Colorado GMU 4 Mule Deer Hunting
Moffat and Routt counties, northwest Colorado · 467 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 4 is like
GMU 4 spans 467 square miles across Moffat and Routt counties in northwestern Colorado. The unit's terrain is rolling, with some steeper breaks, ranging from 6,200 feet to 10,800 feet elevation with a typical elevation around 7,500 feet. Approximately 60% of the unit is gentle terrain, 37% is moderate, and 2% is steep, making it accessible for hunters on foot across most of the area.
Public land suitable for general hunting comprises roughly 41% of the unit, or 191 square miles, split between National Forest (30%) and BLM (11%) holdings. An additional 6.3% is Colorado State Trust Land, huntable only where CPW has enrolled parcels in its Public Access Program—the extent of accessible state trust ground cannot be determined without checking current enrollment. Private land makes up 52% of the unit, creating a fragmented landscape where planning access is essential.
Mule deer occupy summer range across the full unit and are present on the overall mapped range throughout the year. Winter range covers 52% of the unit, and mule deer concentrate on 34% during winter months. Migration corridors span 47% of the unit, indicating that deer movement toward winter ground is expected as conditions change through the fall. A hunter should expect deer distribution to shift with seasonal progression and weather, particularly as November snowfall increases and the rut advances.
The unit offers six public-land hunts across four rifle seasons and two archery/muzzleloader seasons. Archery runs September 2–30 as either-sex hunting during velvet shed. Muzzleloader hunts September 12–20 during the same phase. Three numbered rifle seasons follow: 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1), 3rd Rifle (November 7–15), and 4th Rifle (November 18–22), covering the early fall migration through primary rut phases. Other Rifle, also November 18–22, falls during the primary rut. A private-land-only season runs October 24–November 22, and Ranching for Wildlife hunts operate year-round on enrolled properties. The unit draws moderate competition, with the easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex public hunt requiring one to two preference points for adult Colorado residents. Hunter pressure is high. Weather in early fall is mild—September highs near 70°F and lows near 40°F with minimal snow—but the season cools steadily; November brings highs around 42°F, lows near 20°F, and average snowfall near 11.4 inches per month.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,200–10,800 ft, typically around 7,500 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 9.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 60% gentle · 37% moderate · 2% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~191 sq mi, plus ~29 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 41% of GMU 4 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM. A further 6% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest30%
- BLM11%
- State Trust Land6%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private52%
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 4 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 Range52%used in winter
- Migration Corridors47%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Concentration34%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 |
| Other Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Doe |
| Private-land only | October 24 – November 22 | Either-sex |
| Ranching for Wildlife | Dates vary by hunt code | Either-sex, 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 70°F, lows around 40°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 56°F, lows around 30°F, about 2.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 42°F, lows around 20°F, about 11.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 4 mule deer hunting FAQ
Is GMU 4 realistic to draw with zero or very few preference points?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex public hunt here draws reliably at one to two preference points for adult Colorado residents, making it accessible to applicants with minimal point history. Other seasons, nonresidents, and specific weapon types may require substantially more points.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually hunt here?
Roughly 41% of the unit—191 square miles—is generally open to hunting on National Forest and BLM. An additional 6.3% is State Trust Land, but only parcels enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program may be hunted; a hunter must check current enrollment to know what is available. Private land covers 52% and requires permission.
Does this unit favor early season or late season hunting?
Both seasons have merit but for different reasons. Early hunts (archery and muzzleloader in September) occur in mild weather with velvet shedding activity but require finding deer in summering areas. Late rifle seasons (November) coincide with the rut and cooler weather that pushes deer toward winter ground, though heavier snow and colder temperatures demand more preparation.
When should a hunter expect mule deer to concentrate on winter ground?
Mule deer move toward winter range as conditions deteriorate through the fall; timing varies with snow and temperature. November brings an average of 11.4 inches of snowfall at mid elevation and daytime highs dropping to the low 40s, conditions that typically accelerate movement to the 34% of the unit mapped as winter concentration areas.
Is the terrain steep and technical, or can a hunter manage it on foot?
Most of the unit is manageable for hunters on foot. Roughly 60% is gentle and 37% is moderate terrain; only 2% is steep. The mean slope is moderate (9.6 degrees), making the unit accessible to a wide range of abilities, though some steep breaks do exist and should be expected.
What does 'high hunter pressure' mean for my chances of success?
High pressure indicates the unit draws many applicants and sees significant hunting activity once hunters are in the field. This does not describe draw odds—which are moderate—but rather crowding on the ground during seasons. Hunters should plan to explore thoroughly and be prepared to move if necessary to find less-pressured areas.
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.