An 80-Year-Old Rancher’s Illegal Breeding Scheme Comes to Light

Introduction

A Montana rancher has recently pleaded guilty to two wildlife-related felonies that exposed his audacious 10-year conspiracy to create a different breed of sheep specifically for hunting purposes. The rancher, 80-year-old Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, embarked on a grand scheme involving cloning and cross-breeding, intending to sell these massive hybrid sheep at higher prices on the hunting market.

Rancher’s Illegal Breeding Scheme

Schubarth’s aspiration was to produce offshoots of the Marco Polo argali sheep species, a highly prized hunting target found in the highlands of Central Asia. The sheep, known for their substantial size and long horns, hold great appeal to sport hunters. Despite its near-threatened status in the US, the argali is hunted legally and its trophy fetches high prices. This provided Schubarth the incentive to explore ways of creating and selling argali-based cross-breeds.

The Marco Polo Argali and Cloning

Schubarth initiated his project in 2013 by obtaining biological tissue from an argali hunted in Kyrgyzstan. Through a complex process, he managed to produce cloned embryos from the tissue, resulting in the birth of a male argali at his Montana ranch in 2017. Termed the “Montana Mountain King” by Schubarth, this individual became the focal point of his breeding operations. The rancher went on to crossbreed the “Montana Mountain King” with ewes from different sheep species, including the Rocky Mountain bighorn, to create larger hybrid sheep of his own.

Illegal Activities and Deceptive Measures

Throughout his venture, Schubarth knowingly engaged in illegal activities, including the illegal import of animal parts, such as the testicles of a Rocky Mountain bighorn. He sold the hybrid offspring of the “Montana Mountain King” for as high as $10,000 per animal, marketing the more pure-blooded specimens as “Montana Black Magic.” To mask the illegalities, the rancher acquired false documents, enabling him to conceal the fact that his sheep cross-breeds were the product of breaching wildlife trafficking laws.

Legal Conviction and Reactions

Ultimately, Arthur Schubarth’s audacious scheme was uncovered, leading to his conviction on one count of violating the Lacey Act and one count of conspiring to violate anti-wildlife trafficking laws. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Chief of Enforcement, Ron Howell, referred to Schubarth’s actions as an “audacious scheme” aimed towards the hunting market. At present, the rancher’s lawyer has not issued any comments regarding the case.