Skip to content
ProHunt
Colorado Bighorn Sheep

Unit S79 (Georgetown)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit S79 covers the Georgetown area in Clear Creek County along the I-70 corridor, encompassing the bighorn herd that lives on the exposed south-facing cliffs above the town. The unit hosts one of Colorado's most visible and photographed bighorn populations and produces limited ram tags each season.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit S79

Unit S79 covers the Georgetown area in Clear Creek County along the I-70 corridor, encompassing the bighorn herd that lives on the exposed south-facing cliffs above the town. The unit hosts one of Colorado's most visible and photographed bighorn populations and produces limited ram tags each season.

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit S79

S79 sheep concentrate on the exposed cliffs and benches above Georgetown and Silver Plume.

South-Facing Cliffs

The granite faces north of I-70 between Georgetown and Guanella Pass hold the visible herd. Most hunting activity focuses on the back side of these ridges away from the highway.

Guanella Pass Slopes

Higher elevations above Guanella Pass give more remote and huntable country than the cliffs directly over Georgetown.

Meadows and Benches

Sheep feed on open grass benches between cliffs and dark timber at 10,000-12,000 feet.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit S79

Pro Members Only

Unlock sheep hunting tactics for Unit S79

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle78%
Unit S79 ram success typically runs 60-75%. The small quota and accessible-but-complex terrain makes success about finding huntable rams outside safety closures.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— 1st Season11800.6% 3
Rifle— 1st Season12010.5% 3

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine
Unit S79 ram tags are drawn through Colorado's pure preference-point system. Residents typically need 15-20 points. This is a once-in-a-lifetime ram tag under Colorado law.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Pro Members Only

Unlock logistics for Unit S79

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is S79 bighorn to draw?
Unit S79 typically requires 15-20 preference points for residents through Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Non-resident allocations are very limited.
Can I hunt the cliffs right above I-70?
No. Portions of Unit S79 directly above I-70 are closed to hunting for public-safety reasons. Review the CPW brochure for specific closure boundaries before the season.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

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 S79 boundary, Safety closures near I-70 · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. CPW Bighorn Sheep Management — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Georgetown herd population, Rocky Mountain bighorn objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. CPW Hunting Atlas — Unit S79 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: S79 boundary, Arapaho NF layer, Closed-to-hunting buffers · accessed 2026-04-17