For centuries, bighorn sheep have thrived in Wyoming’s Gros Ventre Wilderness, but limited habitat and a deadly pathogen now threaten the herd’s survival. In the Ferris–Seminoe Mountains, bighorns are still largely disease-free, yet growing numbers increase the risk of contact with dangerous pathogens.

To prevent population collapse, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has introduced ewe hunts to keep populations within the land’s carrying capacity. While the strategy is backed by science, it has sparked debate among both hunters and non-hunters. These herds exemplify a shift in the approach to managing healthy and sustainable bighorn sheep populations across their range, with hunters playing an integral role.

CARRYING CAPACITY explores the complexity of managing the two bighorn sheep herds in Wyoming, sharing a compelling narrative woven by respected scientists, wildlife managers, and hunters, who play an increasingly integral role.

Director Biography - Zach Montes

Zach Montes is a director and editor at Snowday, a creative agency based in Wilson, Wyoming. With an academic background in the hard sciences, Zach is passionate about bringing emotionally impactful storytelling to major conservation efforts all over the world. In the past 3 years, Zach has lent his production skills to paleoclimatology research on Baffin Island, Athabasca Glacier, and bighorn conservation efforts in his own backyard.