Colorado Unit S24 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit S24 offers one of the most sought-after bighorn sheep hunting opportunities in the state, drawing serious mountain hunters willing to invest years — sometimes decades — into a single application. This is high-elevation, rugged terrain spanning 309,986 acres, with elevations ranging from 4,771 feet up to 11,067 feet at the highest points. For hunters researching this specific unit, understanding the hunt structure, historical harvest data, and realistic trophy expectations is essential before committing points to the pursuit.

Unlike general elk or deer units where opportunity is broad and access is straightforward, Unit S24 operates entirely as a limited-quota draw unit for bighorn sheep. There is no general season here — every hunter afield is doing so on a limited-quota tag, and every one of those tags took real investment to secure. With 55% public land, hunters have reasonable physical access to the unit, but the terrain itself — not land ownership — is what defines the difficulty of this hunt.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit S24 Worth Applying For?

For hunters weighing whether to funnel points into S24, the harvest data tells a compelling story about hunt quality. Across the recent years with available data, success rates have been remarkably high: 100% in 2025 (4 of 4 hunters), 100% in 2024 (6 of 6), 100% in 2023 (6 of 6), 100% in 2022 (4 of 4), and 100% in 2019 (2 of 2). The lone outlier was 2021, when hunters harvested at a 50% clip (2 of 4). Taken together, that's a multi-year success rate hovering near or at 100% in five of the last six years with data — an exceptional track record for any bighorn sheep unit anywhere in the West.

This kind of consistency matters. Bighorn sheep hunts are typically once-in-a-lifetime tags for the hunters who draw them, and a unit that produces harvest success at this level suggests that sheep are both present in huntable numbers and that the terrain, while demanding, doesn't render the animals unreachable. The low hunter numbers each year (2 to 6 hunters annually) also reflect the reality of limited-quota sheep management — this is a tightly controlled hunt, not a high-volume unit.

On trophy quality, the counties overlapping S24 show a moderate history of trophy-class rams. This isn't a unit with a marquee reputation for producing record-book giants year after year, but it has produced legitimate trophy animals historically, and moderate trophy potential paired with near-perfect harvest success makes this a unit worth serious consideration for any hunter fortunate enough to draw it. Given the multi-year point investment nonresidents and even many residents face for Colorado sheep tags, hunters should weigh the reality that this unit rewards patience with genuine opportunity once a tag is finally in hand.

The verdict: for hunters who eventually draw here, S24 is absolutely worth hunting hard. The data supports high confidence in filling the tag, and the terrain and elevation profile suggest a genuine mountain hunt rather than a roadside formality.

Harvest Success Rates

The harvest numbers for Unit S24 are among the strongest indicators available for this unit. Over the six years of data on record:

• 2025: 4 hunters, 4 harvested (100%)
• 2024: 6 hunters, 6 harvested (100%)
• 2023: 6 hunters, 6 harvested (100%)
• 2022: 4 hunters, 4 harvested (100%)
• 2021: 4 hunters, 2 harvested (50%)
• 2019: 2 hunters, 2 harvested (100%)

That's 24 harvested rams out of 26 total hunters across these six years — a cumulative success rate above 90%. The 2021 dip to 50% is worth noting but shouldn't be over-weighted; a single down year in a small-sample hunt (only 4 hunters that season) can be explained by weather, animal movement, or simple bad luck rather than a herd health issue. The broader trend across five of six years is unmistakable: hunters who draw a tag in S24 overwhelmingly fill it.

For a species where the tag itself is often the hardest part of the equation, this level of consistency is a major point in the unit's favor. Hunters investing years of points into a Colorado sheep application want confidence that, once drawn, the hunt will produce — and the data here backs that up.

Trophy Quality

Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit S24 indicate a moderate history of trophy production. This means the unit has produced legitimate trophy-class rams over time, though it doesn't carry the reputation of Colorado's most elite sheep units. Hunters should approach S24 with realistic expectations: this is a unit where a mature, respectable ram is a very achievable outcome given the harvest data, but hunters chasing an exceptional or record-caliber ram should understand the trophy history here is solid rather than spectacular.

It's worth remembering that trophy records are logged at the county level and shared across all units overlapping those counties, including neighbors to S24. That means the trophy potential reflected in this data isn't necessarily unique to S24's exact boundaries — it represents the broader trophy pedigree of the surrounding landscape. Still, combined with the high harvest success rate, hunters can be confident that mature rams are present and killable in this unit.

Access & Terrain

Unit S24 spans a dramatic elevation gradient, from 4,771 feet at its lowest points to 11,067 feet at its highest — a range of more than 6,000 vertical feet within the unit boundary. This is classic high-country sheep habitat: expect steep, rocky terrain, alpine basins, and significant physical demands on any hunter who draws a tag here. Sheep hunting at this elevation profile typically means glassing from vantage points across open, exposed terrain and being prepared for technical stalks in rock and scree.

With 55% of the unit in public ownership, hunters have solid physical access to hunt the terrain without needing to negotiate private land access for the majority of the unit. That said, 45% of S24 remains privately held, so hunters should plan routes carefully and verify boundaries before setting out — a mapping tool with public/private land overlays is essential for scouting this kind of mixed-ownership unit. Unit S24 shows no wilderness acreage in the available data, meaning access isn't restricted by wilderness travel regulations, though the elevation and ruggedness alone will demand strong physical conditioning and, in many cases, pack-in style hunting to reach productive sheep habitat away from roads.

Given the total acreage of nearly 310,000 acres and the elevation extremes involved, hunters should plan for multi-day scouting trips well before the season to identify where rams are holding, water sources, and feasible glassing points. HuntPilot's mapping tools, including public land overlays, can help hunters break down the 55% public portion of this unit before boots ever hit the ground.

How to Apply

Colorado bighorn sheep tags are allocated entirely through the state's limited-quota draw system — there is no over-the-counter or general season option for this species in Unit S24 or anywhere else in Colorado. Both residents and nonresidents must apply through Colorado Parks and Wildlife's annual draw process, and Colorado's system uses a weighted, points-based structure where accumulated preference points influence — but do not guarantee — draw success except at the highest point levels on the most competitive hunts.

Residents and nonresidents apply through separate pools, and because Colorado sheep tags are considered among the most difficult tags to draw in North America, most successful applicants have accumulated points over many years before drawing. Given the qualitative forum discussion referenced by hunters chasing other Colorado sheep units, it's common for even long-term applicants with high point totals to describe their odds as modest — a reflection of just how contested every Colorado sheep tag is, S24 included.

Because application structures, point requirements, and deadlines shift from year to year, hunters should not rely on secondhand or historical figures when planning an application strategy. For current draw odds, point requirements, and application deadlines specific to Unit S24, visit HuntPilot's Colorado state page at /states/CO, where up-to-date figures are maintained each draw cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit S24? Unit S24 features extreme elevation variation, ranging from 4,771 feet to 11,067 feet within the unit boundary. This translates to classic high-alpine sheep country — steep slopes, rocky basins, and significant vertical relief. Hunters should expect physically demanding terrain that requires strong conditioning and, in many cases, extended time away from roads to access prime sheep habitat.

What is harvest success like in Unit S24? Harvest success in Unit S24 has been exceptional in recent years. Data shows 100% success rates in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2019, with only 2021 falling to 50% (2 of 4 hunters). Combined across the six years with available data, roughly 24 of 26 hunters successfully harvested a ram — a strong indicator that hunters who draw this tag have a high likelihood of filling it.

How big are the bighorn sheep in Unit S24? Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit S24 show a moderate history of trophy-class rams. This isn't among Colorado's top-tier trophy units, but it has a legitimate history of producing mature, respectable rams. Hunters should expect solid trophy potential rather than an elite, record-book-heavy reputation.

Is Unit S24 worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — for hunters who eventually draw the tag, S24 offers a strong combination of high harvest success and moderate trophy potential. The unit's near-perfect fill rate in most recent years suggests that a drawn tag here is very likely to result in a harvested ram, which is a meaningful consideration given how much time and points hunters typically invest before drawing a Colorado sheep tag.

How much public land is available for hunting in Unit S24? Unit S24 is 55% public land, giving hunters reasonable physical access to the majority of the unit without needing to secure private land permission. The remaining 45% is privately held, so hunters should map boundaries carefully before scouting or hunting, particularly given the unit's rugged, high-elevation terrain where property lines can be difficult to identify on the ground.