Sheep hunting in United States

Sheep hunting in the United States can be an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime affair. The West holds three native species: Rocky Mountain Bighorn across states like Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho; California Bighorn in select units of Nevada, Oregon, and California; and Desert Bighorn in the Southwest, including Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Alaska adds classic Dall Sheep in a big, glaciated country, with the extra bonus of tags being available through outfitters. In the Lower 48, access to wild sheep tags is the crux: there’s only a very limited number of permits, most drawn by lottery with long odds. Many states have “once-in-a-lifetime” rules, giving sheep hunters only one chance to pursue the coveted ram. To increase chances, hunters often apply for years across multiple states, or pursue governor’s/conservation tags and auction tags that raise funds for conservation while providing premium access at premium prices; raffles and donation tags also exist at lower buy-ins. On the other hand, Texas offers year-round opportunities for aoudad (Barbary sheep) on large free-range ranches in the Trans-Pecos and on managed game farms statewide, along with other ranch sheep like mouflon and various hybrids—great for hunters who want a realistic sheep experience without a lottery (click to learn more from our blog). Whether you choose an affordable aoudad package or need all the help you can get to make the most of that coveted once-in-a-lifetime tag you’ve been fortunate to draw, BookYourHunt connects you with vetted outfitters and clear packages so you can plan the sheep hunt that fits your goals and timeline.