ND bighorn sheep population remains strong

North Dakota’s 2024 bighorn sheep survey recorded a minimum of 350 bighorns in the western grasslands, a slight 4% drop from 2023 but still the second highest count on record. Biologists counted 105 rams, 199 ewes, and 46 lambs. The population remains near record levels for the seventh consecutive year, despite lower lamb recruitment due to drought and predation. The Three Affiliated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Division also contributes to bighorn management. A 2025 hunting season is tentatively planned, with final decisions expected in September.