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 
