Colorado GMU 28 Mule Deer Hunting
Grand County, northwest Colorado · 664 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 28 is like
GMU 28 spans 664 square miles of rolling to moderately steep country in Grand County's northwestern region. Elevation ranges from 7,300 feet to 13,500 feet, with typical terrain sitting around 9,300 feet. The majority of the unit breaks into gentle slopes (32%) and moderate slopes (49%), while steep terrain accounts for 18% and rugged ground comprises 1% of the area.
Public land generally open to hunting covers approximately 67% of the unit—roughly 445 square miles across National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area holdings. Private land constitutes about 31% of the unit, with the remaining acreage unclassified in ownership records. Access and approach vary with terrain and private inholdings; hunters should verify conditions and permission prior to entry on any ground.
Mule deer inhabit the unit during summer months across its full extent. As fall progresses, mule deer concentrate on winter range, which covers approximately 13% of the unit. Winter concentration areas comprise 3% of the unit's acreage, marking grounds where deer cluster during that season. The unit contains migration corridors occupying 5% of its acreage; mule deer movement through these areas typically occurs during the Early Fall Migration and Early Pre-Rut phases of October. Timing and extent of seasonal shifts vary with weather and snowfall, which averages 0.2 inches in September, 4.7 inches in October, and 14.9 inches in November at mid-elevation.
Five public-land seasons are available to hunters in this unit: Archery from September 2 to September 30 (either-sex), Muzzleloader from September 12 to September 20 (doe or buck), 2nd Rifle from October 24 to November 1 (doe or buck), 3rd Rifle from November 7 to November 15 (doe or buck), and 4th Rifle from November 18 to November 22 (buck only). Archery and Muzzleloader seasons fall during the Velvet Shed and Early Fall Transition phase, while 2nd Rifle straddles the Early Fall Migration and Early Pre-Rut phases. The 3rd Rifle season spans the Early Pre-Rut and Primary Rut phases, and 4th Rifle occurs during the Primary Rut. A private-land-only season also runs October 24 to November 15. Draw difficulty for this unit rates as Easy—many applicants draw with zero preference points for the most accessible unit-wide either-sex or buck codes. Hunter pressure on the unit is generally moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,300–13,500 ft, typically around 9,300 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 15.9°
- Slope breakdown
- 32% gentle · 49% moderate · 18% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~445 sq mi, plus ~3 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 67% of GMU 28 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest60%
- BLM7%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership2%
- Private31%
“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 28 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 Range13%used in winter
- Migration Corridors5%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Concentration3%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 63°F, lows around 35°F, about 0.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 51°F, lows around 25°F, about 4.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 38°F, lows around 15°F, about 14.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 28 mule deer hunting FAQ
How much public ground can a hunter actually access on this unit?
Approximately 67% of the unit, or roughly 445 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area lands. The remaining ground consists of private land (31%) and unclassified ownership (1.7%). Access and huntability depend on specific road and trailhead conditions; hunters should verify approach routes and any seasonal closures before heading out.
Is this unit realistic for a hunter with no preference points?
Yes. The unit draws as Easy, meaning adult Colorado residents often draw the most accessible unit-wide either-sex or buck licenses with zero preference points. Nonresidents and hunters applying for specific seasons or weapons may require additional points, but the base public-land opportunity does not demand preference points.
Does terrain here favor foot hunters or are there accessibility constraints?
About 81% of the unit consists of gentle to moderate slopes, making most ground hikeable for a reasonably fit hunter. Steep and rugged terrain comprises 19% of the unit's area. Elevation spans from 7,300 to 13,500 feet; higher elevations will be cold and steep, while lower elevations offer more forgiving terrain but may hold deer only seasonally.
When should a hunter expect to find concentrated numbers of mule deer?
Winter concentration areas cover 3% of the unit and mark where mule deer cluster during the late-season period. Summer range is extensive, but deer do concentrate as conditions cool. Migration corridors occupy 5% of the unit; expect deer movement through these areas primarily during October as the Early Fall Migration phase unfolds.
Which seasons hunt mule deer during the rut?
The 3rd Rifle season (November 7–15) and 4th Rifle season (November 18–22) both overlap the Primary Rut and Early Pre-Rut phases when mule deer behavior is most active and bucks are responsive. Archery and Muzzleloader seasons occur too early, falling in the Velvet Shed phase before the rut begins.
How does weather progress through the fall hunting season?
Temperatures cool steadily from September highs near 63°F to November highs near 38°F. Snowfall increases dramatically from 0.2 inches in September to 4.7 inches in October and 14.9 inches in November at mid-elevation. Hunters should expect cold conditions and mounting snow, especially in the later rifle seasons, which may affect both animal location and hunter access.
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.