Colorado GMU 26 Mule Deer Hunting
Eagle, Garfield and Routt counties, northwest Colorado · 240 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 26 is like
Colorado GMU 26 spans Eagle, Garfield and Routt counties in the northwest region, covering 240 square miles of terrain that rises from 6,500 feet to 12,400 feet, with typical elevation near 8,900 feet. The country is rolling, with some steeper breaks: 64 percent of the unit is gentle, 31 percent moderate, and 5 percent steep or rugged. Mule deer hunters here work a landscape that cools considerably through the fall, dropping from September highs around 66°F to November highs near 40°F, with October bringing occasional snow and November averaging 12 inches monthly.
About half the unit—roughly 49 percent, or 117 square miles—is open to public hunting across National Forest and BLM ground. Private land comprises the remaining 50 percent. State Trust Land makes up 1.3 percent of the unit; access to that ground is enrollment-dependent, and only parcels enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program may be hunted. Public ownership is not the same as easy entry, and hunters should verify current road access and seasonal closures before committing to an application.
Mule deer occupy summer range across the entire unit and are mapped on overall range at 100 percent. Winter range and winter concentration together cover 32 percent of the unit, meaning that as the season progresses and snow accumulates through November, hunters should expect deer to consolidate into those winter areas. The shift typically begins in late October and November as temperatures drop and snow arrives, though timing and extent vary with weather patterns. Early-season hunters—those in archery, muzzleloader and early rifle hunts—encounter deer in their dispersed summer and early-migration phases across broader terrain. Later rifle seasons (2nd through 4th) align with the pre-rut and rut periods when buck behavior shifts and migration toward winter ground accelerates.
The unit offers seven mule deer seasons across four rifle dates. Archery runs September 2–30 (either-sex). Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 (doe/buck). Early Rifle runs September 5–13 (buck). The three numbered rifle seasons run consecutively: 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1, 3rd Rifle November 7–15, and 4th Rifle November 18–22 (buck only). A private-land-only season runs October 24–November 15. Draw difficulty for the unit-wide either-sex and buck hunts is easy, often at zero preference points for adult Colorado residents applying through the standard public draw. Hunter pressure is extreme, reflecting the unit's size, proximity to population centers and public access. Premium buck seasons on the unit require substantially more preference points than these easiest hunts.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,500–12,400 ft, typically around 8,900 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 9.4°
- Slope breakdown
- 64% gentle · 31% moderate · 4% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~117 sq mi, plus ~3 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 49% of GMU 26 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM. A further 1% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest30%
- BLM19%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land1%
- Private50%
Colorado State Trust Land is open to public hunting only where it is enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Check current enrollment before planning around it.
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 26 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 Range32%used in winter
- Winter Concentration32%where mule deer bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors<1%movement between ranges, not residence
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 |
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 66°F, lows around 36°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 53°F, lows around 27°F, about 3.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 40°F, lows around 16°F, about 12 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 26 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can I draw a public-land tag here with no preference points?
Yes, for the easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunts available to adult Colorado residents. The unit's draw difficulty is easy, with qualifying tags often drawn at zero points in the primary draw. However, premium buck seasons require substantially more preference points, and nonresidents face different draw thresholds. Applicants should review all season options available to their category before ranking.
Is there meaningful public ground to hunt, or is most of the unit private?
Roughly 49 percent of the 240 square-mile unit—about 117 square miles—is National Forest and BLM open to public hunting. The other half is private land. State Trust Land comprises 1.3 percent but is only huntable where CPW has enrolled it in the Public Access Program. A hunter who cannot access private ground or enrolled trust land can still hunt a substantial public base, though they should verify current road conditions and seasonal closures before the season begins.
Does the terrain here suit a hunter on foot, or is it too steep?
Sixty-four percent of the unit is gentle terrain and 31 percent is moderate, making this country generally walkable for a fit hunter. Only 5 percent is steep or rugged. While some drainages and ridges will demand effort, the majority of the unit does not present extreme exposure or scrambling. Elevation gain can still be significant in places, and hunters should match their fitness to the terrain and season conditions they expect.
Do early-season and late-season hunters see different deer behavior?
Yes, distinctly. Early hunters—archery (September 2–30), muzzleloader (September 12–20) and early rifle (September 5–13)—find deer in their dispersed summer phases when bucks carry velvet and move broadly across range. By the 2nd Rifle season (October 24–November 1) and into the 3rd and 4th rifles through November 22, bucks enter pre-rut and primary rut behavior, becoming more active but also more focused on feeding and establishing territories. Late-season hunters also encounter deer beginning to migrate toward winter concentration areas, where 32 percent of the unit's mule deer cluster as snow and cold intensify.
What should I expect from the weather as the season progresses?
September is mild, with highs near 66°F and virtually no snow. October cools noticeably—highs drop to the low 50s and snow becomes common, averaging about 3 inches monthly. November is cold and snowy, with highs near 40°F and 12 inches of average monthly snowfall. This progression means early-season hunters travel in comfortable conditions but face lower visibility, while late-season hunters contend with deep snow and cold temperatures that move deer behavior and concentrated locations become more predictable.
Is this unit realistic for someone focused on hunting public land only?
Yes, provided the hunter accepts sharing 117 square miles of public ground with extreme hunter pressure. The unit is easy to draw and offers multiple season options, making it accessible to new applicants. However, the sheer number of hunters in the field means solitude and consistent elk sightings are not guaranteed. A public-land-only strategy here requires flexibility about location, timing and terrain, and thorough scouting before opening day.
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.