| (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) |
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
The fur is smooth and composed of an outer coat of brittle guard hairs. The coloration
usually ranges from chocolate to gray-brown with whitish rump patches. The summer coat
is generally a darker, rich, glossy brown, which becomes quite faded by late winter.
Ram horns, by age 7 or 8 years, measure 30 to 40 inches along the outside curl with a
base circumference of 13 to 15 inches. The horns curl back over the ears, down and up
past the cheeks. Ewe horns are generally 10 to 13 inches long with a base circumference
of 5 to 6 inches, and never exceed half a curl. During the first year, the horns of both sexes
grow straight back from the tops of their heads over a bony stump, and stop growing during
the breeding season, producing a dense, dark growth ring that can be counted to
determine a bighorn's age. Each dark ring counts as a year of growth. Ram horns can
weigh up to 30 pounds.
The bighorn's body is compact and muscular; the nose (muzzle) is narrow and pointed; the
ears are short and pointed; the tail is very short (4 to 6 inches long); the hooves are sharp-
edged, with a soft center. The hooves are double-lobed, approximately 3 to 3.5 inches
long, and the fore-prints are slightly larger than the hind-prints (similar to deer prints,
however, less splayed). Bighorn sheep have extremely acute eyesight. They can see
movement at distances of up to one mile. Other acute senses they possess are hearing,
and smell. Adults stand 32-40 inches tall at the shoulder and range between 50 and 62
inches in length.
AVERAGE WEIGHT RANGE
Desert bighorns weigh between 75 and 200 pounds as adults.
REPRODUCTION
Rutting season lasts from July to December, with births taking place in the spring. Males
engage in battles (head-to-head) over mating access to a particular female. Some battles
have been observed to last as long as 24 hours. They begin battle snorting, grunting, and
pushing their front hooves at each other. Two rams move several feet away from each
other, rear up on their hind legs, and charge toward the head-to-head crash. The force is
amazing and can be heard for up to a half mile. The winner, or loser, can sustain
permanently chipped or broken horns. Although capable of breeding at around two years
of age, most rams will not participate in the breeding process until seven or eight years of
age. When they reach this age they are finally able to exhibit the dominance through body
size, horn development, and head-butting to actually breed females.
Ewes breed at approximately two and a half years old, and gestation lasts approximately
180 days. Ewes, usually give birth to only one lamb, two lambs are rare. They are born
near steep cliffs from late February to early June. Newborn lambs weigh 8 to 10 pounds.
The young are active within minutes of birth. The lambs have dark eyes and fuzzy, dark
gray hair. Within a few weeks of birth, lambs form bands among themselves and are
weaned within 4 to 6 months.
FOOD USAGE / SELECTION
Desert bighorns eat a diet of browse, grasses and forbs. Bighorns get most of their
moisture from the vegetation they consume. However, they still visit water holes every three
to four days in summer. They store the water they drink, then, lose up to 30 percent of their
total body weight before needing another drink. During the summer, they rest most of the
daylight hours and feed at night.
RANGE
Desert bighorns are found in Nevada, Utah, and California to west Texas, the Arizona Strip,
and south into Mexico.
HABITAT
Desert bighorn habitat is typically rough, rocky, cliffs and bluffs, allowing a quick escape
from predators. During the winter, bighorns prefer slopes at 2,500-5,000 feet where annual
snowfall is less than 60 inches a year, since they cannot paw through deep snow to feed.
Their summer range is at an elevation between 6,000-8,500 feet.
COMMON HUNTING METHODS
Spot and stalk is the common method for hunting desert bighorns. Stalking of the sheep
occurs only after extensive glassing of the slopes. Because sheep are continuously
surveying lower terrain, the objective is to approach sheep from above. Most bighorn
hunters utilize high-powered rifles, as long-range shots are the norm.
HUNTING CHALLENGES / VALUES
Rough and rocky conditions at high altitudes can be very dangerous for hunters. The
bighorns’ senses of eyesight, smell, and hearing quickly alert them to predators or hunters
adding to the challenge of the hunt. The size of their horns and their majestic mounts make
them an extremely sought after possession.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
Bighorn sheep have extremely acute eyesight. They can see movement at distances of up
to one mile.
The fur is smooth and composed of an outer coat of brittle guard hairs. The coloration
usually ranges from chocolate to gray-brown with whitish rump patches. The summer coat
is generally a darker, rich, glossy brown, which becomes quite faded by late winter.
Ram horns, by age 7 or 8 years, measure 30 to 40 inches along the outside curl with a
base circumference of 13 to 15 inches. The horns curl back over the ears, down and up
past the cheeks. Ewe horns are generally 10 to 13 inches long with a base circumference
of 5 to 6 inches, and never exceed half a curl. During the first year, the horns of both sexes
grow straight back from the tops of their heads over a bony stump, and stop growing during
the breeding season, producing a dense, dark growth ring that can be counted to
determine a bighorn's age. Each dark ring counts as a year of growth. Ram horns can
weigh up to 30 pounds.
The bighorn's body is compact and muscular; the nose (muzzle) is narrow and pointed; the
ears are short and pointed; the tail is very short (4 to 6 inches long); the hooves are sharp-
edged, with a soft center. The hooves are double-lobed, approximately 3 to 3.5 inches
long, and the fore-prints are slightly larger than the hind-prints (similar to deer prints,
however, less splayed). Bighorn sheep have extremely acute eyesight. They can see
movement at distances of up to one mile. Other acute senses they possess are hearing,
and smell. Adults stand 32-40 inches tall at the shoulder and range between 50 and 62
inches in length.
AVERAGE WEIGHT RANGE
Desert bighorns weigh between 75 and 200 pounds as adults.
REPRODUCTION
Rutting season lasts from July to December, with births taking place in the spring. Males
engage in battles (head-to-head) over mating access to a particular female. Some battles
have been observed to last as long as 24 hours. They begin battle snorting, grunting, and
pushing their front hooves at each other. Two rams move several feet away from each
other, rear up on their hind legs, and charge toward the head-to-head crash. The force is
amazing and can be heard for up to a half mile. The winner, or loser, can sustain
permanently chipped or broken horns. Although capable of breeding at around two years
of age, most rams will not participate in the breeding process until seven or eight years of
age. When they reach this age they are finally able to exhibit the dominance through body
size, horn development, and head-butting to actually breed females.
Ewes breed at approximately two and a half years old, and gestation lasts approximately
180 days. Ewes, usually give birth to only one lamb, two lambs are rare. They are born
near steep cliffs from late February to early June. Newborn lambs weigh 8 to 10 pounds.
The young are active within minutes of birth. The lambs have dark eyes and fuzzy, dark
gray hair. Within a few weeks of birth, lambs form bands among themselves and are
weaned within 4 to 6 months.
FOOD USAGE / SELECTION
Desert bighorns eat a diet of browse, grasses and forbs. Bighorns get most of their
moisture from the vegetation they consume. However, they still visit water holes every three
to four days in summer. They store the water they drink, then, lose up to 30 percent of their
total body weight before needing another drink. During the summer, they rest most of the
daylight hours and feed at night.
RANGE
Desert bighorns are found in Nevada, Utah, and California to west Texas, the Arizona Strip,
and south into Mexico.
HABITAT
Desert bighorn habitat is typically rough, rocky, cliffs and bluffs, allowing a quick escape
from predators. During the winter, bighorns prefer slopes at 2,500-5,000 feet where annual
snowfall is less than 60 inches a year, since they cannot paw through deep snow to feed.
Their summer range is at an elevation between 6,000-8,500 feet.
COMMON HUNTING METHODS
Spot and stalk is the common method for hunting desert bighorns. Stalking of the sheep
occurs only after extensive glassing of the slopes. Because sheep are continuously
surveying lower terrain, the objective is to approach sheep from above. Most bighorn
hunters utilize high-powered rifles, as long-range shots are the norm.
HUNTING CHALLENGES / VALUES
Rough and rocky conditions at high altitudes can be very dangerous for hunters. The
bighorns’ senses of eyesight, smell, and hearing quickly alert them to predators or hunters
adding to the challenge of the hunt. The size of their horns and their majestic mounts make
them an extremely sought after possession.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
Bighorn sheep have extremely acute eyesight. They can see movement at distances of up
to one mile.
