Combatants often feed quietly, outwardly unconcerned about another ram's presence until their seemingly random movements bring them squarely face to face. The sudden charge can be preceded by signaled intent, or by feigned stealth and surprise. The collision of massive horns is awesome.

One of the rams might choose to attack downhill, using gravity to increase the force of the impact. At the last moment, both rams stand nearly upright on their hind legs, tilting their heads to deliver and catch the tremendous impact of the horns.

Rams of markedly different sizes rarely fight, but match two similar, three-quarter-curl rams and watch out! Valerius Geist, noted bighorn authority and animal behaviorist, observed a fight between two three-quarter-curl rams that continued for 25 hours and 20 minutes.

Timely rains in the Pine Ridge and an open, mild winter created excellent habitat conditions for bighorn sheep in 1996 and 1997, and lamb production was twice that of the previous single-season recruitment record. Five to seven lambs usually are seen each year, but biologists and park personnel observed about 14 lambs at the onset of winter in 1997.

Bighorn gestation lasts about 175 days, and as delivery approaches, gravid ewes seek the protection of steep cliffs. Born in May on small ledges, lambs weigh about eight pounds. Within hours, newborn lambs can follow the ewe in the steep cliffs.

A bighorn ewe observed in the Cheyenne Buttes stood between her newborn and the edge of the ledge as the lamb took its first, unsteady steps. The protection of steep places will be constant throughout the bighorn's life.

By December, lambs have grown to nearly the size of yearlings, but still are quick to mob together and jump, twist and kick. December is breeding season, and the gathering of rams, ewes and lambs on winter grounds signals the beginning of another year in the life of Nebraska's bighorns.

The future for Nebraska's bighorns is promising but challenging. The population must grow to ensure long-term success, and the Game and Parks Commission's management plan includes habitat evaluation, efforts to increase the Pine Ridge herd and locating sheep into other suitable habitats.

Wild sheep fascinate hunters and non-hunters alike. Echoing battles in secluded canyons, ewes and lambs leaving the protection of the birthing cliffs and the pageantry of bands gathering on the winter grounds to begin the process anew are only a few of the promises of Nebraska's bighorns.