Carmen Island is located in the Sea of Cortez in Baja California and has no predators. As a result, the desert bighorn herd is doing extremely well and is used to reintroduce bighorns to the main Baja peninsula. There was only one source of fresh water on the island until RMBS and others donated funds to install a solar pump and distribution system for fresh water to other parts of the island. RMBS donated $6,000 toward this project.

$1,000 was donated to a GIS mapping project to gather information on all bighorn sheep transplants in the western United States. This information will be transferred to origin and delivery maps, which will help tremendously in documenting the history of all bighorn herds in the West.

$10,000 was awarded to the United States Forest Service to assist with a 140-acre burn in Chaffee County on Trout Creek Pass. This project will eventually remove 300 acres of pinion/juniper to open up the slope to grasses and other beneficial plants, greatly improving the big game habitat.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has an aggressive predator control program for desert bighorn sheep herds. The RMBS has committed $2,500 to the Department's mountain lion removal program for the second consecutive year.

$10,268 was transferred to the Colorado Division of Wildlife to help with habitat improvement on this wildlife area located between I-25 and the East Spanish Peak near Walsenburg. Improvement will include hydro-axing decadent conifer and shrub to improve deer and elk habitat.

The RMBS donated $5,000 to continuing research studies at Washington State University under the leadership of Dr. S Srikumaran. This year’s donation goes toward a study to assess the transmission of passive immunity from bighorn sheep ewes to lambs. This is the second year the RMBS has contributed to WSU bighorn sheep studies.

A $910 scholarship was given to this program to allow an additional student to attend.

A $1,000 scholarship was provided to a Utah State student enrolled in an Environmental, Forestry or Biology program.

$875 was donated to the Sheep and Goat Hunter Orientation held in July 2009.

Prizes totaling $1,125 were awarded to winners of the annual youth poster contest.

Due to severe weather and a bighorn sheep die-off in the Ohio City area of Gunnison County, an emergency donation of $8400 was made to the Colorado Division of Wildlife to help with feeding, medication and research on this herd of sheep. The RMBS was able to deliver funding on short notice and the remaining sheep were treated with antibiotics and important research data gathered.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife in cooperation with the Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation treated and seeded the second half of the Love Meadow State Wildlife Area. The first half of the meadow was planted in 2007 with excellent results. The RMBS donated to the first half and then donated $1075 to complete the project during 2008.

$8325 was provided to purchase sheep tracking collars for this research project.

The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society continues to hold the grazing lease on this state land along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Granite Colorado. The lease helps protect this important lambing, summer and winter range area.

$17,500 is approved and committed to habitat improvement at this SWA between Kremmling and State Bridge. Bighorn Sheep are scheduled for reintroduced to this historic range in 2009.

The Badger Creek herd has suffered lamb losses and general population decline during the past few years. The RMBS has committed $4100 to assist with this study. In February, 2008, 23 ewes and two rams were collared, treated with antibiotics and blood, mucous and fecal samples collected as part of a multi-year study to evaluate herd health.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has an aggressive predator control program for desert bighorn sheep herds. The RMBS has committed $2500 to the Department’s mountain lion removal program.

$1000 was donated toward a larger than life bighorn sheep bronze to be placed at the entrance to the National Interpretive Center in Dubois Wyoming.

$10,000 was again donated to this important program, which provides outdoor education to high school students in member schools throughout Colorado. The curriculum includes hunting, fishing, outdoor survival shooting and other outdoor related activities. $3000 was donated to support the program at Roosevelt High School in Johnstown, Colorado as part of a three-year commitment to establish the CYO program in this school.

The RMBS donated $5000 to continuing research studies at Washington State University under the leadership of Dr. S Srikumaran. This year’s donation will goes towards a study between domestic and wild sheep to determine disease transmission potential in a controlled environment.

A $1000 scholarship was provided to a Utah State student enrolled in the Environmental, Forestry or Biology program.

$875 was donated to the Sheep and Goat Hunter Orientation held in July 2008.

$500 was provided to print a children’s educational bighorn sheep page in the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Approximately $3000 was donated to reseed and improve water distribution at the Love Meadow State Wildlife Area.  This popular sheep viewing area is located along Chalk Creek some ten miles south of Buena Vista, Colorado.  The RMBS was also instrumental in acquiring this winter range and erecting bighorn sheep interpretive signs and a viewing stand along the county road.

$500 was donated toward completion of a full size bighorn sheep mount to be placed in the foyer of the Courthouse.  The sheep was harvested illegally and will be part of a display to explain the importance of bighorn sheep along the I-70 corridor and the penalties involved with illegal harvest.

$5000 has been donated to the Organization Vida Silvestre to assist with desert bighorn sheep census projects on Carmen Island, Baja Mexico. The Carmen Island desert sheep are an important source of translocation stock to historical sheep ranges on the Baja peninsula.

The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society continues to hold the grazing lease on this state land along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Granite Colorado. The lease helps protect this important lambing, summer and winter range area.

$3,000 was donated to on-going bighorn sheep disease research at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The RMBS continues to support this annual seminar, which provides information and education to all sheep and goat license recipients.

$10,000 was again donated to this important program, which provides outdoor education to high school students in member schools throughout Colorado.  The curriculum includes hunting, fishing, outdoor survival shooting and other outdoor related activities.

An additional $3000 was donated to support the program at Roosevelt High School in Johnstown, Colorado.

RMBS sponsored two attendees at the “Outdoors Woman” program in Estes Park, Colorado. 

A $1000 scholarship was provided to a College Student enrolled in an Environmental, Forestry or Biology program.

A check for $10,000 was delivered to the BLM to be used with other funds to enhance bighorn sheep habitat at the upper end of the canyon where sheep were introduced four years ago. Habitat work will include treatment of cheat grass, removal of pinion/juniper along the canyon rim and reseeding where necessary.

RMBS committed $6,500 for conservation easement on the Sutherland Ranch along Sagauche Creek. This Trust will be administered through the Colorado Cattlemen's Land Trust and is part of an on-going project to protect the longest remaining undeveloped pass in western Colorado. RMBS has previously donated $30,000 to other phases of this project.

A check for $4,000 was sent to the National Bighorn Sheep Center for development of a new interactive exhibit. The RMBS was instrumental in the founding of this center and continues to support the interpretive center located in the vicinity of the famous Whiskey Mountain sheep herd.

$600 was donated to install sheep warning signs in a high use area to warn motorists of bighorn sheep crossing.

$4,000 was donated to the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association to create two large signs to be placed at the Granite State Wildlife Area along the Arkansas River. One will explain the life cycle of bighorn sheep and the other will explain the role RMBS plays in preservation and enhancement of bighorn sheep herds in Colorado.

RMBS has committed $1,920 toward ewe pregnancy testing as part of this important research study in the Pikes Peak and Dome rock area.

$15,000 has been approved to assist CDOW with this research project regarding desert bighorns along the Colorado River west of Grand Junction.

RMBS approved $2500 toward the purchase of a drop net system to be used on Bighorn Projects in the Glenwood Springs area. Radium State Wildlife Area Habitat Improvement $17,500 has been approved for habitat improvement at the SWA along the Colorado River west of Kremmling. Bighorn Sheep are expected to be reestablished in this canyon during 2007.

RMBS has approved a donation of $10,000 for purchase of sheep collars to be used as part of a new sheep research project in the Avalanche and Crystal Creek area west of Carbondale.

$1,600 has been approved to purchase radio collars for placement on ewes in the Glenwood Canyon area.

RMBS donated $10,000 to the Colorado Youth Outdoors to support the central administration of the CYO program in all the high schools included in this program. The CYO program is designed to teach students a variety of outdoor skills including fly-fishing, survival, hunting, shooting and other outdoor related activities. RMBS also donated $3,000 to open a new CYO program at Roosevelt High School in Johnstown, Colorado.

RMBS donated $1,000 to this program, sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. This donation covers the tuition for 2-3 women to participate in the program at Estes Park, Colorado.

$1,000 was donated to the Park County 4-H to help develop a new shooting range for the group.

A $1,000 scholarship was awarded to a Western State College student. The annual scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Biology/environmental Science or forestry related student in Colorado.

The State of Colorado State Land Board gave RMBS a ten-year renewable lease on the 400 acres known as Horse Thief Meadow, which is prime, year-round sheep habitat. RMBS has been leasing this property since 1991.

The Middle Creek Ranch is part of the Seguache Creek Conservation Easement Legacy Project, which was spearheaded by the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust. They were starting to experience housing development in the area. With the conservation easement in place, however, the landowners agreed to curtail development and keep the land for agricultural use. The Middle Creek Ranch is in prime bighorn sheep habitat. RMBS worked with the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust along with other conservation organizations to put this easement together and assisted financially with the project. This easement benefits bighorn sheep as well as the other large and small game in the area.

The Flying X Ranch is part of the Seguache Creek Conservation Easement Legacy Project, which was spearheaded by the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust. They were starting to experience housing development in the area. With the conservation easement in place, however, the landowners agreed to curtail development and keep the land for agricultural use. The Flying X Ranch is in prime bighorn sheep habitat. RMBS worked with the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust along with other conservation organizations to put this easement together and assisted financially with the project. This easement benefits bighorn sheep as well as the other large and small game in the area.

The purchase of this 11-acre site was a cooperative effort involving RMBS, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the International Order of Rocky Mountain Goats, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation. Although it is a relatively small parcel, the meadow and adjoining mountainside is vital, historical winter range for bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk and mountain goats. Our efforts have curtailed further residential development and created a valuable wildlife preserve.

Conservation easement for sheep habitat obtained in partnership with the Nature Conservancy and other conservation organizations.

Conservation easement for sheep habitat obtained in partnership with the Nature Conservancy and other conservation organizations.

The bighorn sheep in this area were crossing railroad tracks to get to the Arkansas River, their main water source. The Colorado Division of Wildlife wanted to install two (2) water guzzlers in the area to keep the sheep from being killed on the railroad tracks, especially since there is a significant herd of bighorns in the area. RMBS assisted both financially and with labor for the installation of the guzzlers.

With RMBS providing the necessary funds, the United States Forest Service conducted large scale prescribed burns. The objectives of these burns included removing trees and shrubs which had invaded the meadow areas thereby creating more nutritious forage, opening migration corridors, and reducing the spread of parasites. Two of the areas that received funding were the Poudre Canyon, Larimer County, Colorado and the Tarryall Mountains, Park County, Colorado.

RMBS provided funding and volunteer assistance to the Colorado Division of Wildlife for various habitat improvement projects in Waterton Canyon, Clear Creek, Grant, Georgetown, Love Ranch, Anderson Gulch and Horse Thief Meadow areas of Colorado. These projects involved brush removal, fertilization of winter range, and reseeding to alter species composition and improve plant nutrient content as well as palatability.

With RMBS providing the funding, the National Park Service personnel researched the population dynamics and factors limiting lamb recruitment in a transplanted bighorn sheep herd in the Curecanti National Recreation Area.

RMBS purchased necessary equipment for use by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. RMBS members also participate with the Colorado Division of Wildlife in the baiting, trapping, radio collaring/tagging, medicating and transplanting of sheep herds around the state.

RMBS members participate in sheep surveys throughout the state of Colorado and in the Encampment River Canyon area of Wyoming. Volunteers, under the direction of field biologists and local wildlife managers, scout summer ranges and observe the sheep without disturbing them. The purpose of these studies is to determine estimated herd populations, lamb survival rates and the animals' general health.

The Holy Cross Wilderness Area is historical bighorn sheep range. RMBS volunteers assisted the Colorado Division of Wildlife with the transplanting of bighorn sheep from the Rampart range area.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife Salida office flew the Culebra Peaks Region to do a bighorn sheep survey to determine the number of sheep and the sex ratio. RMBS assisted financially.

RMBS and the Colorado Division of Wildlife constructed the Bighorn Sheep Viewing Center in Georgetown, Colorado. This facility provides people of all ages with the opportunity to view bighorn sheep in their natural habitat.

RMBS, Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Rocky Mountain Goats Foundation worked in conjunction to produce this informative guide on both the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and mountain goats. RMBS provided funds and photographs as well as reviewing the layout and written material. The Viewing Guides are distributed throughout Colorado, at DOW functions, viewing centers, and from RMBS.

RMBS provides funds to assist the Colorado Youth Outdoors (CYO), a nonprofit organization, with their efforts in teaching Colorado's youth about hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Many if not most of the children have never been introduced to hunting or fishing prior to the program. One of the requirements to participate in the program is that you have one of your parents participate with you. This has opened up the world of outdoor activities to many adults too and brings the parent and child closer as they have something in common that they can share.

RMBS provided funds to produce the Elementary Education Activities Workbooks. These 40 page booklets are a way to educate youngsters about wildlife in Colorado. The workbooks were offered and/or sent to all Colorado public grade schools. Ten thousand copies were produced.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife built a wildlife-viewing center in this historical winter range for bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk and mountain goats. RMBS assisted with the signage.

RMBS has assisted the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretative Center with raising necessary funds to help build and run the center from it's inception. We have also assisted with various educational seminars throughout the summer months, both financially and by giving seminars.

The Becoming An Outdoors Woman Program aims to break traditional barriers for women in outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, outdoor cooking, shooting sports, hiking, photography, wildlife watching and animal calling. The Colorado Division of Wildlife accepts applications from women throughout Colorado that are interested in participating in the Becoming An Outdoors Woman program. Every year there are applicants that would love to participate, but can't afford it. The Colorado Division of Wildlife works with RMBS to set up scholarships for these women.

RMBS has helped the Student Chapter in their fundraising efforts by giving them financial support and RMBS memberships and merchandise to use at their annual banquets.

RMBS provided financial assistance to Operation Game Thief (OGT) for their purchase and outfitting of two new OGT trailers. The trailers are used throughout Colorado at various functions, including Sportsmen Shows.