Colorado Bighorn Sheep

Unit S08 (Never Summer)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit S08 covers the Never Summer Range on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park in Grand and Jackson Counties. The bighorn herd uses exposed alpine slopes and rock faces above 12,000 feet, producing a small but consistent ram quota each fall.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit S08

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit S08

S08 sheep live on the alpine flanks of the Never Summer Range.

Alpine Slopes

South-facing grass slopes between 11,500 and 13,000 feet on peaks like Mount Richthofen hold rams.

Rock Faces

Exposed granite and volcanic faces give escape terrain. Glass from opposing ridges.

Basins

High-elevation basins below summit ridges concentrate groups of ewes and younger rams.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit S08

Unit S08 is an alpine glass-and-stalk hunt with careful boundary management.

Know the Park Boundary

Hunting is prohibited inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Rams frequently move across the boundary — patience matters.

Glass Opposing Ridges

Set up on a high ridge opposite target habitat and spend hours on glass.

Altitude

Effective country is above 11,500 feet. Acclimatize days in advance.

Access

Trail Ridge Road (seasonal), Colorado River trailhead, and Arapaho NF trails on the west side give foot access.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle78%

Unit S08 ram success typically runs 55-75%. Boundary-sensitive rams and thin tag numbers make this a patience-heavy hunt.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— 1st Season	3	118	2.5%	3

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit S08 ram tags use Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Resident ram tags typically require 14-18 points. Non-resident tags very limited. Once-in-a-lifetime under Colorado law.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Granby and Grand Lake have RV services.

⛺

Camp Sites

Arapaho NF dispersed camping; National Forest campgrounds on the west side.

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Trailer Access

Yes on US 40 and paved NF roads.

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Water

Colorado River, many streams and lakes.

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Road Conditions

Paved primary routes. Trail Ridge Road closes in winter.

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Terrain Difficulty

Extreme. High-alpine, exposed terrain.

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Hunting Pressure

Very low for sheep.

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Weather

Snow and lightning any time. Dangerous alpine weather.

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Cell Service

Good in Grand Lake. None in wilderness.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Grand Lake

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points for Unit S08 bighorn?

Unit S08 typically requires 14-18 preference points for residents through Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Non-resident allocations are extremely limited.

Can I hunt inside Rocky Mountain National Park?

No. Hunting is prohibited inside RMNP. Unit S08 only covers adjacent National Forest land, and hunters must stay on the legal side of the park boundary.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure (Current Cycle) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Sheep season dates, Unit S08 boundary, National park boundary restrictions · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Bighorn Sheep Management — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Never Summer herd estimates, OIL rules · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Hunting Atlas — Unit S08 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: S08 boundary, Arapaho NF/Routt NF ownership, RMNP boundary · accessed 2026-04-17