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Colorado Bighorn Sheep

Unit S23 (Pikes Peak)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit S23 covers the Pikes Peak massif in El Paso and Teller Counties, one of Colorado's most iconic Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep units. The herd lives on the high alpine slopes above timberline and the granite benches of Pikes Peak itself, producing a small but steady number of quality rams each year.

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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit S23

Unit S23 covers the Pikes Peak massif in El Paso and Teller Counties, one of Colorado's most iconic Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep units. The herd lives on the high alpine slopes above timberline and the granite benches of Pikes Peak itself, producing a small but steady number of quality rams each year.

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit S23

The S23 herd uses the alpine zone on Pikes Peak above 11,500 feet, with seasonal movements between grassy benches and rock faces.

Alpine Benches

Rams concentrate on the talus-grass transition on the south and west faces of Pikes Peak. Glass slopes above the Devils Playground and around the summit road.

Crags Area

The Crags on the west side of the peak hold ewes and younger rams. Mature rams often push higher into the cirques above treeline.

Rim Rock and Cliff Edges

Look for bedded sheep along exposed rimrock where they have escape terrain below them. Early mornings they feed on green benches before retreating to cover.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit S23

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle78%
Unit S23 bighorn success runs 65-85% in most years — typical for Colorado sheep hunts. Hunters who do adequate pre-season scouting and stay mobile during the season have the best outcomes.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— 1st Season21171.7% 3

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit S23 ram tags are awarded through Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Residents typically need 15-20+ points; non-residents face very limited allocations. This is a once-in-a-lifetime tag for rams under Colorado law.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many preference points do I need for Unit S23 bighorn?
Colorado draws sheep tags on a pure preference-point system. Resident ram tags in S23 typically require 15-20 or more points. Non-resident allocations are extremely limited — check current CPW draw statistics.
Is a Unit S23 bighorn tag once-in-a-lifetime?
Yes for rams. Under Colorado law, a hunter can only harvest one Rocky Mountain bighorn ram in their lifetime, so drawing S23 is a capstone opportunity.

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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 S23 boundary, Once-in-a-lifetime rules · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. CPW Bighorn Sheep Management — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Rocky Mountain bighorn herd objectives, Pikes Peak herd history · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. CPW Hunting Atlas — Unit S23 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: S23 sheep unit boundary, Alpine habitat layer, Pikes Peak highway access · accessed 2026-04-17