Mouflon

Scientific name: Ovis orientalis

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males are larger and darker, with prominent curved horns (up to 80 cm) and a thick neck; females are smaller with no horns or small spikes. Both sexes display a reddish-brown to dark brown coat with pale underparts and a distinctive dark stripe along the back.

Size and weight

Males: 45–65 kg, 120–135 cm body length; females: 30–45 kg, 100–120 cm body length.

Habitat

Mouflon inhabit rocky, open mountainous terrain with sparse vegetation, scrubland, and grassland. They prefer altitudes from sea level to 2,000 m, favoring steep slopes with escape terrain and minimal tree cover.

Distribution

Native to the Zagros Mountains (Iran/Iraq border region); introduced populations now established in Mediterranean regions (Cyprus, Corsica, Sardinia, Spain) and central Europe on suitable montane terrain.

Diet

Mouflon are herbivores grazing on grasses, legumes, and clover in spring/summer; they browse shrubs, woody plants, and dried vegetation in autumn/winter.

Behaviour

Primarily crepuscular and diurnal, most active at dawn and dusk. They live in small herds (5–15 individuals) segregated by sex outside the rut, moving between feeding and bedding areas on steep terrain.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings clustered on ridges and bedding sites; fresh tracks on soft ground indicate recent passage. Approach from above or upwind across open slopes, using terrain features for cover; stalk slowly during low-light hours when animals feed. Key to success is glassing hillsides at distance to locate groups before closing the gap.

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 20 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.