The Largest Bighorn Sheep Ever Caught in Oregon

Hunting bighorn sheep isn’t easy. They can take a hit to the head that is about 60 times stronger than what it would take to shatter a human skull. You can also expect to do a lot of climbing and hiking to find the perfect sheep, especially if you want to compete with the largest bighorn sheep ever caught in Oregon.

To learn more about the largest bighorn sheep caught in Oregon, and in the entire US, keep scrolling.

What Size Was the Largest Bighorn Sheep Caught in Oregon?

The biggest bighorn sheep on record in Oregon had a score of 198-0/8 points. This made it the number one largest sheep ever caught in Oregon, though it only places 66th for the largest bighorn sheep caught of all time.

The gross score was 199-2/8 points, but due to a 1-2/8 difference, the final score was 198 points.

Who Caught It?

This record-breaking bighorn sheep was caught by Todd B. Jaksick. He caught the sheep on September 9th, 1988 in Wallowa, Oregon.

Because the hunt was so long ago, there’s not much known about the catch, or the hunter, unfortunately.

All of the top 14 bighorn sheep in Oregon are at least 190 inches. They were caught anywhere from 1986, with the newest addition to that record, a score of 191, from 2022.

What’s the Average Size of Bighorn Sheep Found in Oregon?

Most bighorn sheep in Oregon aren’t all that large. They often have horns less than 170 points. However, there are times you can find up to 175 or so points if you know where to look.

This is a decent size, as places like Nevada and Arizona often have bighorns with a score below 160 points.

The Largest Bighorn Sheep Caught in the United States

Though the largest bighorn sheep in Oregon was a decent size, it doesn’t beat the largest bighorn ever caught. The largest on record comes from Montana.

The bighorn sheep from Montana currently holding the record was found in Lake County in 2016. It had a score of 216-4/8 points. This catch was a little different. It didn’t come from a hunt. Instead, it was a pick-up, along with two other heads scoring 205-2/8 points and 209 points.

This area, known as Wild Horse Island, is known for having some of the largest bighorn sheep on record. It’s the perfect mix of habitats that have led to healthy bighorn sheep with beautiful horns.

Is it Easy to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Oregon?

Some people can wait years, if not their whole lifetime, to get tags for bighorn sheep. Unfortunately, due to strains of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae bacteria, the population of bighorn sheep in Oregon is rapidly declining.

The problem is that the bacteria is not only harming older populations of bighorn sheep. It’s also doing considerable damage to the juveniles, or lambs, of the species.

Already, hunting bighorn sheep in Oregon is considered a “once in a lifetime” opportunity. With the population declining, the chances of getting picked will likely become even more rare.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Gary Gray