Colorado GMU 22 Mule Deer Hunting
Rio Blanco and Garfield counties, northwest Colorado · 988 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 22 is like
Colorado GMU 22 spans 988 square miles across Rio Blanco and Garfield counties in the northwest region. The unit rolls from low elevations near 5,400 feet to high country above 8,900 feet, with typical elevations around 7,000 feet. Terrain is rolling to moderately steep overall: 44 percent of the unit is gentle, 43 percent is moderate, and 13 percent is steep, with no rugged terrain present. The country supports a robust mule deer population and sees moderate hunter pressure across the fall hunting seasons.
About 74 percent of the unit is generally open to public hunting, managed by the BLM and State Wildlife Areas and totaling roughly 733 square miles. The remaining 26 percent is private land. This mix of ownership means a hunter can count on substantial public ground to explore, though access routes, trailheads, and seasonal closures will vary across holdings.
Mule deer range broadly across the unit through the fall. Winter Range covers 82 percent of the unit and includes 31 percent that forms Winter Concentration ground where mule deer cluster. Summer Range covers 59 percent, and Migration Corridors span 56 percent, indicating substantial seasonal movement. As the season advances from September into November, hunters should expect mule deer to transition from higher summer ground toward lower winter elevations, though the timing and extent of that shift will vary with weather and snow.
The unit offers six seasons total, five open to public applicants. Archery runs September 2 through September 30 for either-sex hunting in the velvet-shed phase. Muzzleloader runs September 12 through September 20 for buck or doe. The three rifle seasons follow: 2nd Rifle from October 24 through November 1, 3rd Rifle from November 7 through November 15, and 4th Rifle from November 18 through November 22, all for buck or doe except 4th Rifle, which is buck-only. The 4th Rifle season falls during the primary rut, while 3rd Rifle spans early pre-rut and rut phases. Early seasons sit in the velvet-shed transition, while 2nd Rifle begins in the early fall migration phase. A private-land-only season runs October 24 through November 15. Draw difficulty here is easy, often drawing at zero preference points for the easiest unit-wide either-sex code available to adult Colorado residents, though premium buck seasons require substantially more points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,400–8,900 ft, typically around 7,000 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 13.5°
- Slope breakdown
- 44% gentle · 43% moderate · 13% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~733 sq mi
Land & access
About 74% of GMU 22 is public land a hunter can count on — BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- BLM70%
- State Wildlife Area4%
- Private26%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 22 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
- Winter Range82%used in winter
- Summer Range59%used in summer
- Migration Corridors56%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Concentration31%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 |
| Private-land only | October 24 – November 15 | Either-sex |
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 72°F, lows around 44°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 59°F, lows around 33°F, about 1.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 45°F, lows around 22°F, about 5.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 22 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with zero preference points draw a tag here?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide either-sex hunt code for mule deer in GMU 22 draws reliably at zero preference points for adult Colorado residents, making this a realistic opportunity for first-time applicants. Premium buck-only seasons require significantly more points.
Which rifle seasons fall during the mule deer rut?
The 4th Rifle season (November 18–22) falls squarely in the primary rut, while 3rd Rifle (November 7–15) spans the early pre-rut and primary rut phases. 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1) begins during early fall migration, before rut behavior intensifies.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually access?
About 74 percent of the unit, or roughly 733 square miles, is open to public hunting through BLM and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 26 percent is private land. Actual access will depend on road systems, trailheads, and seasonal closures on each holding.
Where should a hunter expect to find mule deer as the season progresses?
Mule deer occupy Winter Range (82 percent of the unit) and move toward Winter Concentration areas (31 percent) as the season advances and weather cools. Summer Range covers 59 percent, and Migration Corridors span 56 percent, indicating that hunters should expect deer to shift from higher elevations toward lower winter ground as November approaches, though timing varies with snow and temperature.
What is the terrain like for hunting on foot?
The unit is rolling to moderately steep, with 44 percent gentle terrain and 43 percent moderate terrain. Only 13 percent is classified as steep, making much of the unit walkable for hunters on foot, particularly in the gentler and moderate-terrain sections.
How much more difficult is it to draw a premium buck tag compared to the easiest hunt?
The facts confirm that premium buck seasons take far more preference points than the easiest unit-wide either-sex code, which draws at zero points, but the specific point difference is not provided. Applicants considering a premium buck hunt should research current preference-point requirements separately.
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.