I was out elk hunting this past week around Durango, Colorado. Of course I had a bull tag and only saw cows, but that's how it always goes, right?

Anyway, I saw FIFTEEN big horn sheep, two of which were shootable rams. I was drooling! I've also seen a large number of mountain goats on my hikes and camping trips.

So I started wondering about hunting these creatures. I went to the Division of Wildlife web site and started reading up about licensing procedures, etc., and it's obviously going to be a LOOOONG wait to get one. The area I want to hunt sheep in (Pikes Peak, near home) only grants one license per year! Others grant 2-4, some ram, some ewe. Mountain goats are about the same (want to hunt these around Breckenridge because I've seen quite a few there).

So I'm going to start putting in for preference points next year. I think I read somewhere that it takes an average of 8 points to get a license for either of these. That gives me time to learn about both animals and how to hunt them. I think a spot-and-stalk approach would work best, above treeline in both cases. The ones I've seen didn't seem to be bothered by human presence at all, unlike deer or elk that I've hunted. What do you all think?

Where should I start my learning process? These licenses are much more expensive than deer, elk, antelope, and other things I've hunted, and I don't want to wait YEARS to get a license only to blow my opportunity.