Colorado GMU 36 Mule Deer Hunting
Eagle and Grand counties, northwest Colorado · 275 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 36 is like
GMU 36 spans Eagle and Grand counties in the northwestern region and covers 275 square miles of mixed terrain. Elevations range from 6,700 feet to 13,400 feet, with typical hunting occurring around 9,500 feet. The unit is mixed, with substantial steep ground: roughly a quarter of the area is gentle terrain, half is moderate, and a quarter is steep or rugged. The topography transitions from lower-elevation valleys to higher ridges across the fall season.
The unit is approximately 82% open to public hunting on National Forest and BLM land, covering about 225 square miles where a hunter can count on access. Private land makes up roughly 17% of the unit, and approximately 1.2% is unclassified in ownership. The public ground is predominantly USFS, with smaller BLM acreage mixed throughout. While the National Forest and BLM provide broad public ownership, actual access depends on roads, trailheads, and seasonal conditions on the ground.
Mule deer range across the unit seasonally. Summer Range covers 100% of the unit, reflecting full occupancy during July and August. As fall progresses, mule deer shift toward Winter Range, which covers 32% of the unit. Migration Corridors account for 11% of the mapped range and represent movement between seasonal areas. Winter Concentration ground comprises 11% of the unit, where mule deer cluster as conditions tighten. A hunter should expect substantial seasonal movement and concentration on winter ground as November advances, though timing and extent vary with weather and snow.
The unit offers six archery and rifle seasons open to public applicants. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex hunting during the velvet-shed phase. Muzzleloader opens September 12–20 for doe and buck. Early Rifle runs September 12–20 for buck only, also in the velvet-shed phase. The numbered rifle seasons span October 24 through November 22: 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1) and 3rd Rifle (November 7–15) both take doe and buck during early migration and early pre-rut phases; 4th Rifle (November 18–22) takes buck only during the Primary Rut. A seventh season is private-land only (October 24–November 15 for either-sex) and valid only where the hunter has permission on private ground. The unit draws as Easy—often at zero points—for the most accessible unit-wide hunts, but premium buck seasons require substantially more preference points. Overall hunter pressure is high.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,700–13,400 ft, typically around 9,500 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 18.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 24% gentle · 51% moderate · 23% steep · 3% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~225 sq mi
Land & access
About 82% of GMU 36 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest78%
- BLM4%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership1%
- Private17%
“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 36 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
- Migration Corridors11%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Concentration11%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 12 – September 20 | 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 38°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 51°F, lows around 28°F, about 4.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 38°F, lows around 18°F, about 19.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 36 mule deer hunting FAQ
Is this unit realistic to draw with no preference points?
Yes, the easiest unit-wide either-sex or buck codes draw regularly at zero points for adult Colorado residents in the primary draw. Premium buck seasons require substantially more points, and nonresident applicants face a harder draw across all hunts. The private-land-only season is subject to different application rules tied to specific ranches enrolled in that program.
Which seasons fall during the rut?
4th Rifle (November 18–22) falls squarely in the Primary Rut. 3rd Rifle (November 7–15) straddles early pre-rut and rut phases. 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1) falls before the rut begins, during early migration and nocturnal buck activity. Archery, Muzzleloader, and Early Rifle all occur in September during the velvet-shed phase, well before the rut.
How much public ground can a hunter actually access here?
Approximately 225 square miles of the 275-square-mile unit is open to public hunting on National Forest and BLM land. Private inholdings, roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures will affect which ground is actually reachable on foot. A hunter should scout the specific drainages and access points before the season.
Does terrain ease up at lower elevations, or is it steep throughout?
The unit's terrain is mixed across all elevations. Roughly 24% is gentle, 51% is moderate, and 26% is steep or rugged by area. A hunter should not expect lower elevations to mean easy walking—substantial steep ground exists throughout the unit, particularly in the middle and upper portions.
When should a hunter expect the heaviest snow?
September brings nearly no snow (0.1 inches average). October sees about 4.7 inches, and November jumps to 19.5 inches average at mid-elevation. The season cools from September highs near 63°F to November highs near 38°F, with November lows dropping into the mid-teens.
Where do mule deer concentrate as the season advances?
Winter Concentration ground covers 11% of the unit, where deer cluster as fall progresses toward winter. The mapping does not specify where this ground lies within the unit—a hunter should consult topo maps and local knowledge to identify which drainages and aspects hold concentrated animals. Timing of the shift depends on snow and weather, and extent varies year to year.
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.