Bighorn Sheep begin moving to Miller Butte on the National Elk Refuge sometime in mid-November. The first group will usually be ewes. The rams appear around Thanksgiving and by the first of December, it’s usually possible to see head bashing by the biggest rams.
Grand Teton National Park has a herd or two in the rocky slopes on the west side of Jackson Lake. Few visitors will ever see them!
The Elk Refuge herd can total around 150 sheep. I’ve counted that amount several times over the years. On many days, the sheep come off the butte to feed on the grasses and to lick salt off the road and parked vehicles. The refuge discourages visitors from letting the bighorns lick the salt (and no telling what other chemicals) off the sludge on vehicles.
The National Elk Refuge does not have distance rules, so it is possible to be very close to the sheep.Their number one “issue” is parking and stopping on the roads. Visitors must park in a regulation pull-out, of which there are not enough.
Head bashing usually occurs early in the rut season as the rams establish the pecking order and dominance. The sound of the clash is impressive! It echoes down the valley.
