Table 1. General attributes of the 22 bighorn sheep populations investigated in this study.
| Population | Hunt-Area | Estimated pop. size | All-age epizootics | Origin | Sub-pops1 | Connectivity level | Migratory | Ecological region2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galton | MT-102 | 70 | None | Native | 2 | Limited | Yes | N. Rocky Mtn. |
| Perma-Paradise | MT-124 | 325 | None | Restored | 2 | Isolated | No | N. Rocky Mtn. |
| Petty Creek | MT-203 | 160 | None | Restored | 2 | Isolated | No | N. Rocky Mtn. |
| Lost Creek | MT-213 | 100 | 1991,2010 | Restored | 2 | Limited | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Highlands3 | MT-340 | 75 | 1995 | Restored | 3 | Isolated | No | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Sun Canyon4 | MT-499 | 150 | 1925, 1932, 1984, 2010 | Native | 3 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn./ N. Rocky Mtn. Fthls |
| Gibson Lake North | MT-423 | 100 | 1925, 1932, 1984, 2010 | Native | 5 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn./ N. Rocky Mtn. Fthls |
| Fergus | MT-482 | 545 | None | Restored | 4 | Meta Population | No | N. Rolling Plains |
| Choteau-Blaine | MT-680 | 770 | None | Restored | 10 | Meta Population | No | N. Rolling Plains |
| Middle Missouri Breaks | MT-622 | 400 | None | Restored | 3 | Isolated | No | N. Rolling Plains |
| Hilgard5 | MT-302 | 280 | 1997 | Augmented-Native | 3 | Isolated | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Upper Yellowstone | MT-3995 | 320 | 2012, 2014 | Native | 8 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Stillwater | MT-500a | 75 | Pre-1920 | Native | 2 | Limited | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Clark’s Fork | WY-1 | 600 | None | Native | >10 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Trout Peak | WY-2 | 700 | None | Native | >10 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Wapiti Ridge | WY-3 | 850 | None | Native | >10 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Yount’s Peak | WY-4 | 875 | 2011–2013 | Native | >10 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Franc’s Peak | WY-5 | 710 | 2011–2013 | Native | >10 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Dubois Badlands | WY-22 | None | Native | 2 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. | |
| Targhee | WY-6 | 80 | None | Native | 2 | Isolated | No | Central Rocky Mtn |
| Whiskey Mtn. | WY-10 | 850 | 1991 | Native | >5 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
| Jackson | WY-7 | 425 | 2002, 2012 | Native | 6 | Meta Population | Yes | Central Rocky Mtn. |
1 Subpopulation defined as a group of animals within a population that shares a distinct winter range that may be composed of multiple social groups.
2 Ecological region defined according to USDA Handbook 296 [39]
3. Recent demographic data were not available for the Highlands populations
4. Population was monitored as a single population but inhabits multiple hunting districts.
5. One subpopulation was established from another subpopulation in 2015