Keele Johnson
Board Member
Wildlife has always been a major part of my life. I grew up on a wheat/cattle operation near Monticello Utah. During the 1960’s and 70’s we had hundreds of Mule Deer living on our farm/ranch. When I was about 8 years old, I read an article in Outdoor Life about the white sheep in Alaska and decided one day I wanted to hunt them. In 1978 my dad drew a San Juan Desert Bighorn tag. He hired Carl Mahon as his guide, and I went along. I was hooked! The next year I was guiding with Carl, and 46 years later I’m still guiding sheep hunters in Utah. In 2006 I got my Alaska Guide License, and every year since, I’ve hunted and guided the white sheep.
I learned a lot from Carl. He worked closely with DWR, BLM, and Tom Bunch, sheep biologist at Utah State University. He supervised a number of USU Wildlife Masters and Doctoral graduate student internship research with Utah’s Desert Bighorn. He was named Conservationist of the Year by the Wild Sheep Foundation. He was a big believer in developing springs for bighorn water. Carl said that the ewes were the most important, “when the lambs are small the ewes must have water every day, the rams will take care of themselves”. Carl never named a ram, but the ewes had names. Carl worked for the BLM. A few years before he retired, the BLM assigned Carl to work with the Bighorn full-time. Many of the Desert Bighorn units we now have (North and South San Rafael, Escalante, Henry Mountains, Dirty Devil) were South San Juan Sheep transplants from Carl’s work with the partnership of BLM and DWR.
As a director, one of my assignments is conservation for Southern Utah. We will continue development of water for the ewes (and other conservation projects). I’ve been a member of FNAWS/WSF since 1980 and became a Life Member in 1988. I was a founding member of the Utah Bighorn Sheep Society which became a part of Utah FNAWS/WSF when it was established. I don’t think I have ever missed a Utah FNAWS/WSF banquet. Director Mike Foust’s Board assignment is DWR and State Legislature; I will be assisting Mike when he needs my help.
I graduated from Monticello High School in 1970. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from BYU in 1976, and my Master of Social Work from the University of Utah in 1981. I worked for the College of Eastern Utah San Juan Campus for 32 years, retiring in 2009. I worked in teaching, administration, grant writing, and worked in and later directed the campus outdoor program. I served in the Utah Legislature for 8 years, the Utah Wildlife Board for 6 years and two terms on the Blanding City Council. I’ve guided for sheep in Utah for 46 years and for Dall sheep, Brown Bear, Grizzly Bear, moose, caribou, and wolf in Alaska for 19 years. After 33 years I completed my Full Curl: Desert Bighorn in 1981, Wyoming Rocky Mt Bighorn in 1982. Dall Sheep in 2002 Stone Sheep in 2014. I’m a life member of Wild Sheep Foundation, Utah Wild Sheep Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, and National Rifle Association.
I’m often asked why I’m so interested in wild sheep, my answer “Look where they live”. They live in some of the most majestic places on earth. These are special animals to live and survive in the dryness of the southwest deserts, and the deep snow, 70 below zero temperatures of the artic and Rocky Mountains. The reason I visit these remote places is because of the wild sheep that live there.
I’m very impressed with the work that has been done by UFNAWS and UWSF over the years. The current hard-working leadership and goal setting of Travis Jenson and Hadli Sorenson combined with a very dedicated and active board is taking the future to an even higher level. This is an exciting time for me to be involved with such an energetic and dedicated organization.