Wild sheep hunting is spread across the West, Alaska and western Canada. Each state sets its own permits, seasons and point system, so the best state depends on the sheep, the budget and how long a hunter is willing to wait.
Desert bighorn states
- Arizona has one of the largest desert bighorn programs, with famous ranges such as the Kofa Mountains
- Nevada offers desert bighorn in dozens of mountain ranges, along with California and Rocky Mountain bighorns
- California issues a small number of desert bighorn tags in the Mojave Desert
- Utah hunts desert bighorns in its southern canyon country
- New Mexico runs both desert and Rocky Mountain hunts, with a share set aside for nonresidents
- Texas has a limited desert bighorn program in its western mountains
Rocky Mountain bighorn states
- Montana is known for big rams and its unlimited districts
- Wyoming has strong herds and a preference point system
- Colorado holds the largest Rocky Mountain bighorn population of any state
- Idaho offers hunts in rugged backcountry, including the Salmon River canyons
- Utah, Oregon and Washington issue small numbers of permits
- Alberta and British Columbia offer hunts through licensed outfitters
Dall and Stone sheep
Alaska is the center of Dall sheep hunting, with hunts in the Brooks Range, Alaska Range, Chugach and Wrangell Mountains. The Yukon and Northwest Territories offer guided Dall hunts, and northern British Columbia is the home of Stone sheep, hunted through outfitters.
Choosing a state
- Apply in several states at once to build points everywhere
- Weigh resident and nonresident tag allocations, which vary widely
- Look at harvest reports for success rates and ram age
- Consider the terrain and travel, since some hunts need horses, boats or planes
- Check each state’s once-in-a-lifetime rules before applying
Every state wildlife agency publishes its sheep permit numbers and draw odds each year. Those reports are the most reliable guide to where a tag is realistic. For the hunt itself, read Glassing and Stalking Sheep.
Mexico and tribal lands
Desert bighorn hunts are also offered in Sonora and Baja California in Mexico, on ranches and community lands with licensed outfitters. These hunts are costly but avoid a long draw wait. Some tribes in the United States offer bighorn hunts on tribal lands under their own permits and rules.