Colorado GMU 19 Mule Deer Hunting
Larimer County, northeast Colorado · 423 sq mi
Based on the EASIEST unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents in the 2026 primary draw — the lowest preference-point tier that drew reliably. Private-land-only and Ranching for Wildlife hunts are excluded because neither is a unit-wide public-land opportunity — NOT because the public cannot draw them. A private-land-only license requires the hunter's own permission to hunt private ground; a Ranching for Wildlife license is valid on the participating ranches enrolled in that program. They are separate systems. Other weapons, seasons and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points. The band is a floor, not a target: even the easiest qualifying hunt here sits in that range.
What hunting GMU 19 is like
Unit 19 spans 423 square miles across rolling to moderately steep terrain in the northern Colorado mountains. Elevation ranges from 4,800 feet at the lowest to 12,700 feet at the highest, with typical ground sitting around 8,200 feet. The terrain breaks down to 36 percent gentle slopes, 49 percent moderate, 14 percent steep, and 1 percent rugged by area. The unit offers a mix of National Forest and State Wildlife Areas that hunters can count on accessing.
About 61 percent of the unit, roughly 258 square miles, is generally open to public hunting through National Forest and State Wildlife Areas. Another 32 percent is private ground. Ownership is unclassified on roughly 7 percent of the unit, meaning the source data does not record an owner. The remaining share comprises state trust land and other state holdings managed under different rules. This split means a significant portion of the unit lies open to public hunters, though private land and unclassified ownership still create barriers on roughly 39 percent of the total area.
Mule deer occupy most of the unit seasonally. Summer range covers 99 percent of the unit from July through August. Winter range covers 64 percent, where mule deer cluster on about 21 percent of the unit during the post-rut recovery and winter consolidation phases January through December. Hunters should expect mule deer to shift toward winter-concentration ground as fall progresses and snow and cold arrive, though the timing and extent of that shift varies with weather and snow. Early-season archery hunters working in September will encounter bucks in the velvet-shed phase across broad summer range. By late November and December, mule deer will concentrate on the winter range across 21 percent of the unit as bucks enter and move through the primary rut and into the late rut.
The unit offers six seasons: Archery September 2–September 30 for either-sex; Muzzleloader September 12–September 20 for doe or buck; 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1 for doe or buck; 3rd Rifle November 7–November 15 for doe or buck; 4th Rifle November 18–November 22 for buck only; and Late Rifle November 28–December 13 for doe. Four rifle seasons run during October and November, with Late Rifle extending into early December. Drawing the easiest unit-wide either-sex code here is straightforward—the unit draws easy for adult Colorado residents, often at zero preference points. High hunter pressure nonetheless means crowded conditions early and late in the season, especially on public ground near roads and trailheads.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,800–12,700 ft, typically around 8,200 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 14.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 36% gentle · 49% moderate · 14% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~258 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 61% of GMU 19 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest61%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- BLM<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- National Park Service<1%
- Unclassified ownership7%
- Private32%
“Ownership unclassified” means the source dataset does not record an owner for that acreage. It is not known to be public or private.
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 19 each range covers — the single best clue to whether mule deer are here in September, in November, or only passing through. The layers overlap, so they do not add to 100%.
- Overall Range100%the full extent of range CPW maps for mule deer — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when mule deer are present
- Summer Range99%used in summer
- Winter Range64%used in winter
- Winter Concentration21%where mule deer bunch up in winter
Mule Deer seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Either-sex |
| Muzzleloader | September 12 – September 20 | Doe, Buck |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Doe, Buck |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Doe, Buck |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Buck |
| Late Rifle | November 28 – December 13 | Doe |
Dates span every hunt code of that type in this unit and can differ by code. Confirm the current brochure with Colorado Parks & Wildlife before applying.
Fall weather
- September — highs around 64°F, lows around 37°F, about 0.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 51°F, lows around 28°F, about 4.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 40°F, lows around 20°F, about 8.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 19 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with no preference points draw a public-land tag here?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide either-sex hunt code for adult Colorado residents draws at zero preference points on average. This does not guarantee any hunter will draw—preference-point tiers can vary by year and season—but the unit is straightforward for entry. Other weapons and seasons may require more points.
Is this unit realistic for someone trying to hunt a large block of uninterrupted public ground?
The roughly 258 square miles of generally open National Forest and State Wildlife Areas is substantial, but private ground makes up 32 percent of the unit, creating inholdings throughout. Hunters should expect to encounter private-land boundaries and plan routes accordingly. Checking the specific access situation near an intended hunting area is essential.
Does elk distribution shift toward lower-elevation winter ground as the season advances?
This unit is mapped for mule deer, not elk. Mule deer do concentrate on roughly 21 percent of the unit during the winter and post-rut phases as the season advances into late November and December. Early-season archery hunters will find deer spread across the much broader summer range in September.
How crowded is this unit during the rifle seasons?
High overall hunter pressure means the unit draws crowds, especially during the numbered rifle seasons running October 24 through November 22 and again during Late Rifle in November and early December. Archery and early muzzleloader in September will be less crowded but still active. Public ground accessible by road will see the heaviest use.
What is the weather like during the archery and early rifle seasons?
September archery is mild, with highs around 64 degrees Fahrenheit and minimal snowfall averaging about 0.3 inches for the month. October rifling is cooler, with highs around 51 degrees and roughly 4.1 inches of snowfall. By November's rifle seasons, highs drop to about 40 degrees and snowfall averages 8.2 inches as the unit cools significantly through the fall.
Is terrain steep enough that a foot-hunter faces serious climbing challenges?
The unit is rolling to moderately steep overall, with 85 percent of the area in gentle or moderate slopes. Steep and rugged ground combined make up only 15 percent of the unit, so most of the accessible public land is manageable on foot without extreme elevation gain. That said, terrain varies widely across 423 square miles, and specific drainages and ridges will present their own challenges.
Data sources & methodology
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Big Game hunting — seasons, weapons, hunt codes and license types
- CPW — Primary Draw rules — how preference points and the hybrid draw work
- CPW — Deer statistics, draw recap and Drawn Out At reports — the point levels behind the draw-difficulty bands
- CPW — Secondary Draw — licenses remaining after the primary draw
- CPW — Maps and GIS (Species Activity Mapping) — mule deer seasonal range
- CPW — State Trust Land Finder — which State Trust acreage is enrolled and open to public hunting
- Federal and state land-ownership datasets — land ownership and access
- NOAA climate normals — fall weather
Draw difficulty is a qualitative band, not published odds — the note under the summary above states exactly which hunt code it describes. Land shares are separate, non-overlapping categories: publicly owned is not the same as open to hunting, and State Trust Land is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it. Unit data last updated August 31, 2026.