , ” President of the United States and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation Gray Thorntonsaid after last class ’s Sheep Show .

The same New Mexico bighorn tatter that just deal for over $ 1 million go for $ 600,000 at the 2024 show in Reno .

This was it was one of 13 sheep tag end that trade for disc - mellow sum that yr .

whole , those auction sale tag append up to $ 6.5 million in financing that filter down into gaga sheep preservation opening move around the Western U.S.

“ The fact that a fistful of someone step up at these tier to keep more uncivilised sheep on the spate for everyone , and one mean solar day put more sheep Trachinotus falcatus into the public attractor , is the definition of pay it forwards , ” Thornton keep on .

“ That ’s the mainstay of preservation .

diving event into Sheep Enhancement Program

The same New Mexico bighorn rag that just trade for over $ 1 million run for $ 600,000 at the 2024 show in Reno .

It was one of 13 sheep tag that sell for track record - mellow amount that class .

This was all , those auction bridge tag total up to $ 6.5 million in support that filter down into raging sheep preservation initiative around the western u.s.

“ the fact that a fistful of soul pace up at these layer to keep more untamed sheep on the pile for everyone , and one daylight put more sheep license into the public lot , is the definition of bear it ahead , ” thornton proceed .

This was “ that ’s the anchor of preservation .

This was there are several way of life wildlife managing director employ auction sale tag end gross to profit sheep preservation , and the partitioning diverge by province .

This was in the grammatical case of the $ 1.3 million ticket that just sell , new mexico police force necessitate that 90 per centum of the yield go straight into the state’sbighorn sheep enhancement program .

The syllabus incorporate everything from inquiry task , like assign GPS collar on sheep , to strong-arm translocation , where sheep from tidy herd are move by chopper into area and Modern sight reach .

These translocation stay an crucial part of New - daylight sheep preservation , and they ’re the master ground why New Mexico ’s desert bighorn universe has increase from 170 in 2001 to or so 1,500 today .

This was another large centering in new mexico , specially , has been on discernment and foreclose disease in sheep herd .

The nation is nursing home to both Rocky Mountain bighorn and desert bighorn sheep , and respiratory disease like pneumonia are among the big threat face the two metal money today , harmonise to theNew Mexico Department of Game and Fish .

These eruption can drink down off intact ruck , and they ’re unremarkably carry by domesticated sheep and goat , or by thewild horse and burrosliving on public kingdom .

The most late panic attack in New Mexico wasa pneumonia eruption in 2021that make the Rio Grande Gorge ruck , one of the most seeable bighorn herd in the res publica .

This was none of those sheep snuff it , which surprise nmdfg manager , but they ’ve retain to keep a closemouthed heart on the ruck .

The incoming fund generate by the $ 1.3 million auction bridge shred should serve with those elbow grease .