Purpose
 The Desert Bighorn Council was unofficially organized in 1957, and officially organized with adoption of a constitution in 1959. The Council was established to promote the advancement of knowledge concerning desert bighorn, and the long-range welfare of these animals. Membership is comprised of wildlife biologists, scientists, administrators, managers, and others interested in the welfare of desert bighorn. The Council is interested in all ecological and management issues affecting bighorn sheep and their habitat. The native desert bighorn greatly decreased in number with the European settlement of western North America, and Council members are dedicated to ensuring the future of current populations. The necessity of managing areas for bighorn sheep becomes more critical each year. Council members are implementing numerous studies and management strategies designed to improve current management guidelines.
Primary
Council
Objectives
 To provide for the exchange of information on the needs and management of the desert bighorn through meetings and published transactions, by means of which new or important information, ideas, techniques, and problems can be presented and discussed by council members.

To stimulate and coordinate studies in all phases of the life history, ecology, management and protection, recreational and economic values of desert bighorn, including studies of wildlife species that may be detrimental to desert bighorn.

To provide a clearinghouse of information among all agencies, organizations and individuals professionally engaged in work on desert bighorn, through the appointment of work committees, the preparation of bibliographies and abstracts, and related methods when desirable and feasible.

To function in a professional advisory capacity, where appropriate, on local, national, and international questions involving management and protection of desert bighorn, and to adopt such measures as shall tend to promote the advancement of knowledge concerning desert bighorn and the long- range welfare of these animals.
Membership
 The Council is comprised of wildlife biologists, scientists, administrators, managers, and others interested in the welfare of desert bighorn. Any individual engaged or interested in management, protection, or scientific study of the desert bighorn is encouraged to join. Dues are $20, collected every other year (in April of odd-numbered years, when the DBC meeting is held). Starting with dues paid for 2007-2008, you will receive the most recent copy of the DBC Transactions (this will begin with the release of the 2007 Transactions, which will be available in April 2008). You may pay your dues when you register for the meeting, or you may join by returning a completed membership form (with a check made out to Desert Bighorn Council) to:

Esther Rubin (DBC Secretary)
Conservation Biology Institute
P.O. Box 369
Borrego Springs, CA 92004

To download the form rightclick the following link:

Membership / registration form as Acrobat pdf file click here
(right-click and select 'Save Target As...')
Biennial
Meetings
 Biennial meetings are held in April of odd-numbered years, somewhere in the range of the desert bighorn, with the actual location rotating among the seven U.S. states inhabited by wild populations of desert bighorn (Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, California) and Mexico. Up to 100 people generally attend the meetings in order to exchange information and take action on matters pertaining to desert bighorn management and welfare. Technical papers are presented by researchers and managers working with bighorn populations, and status reports are given by a representative from each state's wildlife agency estimating current population numbers, harvest numbers and general population welfare. In conjunction with each meeting, a field trip is taken to observe a nearby population of desert bighorn sheep and their surrounding habitat. Click here for Information about the next Desert Bighorn Council meeting. Further details concerning these meetings may also be obtained by writing the council's current secretary::

Esther Rubin (DBC Secretary)
Conservation Biology Institute
P.O. Box 369
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Email: esrubin@consbio.org
Publications
 Proceedings of the biennial meetings are published under the title: Desert Bighorn Council Transactions. Copies may be obtained by ordering a copy at the biennial meeting or by placing an order with the Council's Transactions office (address below). Cost varies by year of the Transactions, and prices are listed on the Order Form. Please make checks payable to the Desert Bighorn Council and send completed order form to:

Desert Bighorn Council Transactions
P. O. Box 262
Palm Desert, CA 92261-0262

To submit an article to the DBC Transactions, please read more about the Official Transactions. Click here.
Technical
Staff
 In 1960 the Council appointed a technical staff to compile all pertinent knowledge on the ecology and management of Desert Bighorns. As a result of this work, in 1980 the Council published a book "The Desert Bighorn, Its Life History, Ecology and Management. " This book provides a comprehensive review of desert bighorn ecology and management.

The technical staff currently serves as the Council's official voice by providing written input for planning documents, legislative proposals, and actions on public lands that could affect desert bighorn sheep or their habitat. The technical staff can be contacted by writing the technical staff chairman:

Ray Lee
President
Foundation North American Wild Sheep
720 Allen Avenue
Cody, WY 82414
rlee@fnaws.org
1963
Passed resolution opposing the introduction of exotic ungulates without thorough environmental analysis.

1967
Passed resolution endorsing retention of desert bighorn habitat in Public Domain under the Classification and Multiple Use Act.

1981 Passed resolution encouraging the state of Texas to re-initiate the Texas desert bighorn re-establishment program.

1990
Developed and published a set of guidelines for management of domestic sheep in bighorn habitat.

1996
Passed resolution opposing propagation of desert bighorn by interspecies embryo transfer using domestic ewes.
Representative Council Resolutions and Actions
Council
Awards
 When the Council Awards Committee determines that an individual or group has made outstanding contributions to the knowledge and welfare of desert bighorn, an award is presented at the Desert Bighorn Council meeting honoring that accomplishment. Three awards are currently given: The Bighorn Trophy, The Honor Plaque, and The Award of Excellence. In addition to these periodic awards, the Council has set up a trust fund (Hansen-Wells Memorial Fund) to provide funding to those working on desert bighorn research projects. At least one award is given from this fund each year. All proposals for funding must be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Technical Staff (Ray Lee, President, Foundation North American Wild Sheep, 720 Allen Avenue, Cody, WY 82414, rlee@fnaws.org) by February 1, for awards to be announced the following April. Find out more about the Hansen-Wells Memorial Fund.