Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/144178
vic schendl INCredible bids for bighorn tags set records at SHEEP SHOW With records broken for the highest amounts bid on auction for special permits, overall attendance, and funds raised for wildlife and other mission programs, the 2013 Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and Sporting Expo in Reno, Nevada, lived up to its billing as the "Premier Mountain Hunting and Conservation Expo in the World!" Since the very first Wyoming "Governor's Permit" for bighorn sheep was sold at the Sheep Show in 1980, the marketing and sale of special permits for state, tribal and provincial agencies has been a WSF marquee, raising more money for wildlife conservation than any other event of its kind. The four nightly auctions at the January 31-February 2 show established several world record bids for special permits. T he Montana State Bighorn Sheep tag brought an incredible $480,000 when the gavel fell Friday night, shattering the previous record of $300,000 set last year and beating the all-time record bid of $405,000 for a bighorn sheep. The British Columbia's Minister's buyer's choice permit sold for $275,000, besting the record set last year of $250,000. A special New Mexico desert bighorn tag was offered for the first time and brought $180,000, equaling the current record bid. The Oregon Rocky Mountain bighorn permit brought $135,000, surpassing the previous record by $5,000. And the tag that started it all 33 years ago, the Wyoming bighorn permit, brought $70,000, setting another record for that coveted permit. S O overall during the event for wildlife conservation efforts through North America and the world. Equaling the enormity of these bids is the fact that 100 percent of the dollars raised are directed to state, provincial, tribal and WSF conservation initiatives to help "Put and Keep Sheep on the Mountain." A special highlight at the convention came when an American flag that had flown over Bragram Airfield in Afghanistan was sold ther notable sales included $150,000 for the Idaho bighorn permit; $120,000 for the New Mexico Big Game Enhancement Package; $64,000 for the Washington permit; $160,000 for the Arizona permit and $181,000 for the Alaska Chugach Dall's permit. In total more than $3.19 million was raised for wild sheep and wildlife through the sale of these and other special permits, and more than $5 million was raised P O R T I N G C 12 L A S S I C S