Quick Tips
- Great fly fishing on Colorado River - rainbows and browns
- Rifle Creek Center for Historical Preservation
- Visit Rifle Falls north of Rifle
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Elk | 260"-300" | 300"+ |
On The Ground
This large unit is located on the west side of the state and lies just northeast of the town of Rifle. A decent population of deer and elk is found here along with a respectable distribution of public lands. Hunters will find an attractive array of timbered and open sage slopes making for great hunting conditions for hunters of all backgrounds.
Good populations of deer and elk can be found here although the trophy potentials tend to be slightly lower Hunters will find a healthy mixture of public land to hunt on.
Terrain
This unit features a large distribution of topography features from mesas and open landscapes to aspen-covered slopes. Hunters can definitely encounter some steep and otherwise difficult hunting conditions but in general, this unit is not too terribly physically demanding.
Roughly 416 square miles
75.4% public land
Elevation from 5,323-11,000 feet
Vegetation
Lower elevation consists of grasses, irrigated fields of alfalfa, sagebrush, oakbrush, bitter bush, cottonwood, willow, and areas of pinion/juniper. Higher elevations have aspen, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine, lodgepole, Douglas fir, blue spruce, lush open parks.
Access
A good number of roads dot the landscape and hunters will generally not find too much issue in reaching hunting locations. Roads can become difficult to travel during inclement weather and four-wheel drive, tire chains, and/or ATV's can be very beneficial.
4WD is necessary on all county and secondary roads
You may encounter heavy ATV traffic on secondary roads
Snow storms and high winds possible beginning late October
Carry chains, extra gas, water and food
Camping and Lodging
Several campgrounds can be found throughout the unit and camping is permitted on federal lands. Modern lodging options can be found along I-70 on the southern side of the unit along with gear and supplies.
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