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Hunting Bighorn Sheep

Thanks to decades of dedicated conservation efforts, Colorado’s iconic bighorn sheep are once again abundant with an estimated statewide population of more than 7,000 animals. Today bighorn sheep are mostly restricted to foothills, canyons and high mountains. They do not pioneer new range or move to new habitats easily. In the last half of the 20th century, sheep management focused on restoring bighorn to their historic range by transplanting some from larger, stronger herds. Wildlife managers emphasize maintaining healthy populations by enhancing habitat and managing disease.
A close up of a bighorn sheep ram.

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    A bighorn sheep ram.

    A bighorn sheep ram.

    Bighorn Sheep Licenses

    If you harvest a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram (must have a halfcurl or more), you must wait five years (sixth year after harvest) before applying for another Rocky Mountain bighorn ram license. During the five-year waiting period, hunters may apply for ewe licenses, but cannot accrue preference points. This rule does not apply if you harvest a ram with an auction, raffle or special sheep management license. 

    REMEMBER: You cannot apply for a Rocky Mountain bighorn and desert bighorn in the same year.

    Bighorn Sheep Hunting License Fees

    Annual Habitat Stamp

    Resident and Nonresident

    $12.15

    Application Processing Fee (limited licenses, nonrefundable)

    Resident

    $8.00

    Application Processing Fee (limited licenses, nonrefundable)

    Nonresident

    $10.00

    Preference Point

    Resident

    $50.00

    Preference Point (Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep only)

    Nonresident

    $100.00

    Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

    Resident

    $366.13

    Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep/Fishing Combo

    Nonresident

    $2,686.04

    Desert Bighorn Sheep

    Resident

    $366.13

    Desert Bighorn Sheep

    Nonresident

    $2,686.0
    For more information, please view the Colorado Sheep and Goat Brochure.
    • All prices include a 25-cent search-and-rescue fee, a $1.50 for the Wildlife Council ​surcharge​.
    • All nonresident big-game licenses are a big-game and annual fishing combination license: Fishing licenses are val through March 31.​​​ 
    • You can opt out of receiving a preference point on your primary draw application. You will not pay the fee and will not receive a point if you opt out.
       

    Bighorn Sheep Season Dates

    Rocky Mountain Bighorn

    (limited only)

    August 01, 2024

    December 31, 2024

    		 See brochure

    Desert Bighorn Sheep

    (limited only)

    November 01, 2024

    November 30, 2024

    		 See Brochure

    Hunt dates for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep or desert bighorn sheep vary by license type and hunt location. Note: Always check your physical license and the Colorado Sheep and Goat Brochure for specific hunting dates.

    License Options

      Limited licenses

      Limited Licenses

      What are limited licenses?

      Each year, a set (limited) number of licenses is allotted to each game management unit (GMU). Huntable areas are broken down into units called “game management units.” These units help you decide where you'd like to hunt. A GMU map is available on the inside back cover of the Big Game Brochure.

      You can apply for the big game draw(s) to get one of these limited licenses, or after the draws are over, you can purchase a remaining (leftover) limited license when they go on sale. 

      Big Game Draws

       A qualifying license is required prior to applying for limited licenses through the big game draw(s).

      Hunters can submit one application per species to participate in the draw. Applications can include up to four hunt choices to maximize your opportunity to draw a license and hunt.​

      Types of Limited Licenses

      Limited licenses include public-land, private-land-only, Ranching for Wildlife (RFW), Bighorn Sheep Access Program (BSAP), season choice and leftover limited licenses. 

      Preference Points

      Preference points help hunters to be successful in future primary draws because points add up per species until an applicant draws a first-choice license. One preference point is awarded to each applicant who qualifies for and does not draw their first-choice limited license for deer, elk, pronghorn or bear in the primary draw, or who applies using a specific preference-point hunt code that gets them a preference point only as their first choice.

      Preference points are available on the primary draw application only.

      Tip: If you can’t hunt this year, but intend to in the future, apply for a preference point by entering the “preference point only” hunt code in the “first choice hunt code” on the application. See pages 3 and 9 in the Big Game Brochure for details.

      Refunds

      For information on license refunds, please visit the Hunting License Refunds, Reversals and Exchanges page.

      Landowner Preference Program (LPP) Vouchers

      Landowner Preference Program (LPP) Vouchers

      The LPP encourages private landowners to provide habitat for the benefit of wildlife populations and to relieve hunting pressure on public lands. Deer, elk and pronghorn vouchers are allocated to landowners who meet certain qualifications. Applications are drawn during the primary draw, and successful landowners receive a voucher for each winning hunt code. The voucher is transferred directly to a hunter, who then purchases a license to hunt. Vouchers are not available for purchase from CPW.

      For Hunters
      1. Landowner vouchers may be transferred one time only. The transfer of the voucher occurs when the hunter’s name is written on the voucher, or the landowner or designated land manager hands (or mails) the voucher to the hunter.
      2. The landowner or designated land manager must transfer the voucher directly to the hunter. A voucher that has been transferred by any person who is not the landowner or designated land manager is VOID. A voucher that is brokered for another person is VOID. A hunting license obtained for use with a VOID voucher is also VOID. No person shall broker a voucher on behalf of any landowner or person, or use or possess any brokered voucher.
      3. If a hunter cannot use a voucher, the voucher becomes VOID. The voucher CANNOT be reprinted or transferred to another hunter, even if the voucher has not been redeemed for a license.
      4. Annual bag limits still apply. Be sure you can legally have the license before acquiring a landowner voucher. List A, B or C is printed on the voucher. See the Big Game Brochure for details.
      5. The transfer of a voucher by a landowner or designated land manager includes permission to access and hunt all of the registered land for which the voucher was awarded, and for the entire season for which the voucher was awarded, without discrimination among hunters entering the land. Restrictions are not allowed, except for manner of access (i.e. foot, horseback, vehicle) reasonably necessary to prevent damage to land.
      6. The hunter must take the voucher in person to a sales agent or CPW location to be redeemed for a proper and valid license PRIOR to hunting. The appropriate license fees are paid at that time.
      7.  A list of landowners is NOT available from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

      Definitions

      • Broker: for a third party to transfer a voucher for compensation for any other consideration, or otherwise arrange for such transfer, on behalf of the landowner or land manager, or on behalf of any individual.
      • Transfer: to buy, sell, assign, trade, exchange, acquire or otherwise arrange to buy, sell, assign, trade, exchange, acquire or dispose of a voucher.
      • Immediate Family: the landowner’s spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, and sibling including in-law and step relations.
      About the Landowner Preference Program
      Auction and Raffle Licenses

      Auction and Raffle Licenses

      CPW issues special Auction and Raffle Program big game licenses to nonprofit organizations focused on conserving wildlife in Colorado. The funds generated from the sale of these licenses are used for big game habitat enhancement, research, management, and education.

      View Auction and Raffle Licenses
      Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat Opportunities

      Special auction and raffle licenses are available for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and mountain goat. Auction and raffle licenses allows one to hunt during extended seasons in any unit open to hunting a certain species. These licenses are offered by participating wildlife conservation organizations that return at least 75 percent of the proceeds to CPW for research, management and education.

      Opportunities for Everyone

      A young woman and her mentor on an archery hunt.

      Youth Hunters

      Youth hunters have youth-only hunting opportunities including small game, extended seasons for deer, elk, and pronghorn, and hunter outreach opportunities for big game (including moose), small game, waterfowl, and turkey hunting experiences.

      Youth Hunter Opportunities
      A hunter on alert.

      Nonresident Hunters

      Nonresident hunters have a percentage of deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat licenses set aside for them. They can also participate in group hunts and are eligible for a combo hunting and fishing license.

      A hunter with binoculars and a hunter holding a rifle.

      Resident Hunters

      Residents have the option to participate in both big game draws, and apply for or purchase hybrid draw licenses, leftover licenses, reissued licenses, over-the-counter licenses, fishing and hunting combo licenses, raffle licenses, group hunts, and ranching for wildlife hunts.

      Resident Hunter Opportunities
      A hunter holding binoculars stands next to an ATV.

      Hunters Experiencing Disabilities

      Resident hunters experiencing disabilities can request accommodations for visual and physical disabilities to assist with their hunts.

      Opportunities for Hunters Experiencing Disabilities
      A hunter and his mentor pose next to a harvested elk.

      New Hunters

      New hunters can apply to go on mentored big game, small game, waterfowl, pheasant, and turkey hunts with the hunter outreach program, participate in a year long hunting experience with the rookie sportsperson program, and continue to broaden their skills past their initial hunter education course with regularly offered hunting classes to practice and hone techniques. Specific classes are also offered for women to learn in a comfortable environment.

      New Hunter Opportunities
      A group of pheasant hunters and their dogs.

      Hunters in the Military

      Colorado residents who are deployed active duty military can apply to purchase leftover hunting licenses or receive a preference point in advance, or apply for a refund if deployed after their purchase. Veterans experiencing disabilities can apply for a lifetime combo fishing hunting license, and apply for accommodation while hunting. Veterans may also apply for big game licenses through the Wounded Warrior program.

      Active Military and Veteran Opportunities

      Have you completed your hunter education course?

      Colorado law requires that individuals born on or after January 1, 1949, must complete an approved hunter education course before applying for or purchasing a Colorado hunting license.

      Already taken a hunter education course? Learn more about how to provide proof of completion.

      Card

      Take a Hunter Education Class

      Hunter education classes are available in-person in a classroom setting or online with an in-person completion exam.

      Find a Hunter Education Class
      Archery.

      Grow Your Archery Skills

      Hunters that chose archery as their method of take can grow their skills prior to hunting season by taking a bowhunter education class.

      Find a Bowhunter Education Class

      Brochures

      sheep and goat brochure cover.

      Colorado Sheep and Goat Hunting Brochure

      Be sure to read the “What’s New” pages to see a full list of changes on tap for the upcoming hunting seasons.

      Download the Brochure