Quick Tips
- Grand Junction has several sporting goods stores
- Hike around private parcels to reach isolated public land
- High mountain lakes are great for trout fishing
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 180"+ |
| Elk | 270"-300" | 310"+ |
On The Ground
This unit is located in central Colorado and lies just east of Glenwood Springs. Hunters will find good populations of deer and elk here but private land distribution can be troublesome at times, particularly during the later seasons. Tags are relatively easy to draw for and this could certainly be a unit hunters could expect to hunt often.
There is enough private land and remote high country is in this unit that some mule deer reach maturity and grow impressive racks. Most winter range is private, but there are remote areas in the south. Hunter success is higher among guided hunters. Private land yields more trophy size animals than public land does.
Terrain
This unit runs from the northwest at Glenwood Springs to the southeast at Hagerman Pass, a distance of about 50 miles. The eastern end borders the Continental Divide and the Sawatch Range and includes the southwestern part of the Holy Cross Wilderness. Some impressive peaks, including Avalanche Peak at 12,803 feet, Savage Peak at 13,139 feet and Fools Peak at 12,497 feet, tower above alpine tundra, rugged boulder drainages, barren ridges, rock slides and shallow lakes. Dozens of timbered ridges and mountains inside the White River National Forest comprise most of the eastern two-thirds of the unit. West and northwest of Basalt Mountain are private rangeland, several big scattered pieces of BLM property and some Forest Service land along Glenwood Canyon. South of Glenwood Springs and east of Highway are mostly private farmlands and some foothills below 8,000 feet.
Roughly 371 square miles
65.6% public land
Elevations from 5,800-12,000 feet
Vegetation
Most high ridges and slopes above 11,000 feet are treeless with water and low-lying alpine vegetation. Most north slopes below 11,000 feet are timbered, mostly with firs and spruces, while middle elevations have Douglas fir, aspens, grass meadows and sagebrush, and low elevations have pinyon/juniper, sagebrush, Gambel oak, grasses and other browse. There are many springs, small lakes and perennial streams.
Access
Good access to the south out of Basalt and Meredith. Many roads branch off Highway 82 and the Frying Pan Road and head east into the mountains. Some roads dead end shortly after leaving the main road. Hunters can access through Gypsum, using the south side of Red Table Road. A good network of roads reaches the north, where hunters can try to hunt around private land. Bad weather can prevent travel on many roads, some of which are narrow and steep.
A GPS unit with land ownership overlay is recommended
Snow and rain make roads muddy and slick
ATVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles with tire chains are recommended
Many steep and remote canyons
Camping and Lodging
Businesses in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt cater to hunters and offer lodging and places to buy gas, groceries, sporting goods and other supplies. Camping is allowed on federal land.
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
March 2025
23
24
25
26
27
28
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
31
1
2
3
4
5