Broomed Stones-does it help with aging?

[Neff]

Curious on the opinions of those who have had more experience with Stones. Can you make any reasonable approximations on a ram's age based on the fact he is broomed?
Of course, brooming is not a good way to judge age, and just cause a ram is broomed doesn't make him legal. But if you came across a stone broomed on both sides?? I can't imagine a 6 yr old broomed. But a 7? 8?

[325]

Curious on the opinions of those who have had more experience with Stones. Can you make any reasonable approximations on a ram's age based on the fact he is broomed?
Of course, brooming is not a good way to judge age, and just cause a ram is broomed doesn't make him legal. But if you came across a stone broomed on both sides?? I can't imagine a 6 yr old broomed. But a 7? 8?

I have never seen a broomed ram younger than 8, although I'm sure younger rams can broom. My first Stone was broomed and 10 years old. I would give any broomed rams a good look, just might be tricky to age if your not experienced.

[mwj]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/stone_ram_001.jpg (javascript:;)


Six year old stone broomed one side

[ryanb]

That's quite a heavy ram for a six year old.

Im hardly an expert but brooming on its own doesn't mean much. Pretty rare for any sheep to broom off any annuli...except the first one which is usually almost invisible on a stone anyhow. Even if the ram is broomed hard, inferring missing annuli is a risky proposition.

[new hunter]

What does broomed mean ? I assume you mean that the tip of the horn is all split and cracked up , is that correct ?
Always curios to learn something new .

[bridger]

Broken off

[new hunter]

Thank you for the answer .

[Neff]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/stone_ram_001.jpg (http://javascript<strong></strong>:;)


Six year old stone broomed one side

OK, I can imagine a 6yr old broomed now...though that 6yr old doesn't look like the six year olds I've seen on the hoof. Still, it must be super rare for a stone under 8 to be broomed...

[dana]

I don't know about Stones but I can tell ya I've seen plenty of Calis broomed as early as age 4.

[325]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/stone_ram_001.jpg (http://javascript<strong></strong>:;)


Six year old stone broomed one side

That is a massive 6 year old ram

[ytlogger]

CW says that they broom off the lambs tip plus because it interferes with vision. If you watch sheep much you will probably see them scrape, rub and butt their tips on rocks as well as the breaks that happen during rutting activity. Aging sheep by counting rings requires experience and observation as well as great optics.

[Neff]

Found a picture of what looks like a 7 year old broomed...on another site but it took a bit of searching.

[Wild Images]

Broomed 6 year old
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o309/wildimages/BryceStone004_zpsf113288f.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/wildimages/media/BryceStone004_zpsf113288f.jpg.html)

[Stone Sheep Steve]

For those that already know, please hold your comments.

for the others, here's a broomed ram to age....
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Stone_2005_110.jpg (javascript:;)

[325]

For those that already know, please hold your comments.

for the others, here's a broomed ram to age....
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Stone_2005_110.jpg (http://javascript<strong></strong>:;)

I'm going to say 8. Nice ram no matter what!

[Weatherby Fan]

I say 9 but I'm no expert on rams !

[hunter7413]

i'll have to say 7 for what I can see in pic but very nice ram forsure

[sheep.elk.moose fanatic]

I will say 10 but they pic is a little blurrie when zoomed in lol

[Stone C. Killer]

My guess: 7

[ram hunter]

I say 8.5 years

[ram hunter]

9.5 years 38 1/2 "

[Stone Sheep Steve]

i'll have to say 7 for what I can see in pic but very nice ram forsure


My guess: 7

We have a couple of winners.

[whitetailsheds]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Stone_2005_110.jpg (http://javascript<strong></strong>:;)[/QUOTE]

He is all mounted up now isn't he Brent? Photo(s) on here?

[ram hunter]

I'm way off on age lol how about length

[Stone Sheep Steve]

He is all mounted up now isn't he Brent? Photo(s) on here?
He's been up for a few yrs now. Almost time to go get another one.


I'm way off on age lol how about length

Only 1" long on length. Not bad!

[bigwhiteys]

Found a picture of what looks like a 7 year old broomed...but it took a bit of searching.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a636/dmatkowski/164__540x450_7yearold_zps5ab535af.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/dmatkowski/media/164__540x450_7yearold_zps5ab535af.jpg.html)

If you are going to copy photos from somebody else's website it's generally good practice to provide a link to said photo, or at least a link to the article it's from. Especially when it's related to the said topic of the thread. It took me a long time to get permission to use all of those photos and I have fielded many requests from people to re-post and reuse them. I don't mind, but I would appreciate a link back to the original article/content.

If you are looking at a broomed thin horn ram and need clues as to it's maturity the bases are a good place to focus.

Judging Stone Sheep Rams (http://bchuntingblog.com/blog/2012/06/16/judging-stones-sheep-in-the-field/)

[Rackmastr]

If you are going to copy photos from somebody else's website it's generally good practice to provide a link to said photo, or at least a link to the article it's from. Especially when it's related to the said topic of the thread. It took me a long time to get permission to use all of those photos and I have fielded many requests from people to re-post and reuse them. I don't mind, but I would appreciate a link back to the original article/content.

If you are looking at a broomed thin horn ram and need clues as to it's maturity the bases are a good place to focus.

Judging Stone Sheep Rams (http://bchuntingblog.com/blog/2012/06/16/judging-stones-sheep-in-the-field/)

That article has been a VERY good one to look back on, study pics, read, etc.

Very well done and I look forward to more on the blog in the future!