Okhotsk Snow Sheep

The majority of Okhotsk Snow Sheep (Ovis nivicola alleni) are found in the Khabarovsk, Magadan, and Yakutia Regions, particularly along the Stanovoy Mountain ridge. These sheep have a body length ranging from 4.6 to 5.3 feet (140 to 160 cm), a shoulder height between 3.1 and 3.7 feet (95 to 112 cm), and weigh between 132 and 264 lbs (60 to 120 kg). There is considerable geographic variation in their coloration and patterns. Typically, the summer coat is a light yellowish-gray, turning to a grizzled grayish-brown in winter. The front of the neck, shoulders, and legs, along with the dorsal stripe and tail, are brown, while the rump patch, belly, and back of the legs are whitish. The face, crown, and back of the neck are white, with a distinctive brown band crossing the face between the eyes and nose. Both males and females grow horns, which can reach up to 35 inches (89 cm) long in males. The horns curl backwards, downwards, and upwards around the ears, cork-screwing outwards in old males as the horns start their second revolution. The tips of the horns in this subspecies are pointed forward. The Okhotsk Snow Sheep is a well-adapted mountain dweller, capable of moving quickly over steep and uneven terrain. It is generally non-migratory but makes seasonal short-distance movements. Old males form small groups and remain separate until late fall, while the remaining sheep form mixed herds. After the mating period (November–December), the sheep stay in mixed groups of 15 to 20 individuals throughout the winter.

The hunting area is located within the Magadan Region, with the southern boundary marked by the Trans-Siberian Highway from the city of Magadan until it crosses the border into the Republic of Yakutia. From Yakutia, the area can be reached by car along the Yakutsk–Magadan highway, approximately 600 km, near the border of three regions: Yakutia, Magadan, and Okhotsk. Okhotsk Snow Sheep inhabit the rocky coast of the Okhotsk Sea and the mountainous inland areas, typically between 2,500 and 6,000 feet (800 to 1,800 meters) in elevation. Hunting is done on foot, requiring hunters to walk 5 to 10 miles a day. Fly camps are used if the sheep are found far from the base camp. While the terrain is not overly difficult, Snow Sheep hunting is physically challenging and demands a certain level of mountain hunting experience. Long-range shooting, typically between 350 and 450 yards, is common. In the Magadan region, there is an option for helicopter camp movement, similar to the Kolyma Snow Sheep area. In the Yakutia area, hunters will find well-scouted camps, with the possibility of moving them by all-terrain vehicle.