Colorado GMU 361 Mule Deer Hunting
Eagle and Grand counties, northwest Colorado · 83 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 361 is like
GMU 361 spans 83 square miles across Eagle and Grand counties in the northwest region, with elevation ranging from 6,800 feet to 11,600 feet and typical elevations around 8,600 feet. The terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with gentle slopes comprising 31 percent of the unit's area, moderate slopes 53 percent, and steep terrain 15 percent, with rugged terrain making up the remaining 1 percent. The unit's mean slope of 15.8 degrees places it in the steep category overall.
Public hunting ground makes up approximately 74 percent of the unit—roughly 61 square miles—administered by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife as State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 26 percent is private land. Public ownership is distributed across 43 percent USFS, 24 percent BLM, and 6.4 percent state wildlife areas. Access to public ground depends on road and trailhead conditions; the hunter should verify specific approaches before planning a trip.
Mule deer occupy summer range across the entire unit and concentrate during winter on 45 percent of it, with 35 percent of the unit comprising winter concentration areas where mule deer cluster. As the fall season progresses, mule deer occupy migration corridors and begin shifting toward winter ground in response to cooling temperatures and snow. September highs average 67 degrees Fahrenheit with virtually no snowfall, October sees highs drop to 54 degrees with an average of 2.9 inches of snow, and November highs fall to 40 degrees with an average of 9.8 inches, driving the seasonal consolidation toward winter range.
The unit offers five public-land hunting opportunities and one private-land-only season. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex mule deer during the velvet shed phase. Muzzleloader hunts occur September 12–20 for doe or buck in the same phase. Three rifle seasons follow: the 2nd Rifle from October 24–November 1, 3rd Rifle from November 7–15, and 4th Rifle from November 18–22, all for doe or buck except the 4th Rifle, which is buck-only. The 2nd Rifle and 3rd Rifle seasons span the early fall migration and early pre-rut phases, while the 4th Rifle falls entirely during the primary rut. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide either-sex or buck hunts available to adult Colorado residents is easy, often requiring zero preference points, though more competitive seasons and premium buck hunts demand substantially more points. The unit experiences high overall hunter pressure.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,800–11,600 ft, typically around 8,600 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 15.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 31% gentle · 53% moderate · 15% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~61 sq mi
Land & access
About 74% of GMU 361 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest43%
- BLM24%
- State Wildlife Area6%
- Private26%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 361 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 Range45%used in winter
- Winter Concentration35%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 67°F, lows around 35°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 54°F, lows around 26°F, about 2.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 40°F, lows around 15°F, about 9.8 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 361 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can someone with no preference points draw this unit?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunts for adult Colorado residents in the 2026 draw often require zero preference points, making this unit accessible to applicants at any point tier. However, more competitive seasons and any premium buck hunts in the unit require substantially more points, so the applicant should verify the specific hunt code before assuming immediate access.
Is early season or late season better for hunting here?
Early season hunting during archery and muzzleloader (September) occurs when mule deer are in bachelor pattern on summer range and velvet has recently shed, with mild temperatures in the 60s. Late-season rifle hunts (November) coincide with the primary rut and early winter consolidation, when cooler temperatures and snow drive mule deer toward winter concentration areas, though the approach to those areas can become more challenging as snow accumulates.
How much public ground can a public-land hunter actually access?
Approximately 74 percent of the unit—roughly 61 square miles—is publicly owned and generally open to hunting through USFS, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. Access to specific parcels depends on roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures, which the hunter should verify independently before planning a trip.
Is the terrain manageable for a hunter on foot?
The unit's rolling to moderately steep terrain is huntable on foot; 84 percent of the unit is gentle or moderate slope, and only 16 percent is steep or rugged. However, elevation gain from the low point at 6,800 feet to higher areas above 11,000 feet and snow accumulation in November and beyond may affect travel difficulty and planning.
Where do mule deer concentrate as the season progresses?
Winter concentration areas cover 35 percent of the unit, and as fall advances, mule deer shift from summer range toward these winter concentration zones in response to cooling temperatures and snow. The timing and extent of this shift depend on weather and snowfall; September remains mild with no snow, but by November an average of 9.8 inches of snowfall drives consolidation toward winter ground.
What does the high hunter pressure mean for hunting conditions here?
High hunter pressure means the unit attracts significant numbers of hunters, particularly during rifle seasons. The easy draw and public land availability contribute to crowded conditions, especially during the November rut hunts when mule deer are most visible and accessible.
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.