Keith Lusher 11.12.25
A hunter from Grand Forks, North Dakota, may have taken one of the largest bighorn sheep ever recorded in the state.
Nick Schmitz drew one of only eight tags issued statewide for the 2025 bighorn sheep season and filled it on opening day with a massive ram that could become the new North Dakota record once officially scored.
Schmitz hunted in the Little Missouri National Grasslands north of Grassy Butte, joined by his father, brother-in-law, and a close friend. The weather was typical for the Badlands in late October: cold, windy, and wet, but conditions did not stop the group from spotting a band of sheep late that afternoon. Among them was a heavy-horned ram that immediately stood out.
At roughly 350 yards, Schmitz steadied his rifle and made a clean shot. The ram dropped on the steep slope, ending a hunt that took years of patience and luck just to draw the tag.
Wildlife officials estimate the ram at seven years old, with an initial green score of 197 6/8 inches. That measurement would easily surpass the existing state record once verified after the required 60-day drying period.
Brett Wiedmann, a biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, described the animal as “an incredible specimen” and praised the state’s ongoing bighorn conservation efforts. Herd numbers have been on the rise across western North Dakota, with 2024 surveys showing the highest population count in decades.
Bighorn sheep hunting in North Dakota remains one of the most exclusive opportunities in the nation. Only a handful of residents are drawn each year, and most wait a lifetime for the chance.
For Schmitz, that chance turned into an unforgettable moment shared with family. “It all happened so fast,” he said after the hunt. “Having my dad there made it even more special.”
Once officially scored, Schmitz’s ram is expected to become the largest ever taken in the state and one of the top-ranking bighorns in the country.
Keith Lusher is an award-winning outdoor journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outdoor column for the Slidell Independent Newspaper. He also writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Commission’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He is the former host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Show and is on the board of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. Keith contributes to numerous publications both online and in print and prides himself on promoting South Louisiana’s unique fishery. To contact Keith email: keithlusherjr@gmail.com
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