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Species / Bighorn Sheep / Rocky Mountain Bighorn

Rocky Mountain Bighorn

Subspecies of Bighorn Sheep · Ovis canadensis

Rocky Mountains from Colorado and New Mexico north through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Alberta, and British Columbia

Male weight
250–350 lbs
Female weight
125–200 lbs
Record
209 3/8 Boone & Crockett

Overview

Rocky Mountain bighorn (Ovis canadensis canadensis) are the iconic subspecies of North American mountain hunting — massive, dark-bodied rams with heavy, broomed horns that curl past the eye into full or greater-than-full curl in mature animals.

Identifying Features

Largest bighorn subspecies; dark gray-brown body with cream-white rump patch and nose; horn color is amber to dark brown with deep, wide curl

Hunting This Subspecies

Most Rocky Mountain bighorn seasons run September through December. Early-season rams are on high alpine summer range; late-season hunting locates rams on winter range below timberline.