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Wyoming Bighorn Sheep Hunting

 

Wyoming Bighorn Sheep Hunting 2025


The majority of Wyoming’s bighorn sheep reside in the northwestern portion of the state surrounding Yellowstone National Park. The areas they call home are typically rugged, mountainous, and physically challenging but offer hunters a truly unique experience in some of the most scenic and stunning country in the West. Much of the sheep habitat in this part of the state is within designated wilderness areas, and non-resident tag holders will need to consider booking with an outfitter or plan to hunt with a resident guide. Another good population of sheep occupy areas in South-central Wyoming between Rawlins and Laramie throughout the rolling timbered breaks, sage steppe, and grasslands. These areas are more moderate in terrain, although access and finding land to hunt can be difficult, depending on the unit. As a whole, Wyoming’s sheep are doing well, and while it is not known as a top trophy state for bighorns, there are two or three 180"+ rams that are entered into the record book each year.

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Wyoming Bighorn Sheep Draw

Wyoming’s bighorn sheep herds are holding steady or even slightly increasing in a few areas over the last decade, with unit 12 being the exception due to a pneumonia outbreak. The areas these sheep call home are typically rugged, mountainous, and physically challenging but offer hunters a truly unique experience in some of the most scenic and stunning country in the West. The northwestern portion of Wyoming near Yellowstone Park holds the densest population of bighorn sheep in the state. The majority of the sheep habitat in this part of the state is within designated wilderness areas, and non-resident tag holders will need to consider booking with an outfitter or plan to hunt with a resident guide. Southcentral Wyoming, between Rawlins and Laramie, is the other hot spot for bighorns in the state.

With herd populations at or above objective, the WGFD has even been issuing a few ewe/lamb licenses to help manage the herd numbers. These areas are generally more moderate in terrain, although access and finding land to hunt can be difficult, depending on the unit. As a whole, Wyoming’s sheep are doing well, with mature rams still available for lucky license holders to harvest every year.

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To apply for sheep, applicants will have to submit the entire fee, but if unsuccessful, they will receive a full refund minus the application and 2.5% processing fees. Applicants who don’t want to buy a point but still apply will want to look for units with random tags available, which means four non-resident tags issued. This gives hunters with no or low points a chance to be in a draw for a sheep tag without spending $150 every year on a preference point. Expect the random draw odds to be extremely low when a tag is available. In 2024, there were no random non-resident sheep tags issued due to the way the WGFD decided to allocate them.

Every year, we take a lot of calls from our members asking if it makes sense to continue to build sheep and moose points in Wyoming. It is an expensive investment, and trying to get a realistic expectation of whether or not you will ever draw a preference tag involves many variables. The biggest of these is how many points you are currently sitting on and how old you are.

With the recent change of sheep and moose tag allocation to the 90/10 split, this decision is tougher than ever. The Wyoming legislature voted down a bill that would have made sheep and moose a bonus point system instead of a preference point system in 2023. This system would have allowed applicants more of a random draw for all licenses available. With the bill failing to pass, WGFD is going to continue with the current preference point system. With that being said, non-residents with bighorn sheep preference points less than 25 likely have no chance of drawing a tag unless it is in a random draw. The maximum number of points for sheep in Wyoming going into 2025 is 30.

Wyoming Bighorn Sheep Seasons and Dates

Lucky hunters who draw a sheep license can also purchase an archery license and begin bowhunting approximately 15 days prior to the opening of the regular rifle season. If a hunter does not fill their license on the archery season, they can still hunt the rifle season.

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Self Guided DIY Wyoming Bighorn Sheep Hunts

For access to all of our research and data we've collected over the last 20+ years, then join today and access the best research tools for hunting Bighorn Sheep in Wyoming including Draw Odds, Consultations and much more. Go on more hunts with better information!

Private Land, Semi-Guided, and Guided Bighorn Sheep Hunts in Wyoming

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Application Dates for Bighorn Sheep in Wyoming

The application deadline for bighorn sheep is 11:59 P.M. MST on April 30th, 2025.

Our online and print magazine has everything in one location: Application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning and much more. If you would like access to all of our research join today!

Wyoming Non-Resident Bighorn Sheep Hunting Fees

2025 WYOMING NON-RESIDENT BIGHORN SHEEP FEES
(Fees do not include the $15 non-refundable application fee or the 2.5% processing fee on the total transaction amount.)
SPECIES
LICENSE FEES
PREFERENCE POINT FEE
  Youth Regular Special Youth Regular
Bighorn Sheep   $3,017   $150 $150
           

 

Wyoming Bighorn Sheep Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine