Argali
Scientific name: Ovis ammon
- How weight is recorded: Carcass weight
Field notes
Appearance
Males carry massive, tightly curled horns reaching up to 1 m; females have small horns or none. Coat colour ranges from grey-brown to russet, with lighter underside and a distinctive pale facial mask.
Size and weight
Males typically weigh 100–200 kg and measure 180–200 cm in body length; females weigh 60–100 kg and are proportionally smaller.
Habitat
Argali inhabit high alpine plateaux and steppe meadows, typically above 3,000 m elevation. The terrain is open, windswept, grassy with rocky outcrops and sparse low vegetation.
Distribution
Found across Central Asia, chiefly in the Himalayas, Tian Shan, and Altai ranges, from Mongolia through Tibet and into Kyrgyzstan.
Diet
Argali graze on alpine grasses, dwarf willows, rhododendrons and other mountain herbs; in winter they rely on dry grass and moss.
Behaviour
Most active at dawn and dusk. Males are solitary or in small bachelor groups; females and young form larger herds. They are agile climbers and flee to inaccessible heights when disturbed.
Hunting tips
Look for fresh tracks and pellets along well-used ridge trails; both sexes create distinctive pathways. Stalk upwind through open terrain, using broken ground and gullies for cover. Argali are extremely alert and require patient long-range stalking in exposed country.
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 3 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.