BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA 389 



Sheep rut in October, but the season varies somewhat in 

 different localities, being a little later in some than in others. 

 However, in a good sheep country the hunter may be pretty 

 sure of hearing the hollow clang of the horns of fighting rams 

 some time in October, and, at least, he may be sure that in 

 that month he has the best chance of coming across the really 

 big beasts, which, his Indian will tell him, retire during the rest 

 of the year to the very highest peaks. This I doubt myself, as 

 I have always tried the highest ground, and never done any 

 better there with the big rams than elsewhere. My own belief 

 is that all the sheep frequent the open tops in July and August, 

 when the grass is fresh where the snow has but recently dis- 

 appeared ; that in September they come down nearer the timber, 

 and even into it, in search of sweeter feed than that which the 

 sunburnt tops afford ; that during this time the old rams are 

 away by themselves hiding in the bush ; and that in October, 

 when the uplands have been revived by the late autumn rains, 

 the ewes seek the hill-tops again, and the amorous rams follow 

 the ewes. 



But at whatever season you seek the bighorn, remember 

 that he is very easily driven away, that all his senses are 

 exceptionally keen, and that from his vantage ground above 

 he incessantly watches the valley beneath. Therefore, if you 

 are changing camp, do not arrange matters so as to arrive in 

 a new country, which you intend to hunt, about nightfall, or if 

 you do, reduce the chopping which has to be done to a 

 minimum ; don't light big fires, and let those you light be as 

 much hidden as possible from the ridges upon which you ex- 

 pect to find game. If possible, it is better to get to a fresh 

 shooting ground so early that you can do a day's hunting before 

 there is any necessity for cutting timber or lighting a fire. 



As it is not easy to weigh large game in camp, and as I am 

 no believer in guess-weights, I shall not attempt to estimate 

 the weight of a bighorn ram ; but, bearing in mind that the 

 O. montana is one of the most compactly built animals in the 

 world, the curious in such matters may form an approximate 



