http://www.fieldandstream.com/taxonomy/term/56330 The taxonomy view with a depth of 0. en http://www.fieldandstream.com/taxonomy/term/56330 http://www.fieldandstream.com/sites/all/themes/fs/images/fsLogo_mini.gif 254 123 The taxonomy view with a depth of 0. http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-6986 <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000242377.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-6986#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:46:22 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000242377 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-6967 <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000242353.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-6967#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:46:18 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000242353 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-6767 <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000242011.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-6767#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:45:58 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000242011 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-2967 <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000238108.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-2967#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:44:55 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000238108 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-2944 <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000238085.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/untitled-image-2944#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:44:54 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000238085 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/last-month-adventure-photographer-bill-decker-assignment-ifie <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000234792.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--><p>Adventure photographer Bill Decker, on assignment from <em>fieldandstream.com</em>, captured on film an intense desert operation to relocate Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep from the Phelps Dodge Mine in the Clifton-Morenci region of eastern Arizona to the West Clear Creek area on the Colorado Plateau, some 52 miles southeast of Flagstaff.</p> <p><a href="http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/last-month-adventure-photographer-bill-decker-assignment-ifie">read more</a></p> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/last-month-adventure-photographer-bill-decker-assignment-ifie#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:39:49 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000234792 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/here-two-handsome-rocky-mountain-bighorn-rams-tend-their-hare <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000234791.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--><p>Here, two handsome Rocky Mountain bighorn rams tend to their harem of ewes on a jagged hillside near Clifton, Arizona. At this point in the operation, game officials must decide whether to stalk these animals on foot, hoping to lure them within the short range of tranquilizer guns, or use helicopters to cast nets from above. The barren terrain is a complicating factor; wary bighorns scale canyon walls with relative ease. Finding the herd is one challenge. Sneaking into position -" from the ground or from above -" and capturing the animals is an entirely different story.</p> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/here-two-handsome-rocky-mountain-bighorn-rams-tend-their-hare#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:39:49 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000234791 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/accurate-shot-tranquilizer-gun-brought-ram-briefly-ground-her <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000234790.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--><p>An accurate shot with the tranquilizer gun brought this ram, briefly, to the ground. Here, workers (dubbed "muggers-¿) grab the ram by its horns, preparing to blindfold the animal. Like their bighorn subspecies cousins, the Arizona desert bighorn sheep, what few "Rockies-¿ roam the Grand Canyon state are noted for their trophy curls, often measuring 40 inches (outside) or more. In Arizona, a class 4 Rocky Mountain bighorn ram can easily score 175-185. Hunting bighorns is highly regulated in Arizona, but drawing a tag virtually guarantees the hunter a lifetime trophy. This young ram isn't exactly in that category; he's also missing the tip from one of his horns, possibly the result of a sparring injury. But now he'll be prime breeding stock in an area of the state that had not previously seen significant numbers of the big sheep.</p> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/accurate-shot-tranquilizer-gun-brought-ram-briefly-ground-her#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:39:49 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000234790 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/relocation-project-team-hauls-large-ram-also-darted-and-tranq <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000234789.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--><p>A relocation project team hauls this large ram -" also darted and tranquilized from the ground, and estimated at 200 pounds -" down a rocky slope toward an impromptu "M.A.S.H-¿ unit, where it will be evaluated and prepared for relocation. Even sedated, an adult male bighorn is a handful -" note the safety gear on the volunteers. Once sedated, the animal is restrained with ropes and straps, and blindfolded to minimize panic. In this case, the workers position the animal on a sled to slide it down the mountainside so the ram won't suffer abrasion injuries in the rocky and cactus-bearing terrain.</p> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/relocation-project-team-hauls-large-ram-also-darted-and-tranq#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:39:49 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000234789 at http://www.fieldandstream.com http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/other-bighorns-are-captured-net-gun-fired-helicopter-hovering <img src="/files/imagecache/photo-carousel/legacy/1000234788.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-photo-carousel" /><!--paging_filter--><p>Other bighorns are captured via the net-gun, fired from a helicopter hovering overhead. Once secured with restraints and blindfolds by the ground support team (again, designed to minimize stress-induced panic among the animals), they are airlifted to the M.A.S.H site. It isn't exactly flying first-class, but by transporting the sheep in pairs with a harness sling beneath the helicopter, wildlife experts are able to expedite the capture, examination, tagging, and transport process as much as possible.</p> Bill Decker http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/fieldandstream/kentucky/2008/02/other-bighorns-are-captured-net-gun-fired-helicopter-hovering#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:39:49 -0500 fieldandstream-editor 1000234788 at http://www.fieldandstream.com