A wildlife officer in western Canada thinks he may have found a record-breaking set of horns from a bighorn sheep. These animals are plentiful in the province of Alberta and are a big draw for trophy hunters who will pay guides up to $35,000 for excursions.
The big horns of a 10-year-old ram were found two weeks ago while the officer was on a routine check in the area of a reclaimed coal mine. He believes the animal died from this year’s especially severe winter.
Almost two centimetres bigger
The horns weigh about 18 kilograms and must be left to dry for a couple of months before they can be officially measured. A preliminary measurement indicates they may be almost two centimetres over the score of the current world-record holding horns from a bighorn shot in 2000.
The horns now belong to the province and will eventually be put on display in a museum or the lobby of a government building.
Bighorns getting smaller
A study published last December indicates bighorn sheep are getting smaller and concludes that’s because hunters kill the animals with the biggest horns. It is those with smaller horns that have better chances of surviving and breeding.
Now, every hunter who asks permission to hunt a bighorn gets it. The study suggests that policy should change or the hunting season should be shortened.
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