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We invite you to learn more about how to hunt bighorn sheep, shubuk, and where to look for snow sheep and northern sheep. This publication is for informational purposes only. Many hunters in Russia and other countries enjoy hunting and shooting these relatively large mammals.
Although the snow sheep's habitat includes the western part of the Putorana Plateau Taiga Nature Reserve, trophy hunting trips for these animals are not available there. Only in the spring can you combine hunting and fishing by taking the popular "Spring Goose Hunt" route.
These ungulates are listed in the Red Book of the Putorana Nature Reserve, but bighorn sheep can be taken in other areas, legally and on entirely legal grounds.
Where do Chubuki live?
Snow sheep can be found not only in protected taiga regions. Their habitat includes the mountainous regions of Eastern Siberia, Northern Asia, and Northeast Asia.
- Mountain ranges of Chukotka, Kamchatka, Sakhalin;
- Stanovoye highlands Koryakskoye, Stanovoye;
- Stanovoe and Yablonovoe ridges;
- Verkhoyansk mountain ranges.
Bighorn sheep formerly inhabited the lower reaches of the Yenisei River, where fishing trips are available to hunt river alligators and pike. Although they are considered to be of least concern, these mammals are now rarely encountered near the mighty Siberian river. However, they are occasionally spotted in Taimyr.
What does a bighorn sheep look like?
The largest representatives of the bighorn genus live in Siberia and the Far East. They are divided into three species:
- Kolyma;
- Yakut;
- Okhotsk.
In appearance, the following can be noted:
1. At the withers, individuals reach a height of more than 1 meter, and their weight can reach 100-150 kg.
2. The muscular, powerful body is covered with abundant fur. This keeps the chubuk warm even in the harshest frosts.
3. Short ears on a small head, perfectly match the large, thick horns.
4. The legs are long, and their unique hooves allow the animals to climb mountains to a height of up to 5 km.
Methods of hunting snow sheep
The snow sheep is considered an intelligent and wary animal. These mammals can sense the approach of a human from a great distance, making snow sheep hunting exciting and interesting, but physically challenging. It's necessary not only to track the animal but also to shoot it without it tumbling off a cliff.
Common methods of hunting bighorn sheep include:
Secretly
Approach the herd as quietly as possible and be sure to position yourself downwind. Hunters often use distracting people, while experienced marksmen hide in ambush on the other side.
At the crossings
This method is challenging because hunters must understand the entire lifestyle of the snow sheep in a given area. This means knowing the feeding times and locations, migration times, and the location of the animals' favorite pastures.
On impulse
This type of hunt requires man's faithful companions, dogs. The method is similar to the stalking method described above. The snow sheep are driven to an ambush site, after which the hunters positioned there are required to make accurate shots.
Conclusion
It's possible to hit a bighorn sheep with a shot at short ranges. Typically, this is about two hundred meters, but sometimes shooting bighorn sheep requires longer range, depending on the terrain and other challenges.
Bighorn sheep hunting typically begins early in the morning and can last until complete darkness. Some hunters, on the other hand, set out to hunt these mammals in the late afternoon. However, tracking often requires a long time, and in these cases, a successful bighorn sheep hunt is not always possible.
