Provide funding to support bighorn sheep research monitoring restoration and othermanagement activities

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2 awarded $3,941,006.25 to the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) on September 3, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2029. This formula grant provides funding to support bighorn sheep research, monitoring, restoration, and management activities in New Mexico. The primary deliverables include biological and population data collection on bighorn sheep that will inform annual management recommendations aligned with the Commission and Department's mission goals and plans.

The information and research products generated through this grant will be disseminated to land management agencies, other governmental partners, and the general public to support wildlife conservation decision-making and public education. Additionally, the award funds direct management actions for bighorn sheep populations. As authorized under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, this formula grant represents the federal government's commitment to supporting state-level wildlife conservation and management initiatives that maintain viable wildlife populations and inform science-based wildlife management strategies.

The information gathered under this grant will be used to prepare annual recommendations for bighorn sheep management in accordance with the mission goals and plans of the commission and department. This information may also be used by land management and other agencies and will provide the public with background biological information for their use. This grant also funds certain management actions. The information gathered under this grant will be used to prepare annual recommendations for bighorn sheep management in accordance with the mission goals and plans of the commission and department. This information may also be used by land management and other agenciesand will provide the public with background biological information for their use.