Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 21, 2008 14:31:13 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Went out wandering the ranch with the new camera again yesterday and spotted a herd of about 50 of these Mouflon Sheep originally from from the Caucasus and Middle East. These are thought to be the ancient ancestor of all modern sheep. Really hard to get close enough with my little zoom lens and invariably the big rams turn head on or turn their back on the camera. Anyway, I'll try for a better pic later but this is my best for now....Mel
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Dec 21, 2008 14:43:28 GMT -5
Dang Mel...I can't wait until you spot those rare Texas Plume Elephants! I heard they're very spooked and they smell for miles away. ;D Cool lookin' Mountain Goats, and it looks like the ram wanted his picture to be taken. Steve
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Dec 21, 2008 14:50:58 GMT -5
Great photo, Mel. That one looks to be very interested in what are you doing. Or maybe was thinking - what a hack, I look better en face, anyhow."
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Dec 21, 2008 16:04:33 GMT -5
Uh yeah .. he looked like he was striking a pose.. or getting ready to strike.. I can't tell. but way cool to see him !
*smiles*
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Dec 21, 2008 16:19:31 GMT -5
Super cool! Rocks to pick...Buddies to pose. What grand place to live.
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Post by parfive on Dec 21, 2008 16:30:18 GMT -5
And these sheep were imported why? . . . ergonomic handles?
baaaaa aaaaaah
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Slydog
has rocks in the head
Member since February 2006
Posts: 555
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Post by Slydog on Dec 22, 2008 20:25:02 GMT -5
Holy crap!! How awesome is this?! I'm going to visit Mel. You know, they had some 'imported' big horns by my son in WY, in the Wind River Mts, and the dang things were too stupid to live. They had no idea where to go when, so they starved, etc. I was thrilled to see these sheep at first, but when I found out I could nearly pet them from the road, I knew they were not really wild at all, just mass produced basically and dumped off in some expensive rehab program. I'm assuming these guys are wild, Mel!? Nona
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 22, 2008 21:03:31 GMT -5
Nona: The ranch is basically a cattle ranch but here in Texas, exotic game abounds and is a crop as well, plus we have unholy numbers of deer and turkeys *L*. In addition to the cattle herd , (I've got to get a photo of some our longhorns) we also have large herds of Blackbuck from India, Mouflon from the Middle East and a few other beasties which are less common. They are wild breeding herds and free ranging but I'd not call them truly wild wild as they get a lot of feed from us ranch folks during dry times and it's necessary to manage their numbers to prevent too much overgrazing. I sure don't try to pet them as they can get a bit testy if you get too close.....Mel
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
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Post by earthdog on Dec 24, 2008 23:15:22 GMT -5
I wonder how they taste...
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Dec 25, 2008 3:36:24 GMT -5
Goat is good! (There's a lump of coal for me and you, Edog, haha)
Nona, they have introduced a different breed of bighorn sheep into (believe it or not!!) western Nebraska, near where my brother lives in Kimball, close to Wyoming. No mountains, just some bluffs. And they are doing well! It's still very startling, to see them there. You catch a glimpse, your mind at first says they are antelope, your eyes wonder 'what the heck?'
Thanks, Mel, for the pix. I think you are doing a great job with that camera!
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Post by frane on Dec 28, 2008 8:05:26 GMT -5
How peaceful that all looks! What a great place to live and enjoy everything around you! Thank you for the picture! Fran
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Dec 28, 2008 8:24:06 GMT -5
What a great place! Between the fossil banks, Flint nodes and diverse critters one would always have something to find of interest. The sheep do look close genetically to the Rocky Mtn. Bighorn
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Dec 28, 2008 18:53:35 GMT -5
Interestingly, one species of European mouflon is extremely endangered and has recently been cloned (making it one of just a few endangered species to be successfully propagated this way). Okay, so it's interesting to *me* as a biology teacher! The species photographed by Mel is not endangered and - to answer earthdog's question - probably tastes quite gamey. :-)
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 28, 2008 21:11:30 GMT -5
ejs: You're correct. except it's some of the pure strains of subspecies from isolated areas that are really endangered. Most Mouflon are of mixed blood due to crosses with other wild and domestic species or subspecies. Both the Mouflon and the Blackbuck here at the ranch are threatened or endangered in their native habitats but of course, thrive here in Texas. Hundreds here just on this one ranch alone. I think they all originally came from purebred zoo stock. Got to get me a side shot of one of the big rams. They are really beautiful...Mel
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