Colorado GMU 25 Mule Deer Hunting
Garfield and Eagle counties, northwest Colorado · 232 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 25 is like
GMU 25 spans 232 square miles across Garfield and Eagle counties in the northwest region. The unit ranges from 6,200 feet to 12,200 feet in elevation, with a typical mid-elevation around 9,200 feet. Terrain is rolling to moderately steep: 37 percent gentle slopes, 43 percent moderate, 18 percent steep, and 2 percent rugged. The unit offers mule deer hunting across multiple seasons from early September through late November, drawing extreme hunter pressure.
National Forest and BLM land form the huntable foundation, comprising approximately 83 percent of the unit (193 square miles). The USFS holds 59 percent of the unit and BLM holds 25 percent, both generally open to public hunting. Private land makes up approximately 17 percent of the unit. Access depends on road and trailhead conditions; ownership alone does not guarantee easy entry.
Mule deer occupy summer range across the entire unit and winter range across 39 percent of it. Winter Concentration mapping covers 21 percent of the unit, indicating that mule deer cluster on specific ground during winter months rather than dispersing evenly across available range. Early in the fall, during September, mule deer are in the velvet-shed phase. As October arrives, animals enter the early fall migration and nocturnal buck phase, a progression toward the rut. By mid-November, the primary rut intensifies, peaking from November 11 through November 25, then transitioning to late rut and winter consolidation by late December.
Eight seasons are offered: Archery (September 2–30, either-sex), Muzzleloader (September 12–20, doe/buck), Early Rifle (September 5–13, buck), four numbered rifle seasons (2nd Rifle October 24–November 1, 3rd Rifle November 7–15, 4th Rifle November 18–22, all doe/buck in the first three and buck-only in the fourth), a private-land-only season (October 24–November 15, either-sex), and Ranching for Wildlife (dates not published, either-sex/doe). Public applicants can access six of these eight hunts. The draw rates easy, often at zero preference points for the easiest unit-wide either-sex or buck code among adult Colorado residents in the primary draw. Draw difficulty and extreme hunter pressure are separate factors: an easy tag does not mean an uncrowded hunt. Other seasons, weapons, and nonresident applicants face substantially higher point requirements, and premium buck seasons on this unit require far more points than the easiest qualifying hunt.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,200–12,200 ft, typically around 9,200 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 15.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 37% gentle · 43% moderate · 18% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~193 sq mi
Land & access
About 83% of GMU 25 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest59%
- BLM25%
- Private17%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 25 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%.
- Summer Range100%used in summer
- 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 Range39%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 |
| Early Rifle | September 5 – September 13 | Buck |
| Private-land only | October 24 – November 15 | Either-sex |
| Ranching for Wildlife | Dates vary by hunt code | Either-sex, 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 38°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 52°F, lows around 28°F, about 4.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 39°F, lows around 17°F, about 16.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 25 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can someone with no preference points draw here?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt code for adult Colorado residents typically draws at zero preference points. Archery and muzzleloader seasons fall early in the season, as does Early Rifle in early September. Other rifle seasons, nonresident applicants, and premium buck hunts require substantially more points.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually count on?
Approximately 193 square miles—83 percent of the unit—is National Forest and BLM ground generally open to hunting. Private land comprises 17 percent of the unit. Access still hinges on roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures; ownership figures do not guarantee entry.
When are mule deer concentrated, and does that change through the season?
Winter Concentration mapping shows that mule deer cluster on 21 percent of the unit during winter months (January through mid-March). During summer and early fall, animals spread across the broader summer range that covers the full unit, then begin migrating in October as temperatures drop and day length shifts. Timing and extent of any shift toward concentrated winter ground vary with snow and weather.
Which seasons fall during the rut?
The primary rut runs November 11–25. The 3rd Rifle season (November 7–15) and 4th Rifle season (November 18–22) both overlap the primary rut; 3rd Rifle also includes early pre-rut staging. Early Rifle (September 5–13), Archery (September 2–30), and Muzzleloader (September 12–20) occur during velvet shed and early fall transition, well before the rut. The 2nd Rifle season (October 24–November 1) spans the nocturnal buck phase and early pre-rut migration.
How does weather change through the season?
September highs average 64°F with minimal snowfall. October highs drop to 52°F and snowfall averages 4.7 inches. By November, highs fall to 39°F and snowfall averages 16.7 inches—a significant cooling trend that drivers weather-driven behavior changes in mule deer through the fall.
Is this unit realistic for a first-time applicant?
The unit draws easy and often at zero points, but extreme hunter pressure means crowds are substantial. Early seasons—Archery, Muzzleloader, and Early Rifle—occur before the rut begins. Later rifle seasons (2nd, 3rd, and 4th) run from late October through late November and overlap the rut progression. A new applicant can draw an easier code here, but should expect heavy use on public ground.
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.