Although the overall harvest rate in relation to population size is
relatively low, some areas near communities can be subject to heavy localized
hunting. This is a management concern because Dall’s sheep tend to remain
within the same mountain block from one generation to the next. This reluctance
to move means that sheep are very slow to re-colonize areas where numbers have
been reduced.
In the land claim settlement area of the Sahtu Dene and Metis, biologists
with the GNWT and the region's wildlife management board have established four
study areas to do long-term annual population monitoring of Dall's sheep. The
research is done by hunters from three communities who have been trained in
sheep research and data recording by biologists and conservation officers.
Hunters were trained in 1997 and data collection began in June/July 1998.
The most important
requirement for the future is habitat protection.
Critical habitat such as winter range, lambing areas, and mineral licks
needs to be identified and protected. With
careful management, Dall's sheep in the Northwest Territories will thrive and
continue to provide opportunities for hunting, recreation and study.
