Colorado Unit S33 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit S33 sits high in some of the state's most rugged alpine terrain, ranging from 8,293 feet up to 14,266 feet, and represents one of the true dream hunts for western big game hunters: a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep tag. This unit spans 286,017 acres, with a remarkable 93% public land, making access far less of an obstacle here than in many other big game units across the state. For hunters chasing a bighorn sheep tag in Colorado, S33 deserves a serious look — both for its terrain and for the harvest data behind it.

Bighorn sheep hunting is unlike any other pursuit in the West. Tags are scarce, competition is fierce, and most hunters who draw treat it as the hunt of a lifetime. Unit S33's combination of extreme elevation, overwhelming public access, and a track record of solid harvest success make it a unit worth understanding in detail before committing points or planning an application strategy.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit S33 Worth Applying For?

For hunters willing to invest in the long game of Colorado's bighorn sheep draw, Unit S33 stacks up as a strong option. The harvest numbers tell a consistent story of success once a hunter actually draws the tag. Over the past several seasons, success rates have hovered in a range that any sheep hunter would be pleased with — 73% in 2025, 74% in 2024, and 80% in 2021. Even the unit's lower year, 55% in 2022, would be considered a respectable outcome for many limited-entry hunts, let alone one of the most difficult tags in North American big game hunting.

What makes S33 stand out isn't just the success rate — it's the combination of that success rate with almost unrestricted public access. At 93% public land, DIY hunters have the terrain available to scout, glass, and hunt without needing to negotiate private land access or lease agreements. Add in the fact that 9% of the unit falls within designated wilderness, and hunters get a mix of accessible high country and a smaller pocket of more remote, foot-and-horseback-only terrain for those wanting to get away from other pressure.

The trade-off, as with every Colorado sheep unit, is the draw itself. This is not a unit to plan a hunt around in the short term — it's a long-term point-building proposition. But for hunters already accumulating points for Colorado sheep, or those willing to start now, Unit S33's blend of terrain, access, and harvest success makes it a legitimate target unit rather than a lottery afterthought.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit S33's harvest data over the past seven years shows a unit that consistently produces for the hunters who draw it:

• 2025: 22 hunters, 16 harvested — 73% success
• 2024: 23 hunters, 17 harvested — 74% success
• 2023: 21 hunters, 14 harvested — 67% success
• 2022: 22 hunters, 12 harvested — 55% success
• 2021: 15 hunters, 12 harvested — 80% success
• 2020: 1 hunter, 1 harvested — 100% success
• 2019: 12 hunters, 9 harvested — 75% success

Outside of the small-sample 2020 season (only a single hunter afield), success rates have ranged from 55% to 80%, with most years landing in the 67-80% band. That's a remarkably strong and consistent track record for bighorn sheep hunting, a pursuit where terrain, weather, and the sheer difficulty of locating rams can derail even well-prepared hunters. The multi-year average sitting comfortably above 70% suggests that hunters who draw a tag in S33 and put in the scouting time have a genuinely good shot at connecting.

It's worth noting that sheep tag numbers are intentionally small — this is a quota-managed species where herd health dictates very limited harvest opportunity. The hunter counts here (ranging from 12 to 23 per year) reflect that reality. This isn't a numbers game; it's a quality-over-quantity draw structure, and the data shows the strategy is working in terms of hunter success.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit S33 shows a moderate history of record-book entries. This puts S33 in a middle tier compared to some of Colorado's more storied sheep country — not a unit with a deep, decades-long pedigree of chart-topping rams, but one that has produced trophy-class animals with some regularity over time.

For hunters focused purely on chasing an exceptional-scoring ram, this moderate trophy history should factor into expectations. It doesn't mean big rams aren't present — bighorn sheep populations in high alpine terrain like this can absolutely produce mature, heavy-horned rams — but hunters should treat S33 as a solid, well-rounded sheep unit rather than a unit defined by an outsized trophy reputation. Given the county-level nature of trophy record attribution, it's also worth remembering that these records are shared across neighboring units in the same county boundaries, not attributed exclusively to S33's boundaries.

Combined with the strong harvest success rates, the picture that emerges is a unit where hunters have a good chance of filling a tag on a mature ram, even if it's not necessarily chasing a unit with an established reputation for exceptional-scoring animals.

Access & Terrain

Unit S33 offers some of the most favorable public access conditions a Colorado sheep hunter could ask for. With 93% of the unit's 286,017 acres in public ownership, hunters have the freedom to scout extensively and hunt without needing special permission or private land arrangements — a significant advantage in a state where private land often chokes off access to prime terrain.

The elevation range in this unit is extreme, running from 8,293 feet at the lowest points to 14,266 feet at the highest — true alpine sheep country. Hunters should expect to be operating well above treeline for significant portions of any hunt here, dealing with thin air, exposed rock, scree fields, and rapidly changing mountain weather. This isn't gentle foothill country; it's the kind of vertical, physically demanding terrain that defines bighorn sheep hunting in Colorado.

With 9% of the unit designated as wilderness, hunters will find a meaningful chunk of the unit under wilderness protections, which typically means no mechanized access — foot and stock travel only in those pockets. Unlike Wyoming, Colorado places no guide requirement on nonresident hunters entering wilderness areas, so DIY hunters are free to plan and execute their own hunts into these areas without hiring an outfitter. Still, given the physical demands of alpine sheep hunting and the value of local terrain knowledge, many hunters — resident and nonresident alike — choose to bring in a guide or at minimum do extensive scouting trips before the season.

Given the size of the unit and the amount of public land available, hunters serious about S33 should plan on multiple scouting trips to identify ram concentrations, water sources, and glassing vantage points before hunt season arrives. HuntPilot's mapping tools, including public land overlays, can help hunters break down the unit's accessible terrain and start identifying areas to focus scouting effort.

How to Apply

Colorado's bighorn sheep draw operates on a structured application calendar with specific fees tied to residency status. For the 2026 season, here's what hunters need to know for Unit S33 sheep applications:

Note the license fee requirement — both residents and nonresidents must hold a qualifying license before they're even eligible to submit a sheep application. This is a cost that's easy to overlook when budgeting for a Colorado sheep application, but it's mandatory and separate from the application fee itself.

Colorado's sheep, moose, and mountain goat draws use a preference point system where residents and nonresidents accumulate points annually. Because these are high-demand, low-quota tags, most successful applicants have invested significant time — often many years — building points before drawing a unit like S33. Hunters should factor this into their long-term application strategy rather than expecting a quick draw.

For current draw odds specific to point levels and residency, hunters should check HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages at /states/co, where year-specific data is maintained.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Colorado page at /states/co.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit S33?

Unit S33 is defined by extreme alpine terrain, with elevations ranging from 8,293 feet to 14,266 feet. Hunters should expect steep, rocky high-country conditions typical of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep habitat — exposed ridgelines, scree slopes, and terrain well above treeline for much of the unit. With 93% public land, there's ample room to scout and hunt, and a 9% wilderness component means some areas are accessible only by foot or stock.

What is harvest success like in Unit S33?

Harvest success in Unit S33 has been strong and consistent in recent years, ranging from 55% to 80% across the 2019-2025 seasons (excluding a single-hunter year in 2020). Recent seasons have trended favorably, with 73% success in 2025 and 74% in 2024, suggesting that hunters who draw a tag here have a solid chance of connecting on a ram.

How big are the bighorn sheep in Unit S33?

Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping S33 show a moderate history of record-book entries — not an area with an outsized trophy reputation, but one that has produced trophy-class rams over time. Hunters should expect a legitimate mature-ram opportunity rather than specifically targeting this unit for exceptional-scoring animals.

Is Colorado Unit S33 worth applying for?

Based on available data, yes — for hunters committed to the long-term nature of Colorado's sheep draw. The unit combines strong, consistent harvest success rates, extensive public land access at 93%, and a moderate trophy history. It's a well-rounded sheep unit rather than a unit defined purely by trophy potential, making it a strong choice for hunters focused on the overall experience and a legitimate chance at filling their tag once drawn.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt Unit S33's wilderness areas?

No. Colorado does not require nonresident hunters to hire a licensed guide or outfitter to hunt in wilderness areas, unlike some other western states. With 9% of Unit S33 falling within wilderness boundaries, DIY nonresident hunters can access and hunt these areas on their own, though the physical demands of alpine wilderness terrain mean many hunters still choose to work with a guide for logistical and safety reasons.