North Dakota Hunter Bags Potential Record Bighorn Ram

A hunter from Grand Forks, North Dakota, could have taken one of many largest bighorn sheep ever recorded within the state.

Nick Schmitz drew one in every of solely eight tags issued statewide for the 2025 bighorn sheep season and crammed it on opening day with an enormous ram that might turn out to be the brand new North Dakota document as soon as formally scored.

Schmitz hunted within the Little Missouri National Grasslands north of Grassy Butte, joined by his father, brother-in-law, and a detailed pal. The climate was typical for the Badlands in late October: chilly, windy, and moist, however situations didn’t cease the group from recognizing a band of sheep late that afternoon. Amongst them was a heavy-horned ram that instantly stood out.

At roughly 350 yards, Schmitz steadied his rifle and made a clear shot. The ram dropped on the steep slope, ending a hunt that took years of persistence and luck simply to attract the tag.

Wildlife officers estimate the ram at seven years previous, with an preliminary inexperienced rating of 197 6/8 inches. That measurement would simply surpass the present state document as soon as verified after the required 60-day drying interval.

Brett Wiedmann, a biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, described the animal as “an unbelievable specimen” and praised the state’s ongoing bighorn conservation efforts. Herd numbers have been on the rise throughout western North Dakota, with 2024 surveys exhibiting the best inhabitants rely in many years.

Bighorn sheep searching in North Dakota stays probably the most unique alternatives within the nation. Solely a handful of residents are drawn annually, and most wait a lifetime for the prospect.

For Schmitz, that probability was an unforgettable second shared with household. “All of it occurred so quick,” he stated after the hunt. “Having my dad there made it much more particular.”

As soon as formally scored, Schmitz’s ram is predicted to turn out to be the most important ever taken within the state and one of many top-ranking bighorns within the nation.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning out of doors journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly out of doors column for the Slidell Unbiased Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith e-mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com