bighorn sheep GMU · Colorado Parks and Wildlife
S61 Purgatory Canyon
Colorado, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About S61 Purgatory Canyon
S61 Purgatory Canyon is a bighorn sheep GMU in Colorado, United States, set by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It covers about 4,871 km² (1,881 mi²). The town of La Junta is inside it.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for Bighorn sheep.
- Unit code
- S61
- Area
- 4,871 km²
- Area (miles)
- 1,881 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,109 km² of public or protected land inside it, 23% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Service Region 02 Rocky Mountain | 481 | 10% |
| Colorado State Land Board | 426 | 9% |
| The Nature Conservancy | 200 | 4% |
| Bureau of Land Management | 2.6 | under 1% |
| Colorado Parks & Wildlife | 0.1 | under 1% |
| City of La Junta | 0.1 | under 1% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Colorado Parks and Wildlife's regulations:
| Species | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bighorn sheep | Dec 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | males, rifle, residents, draw, Chancellor Ranch, State Land Board land only source |
| Bighorn sheep | Dec 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | males, rifle, draw source |
| Bighorn sheep | Jan 1, 2027 to Jan 10, 2027 | females, rifle, residents, draw, Chancellor Ranch, State Land Board land only source |
The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
Other hunting units that cover part of it
What HuntGrid shows for S61 Purgatory Canyon
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is S61 Purgatory Canyon (bighorn sheep GMU)?
About 4,871 km² (1,881 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Colorado Parks and Wildlife's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in S61 Purgatory Canyon?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,109 km² of public or protected land, 23% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Forest Service Region 02 Rocky Mountain. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for S61 Purgatory Canyon?
This page lists 3 seasons a person has checked against Colorado Parks and Wildlife's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.
Which units are next to S61 Purgatory Canyon?
In the same unit system: S38 Apishapa and S48 Carrizo Canyon.
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The official regulations and maps have the final word.