Bighorn sheep horns

When do bighorn sheep shed their outer shell? Also, when do pronghorn shed theirs?
7,568
DeadI
He's Alive. Good to see ya posting again. Its been awhile.

As for you question I have no Idea. Just wanted to welcome you back.
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NONYA
Never and around here antelope shed in November.
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chet
Pronghorn (antelope) are the only horned creatures that actually shed their sheaths
Bighorn sheep never shed

The pronghorns here in the west desert start shedding in late october, but can pack them til late december when the new caritin (sp) pushes off the sheath
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ridgetop
I was reading this about not collecting bighorn sheep horns. So what then are they talking about, if they don't loose them?

Colorado residents are reminded that the Colorado Division of Wildlife has posted a temporary emergency closure on wildlife-related recreational activities on public lands in the Gunnison Basin below 9,500 feet through May 15. Activities prohibited include all hunting and shed-antler collecting. Fishing is still permitted on Blue Mesa Reservoir and area streams. Collection of big horn sheep horns or skulls in sheep unit S70 is also prohibited. The full closure notice and a map can be viewed at the DOW web site: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpe ... on2008.htm.
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MuleyMadness
Maybe referring to dead skulls/heads?
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MULIES4EVER
Dead would be my guess also.
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southwind
I would say they are referring to dead animal find. I know a lot of states you may not even possess bighorn without obtaining a tag and registering the find.
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Hiker
Yes, it's referring to Skulls with unmarked horns. From what I understand, it's illegal to possess unmarked horns of sheep or Rocky mountain goats.

From CDOW website.....
MANDATORYCHECK: BIGHORN SHEEP
1. All bighorns, including ewes and desert bighorns, must be
inspected by a DOW officer or at a DOW office within 5 working
days of harvest. You must personally present sheep with horns and
skull intact. Harvest report is completed at that time. A permanent
marker will be attached to the horn of bighorn rams.
3. It is illegal to trade, transfer or sell ram heads or horns unless
DOW inspects and permanently marks horns.
4. The DOW permanently marks only rams killed with a license. It
is illegal to trade, transfer or sell bighorn capes and horns, or skulls
with unmarked horns.
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Default Avatar
Hiker #4 is wrong, My uncle worked on the rail road for years and has two skulls of big horns killed by the train and both of them he had to have plugged, My uncle thought the DOW officer was just going to take them and not bring them back but he did, The officer still told him that he couldnt sell them, Uncle just said he never wanted to the one skull is a nice ram 175-180 sheep the other was bigger but one side was broke.
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Hiker
Avs Man, It's only illegal to have them if they're unplugged. That was nice of the CO to do that for your uncle. As long as they're plugged we can have them in our possession. Were they along the tracks by the river? Colorado?
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Utahbowhunter
Seen a post on a different site of someone that found Bighorn sheds... They say that they shed them right before they die.
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Buck Fever
"Utahbowhunter" wrote:Seen a post on a different site of someone that found Bighorn sheds... They say that they shed them right before they die.
 Never heard that one before..... :-k :-k
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Default Avatar
As far as I know, it is a big NO. I do know from my brother-in-law that has sheep that are just like normal sheep rams. After they die they will fall off after they have had all the flesh rotted and or eatin away from the horn, then fall off looking to be like a sheded them. Varmits will smell the rotted horns and carry them away. He has seen some of his ram horns as far as over 1000 yards away even up hill cause they are light weight. Same thing with cattle. buffalo, goats and so on. Antelope are the only horned animal that looses its sheath, which is the outer shell of the horn.
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Utahbowhunter
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k257/Aaron_57/0Bighorn.jpg" alt="" />
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k257/Aaron_57/0Bighorn2.jpg" alt="" />
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k257/Aaron_57/0bighorn3.jpg" alt="" />
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MuleyMadness
Wow, that is cool. Never seen anything like that. Didn't know they could loose the outer shell like that.
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Default Avatar
after they die sure look at the skull its on the dead tree by the guys knee.
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MULIES4EVER
Cool pics. I agree that they do not shed. After death they will fall off when the interior of the horn decays. It is just tissue under there holding them on just like an antelope. I have done sheep skulls before and they are the same. The horn must be removed to clean the tissue underneath or the smell will make you want to throw it away.
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Default Avatar
It doesnt smell like sheep does it. Or rotting sheep.
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