Quick Tips
- No ATVs allowed off roads
- Most trails are restricted to horseback riding and hiking
- Check road conditions before driving to the unit
- Be prepared to walk through streams
- Service stations in most towns charge a fee to fill water jugs
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 170"+ |
| Elk | 260"-300" | 300"+ |
On The Ground
This unit is located in west central Colorado and just outside of the town of Delta. Good numbers of deer and elk can be found here but a large amount of the unit is private, a fac that can become a huge hurdle during the later seasons. The Northern end of the unit is comprised of the Grand Mesa National Forest and offers the greatest array of terrain types for the unit. Great glassing conditions can be found throughout the unit but hunters will encounter very heavy timber at times.
There are a lot of elk on public ground although private land in the south offer excellent hunting for a price. Elk tend to stay in the same places through hunting seasons unless bothered by hunters.
Terrain
The northern few miles of land are mostly flat forests and parks in Grand Mesa National Forest and ranges between 9,500 and 10,500 feet above sea level. Dozens of lakes and streams bejewel the mesa part of the unit. Seven species of trout live in area waters. Terrain gradually drops in elevation to the south with foothills and bluffs overlooking farmland and rangeland, which drain into the Gunnison River and its tributaries. The southern two-thirds is mostly private land except for several large parcels of BLM land.
Roughly 242 square miles
47.7% public land
Elevations from 5,000-10,982 feet
Vegetation
High elevations have dense pine and spruce forests. Mid to low elevations have pine forests disperse into oak brush and sage lands and eventually to desert in lowest elevations.
Access
Access to this unit is somewhat limited because of the large amounts of private land to the south.
Hwy 65 and its spur roads to the east are probably the best access to the northern portion of this unit
Surface Creek road runs north and south in the northern portion of the unit and provides good access from HWY 65
RD 3100/FR 128/Leroux Creek Road is a long road that provides some of the only access to the eastern portion of this unit
Camping and Lodging
In the Grand Mesa National Forest you will find many opportunities for camping both along roadways and next to the many lakes that are in the northern portion of this unit. Most of these areas have facilities that are open through the hunting season. Motels/Hotels can be found in the towns along Hwy 65 and Hwy 133. Hotchkiss and Cedar Edge both have hotels and lodges nearby that provide lodging year around. Delta is a larger town with more amenities but is also further from this unit. (depending on how far you want to drive to hunt every day) There are lodges that mostly cater to the private land hunting to the south.
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
April 2025
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3