What kind of sheep is this?

[blacktailer]

I called him and warned him about all of the waterfowl he is selling.  They were not pen raised birds with paperwork and, if he's not careful, he's going to get jammed up.   It is 100% a stone sheep.  If it was a bighorn, selling it in Wa. State would be illegal as well unless he were to get a letter from the director himself which is highly unlikely.  His Mt. Goat falls into the same category.  I hate to see anyone get jammed up for not knowing the laws regarding the sale of wildlife and waterfowl.    That Stone was a nice find.  Nice job

[meatwhack]

Stone.

[LDennis24]

$550

[starbailey]

Stone ram.

[Okanagan]

Stone.

Fannin is merely a color variation of Stone sheep.  Thin horn sheep come in varieties from all white Dall to darker Stones with about every possible blend and hide pattern and shade of color between.  I watched a group of 14 Stone rams once time where one was mostly white with an all white head and neck, one was unusually dark and the others were various shades and patterns of grey.

In the 40's and 50's Fannin were considered a different species but labeling them so is about like inventing a new species of black bear out of cinnamon colored ones.

[LDennis24]

From what I've read a Fannin is just a cross between a Dall Sheep and a Stone. Anywhere the two species intermingle, that's where you get the odd color varieties known as Fannin. Supposed to have slightly different horns too.

[boneaddict]

I’ve never heard of it.  Not sure it’s officially recognized even.   As I said, my guess was Stone.   I feel a lot more,confident in that now that Starbailey thinks so.  In my world, I basically consider him the authority on sheep.    Don’t get yourself in trouble. I don’t know the rules about buying and selling and possessing them.....   

[starbailey]

Stone sheep come in a huge color variation from almost totally black on late season capes to a white faced grey/black/brown cape. (see profile pic) Fannin usually have very little color on their shoulders where this ram has lots. Most  fannin have a light grey saddle and black tail. Again there are lots of different color variations. Fannins are mostly found in the Yukon and NWT with a very small population in Alaska. The pin in this ram has BC on it so it would also make sense its a stone ram.
 WSF and GSC/O will let hunters classify a fannin ram as a stone for their FNAWS/Grand Slam. People call them the "poor mans stone" as they usually cost 15-25k less than a true stone.
 Here's a pic of my fannin I killed in 2003 in the Yukon. At the time it was one of the darkest fannins from this area. I went back 2 years later and killed a ram that had some black hairs on his tail about 30 miles from this ram. To me he had to be called a dall.

[starbailey]

Here is a better pic of my stone ram from BC and a pic of some live sheep from BC. My ram wouldn't be considered a "typical" colored stone as I'd say the 3 live sheep are more typical. IMO. The front one even has some brown on his shoulders just not as much as the mounted ram.

[blacktailer]

Beautiful ram with a great argali-like flare.   looks like a 7 year old ram?   

[LDennis24]

What a beautiful animal! If I could afford to hunt anywhere in the world I would have to spend some money on a Stone sheep hunt, a musk ox, and a trip to Asia for Mahrkor and Argali/Marco Polo or Ibex. I'm not very fond of the meat though unfortunately. Is wild sheep meat much different than domestic? I raise Icelandic sheep and they can be very odorous during the rut! Lol

[starbailey]

I feel a backpack stone sheep hunt is the greatest North American adventure!
Wild sheep meat is some of the best eating to be had. Especially dall sheep.
Goats in general,  ibex, tur, tahr are barely fit to eat. I've had locals literally fighting over a portion of ibex  meat before though.  I've never tried a markhor but its a goat species. I'd think the argali (ovis species) would be ok to eat.
Some of the international hunts are very affordable and can be an amazing adventure.