The western border of the unit is the backbone of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains north of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. Most of the foothills and the Wet Mountain Valley below are privately owned. Hunters have good chances to see mature bulls and bucks.

Hunters who are up to the challenge of hunting rugged, steep terrain have good chances of finding mule deer bucks and bull elk, though whitetail numbers are low and rarely harvested. There is an early September rifle deer season above timberline and much of the high country is in Sangre de Cristo Wilderness.

Most big game hunting takes place between 8,000 and 12,000 feet above sea level in the mountains of the San Isabel National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Below the 8,000-foot level is mostly private land that drops to 6,500 feet in the Wet Mountain Valley. Above 12,000 feet are rugged, steep and rocky peaks, many of them exceeding 13,000 feet and Crestone Needle exceeding 14,000 feet.

Most of the peaks are in Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, where no vehicles are allowed. Road access to the mountainous country below is limited to the four-wheel-drive roads, Hermit Pass, Cloverdale Basin and South Colony Creek. The middle elevation has a few roads through it, but access is limited because of private land. Most low land is private.

Low elevations have flats and rolling hills covered with sagebrush, grass, pinyon pines and juniper trees along with crop fields on the valley floor with scattered cottonwood trees along creeks. Some areas have ponderosa pines and oak brush. Middle elevations mainly consist of spruce and fir trees mixed with large, scattered aspen groves along with flats covered with grass and wildflowers on ridges. High elevations have steep slopes leading to the barren, rocky peaks above timberline are covered in grass, wildflowers and loose scrabble.

To camp in the wilderness and much of the high country, you must backpack or pack with horses. Good camping sites on public land along roads are near hunting areas, so expect to see other hunters.