Overview
Horns are dark amber and vary widely in configuration. The Fannin Sheep has been described historically as a saddle back sheep departing from the all-white Dall by the dark haired areas of the back and shoulders with shades of gray and brown. Rams generally show more color than ewes. If a ram has only a black tail, it is generally accepted as a Dall sheep. It is only when the dark hair appears on the body that it is considered a Fannin. Because rams with color have begun to show up quite often in traditional Dall habitat, GSCO has made the following decision: If a ram has only a small amount of black hair within the body and/or down the legs, the trophy owner can choose to call it either Fannin or Dall.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Ovis
- Species
- Thinhorn sheep, dalli
Habitat
Alpine country, including glacier edges, below the permanent snow line. Essential elements are steep, rugged cliffs and rock outcroppings for escape from predators, and nearby meadows for feeding.
Diet
These animals primarily graze, and eat a wide variety of plants especially in the warmer months. They consume lichens and mosses in smaller amounts.
Behavior
These animals forage across long distances, and the sexes remain separate except during the breeding season in early winter.
Hunting
Fannin Sheep hunts are usually more expensive than Dall Sheep and are conducted with horses. Other game (bears, elk, goats and moose, etc.) can be hunted as well. Either a Fannin or a Stone counts toward the Grand Slam and the Ovis World Slam. However, for the Ovis World Slam Super 20, 30, or 40, both a Stone AND Fannin may be included.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.