Bozeman Magazine

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), the leader in wild sheep conservation, will host internationally acclaimed conservationist, speaker, Global Vice Chair of the IUCN’s Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group, and CEO of Conservation Visions, Shane Mahoney for “A Conservation Evening with Shane Mahoney – the Wild Harvest Initiative.” This event will be held at their Bozeman World Headquarters on September 27, 2016 from 5:30 pm – 8:00pm. This event, which is open to the public, is the latest in a series of WSF hosted events designed to unite the hunting/conservation and environmental communities to focus on finding common ground and identifying solutions to shared problems in order to benefit wildlife, their habitat, and the people who enjoy them.

"The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) is pleased to bring Shane Mahoney to Bozeman to speak with our community on a broad range of conservation and public land issues, including his enlightening new research project, The Wild Harvest Initiative,” said WSF President & CEO Gray N. Thornton. “Shane is working with a team of experts, including biologists and nutritionists, and is partnering with state & provincial agencies, as well as a diverse group of NGOS, including WSF, to determine the tonnage, financial, and nutritional value of the organic game, fish, and fowl that is sustainably harvested annually by hunters and anglers in North America.  These data will also be used to determine how widely this wild harvest is shared in society and to demonstrate the contribution that wild protein makes to the food security and local food economies of Canada and the United States.  Ultimately, the benefits of this sustainable food procurement system will be compared with other alternative means of production. This is a very interesting concept, especially in light of the popular “locavore” movement and society’s growing interest in eating healthy, local, and sustainably sourced foods,” Thornton added.

“The importance of Wild food has been lost in the debate over hunting's modern relevance. The Wild Harvest Initiative intends to change this...for wildlife, for hunters, and for the future of both,” Shane Mahoney stated. “The global concern over quality food is a social movement of great relevance to our hunting traditions. The Wild Harvest Initiative is designed to align these ideas and reposition hunting as a first choice for sustainable living. I look forward to sharing this message with hunters and non hunters alike during my visit to Bozeman,” Mahoney added.

The general public is invited to attend “A Conservation Evening with Shane Mahoney – the Wild Harvest Initiative.” on September 27th from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm at WSF World Headquarters, located at 412 Pronghorn Trail. Complimentary beer generously provided by Cardinal Distributing, wine, and light fare will be provided. For more information and to RSVP please call 406-404-8750.

Headquartered in Bozeman, Montana the Wild Sheep Foundation, formerly the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS,) was founded in 1977 by wild sheep conservationists and enthusiasts. WSF’s Mission is to enhance wild sheep populations, promote scientific wildlife management, and educate the public and youth on sustainable use and the conservation benefits of hunting while promoting the interests of the hunter. With a membership of more than 6,500 worldwide and a Chapter and Affiliate network in North America and Europe, WSF is the premier advocate for wild sheep, other mountain wildlife, their habitat, and their conservation. Since forming in 1977, the Wild Sheep Foundation and its chapters and affiliates have raised and expended more than $110 million on conservation, education and conservation advocacy programs in North America, Europe and Asia towards its Purpose to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep On the Mountain™”. These and other efforts have resulted in a three-fold increase in bighorn sheep populations in North America from their historic 1950-60s lows of ~25,000 to ~85,000 today. WSF, our Chapters and Affiliates and agencies partners are also working together to ensure thinhorn sheep thrive in their northern mountain realms for generations to enjoy.