BIG GAME OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 101 



The large herbivorous game animals of the Rockies are: 



1. Big-horn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) 



2. Mountain Goat {Oreamnos montanus) 



3. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) 



4. White-tail Deer (Odocoileus americanus macroHnu) 



5. Moose {Aices americanus) 



6. Elk {Cervus canadensis) 



7. Caribou (Rangifer montanus) 



The large carnivorous animals are : 



1. Grizzly Bear (Ursus horribilis) 



2. Black Bear (Ursus americanus) 



3. Timber Wolf (Cdnis nubilis) 



4. Mountain Lion or Cougar (^Felis concolor) 



5. Prairie Wolf or Coyote (Canis latrans) 



The fur-bearing animals include the beaver, lynx, marten, mink, 

 skunk, wolverine, and various others of less imptortance. 



Description of the Important Game 



The first animal in importance, from the sportsman's 

 Big-horn viewpoint, is the Rocky Mountain big-horn. No finer 



trophy exists in America than the head of the big- 

 horn sheep, and no other animal, with the possible exception of the 

 elk, has been hunted more assiduously or with more disastrous results. 

 Although there are six species of mountain sheep in America, the 

 big-horn originally had the widest range, being found from Mexico to 

 the Peace river and westward almost to the Pacific. Because of its 

 unusual development of horn, it has been the most sought after by 

 hunters. As a consequence, it has almost disappeared from the 

 United States and can now be nowhere legally hunted in any state 

 in the Union. It has also decreased very greatly in numbers in the 

 only two provinces of Canada where it occurs, namely Alberta and 

 British Columbia. The writer's study of the game situation in the 

 Alberta Rockies included the taking of a census of the mountain sheep 

 which, however imperfect it is recognized to be, is nevertheless based 

 upon the very best available knowledge and is at least interesting as an 

 indication of present conditions. The estimates were made by seven 

 of the best guides and hunters in the mountains and checked by the 

 writer and the two game guardians who have the widest knowledge of 

 conditions. The following are the number of big-horn sheep believed 

 to be in the region under discussion: 



