Last verified Jul. 2026

Sheep, goat & moose seasons

These three species sit apart from the rest of Colorado big game: tiny quotas, a special draw, and a once-in-a-lifetime rule. The moose calendar below is the statewide framework (also on the full season calendar); sheep and goat work differently, covered underneath.

Moose

Moose seasons follow the framework above — archery September 12–30, muzzleloader September 12–20, rifle October 1–14 — with a limited late antlerless season in some units. Every moose license is drawn; there is no over-the-counter moose. Colorado moose tags use a weighted preference-point system and carry a point fee, so building toward one is a multi-year project.

Bighorn sheep & mountain goat

Here we won't hand you a single "sheep season" or "goat season" date, because Colorado doesn't set one. Sheep and goat hunts are defined per individual hunt code, each with its own dates and unit, published in a separate publication rather than the big-game brochure. Broadly they fall between late summer and early winter, but the only correct date is the one on your specific hunt code. Pull it from CPW Sheep & Goat Brochure and the CPW bighorn sheep page — don't trust a generic "season" figure for these species anywhere, including a rough range.

The once-in-a-lifetime draw

All three species use a special draw with a weighted-point system that gives long-time applicants better (but never guaranteed) odds. The point fee is $50 resident / $100 non-resident, and the licenses themselves are among the most expensive Colorado sells (see the fee tables). Apply through the same draw as other big game, by the April deadline. CPW Primary Draw

Because these are the rarest tags in the state, they're worth applying for every year even while you chase elk and deer — the point costs little and the draw is the only way in.