bighorn sheep GMU · Colorado Parks and Wildlife
S71 West Needles
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 S71 West Needles
S71 West Needles is a bighorn sheep GMU in Colorado, United States, set by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It covers about 2,604 km² (1,005 mi²). The town of Durango 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
- S71
- Area
- 2,604 km²
- Area (miles)
- 1,005 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 2,101 km² of public or protected land inside it, 81% 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 | 1,930 | 74% |
| Bureau of Land Management | 110 | 4% |
| Colorado Parks & Wildlife | 32 | 1% |
| City of Durango | 18 | under 1% |
| Colorado State Land Board | 12 | under 1% |
| Colorado Division of Wildlife | 0.0 | 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
Season dates, bag limits and licences for S71 West Needles are in Colorado Parks and Wildlife's official regulations. HuntGrid shows a season in the app only once a person has checked it against them.
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
Other hunting units that cover part of it
What HuntGrid shows for S71 West Needles
- 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 S71 West Needles (bighorn sheep GMU)?
About 2,604 km² (1,005 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Colorado Parks and Wildlife's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in S71 West Needles?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 2,101 km² of public or protected land, 81% 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 S71 West Needles?
In Colorado Parks and Wildlife's official regulations: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/big-game
Which units are next to S71 West Needles?
In the same unit system: S21 Cow Creek/Wetterhorn Peak, S28 Vallecito and S33 Lake Fork/Pole Mountain.
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.