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Colorado Bighorn Sheep

Unit S44 (Taylor River / Fossil Ridge Bighorn)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

S44 is a high-demand Colorado bighorn sheep hunt covering the Taylor River drainage and Fossil Ridge country northeast of Gunnison. CPW typically issues 7 tags per year against a 3-year applicant pool of roughly 763 — a multi-decade preference-point hunt under the state's pure preference-point draw. The unit is almost entirely public — Gunnison National Forest and Fossil Ridge Wilderness. Country sits mostly between 9,500 and 13,000 ft; alpine rams and backcountry skills are the defining features.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit S44

S44 is a high-demand Colorado bighorn sheep hunt covering the Taylor River drainage and Fossil Ridge country northeast of Gunnison. CPW typically issues 7 tags per year against a 3-year applicant pool of roughly 763 — a multi-decade preference-point hunt under the state's pure preference-point draw. The unit is almost entirely public — Gunnison National Forest and Fossil Ridge Wilderness. Country sits mostly between 9,500 and 13,000 ft; alpine rams and backcountry skills are the defining features.

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in S44

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How to Hunt S44 Bighorn Sheep

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Archery55%
Rifle78%
CPW's bighorn harvest data shows S44 tag holders filling at high rates — waiting decades for a tag selects for committed hunters. Ram quality averages in the 170s B&C, with occasional older rams reaching trophy class.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Archery— 1st Season3506.0% 3
Rifle— 1st Season1911.1% 3

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine
Seven tags against 763 three-year applicants puts aggregate odds near 1%. Under Colorado's pure preference-point draw, the highest-point pool is served first. S44 draw typically requires resident points in the 20+ range, with nonresident minimums even higher.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is S44 a once-in-a-lifetime unit?
Yes. Any Colorado bighorn ram tag is once in a lifetime under CPW rules — you are out of the resident ram pool forever after drawing.
How many preference points do I need for S44 bighorn?
Typically 20+ resident preference points; nonresident minimums run higher. Check CPW's annual minimum-point reports for specifics.
Is S44 mostly wilderness?
Fossil Ridge Wilderness covers a large share of the core sheep country. Motorized travel is prohibited inside wilderness — plan for foot or stock-supported hunts.

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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. CPW Hunting — S44 Bighorn Sheep Information — Colorado Parks & Wildlife · supports: S44 boundary, bighorn hunt codes, and season dates · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. 2025 Colorado Big Game Brochure — Colorado Parks & Wildlife · supports: S44 bighorn license limits, once-in-a-lifetime rules, and preference-point framework · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests — USDA Forest Service · supports: Fossil Ridge Wilderness boundaries, trail systems, and alpine sheep habitat in S44 · accessed 2026-04-17