Barbary sheep

Scientific name: Ammotragus lervia

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males are stockier with a pronounced neck mane extending down the chest and forelegs; females lack this mane. Both sexes display tawny to reddish-brown coats with lighter undersides, and both carry backward-curving horns (males larger and more massive).

Size and weight

Males: 100–120 kg, body length 150–160 cm; females: 40–55 kg, body length 130–140 cm.

Habitat

Barbary sheep inhabit rocky, arid mountain terrain with sparse scrub vegetation, canyon systems, and bajadas. They occupy elevations from sea level to 2,000 m, preferring broken terrain with cliff faces and rocky outcrops.

Distribution

Native to the Sahara and Atlas Mountains of North Africa; introduced populations now established in the southwestern United States (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona), where they thrive in similar arid mountain habitat.

Diet

Barbary sheep browse shrubs, grasses, and forbs, shifting to dried vegetation and bark during drought; they require minimal water and exploit desert plants unavailable to competing herbivores.

Behaviour

Most active at dawn and dusk, though they may move throughout daylight in cooler months. They are gregarious, forming small bachelor groups or mixed herds; rams are often solitary or in small bachelor bands during off-season.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings (small pellets, often in middens) and tracks in sandy washes and around water sources. Stalk broken, rocky terrain during early morning or late afternoon when sheep move between bedding and feeding areas; use terrain folds and outcrops for cover while glassing slopes methodically. Approach from above or across wind when possible, as they rely heavily on scent and naturally watch downslope.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.