Quick Tips
- Good trout fishing in the Arkansas River
- Hot springs are near Buena Vista
- Lots of bears
- Striking fall colors
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 120"-130" | 130"+ |
| Elk | N/A | 270"+ |
| Antelope | 65"-70" | 70"+ |
On The Ground
The southwest part of this unit borders Salida and runs about 30 miles north to Trout Creek Pass. Mule deer and elk inhabit private land and a larger amount of public land in the form of the San Isabel National Forest and BLM ground, including most of Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area.
Resident elk and mule deer inhabit isolated mountains in early seasons and large bucks and bulls migrate here during late seasons from high ranges to the west and north, though the bigger bucks tend to come from private land. Antelope are scarce.
Terrain
Flat to rolling grazing land in South Park climbs rapidly to foothills along Kaufman Ridge and moderately steep mountains. Creeks, gulches, dry washes, rimrocks and deep canyons in the south drain into the Arkansas River.
Roughly 300 square miles
77.3% public land
Elevations from 6,890-10,995 feet
Vegetation
Short grasses cover South Park, and pinyon/juniper woodlands cover the foothills at lower elevations. Ponderosa pines, lodgepole pines, oak brush and aspen groves give way to stands of spruces and firs and open parks on the slopes above 9,000 feet.
Access
BLM lands east of U.S. Highway 285, 50 and Colorado Route 291 along the Arkansas River have limited road access. San Isabel National Forest south of U.S. Highway 24 has a good county road and its own road system. State lands include 542-acre Aspen Ridge, (reached by County Road 185) and 6,186–acre Badger Creek, which is split into upper and lower divisions between Units 57 and 58 and can be reached by County Road 53 southwest of Colorado Route 9. Other state lands include 560-acre Sand Gulch No. 2, which hunters can reached by hiking or riding horses from County Road 45, and 3,640-acre Chubb Park, which is divided between Units 49 and 57 and can be reached from U.S. Highway 24 and County Road 311.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommend on secondary roads
Wind picks up nearly every afternoon
Ground blizzards possible in late fall
Camping and Lodging
Hunters can get motels in Salida, which has a hospital, restaurants, stores, gas stations and car repair shops. Fuel and restaurant meals are available in Johnson Village. Gasoline can be purchased in Hartsel. Buena Vista has motels, restaurants, auto repair shops and places that rent four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Camping is allowed in San Isabel National Forest
Camping is permitted where posted on state land
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