Colorado GMU 39 Mule Deer Hunting
Jefferson, Clear Creek and Park counties, northwest Colorado · 369 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 39 is like
GMU 39 spans 369 square miles across northwestern Colorado, rising from 7,000 feet in the valleys to 14,300 feet at the high points, with a typical elevation around 10,100 feet. The terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 16% of the unit is gentle, 56% moderate, 26% steep, and 2% rugged by area. The unit covers parts of Jefferson, Clear Creek and Park counties.
Public hunting access covers approximately 63% of the unit, or about 234 square miles, found on National Forest and State Wildlife Areas. Private land comprises about 31% of the remaining area, with approximately 4.9% in unclassified ownership. The National Forest forms the backbone of public ground and provides the primary entry points for hunters.
Mule deer occupy the unit across a broad range through the fall. Summer Range covers 100% of the unit, with Winter Range present across 32% and Winter Concentration marking 6% of the area where deer cluster during the coldest months. This distribution indicates that while deer are present throughout much of the unit in September and October, they concentrate on specific ground as the season advances into November and December. The mix of elevations and public-land access allows hunters to find deer across multiple zones as seasonal conditions shift.
Six seasons are offered, five of them on public land. Archery runs September 2–September 30 for either-sex deer. Muzzleloader is available September 12–September 20 for doe or buck. Three rifle seasons follow: 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1, 3rd Rifle November 7–November 15, and 4th Rifle November 18–November 22, all for doe or buck. A private-land-only season runs September 1–November 30. The unit draws with easy difficulty, often at zero preference points for the easiest qualifying either-sex hunts available to adult Colorado residents in the primary draw.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,000–14,300 ft, typically around 10,100 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 19.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 16% gentle · 56% moderate · 26% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~234 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 63% of GMU 39 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest61%
- State Wildlife Area2%
- BLM<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership5%
- 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 39 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 Concentration6%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 | Doe, Buck |
| Private-land only | September 1 – November 30 | 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 62°F, lows around 37°F, about 0.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 50°F, lows around 27°F, about 4.8 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 40°F, lows around 19°F, about 11.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 39 mule deer hunting FAQ
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually hunt?
Approximately 234 square miles, or 63% of the unit, is open to public hunting on National Forest and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining area is split between private land (about 31%) and unclassified ownership (about 4.9%). Actual access depends on roads, trailheads and seasonal closures specific to each section.
Is this unit realistic for a hunter with zero preference points?
Yes. The unit draws with easy difficulty and the easiest qualifying either-sex codes often draw at zero points for adult Colorado residents in the primary draw. This applies to the early archery and muzzleloader seasons as well as the rifle hunts, though other weapon types and nonresident applicants may require substantially more points.
When in the fall are mule deer most concentrated?
Winter Concentration covers 6% of the unit and reflects clustering during the post-rut and winter months. As the season advances from September through November, hunters should expect deer to shift progressively toward winter ground, though timing and extent vary with weather and snow conditions.
Which season falls during the primary rut?
The 4th Rifle season, November 18–November 22, falls squarely in the primary rut phase when bucks are actively seeking does. The 3rd Rifle season, November 7–November 15, spans the transition into the rut and can offer excellent hunting as bucks begin nocturnal movement patterns.
How does temperature change across the hunt calendar?
September highs average around 62°F and drop through October to around 50°F, then fall further to around 40°F by November. October averages about 4.8 inches of snowfall and November averages about 11.2 inches, so weather conditions become progressively colder and more snow accumulates as the season progresses.
What terrain can a hunter on foot expect to cover?
The unit is steep enough to demand physical conditioning: 26% is steep and 2% is rugged by area, with moderate slopes making up 56%. While 16% is gentle, the majority of the unit requires hikers to manage significant elevation gain and challenging slope. The mix of elevations and the substantial public acreage means hunters can select terrain that suits their fitness level, but steep country dominates much of the accessible 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.