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Colorado Bighorn Sheep

Unit S16 (Collegiate Peaks)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit S16 covers the Collegiate Peaks range in Chaffee County, including Mount Princeton, Mount Yale, and Mount Harvard. The bighorn herd uses high-alpine grass slopes and exposed granite faces on the fourteeners, producing quality rams in spectacular alpine country.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit S16

Unit S16 covers the Collegiate Peaks range in Chaffee County, including Mount Princeton, Mount Yale, and Mount Harvard. The bighorn herd uses high-alpine grass slopes and exposed granite faces on the fourteeners, producing quality rams in spectacular alpine country.

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit S16

S16 sheep use high-alpine terrain across the Collegiate Peaks.

Alpine Grass Benches

Rams feed on grass benches above 12,000 feet on the flanks of Mount Princeton, Mount Yale, and Mount Harvard.

Granite Faces

Cliff bands and exposed granite faces give escape terrain. Glass these features from opposing ridges.

Cirque Basins

High cirques between the fourteeners hold groups of sheep in late summer and early fall.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit S16

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle78%
Unit S16 ram success typically runs 60-80%. Weather and physical fitness determine outcomes more than sheep density.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— 1st Season1911.1% 3
Rifle— 1st Season2782.6% 3
Rifle— 2nd Season2345.9% 3

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit S16 ram tags are drawn through Colorado's pure preference-point system. Residents typically need 13-17 points. Non-resident allocations are very limited. Once-in-a-lifetime under Colorado law.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points for Unit S16 bighorn?
Unit S16 typically requires 13-17 preference points for residents through Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Non-resident allocations are very limited.
Is S16 too crowded with fourteener hikers?
Hikers are common on the standard fourteener routes, but most sheep habitat is off-trail. Hunting weekdays and avoiding summit-day traffic keeps disturbance manageable.

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Sources & Verification

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

  1. Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure (Current Cycle) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Sheep season dates, Unit S16 boundary, Once-in-a-lifetime rules · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. CPW Bighorn Sheep Management — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Collegiate Peaks herd estimates, Rocky Mountain bighorn objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. CPW Hunting Atlas — Unit S16 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: S16 boundary, San Isabel NF layer, Wilderness access · accessed 2026-04-17