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Colorado Bighorn Sheep

Unit S71 (Rampart Range)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit S71 covers the Rampart Range in Douglas and Jefferson Counties along the Front Range urban corridor. This unit holds a Rocky Mountain bighorn herd that uses the cliff country and open ridges above Rampart Reservoir and Waterton Canyon, producing a small ram quota each fall.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit S71

Unit S71 covers the Rampart Range in Douglas and Jefferson Counties along the Front Range urban corridor. This unit holds a Rocky Mountain bighorn herd that uses the cliff country and open ridges above Rampart Reservoir and Waterton Canyon, producing a small ram quota each fall.

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit S71

S71 sheep use the granite cliffs and open meadows of the Rampart Range at 7,500-9,500 feet.

Cliff Faces

Sheep bed and travel along south-facing granite faces overlooking Rampart Reservoir and the North Fork South Platte.

Ridge Meadows

Small parks and meadows between Rampart Road and the Waterton Canyon rim pull sheep morning and evening to feed.

Water and Mineral

Rampart Reservoir and several wet-season seeps anchor the herd through the season.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit S71

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Archery55%
Rifle78%
Unit S71 ram success typically runs 60-80%. Hunters who scout before the season and work midweek outperform those who try to hunt during busy weekends.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Archery— 1st Season1293.4% 3
Rifle— 1st Season21022.0% 3

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit S71 ram tags are awarded through Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Resident ram tags typically require 14-18 points. This is a once-in-a-lifetime ram tag under Colorado law.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points for Unit S71 bighorn?
Unit S71 ram tags typically take 14-18 preference points for residents through Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Non-resident allocations are very limited.
How do I deal with recreational traffic on the Rampart Range during a sheep hunt?
Hunt weekdays when possible and focus on terrain away from main OHV routes. Early-morning starts often beat recreational traffic entirely.

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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 S71 boundary, Once-in-a-lifetime rules · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. CPW Bighorn Sheep Management — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Rampart herd history, Rocky Mountain bighorn objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. CPW Hunting Atlas — Unit S71 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: S71 boundary, Pike NF ownership layer, Access routes · accessed 2026-04-17