Ready To Rumble
Colorado’s bighorn sheep are extra-active during the months of November and well into December during the mating season, called “the rut.” Mature rams come down from the cliffs and chase receptive ewes. Occasionally the rams will face off in explosive head-butting dominance battles. The best place close to Denver to see wild bighorns during the rut is Waterton Canyon in Jefferson County southwest of Park Hill. A short three- to four-mile bike ride up the dirt canyon road usually leads to a herd of ewes and pursuing rams. Photo by Reid Neureiter