At a Glance
675Square Miles
52.8%Public Land
6,239 - 12,000Elevation Range
Quick Tips
- Bears can cause problems
- Expect rapid weather changes
- Good trout fishing in rivers, creeks and many lakes
Unit 12 in Colorado receives mixed reviews from hunters, with some finding success and others experiencing challenges. The terrain is diverse, offering both opportunities and difficulties, particularly depending on the season's weather and game movement. Hunters emphasize the importance of understanding draw odds and planning accordingly, as they can significantly impact hunt success. Overall, preparation on access routes and understanding animal patterns are crucial, with some advice on scouting areas and adjusting strategies based on elk and deer behavior noted as beneficial.
The large unit is comprised of an even mixture of public and private lands. During the earlier seasons, hunters will find good opportunities in the higher elevations. As snow arrives for the later season and the game is pushed into lower elevations hunters will begin having some access issues as many of these areas are private lands.
The state sells an unlimited number of elk tags for late October and early November rifle seasons so hunting pressure is intense then, especially near roads. There is mostly private land in the north half of this unit and remote wilderness to the souteast. Expect heavy ATV traffic on the west portion of the unit.