BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana wildlife officials say they will reintroduce up to 50 bighorn sheep this winter in an area of the Madison Range southeast of Cameron.

Fish, Wildlife and parks commissioners approved the plan Thursday. It calls for sheep to be captured from a herd at the southern end of the Madison Range and then relocated to new areas.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokeswoman Andrea Jones says the agency the sheep will be placed in the Indian Creek or Wolf Creek drainages.

Bighorn sheep are native to the area but have not been documented since the 1960's.

Wildlife officials say they plan to manage the new population so it has 100 to 150 sheep in future years. Hunting could be allowed once the population expands.

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