Bighorn sheep

Wild mountain sheep of western North America, named for the massive, curled horns of the rams. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) are relatively large-bodies, social animals.

The horns are used by the ram, a male bighorn sheep, to battle with other males in head-butting jousts. Rams thus become symbols of natural instincts and strength, as well as masculinity, aggression and a procreative force of life.

As well as their massive horns, which can weigh up to 30 pounds (14 kg), these sheep have a reinforced skull that is linked to the spine by a thick tendon.

Wyoming has some good bighorn sheep hunting concentrated mostly around Yellowstone National Park and in the Wind River Range. Unfortunately, much of the sheep hunting tales place in designated wilderness, where nonresidents are required to hunt with a guide, so the nonresident doesn’t have many options for hunting on his own.

Bighorn can live 15-16 years in the wild. The main causes of death are predation by maintain lions, bobcats, coyotes, disease, accidents and ingestion of poisonous plants.
Bighorn sheep