Colorado Unit S63 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit S63 is one of the state's limited-quota bighorn sheep units, offering hunters a chance at one of the most coveted tags in western big game hunting. With every hunt in this unit run through the draw — there is no general season here — a tag in S63 represents a rare opportunity that many applicants wait years, if not decades, to secure. This article breaks down what the available harvest and habitat data show, and what hunters should realistically expect if they draw this tag.

Spanning 185,230 acres with elevations ranging from 4,947 to 7,462 feet, S63 sits at the lower end of the elevation spectrum compared to many of Colorado's alpine sheep units. At 97% public land, access is about as good as it gets in Colorado sheep hunting — the vast majority of this unit is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private land access or lease agreements. There is no wilderness designation within the unit, which means hunters can use mechanized access (where legal) to reach much of the terrain rather than being restricted to foot and stock travel only.

Bighorn sheep hunting in Colorado is built entirely around the draw system, and S63 is no exception. Every hunt here — including opportunities at mature rams — is allocated through limited-quota tags. This isn't a unit where hunters can buy a tag over the counter and head to the trailhead; it's a true once-in-a-lifetime (or once-in-many-years) proposition for most applicants.

Harvest Success Rates

The harvest data for S63 reflects what hunters should expect from any deep-limited-quota bighorn unit: very few tags, but historically strong success rates for those who draw. Looking at the recent record:

• 2025: 3 hunters, 3 harvested — 100% success
• 2024: 3 hunters, 2 harvested — 67% success
• 2023: 3 hunters, 3 harvested — 100% success
• 2022: 3 hunters, 3 harvested — 100% success
• 2021: 2 hunters, 1 harvested — 50% success
• 2019: 2 hunters, 1 harvested — 50% success

Across these six seasons, success rates have generally run high, with four of six years posting 67% or better and three years hitting 100%. This pattern is typical of Colorado bighorn units: because so few tags are issued, hunters who draw tend to be well-prepared, often invest in scouting trips ahead of the season, and are hunting a species that, once located, does not require the same pursuit distances as elk or deer. That said, hunter counts are small enough — two to three hunters per year — that a single unsuccessful hunt swings the success percentage dramatically. A 50% season, as seen in 2021 and 2019, likely reflects one hunter tagging out and one not, rather than any broader trend in ram availability. HuntPilot's data shows this small-sample volatility is common across Colorado's limited sheep units, and hunters should weight the multi-year average more heavily than any single season's number.

Trophy Quality

Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit S63 shows a limited history of entries. This doesn't necessarily mean rams in this unit are undersized — bighorn sheep populations across Colorado's lower-elevation, non-wilderness units often see less hunting pressure and less scouting attention from trophy-focused hunters than the state's marquee high-alpine units, which can mean fewer animals get entered into record books even when quality genetics exist on the landscape.

Hunters drawing this tag should approach trophy potential with realistic expectations grounded in the limited data available rather than assuming this unit will produce a record-class ram. The consistent, high-percentage harvest success shown above suggests that hunters who put in the scouting time are connecting with rams — but the record-book history suggests this unit is not known as a heavy producer of exceptional trophy-class animals. Hunters chasing a genuine record-book ram should treat S63 as a solid opportunity unit rather than a unit with a proven trophy pedigree.

Access & Terrain

S63's terrain profile — elevations from 4,947 to 7,462 feet — puts it in lower-elevation bighorn country relative to many of Colorado's higher alpine sheep units, some of which push well above 12,000 feet. This lower elevation range can translate into a different style of hunt: rather than glassing basins above treeline, hunters in S63 are more likely dealing with lower-elevation canyon and foothill terrain, rocky outcrops, and drainages typical of bighorn habitat outside the high peaks.

With 97% public land, access is a genuine strength of this unit. DIY hunters can plan a hunt here with confidence that land ownership won't be the limiting factor — nearly the entire unit is open ground. The complete absence of wilderness designation (0%) is also notable: unlike many premier Colorado sheep units that fall largely within wilderness boundaries and restrict access to foot and horseback only, S63 allows for a broader range of access options. Hunters should still expect rugged, demanding terrain typical of bighorn habitat — steep rock, broken slopes, and thick brush in the drainages — but the lack of wilderness restrictions can make scouting trips and gear logistics more manageable than in wilderness-bound units.

Hunters planning a trip to S63 should use available mapping tools to identify public land boundaries, elevation bands, and water sources within the unit ahead of the season. HuntPilot's mapping layers can help pinpoint public access points and terrain features worth a closer look before boots hit the ground.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit S63 Worth Applying For?

For hunters serious about bighorn sheep, the honest answer is: this unit deserves a spot in a well-considered application strategy, but it should be viewed as a solid opportunity tag rather than a trophy-hunter's dream unit. The strengths are clear — access is outstanding at 97% public land, harvest success rates have trended high across most recent seasons, and the total quota, while extremely limited, has produced tagged rams in four of the last six years at 67% success or better.

The tradeoffs are equally clear. This is an extremely low-quota unit — HuntPilot's data shows only two to three hunters afield in any given season — meaning competition for the tag itself is fierce and the odds of drawing are a long-term proposition for most applicants, as is true for nearly every Colorado sheep unit. Trophy data is limited for the surrounding counties, meaning hunters should not bank on this being a unit known for producing record-class rams. The lower elevation profile compared to Colorado's premier alpine sheep country may also appeal differently depending on what kind of hunt experience a hunter is after — some will appreciate the more moderate terrain and non-wilderness access, while others chasing the classic high-alpine sheep experience may prefer a different unit.

For a hunter who has been accumulating points and is looking for a unit where a drawn tag has a strong chance of converting to a harvested ram, S63's harvest history is a point in its favor. For a hunter whose primary goal is a shot at a record-book ram, the trophy data available suggests other Colorado units with deeper trophy histories may be a better fit for that specific goal. As always, hunters should check HuntPilot's unit page for the most current data before finalizing an application strategy.

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 anywhere in Colorado, including Unit S63. Both resident and nonresident hunters must apply through the same draw process, though Colorado maintains separate resident and nonresident quotas within its point system.

Colorado uses a weighted preference point system for bighorn sheep, meaning hunters accumulate points each year they apply without drawing, and those points weight future draw odds. This is a true preference-style system for a portion of tags, meaning higher point holders receive priority, while the structure also includes a random element depending on the specific hunt code and quota. Given how few tags this unit produces per season, hunters should expect this to be a long-term point-building strategy rather than a short-term draw prospect — a reality that holds true across nearly all of Colorado's bighorn units, not just S63.

Because application deadlines, fees, and current draw odds change with each cycle, hunters should not rely on static figures for planning. Application dates and fees change every cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Colorado page at /states/CO, and check the S63 unit page directly on HuntPilot for the latest available draw statistics before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit S63? S63 spans a lower elevation range for a Colorado bighorn unit, from 4,947 to 7,462 feet, which typically means canyon, foothill, and rocky outcrop terrain rather than the high alpine basins found in many of the state's other sheep units. With no wilderness designation, hunters have more flexibility in how they access the unit compared to wilderness-bound sheep country elsewhere in Colorado.

What is harvest success like in Unit S63? Recent seasons show generally strong harvest success, with 100% success recorded in 2025, 2023, and 2022, a 67% rate in 2024, and 50% rates in 2021 and 2019. Because only two to three hunters are typically afield in any given season, these percentages can swing significantly based on just one or two hunters' outcomes, so the multi-year trend is more meaningful than any single year's number.

How big are the bighorn sheep in Unit S63? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping this unit shows a limited history of entries, suggesting this is not an area with a strong documented history of producing record-book rams. Hunters should view S63 as a solid opportunity unit for harvesting a mature ram rather than a unit with an established trophy pedigree.

Is Colorado Unit S63 worth applying for? For hunters focused on tag opportunity and access, yes — 97% public land and consistently strong harvest success make this an appealing unit once drawn. For hunters specifically chasing a record-class ram, the limited trophy history suggests other units may better match that goal. As with all Colorado sheep units, expect this to require significant point investment before drawing.

Is Unit S63 a good unit for DIY hunters? The access profile favors DIY hunters: 97% public land means land ownership is rarely a barrier, and the absence of wilderness designation allows for more flexible access than many of Colorado's premier sheep units. Hunters should still plan for rugged terrain typical of bighorn habitat and use mapping tools to scout public access points and water sources before the season.