126 Western Live-stock Management 



tion to leave sheep in the mountains after the time when 

 snow storms may possibly come. This policy is success- 

 ful part of the time, but occasionally entire bands are lost 

 from an unexpected storm, and in severe cases the herder 

 will be fortunate if he escapes with his own life. Most of 

 the sheep are brought out of the mountains in September 

 and October. 



The location of the winter range is determined by its 

 proximity to haystacks or the ranch house. Where the 

 snowfall is heavy, it is necessary that the winter range be 

 located close to covered corrals and haystacks. The 

 winter ranges are for the most part located on the lower 

 hills, plateaus, and prairies, where the snowfall is com- 

 paratively light, especially as compared with the moun- 

 tains. In the lower lands the atmosphere is usually fairly 

 dry and there is a considerable wind, so that even when 

 there is a comparatively heavy snowfall, the wind will 

 leave a great many bare places. While all of these ranges 

 are designated as "winter" ranges, it must be understood 

 that to call them spring and fall ranges would give a more 

 adequate idea of their real use unless it be in parts of New 

 Mexico, Arizona, or Nevada. Most of these ranges af- 

 ford grazing for one to three months earlier in the spring 

 than do the typical summer ranges and in addition they 

 afford a like amount of good grazing during the fall after 

 the danger of early storms has made it necessary to take 

 the sheep out of the mountains. During the winter, 

 most of the winter ranges amount to very little. It is 

 very true that when the grass is allowed to obtain a good 

 growth during the summer, it cures down in the fall and 

 makes a very nutritious feed at such times in the winter 

 that it is not covered with snow. On account of the 

 present scarcity of range land of this kind, it is almost 



