Wintering Range?

[VaryJ]

Would someone please kindly explain to me what wintering range is for elk & sheep?

I'm originally from Ontario and there moose are kind of just always there. But I was peering through those aerial survey reports and some of them are of "wintering grounds".

I know how migratory birds work. But with elk, sheep.. I don't know what else moves (Antelope migrate I know that). Do they come from the more mountainous regions in the spring to the foothills? And in winter return? Or do I have it backwards where they spend winter in the foothills and in the spring head back to the mountains? Or is that all wrong too?

What about elk near Suffield or in Cypress Hills? Do they move to wintering ranges at all?

Thank you.

[Flatlandliver]

Originally Posted by VaryJ

Would someone please kindly explain to me what wintering range is for elk & sheep?

I'm originally from Ontario and there moose are kind of just always there. But I was peering through those aerial survey reports and some of them are of "wintering grounds".

I know how migratory birds work. But with elk, sheep.. I don't know what else moves (Antelope migrate I know that). Do they come from the more mountainous regions in the spring to the foothills? And in winter return? Or do I have it backwards where they spend winter in the foothills and in the spring head back to the mountains? Or is that all wrong too?

What about elk near Suffield or in Cypress Hills? Do they move to wintering ranges at all?

Thank you.

Elk are primarily grazers and deep snow will push them out of their summer ranges. Prairie elk don’t have that issue but do get pushed around with hunting pressure in the fall.

[Young Eldon]

Bighorn sheep like to winter on west and south facing slopes with grass cover. Our Chinook winds help keep these slopes relatively snow free. These slopes can also be warmer on calm days when the colder air is down in the valleys.

[VaryJ]

Thank you.

[NCC]

I think the goats even come down out of the rocks when the snow gets deep. I've seen spruce trees covered in goat hair at relatively low altitudes.

I have never witnessed it, but I have friends in BC who hunt the migration routes between the winter and summer ranges in the Kootenay trench. Before the wolves, cats, and gbears wiped out the deer, they would see dozens of animals per day coming out of the high country.

[LCCFisherman]

Onterrible...

[wwbirds]

Moose and deer have wintering grounds. they are called wintering yards as animals congregate there with a good food source to avoid breaking trail in deep snow constantly.