Return of the

bighorns

Red Canyon Lodge is a Partner in Recreation with Ashley National Forest

So where are the boys?Mature, breeding age rams live separately from the rest of the herd for much of the year. During the summer, most herds viewed in Flaming Gorge are a mixture of adult females, lambs and immature males. The rams migrate as far as 20 miles away to the north slopes of the Uinta Mountains, where they will co-exist peacefully in their own herds. But come November, they will join up with the females and begin the exciting rites of fall. The head-butting clash of rams, fighting for mating dominance, is so powerful that it can be heard from miles away!

Finding them…Flaming Gorge Country is fortunate to have several consistent areas of easily viewed Bighorn sheep herds. They include Sheep Creek Geological Loop, Red Canyon Overlook, and the slopes of Lake Flaming Gorge (between the Dam and Sheep Creek). In nearby Dinosaur National Monument, Jones Hole Trail and Ladore Canyon have commonly seen populations.

Other areas in Utah that provide great viewing opportunities include; Rock Canyon Park in Provo, Antelope Island State Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, Sunnyside (near Price) and the White Rim Trail of Canyonlands National Park.

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REDCANYONLODGE

Red Canyon LodgeTucked away in Flaming Gorge Country amongst towering ponderosa pines is an undiscovered gem. With abundant wildlife, fine dining, log cabins, private lakes and a variety of activities for all ages – Red Canyon Lodge is Flaming Gorge Country’s premier resort. It is truly the civilized way to enjoy the great outdoors!

Trackers Note: While very similar to Mule Deer, bighorn tracks are straight along the outside edges – deer are convex.

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A wonder of nature…Every November, the resounding crashes would echo like gunshots through the mountains and canyons of what is now known as Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. The Bighorn sheep rams were at it again – engaged in their annual ritual of thundering charges resulting in a tremendous head-on collision of massive horns. It is how they established exactly who – on these craggy mountainsides - was king of the hill. It is how they determined who would be the dominant gene pool in their herd. And it is an annual rite that was played out for thousands of years.

A place in history…Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep had been well established in Flaming Gorge Country. Archeological records shows much evidence of the dependence of early cultures on Bighorn sheep for their livelihood. Excavations of ancient sites north of Flaming Gorge show use of Bighorn sheep as a food source for as long as 9,000 years. Pictographs of Bighorn sheep are the most common image of wildlife depicted in the rock art of the Fremont Culture of this area and the Anasazi culture of southern Utah. Native American tribes of the region, like the Shoshone, were so dependent on Bighorn sheep that some groups of them were known as ‘Sheepeaters.’ And it was a most potent alliance - a bow crafted from the horn of an adult Bighorn male was so powerful that it was able to

shoot arrows completely through the body of a massive buffalo! Even early mountain men and explorers like John Wesley Powell, Osborne Russell, William Ashley and John C. Fremont couldn’t help but comment on the abundant populations of Bighorn sheep that they frequently encountered.

Empty spaces…But by the mid 1900’s the mountains fell silent. Reports of Bighorn sheep, anywhere in Utah, became rare. Many considered them extinct. Decimated by over-hunting, loss of habitat and fatal diseases transmitted by domestic sheep herds, this majestic native symbol of wild country was reduced to a few small groups in very remote regions of the state.

A job well done…Thanks to the determined efforts of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the National Park Service and concerned citizens, Bighorn sheep have been successfully introduced into their former ranges in many parts of the state. The US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management also have played a significant role by preparing suitable habitat. Together, their work in Flaming Gorge Country is a great story.

In 1983, Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep were re-introduced to Flaming Gorge on Bare-top Mountain – this herd remains the largest and most successful of the efforts to date.

Over the years since, additional herds have been placed in Sheep Creek, Carter Creek, Red Canyon and, most recently Little Hole. Combined with the re-introduction efforts in Dinosaur National Monument, this progression has greatly achieved Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources long sought goal of re-establishing Bighorn populations along their historic range on the Green River in Northern Utah.

Female bighorn sheep

Watchable Wildlife indeed…Bighorn sheep have become one of Utah’s most Watchable Wildlife. Viewing the majestic Bighorn ram with his powerful body and massive set of curved horns is always a thrilling experience. Unlike many large mammals of the west, herds of Bighorn sheep are easy to observe as they go about their day with seeming indifference to human presence. While deer and elk are most active during the edges of the day (early mornings and late evenings), Bighorns are out and about throughout daylight hours. Many visitors to Flaming Gorge are enchanted by the opportunity to watch herds, feeding along the roadsides, right out of their car windows!

What’s with the horns anyway?...Males of the deer family like Mule deer, Elk and Moose grow large horns (antlers) every summer that are shed each winter. Bighorn sheep horns, on the other hand, are permanent – they are never shed. Unlike the deer family, both males and female sheep grow horns.

An adult female’s horns grow several inches in length, which makes them virtually indistinguishable from young males. However, a male’s horns will continue to grow throughout its lifetime at a rate of 4-5 inches per year. The massive full curl ‘headgear’ of a fully adult ram will take 7-9 years to develop, depending on habitat conditions.

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