Tarbagan marmot

Scientific name: Marmota sibirica

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

A robust marmot with thick, greyish-brown fur darkening along the back and sides. The body is compact and muscular with short legs; males are noticeably larger than females with more pronounced shoulders and head mass.

Size and weight

Adult males 3.5–5 kg and 45–55 cm body length; females 3–4.5 kg and slightly shorter.

Habitat

Tarbagan marmots inhabit open steppe grasslands and mountain plateaus with sparse vegetation, typically at elevations between 1000–2500 m. They prefer well-drained soils suitable for extensive burrow systems.

Distribution

Found across Mongolia and Siberia from the Altai Mountains to the Transbaikal region, with main populations in Mongolian and Russian high-elevation steppes.

Diet

Grazes on grasses, forbs, and plant buds in spring and summer; switches to seeds and plant material in autumn to build fat reserves before hibernation.

Behaviour

Diurnal with peak activity in early morning and late afternoon. Live in loose colonies centred on burrow systems and exhibit alert behaviour with frequent sentinel posting.

Hunting tips

Locate burrows by their characteristic earth mounds and surrounding runways and worn patches. Use elevated vantage points to glass for sentinel marmots. Stalk slowly toward targets using terrain contours and sparse vegetation for cover; watch for alarm calls and tail-flicking warnings from colony members.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

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.