Thursday, December 12, 2024

Industry Support for Wild Sheep Conservation

Bozeman, Montana- The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) salutes its industry and conservation partners for sponsoring the Foundation's annual SHEEP SHOW® Convention and Expo. The event will be held in Reno, NV, from January 16 to January 18, 2025.

Prominent industry brands that will be exhibiting and returning as major Show sponsors include SITKA, the Official Sponsor of the SHEEP SHOW®, as well as YETI, Weatherby, Schnee, Browning, Leica, Stone Glacier, Global Rescue, Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's, Silencer Central, Best of the West, Leupold, Boyt Harness, Zeiss, Kenetrek, Fiocchi, Vortex, Gunwerks, Montana Knife Company, Hornady, Bergara, Mystery Ranch, and 1ShotGear.

Gray N. Thornton, the President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation, stated, "By all indications, we’re looking at another record-breaking convention across the board. We are grateful for the support of our long-standing partners and new partners who appreciate the mountain game hunting community and actively contribute to wild sheep conservation."

The full listing of Show sponsors can be found at this link.

Since 1978, WSF has been working hard to fulfill its commitment to restoring wild sheep populations. The Sheep Show® has risen from these efforts as the annual celebration of wild sheep hunting and conservation. Since just 1983, WSF has raised and directed over $100 million to wild sheep conservation and Mission funding. In the past ten years alone, WSF has raised and allocated over $63 million, primarily through the success of its conventions.

"Hunting and conservation expos fulfill a vital role in both our hunting culture and in providing additional funding over and above what is contributed by sportsmen through licenses, permits, and excise taxes," explained Thornton. "For us, it is an opportunity to generate critical funding specifically for wild sheep, but it goes beyond that. Hunters and outdoors enthusiasts are a unique group within modern society. They keep alive a love for outdoor activities and a commitment to preserving wild places and wildlife, which deserves an annual celebration. We are simply providing the time and space for this to happen."

The SHEEP SHOW® will offer a host of attractions. Attendees can explore numerous exhibits at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, attend expert-led seminars, watch films, witness live demonstrations, participate in raffles, and bid on items in a silent auction. In the evenings, guests will be treated to live entertainment, backpack races, a horse-packing competition, banquets, and live auctions.

"Our Purpose is to Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®," added Thornton. "We are also dedicated to putting more sheep hunters on the mountain. We will be giving away over a dozen sheep hunts, some of which will go to first-time sheep hunters. Our raffles includes a hunt for each of the four North American species of wild sheep, and our auctions feature the most extensive selection of sheep hunts and highly coveted conservation sheep permits available anywhere."

Show registration is available online at this link.