Historical records of the first white men in the state confirm the presence of bighorn. RAMS Desert Bighorn males are called rams. Rams stand 36-39 inches at the shoulder and weigh as much as 200 pounds. The most striking feature of the ram is the massive horns. The horns are made of the protein keratin that is similar to the material that comprise our fingernails.
Horns grow continuously throughout the bighorns life.
They are not shed annually as are deer and elk antlers. Initial growth of horns is rapid and as the sheep nears the end of its life the growth rate slows. Each year as the breeding season approaches, hormonal changes cause the growth of the horn to slow. After the breeding season is finished, a normal growth rate continues. This pattern of rapid growth and slow growth creates a pattern of rings in the horn.