At a Glance
North of the Gunnison River and Blue Mesa Reservoir is a herd of about 125 Rocky Mountain bighorns. The West Elks Wilderness Area offers thousands of acres of public land. Resident archery and rifle ram tags are available through the draw.
Bighorn rams can be found on top of West Elk Peak or near Dillon Mesa north of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Tag holders have many areas to glass. Archery season is the perfect time to head into the West Elk Wilderness. Weather can help determine where to hunt during September and October with a rifle tag.
Quick Tips
- Use horses to pack in base camp
- Watch for afternoon thunderstorms
- Fly fish Gunnison River or the alpine lakes

