An Arizona bighorn sheep tag was auctioned for $199,000 at the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep convention in San Antonio, Texas, this year, but hunters who want to pursue a Dall's, Stone's, desert or Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep don't have to dig quite so deep. They will, however, have to throw their hat into a lottery in the Lower 48 and hope to draw one of a very few tags in those states with sheep hunting seasons.

Utah, for example, is offering only nine tags for Rocky Mountain bighorns, and those were available only to residents. A total of 35 desert sheep tags was allocated, with three available to nonresident hunters. Even though those numbers are quite low, they offer a glimpse into the success of sheep restoration efforts.

Arizona offers one of the best chances at drawing a prized license for a desert bighorn. And the state's sheep herd continues to do relatively well, says the state's Brian Wakeling. The herd is recovering from drought, and lamb numbers are on the rise. The state's sheep herd is estimated at around 5,500 animals.

"We are allocating 80 tags this year, which is down from 82 last season. Fifteen percent are set aside for nonresidents, and about 16,000 people applied for those tags last year," he says, adding that units 13A and 12B offer good trophy potential.

Beginning this year, hunters will no longer be allowed to apply for sheep tags on-line.

Nevada's desert bighorn sheep are also starting to rebound from the three-year drought. The state will add 10 tags to the 138 it gave out last year.

The desert bighorn sheep herd stands at about 5,400, but the state's Patrick Cummings adds that human encroachment, particularly around the Las Vegas region, will likely have a negative long-term effect. "In areas where there is no human conflict, I expect to see stable or increasing populations, but weather will play a role in that more than anything," he says.

Nevada's Rocky Mountain and California bighorns are also doing well, and the number of available tags is increasing from 35 to 39 this season--including the first-ever nonresident Rocky Mountain bighorn tag.

The best bet for a Dall's ram continues to be in Alaska, where biologists estimate a herd at more than 50,000 animals and success rates of about 50 percent for guided hunters. The state's Steve Arthur says the Chugach and Wrangell mountain ranges continue to offer the highest densities, but says the Brooks Range gets less pressure and may hold bigger rams.

"There may have been a decline in sheep numbers in the Brooks Range due to some pretty severe weather last winter, but overall, the state's sheep herd is doing well," he says.

Wyoming continues to offer the best opportunities for bighorn hunting in the Lower 48, and the state's Kevin Hurley says the outlook is excellent in some units and not so good in others.

"Units 1 through 5 continue to be as good as they have been in a long time. Hunters had a success rate of over 75 percent, and they took three record-book rams," he says. "In other units, things aren't as good, and we will reduce the tag allotments or close the season altogether. There will only be eight fewer tags than last year, so it's not a major change."

One-quarter of the state's approximately 140 licenses will be set aside for nonresidents.

Idaho's Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herd has rebounded from a disease-related die-off in the mid-1990s, says the state's Brad Compton. Although only 80 tags will be allocated this season, that's 16 more than last year. No more than 10 percent will go to nonresidents.

"The biggest ram in North America was taken in Unit 11 last year, and only two tags are available for that area, so you know the odds will be pretty tough this year. One of the tags went for $180,000 at auction, so there's only one left for that unit," says Compton.

Sheep hunters who set their sights on Canada will also have plenty of opportunity. Yukon offers both Dall's and Stone's sheep, and the combined herd is estimated at about 20,000. According to the province's Jean Carey, the population is either stable or increasing slightly in some areas.

Things are good in the Northwest Territories as well, and the province's sheep herd is in the neighborhood of 20,000 animals. The highest densities are around Palmer Lake and Katherine Creek. Harvest levels have remained fairly stable.