The Puma Hills, a mountain range in Pike National Forest, offers a good adventure without the physical demands of a rugged, wilderness hunt. With great habitat, some private land and healthy herds, hunters have a chance to see some mature mule deer bucks and bull elk.

Hunters willing to hunt hard throughout the season will have a chance at big mule deer bucks and bulls.

The Puma Hills run north and south through the eastern side of the unit, with the highest peak being Schoolmarm Mountain. Off of that mountain range there are rolling hills and canyons to the east and west. Most deer and elk hunting is between 7,000 and 10,000 feet.

Low elevations have flats and rolling hills covered with sagebrush, grass, pinyon pines and juniper trees and agricultural fields on the valley floor with scattered cottonwood trees along creeks. Middle elevations also have pinyon pines and junipers, while some areas have ponderosa pines and oak brush. High elevations have a lot of spruce and fir trees mixed with large, scattered aspen groves along with flats covered with grass and wildflowers on ridges.

A section of Pike National Forest runs through the eastern part of the unit and gives hunters good public access with maintained roads and primitive four-wheel-drive roads that wind throughout the national forest. Lower elevations are mostly private, but do have some BLM land.

Good camping sites on public land along roads are near hunting areas, so expect to see other hunters. There are a couple of small towns near the unit, but none with great services. Better campsites are taken early.