bajalera - 12-27-2009 at 10:04 PM
The mountain sheep of Baja California--"big game" that wasn't known in either Europe or New Spain--was first described by the Jesuits who worked on
the peninsula as missionaries. Now protected by law, the sheep can still sometimes be seen in peninsula mountains--if you're lucky. [Some interesting
views of them have been collected by Gary Nabhan in the book "Counting Sheep"--well worth reading if you're a Bajaficionado.]
Padre Miguel del Barco wrote that the sheep were "as fat as a calf a year-and-a-half old, very much like it in shape. The head is similar to that of
deer. The horns extraordinarily large, resembling those of a ram although more twisted and less open than theirs. The hoof large, circular and split,
like those of oxen. Hair like the deer although shorter and somewhat spotted. The tail small and the meat savory and smooth."
"It is said," Barco continued, "that when the sheep is pursued by hunters and has no other means of escape, it flees to a high cliff and leaps from
it, placing its head so the bulky horns take the blow of landing. That done, it takes to its feet and scampers off, leaving the hunters watching
helplessly from above . . ."
Barco thought those extraordinarily large horns were God's way of allowing the sheep to escape pursuers.
To me the great sheep leap sounds more like a "the-dog-ate-my-homework" story, dreamed up by hunters who returned to camp empty-handed and had to face
the grumpy comments of hungry companions who had been expecting something to eat.
The sheeps' fleet-footed mastery of the rocky heights where they lived may well have enabled them to stay beyond range of Indian arrows. Padre
Baegert, who spent 17 years on the peninsula, said he never saw a native with a sheepskin, though they had many pelts of other animals--even the
fiercely aggressive wildcats.
Barco had tasted the meat, so the borregos apparently fell to Spanish firearms, but even during the Jesuit Period they seem to have been an uncommon
food.
The peninsula's sheep hardly ever make great leaps any more. Although once in a while you may meet a Bajacalifonian whose wife's great-aunt's
mother-in-law lives across the street from a man who has personally seen such an escape.
mulegemichael - 12-28-2009 at 10:43 AM
i dunno about the "great leaps" but have heard that some of these sheep have been spotted on the rocky cliffs here above mulege..i personally haven't
seen them but look for them all the time....also was told that there are a certain amount of tags available for them if you are a "trophy
hunter"....the tags are pricey tho, around $10,000 usd apiece...anyone can confirm any all of these rumors for us?
Sallysouth - 12-28-2009 at 11:28 AM
Yes, they are very pricey! My son-in law runs an outfit in the Cabo/La paz area and organizes these hunts each year.You can get more info at El Fuerte
Outfitters.com
bajalera - 12-30-2009 at 06:22 PM
Thanks, Sally, I could use some up-to-date info.