Bighorn Sheep on trailcam, Summer 2010

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:01 pm

The goal of getting these guys on camera started a long time ago. I got serious about it this spring, when many of you posted sightings on Ontario Ridge. Now I had a specific place to try!

Icehouse Canyon is kind of far for me to drive for a day hike. So the first time up, I made sure there were fresh batteries, and a good location, and planned to leave the camera out for about 6 weeks or so. Came back a month later (zero patience) only to find NO videos had been taken. Thought I had a bad batch of batteries, so I replaced them...then got to worrying something was actually wrong with the camera itself, so I had to go up there again after about a week. Everything checked out, and the following is the result of four trips up the ridge, the help of several friends, and the cooperation of this group of bighorn rams (the big boss seems to have a nice red radio collar too!)

There is about 11 minutes of footage of them. I'll upload the whole thing if anyone is interested. They do a lot of posturing in between actual sparring. They rub their heads together, and tense up and stare at each other with their noses out straight, heads parallel to the ground. And a lot of the time, they simply stand around doing nothing.

Thanks Jane, Archie, Camille, Norma, Zach, Turtle, and Matt!!

Post by **HikeUp** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:42 pm

Wow. Tremendous footage! Congrats and thanks for sharing!

What a bunch of boneheads though! LOL

lilbitmo · Post by **lilbitmo** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:49 am

Nice work Johanna, CM.

Thanks everyone else for helping her.

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 7:19 am

Spectacular footage, Ms. Magic. If the SGMDF gave out awards (think Emmys. Sheepies? Tacos?) for capturing the spirit of the Gabriel's this would be a sure winner. The segments of the the solo nelsoni are at least as alluring as the group / action shots, though the latter kind of remind me of Turtle and my office. Standing around for long stretches, then periodically whacking each other in the head. Gotta start working on a set of those horns though.

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 7:50 am

so cool! and even a great background too

asbufra · Post by **asbufra** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:44 am

Really nice. Thank you for posting.
If the file isn't too big I would view the whole 11 minutes if you post it.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:37 am

That's FREAKIN' cool!!! Best dang Bighorn video evah!

Seriously, what good footage. Thanks for the hard work that went into this. You missed your calling as a wildlife biologist.

HJ

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:46 pm

Thanks guys!

Here is the cut with all the footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d1xL_qxA9s

Elwood - it's an honor just to be nominated for a Big Ass Hammie! Thanks!

lilbitmo · Post by **lilbitmo** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:58 pm

I nominate CM A.K.A Johanna for one "Big Ass Ham"

She gets my vote - video excellence award 8)

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:15 pm

J, those are amazing videos. Thank you for posting them!

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:12 am

The (Big Ass) Hammies! I like it!

HJ