Ewe vs Young Ram

[mtnrunner260]

I'll be tagging along on a ewe hunt this fall and have been doing a bit of research on identifying a ewe vs a young ram.
Nevada has a nice PowerPoint presentation
Which I'm not smart enough to attach but can be found by googling
"Nevada ewe vs ram"
Are there other resources that I've missed?
Stoked for the opportunity to be part of my first sheep hunt.

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

I've been looking into it a lot as well. I have an archery ewe hunt this year. Seems it comes down to ewes having elongated blockier heads, narrow horn base, horns aren't as swept back, less muscular than young rams, and no rocky mountain oysters.

 

[realunlucky]

I drew a ewe tag in Nevada and that power point was about the best collection of information complied that i personally found.
In short there is only one way to be 100%

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[Ratbeetle]

CPW has a pretty good video series on their website.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. CPW issues hunting and fishing...

cpw.state.co.us

 

[Legend]

I was so scared I almost let her walk and ate my tag. After a lot of looking she stopped and took a piss. I wasn't sure until then.

 

[npm352]

I hunted ewe in Montana. They said in their regs (not sure if they still do) that it was like a $30,000 fine for shooting a ram. Idk if they would enforce it at that level for a mistake, but I was not about to find out. I found mine bedded at 80 yards and was sure she was a female. I still decided to jump her and watch her run away. Once I was sure there was no swinging sack, I shot her running away.

I saw the NV presentation and slides recently and thought it was really helpful as far as looking at them and their horn bases and other indicators.

 

[npm352]

 

[slick]

To me there’s not even a close similarity, but I have had the good fortune to spend lots of time in sheep country. My advice, don’t shoot the first one you see and enjoy watching them while you’re in their territory. You look over enough of them it becomes pretty evident.


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[lonedave]

The Nevada info is good, If you are hunting during the rut, you can be pretty sure if there is a ram chasing them around, and if you limit yourself to a short range shot or a short range weapon, it's even easier to tell! Last fall here in Washington...

 

[mtnrunner260]

Thanks for the Colorado link and great pics.

 

[Nick Muche]

I hunted a MT ewe in the rut, so I just waited for a Ram to sniff her ass, then shot her. Pretty fun time and would love to do it again someday. Best of luck!

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

I hunted a MT ewe in the rut, so I just waited for a Ram to sniff her ass, then shot her. Pretty fun time and would love to do it again someday. Best of luck!

LOL that's the pro play. The piss squat, or an ass sniff.

 

[npm352]

Just be aware before you pull the trigger that more and more young rams are identifying as ewes these days.

 

[Montana Craig]

I went in Montana last year and spent a few nights looking online at pictures. The first ewes I saw I was nervous they could be young rams so we didn't shoot and they ended up getting spooked and took off. A few miles later and a couple drainages over we found the 3 sheep again the ram was trying to mount them so at that point I was sure. The next few days I saw a ton more sheep and it was obvious which ones were young rams and ewes. Another thing to note is make sure the ewe isn't with a lamb.

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[Stubborn_bowhunter]

Looking at random photos. Is this a young ram, or a ewe? Can't see the belly spot because of the shedding hair. Horn bases seem somewhat wider than the eyes, but figure they'd be even wider if it was a young ram.

 

[Nick Muche]

That be a young ram.

 

[mtnrunner260]

Thanks for all the great responses guys!
This is a ram correct?

 

[Stubborn_bowhunter]

Thanks for all the great responses guys!
This is a ram correct?View attachment 203368

The base of the horns and no belly spot makes me think ewe.

 

[slick]

I think young ram first pic.

Ewe at the guzzler.


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[Kristopher10]

Some good info here, thanks.