| (Ovis canadensis canadensis) |
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
The sheep’s color is usually grayish brown with a white rump patch. The belly and throat are
lighter than the rest of the body. The summer coat is a rich, glossy brown, but it tends to fade by
late winter. Both males and females have horns, but only the males develop the distinctive "curl".
The horns grow throughout the life of the animal and its age can be determined by the annual
growth rings on the horns. The male sheep is called a ram and is easily differentiated from the
female by size and his massive brown horns. The horns curl back over the ears, down and up
past the cheeks. Ewes, the females, are smaller than the rams and have shorter, smaller horns
that never exceed half a curl. The male’s horns can weigh as much as thirty pounds on an aged
bighorn. Sheep have soft hooves with hard outer rims that provide good footing on precarious
ledges; however, the two parts of the hoof are not independently movable. Bighorns are not as
agile as mountain goats on difficult terrain, but they do move quickly over rocky mountain slopes
when alarmed. Bighorn sheep have double-layered skulls shored with struts of bone for
protection during their fierce head butting. They also have a broad, massive tendon linking the
skull and spine to help the head pivot and recoil from blows. These bighorns range in height from
30 to 36 inches at the shoulder and range in length from 52 to 64 inches.
AVERAGE WEIGHT RANGE
Adult Rocky Mountain bighorns range in weight from 150 up to 300 pounds.
REPRODUCTION
Males do not defend territories but rather engage in battles over mating access to a particular
female. Age as well as horn size determines male dominance status. The rams charge each
other at about 20 miles per hour, and aim their foreheads while throwing full body weight at the
opponent. Impact can be heard as far as a mile away. Rutting season is in the autumn and early
winter, and births take place in the spring. Gestation lasts from 173-176 days, and normally one
young is born. Within a few weeks of birth, lambs form bands of their own, seeking out their
mothers only to suckle occasionally. They are completely weaned by 4-6 months of age.
FOOD USAGE / SELECTION
Bighorns are primarily grazers, consuming grasses, sedges, and forbs. In winter, when plants are
dormant, they rely on browsing willows, shrubs, forbs, sage, bearberry, rose, and other woody
plants.
RANGE
The natural range of the Rocky Mountain bighorn is in the Rocky Mountains from Alberta and
British Columbia south through Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
HABITAT
Bighorn sheep migrate between high mountain slopes in the summer and foothill slopes in winter.
The sheep are found on high, rugged, sparsely wooded mountain slopes, cliffs, and rocky, lightly
wooded canyons and foothills. They live in mountainous areas that are rarely disturbed by man.
COMMON HUNTING METHODS
Horses are frequently used to get into the high country to hunt for sheep. Stalking of the sheep
occurs only after extensive glassing of the slopes. Because the sheep are constantly surveying
the lower terrain, the objective is to approach the sheep from above. The rifle is the preferred
hunting instrument since shots are usually taken at long distances. Because it is difficult to get
within an acceptable range, bow hunting the sheep can be extremely challenging.
HUNTING CHALLENGES / VALUES
Because of the remote location of the habitat bighorn sheep live in and their excellent eyesight,
bighorns present both a physical challenge and a test of a hunter’s proficiency and stamina.
Adding to the challenge are the weather conditions. These can change rapidly while pursuing a
bighorn, and hunters need to be well prepared for drastic changes in weather. These bighorns
are hunted mainly for their majestic mounts but the meat is also considered excellent table fare.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
Rams have been observed in head to head combat for as long as 24 hours. A desert subspecies
(Ovis Canadensis nelsoni) is found from Nevada and California to west Texas and south into
Mexico. Bighorns have a complex 9-stage digestive process that allows them to maximize removal
of nutrients from food of marginal quality. Scientific specimens collected and sent to a lab clearly
indicated that significant numbers of lambs are lost as a result of the pneumonia/lungworm
complex.
The sheep’s color is usually grayish brown with a white rump patch. The belly and throat are
lighter than the rest of the body. The summer coat is a rich, glossy brown, but it tends to fade by
late winter. Both males and females have horns, but only the males develop the distinctive "curl".
The horns grow throughout the life of the animal and its age can be determined by the annual
growth rings on the horns. The male sheep is called a ram and is easily differentiated from the
female by size and his massive brown horns. The horns curl back over the ears, down and up
past the cheeks. Ewes, the females, are smaller than the rams and have shorter, smaller horns
that never exceed half a curl. The male’s horns can weigh as much as thirty pounds on an aged
bighorn. Sheep have soft hooves with hard outer rims that provide good footing on precarious
ledges; however, the two parts of the hoof are not independently movable. Bighorns are not as
agile as mountain goats on difficult terrain, but they do move quickly over rocky mountain slopes
when alarmed. Bighorn sheep have double-layered skulls shored with struts of bone for
protection during their fierce head butting. They also have a broad, massive tendon linking the
skull and spine to help the head pivot and recoil from blows. These bighorns range in height from
30 to 36 inches at the shoulder and range in length from 52 to 64 inches.
AVERAGE WEIGHT RANGE
Adult Rocky Mountain bighorns range in weight from 150 up to 300 pounds.
REPRODUCTION
Males do not defend territories but rather engage in battles over mating access to a particular
female. Age as well as horn size determines male dominance status. The rams charge each
other at about 20 miles per hour, and aim their foreheads while throwing full body weight at the
opponent. Impact can be heard as far as a mile away. Rutting season is in the autumn and early
winter, and births take place in the spring. Gestation lasts from 173-176 days, and normally one
young is born. Within a few weeks of birth, lambs form bands of their own, seeking out their
mothers only to suckle occasionally. They are completely weaned by 4-6 months of age.
FOOD USAGE / SELECTION
Bighorns are primarily grazers, consuming grasses, sedges, and forbs. In winter, when plants are
dormant, they rely on browsing willows, shrubs, forbs, sage, bearberry, rose, and other woody
plants.
RANGE
The natural range of the Rocky Mountain bighorn is in the Rocky Mountains from Alberta and
British Columbia south through Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
HABITAT
Bighorn sheep migrate between high mountain slopes in the summer and foothill slopes in winter.
The sheep are found on high, rugged, sparsely wooded mountain slopes, cliffs, and rocky, lightly
wooded canyons and foothills. They live in mountainous areas that are rarely disturbed by man.
COMMON HUNTING METHODS
Horses are frequently used to get into the high country to hunt for sheep. Stalking of the sheep
occurs only after extensive glassing of the slopes. Because the sheep are constantly surveying
the lower terrain, the objective is to approach the sheep from above. The rifle is the preferred
hunting instrument since shots are usually taken at long distances. Because it is difficult to get
within an acceptable range, bow hunting the sheep can be extremely challenging.
HUNTING CHALLENGES / VALUES
Because of the remote location of the habitat bighorn sheep live in and their excellent eyesight,
bighorns present both a physical challenge and a test of a hunter’s proficiency and stamina.
Adding to the challenge are the weather conditions. These can change rapidly while pursuing a
bighorn, and hunters need to be well prepared for drastic changes in weather. These bighorns
are hunted mainly for their majestic mounts but the meat is also considered excellent table fare.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
Rams have been observed in head to head combat for as long as 24 hours. A desert subspecies
(Ovis Canadensis nelsoni) is found from Nevada and California to west Texas and south into
Mexico. Bighorns have a complex 9-stage digestive process that allows them to maximize removal
of nutrients from food of marginal quality. Scientific specimens collected and sent to a lab clearly
indicated that significant numbers of lambs are lost as a result of the pneumonia/lungworm
complex.
