Colorado GMU 42 Mule Deer Hunting
Mesa and Garfield counties, northwest Colorado · 605 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 42 is like
GMU 42 spreads across 605 square miles of Mesa and Garfield counties in Colorado's northwest region. Elevation ranges from 4,800 feet to 11,100 feet, with terrain that is 39% gentle, 45% moderate, 15% steep, and 1% rugged by area. The rolling to moderately steep topography offers a mix of accessible and challenging country. This unit sits at the crossroads of the Colorado Plateau and higher-elevation mountains, creating a landscape of both open parks and forested slopes.
Public ground comprises roughly 55% of the unit—approximately 334 square miles—managed by the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 45% is private land. Access to public ground depends on the specific ownership and existing road and trailhead networks; hunters should verify the approach before applying.
Mule deer occupy this unit across a broad seasonal range. Summer Range covers 51% of the unit, while Winter Range covers 59%. Winter Concentration ground, where mule deer cluster during that season, accounts for 32% of the unit. As temperatures drop and snow accumulates from October into November, hunters should expect deer to shift progressively toward winter-concentration ground, though the timing and extent of that movement vary with weather and snow. Migration Corridors make up 1% of the unit and mark movement routes during seasonal transitions.
The unit offers six seasons across five public-land opportunities and one private-land-only hunt. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex deer. Muzzleloader hunts September 12–20 for doe or buck. 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, which is buck only. Draw difficulty is Moderate, typically requiring 1–2 preference points for the easiest unit-wide either-sex or buck code available to adult Colorado residents. Hunter pressure remains High. Early-season hunts in September occur during mild weather, with September highs near 75°F; conditions cool substantially into November, with highs dropping to around 47°F and average snowfall reaching 2.6 inches.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,800–11,100 ft, typically around 7,100 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 14.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 39% gentle · 45% moderate · 15% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~334 sq mi
Land & access
About 55% of GMU 42 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest30%
- BLM22%
- State Wildlife Area3%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private45%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 42 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%.
- 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 Range59%used in winter
- Summer Range51%used in summer
- Winter Concentration32%where mule deer bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors1%movement between ranges, not residence
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 | Buck |
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 75°F, lows around 44°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 61°F, lows around 34°F, about 0.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 47°F, lows around 23°F, about 2.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 42 mule deer hunting FAQ
How much public land can a hunter actually access here?
Roughly 55% of the unit—about 334 square miles—is public land managed by the USFS, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 45% is private. Access depends on the specific agency, existing roads and trailheads, and any seasonal closures; hunters should confirm the approach before applying.
Is this unit realistic for someone with no or few preference points?
Yes. Draw difficulty is Moderate, meaning the easiest unit-wide either-sex or buck code typically draws at 1–2 preference points for adult Colorado residents. Applicants with zero points may draw, though harder to score hunts and nonresident applicants face steeper competition.
When do deer concentrate and where should a hunter focus?
Winter Concentration ground, where mule deer cluster, makes up 32% of the unit. This concentration is specific to the winter season (January through mid-March). From October into November, hunters should expect deer to shift toward that winter-concentration ground as temperatures drop and snow accumulates, though timing and extent vary with weather.
Which seasons fall during the rut, and is there much difference between them?
The 3rd Rifle (November 7–15) and 4th Rifle (November 18–22) overlap the Primary Rut (November 11–25), with the 3rd also catching the early pre-rut period. The Archery (September 2–30) and Muzzleloader (September 12–20) hunts occur during velvet shed and early fall transition, months before the rut. The 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1) straddles the gap between early fall migration and early pre-rut staging.
How steep is this country, and is it reasonable for a foot hunter?
Terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with 84% of the unit in gentle or moderate slopes and 16% steep or rugged by area. Hunters on foot will find plenty of accessible country alongside steeper patches. Elevation spans from 4,800 to 11,100 feet, so the higher reaches can be challenging, but the lower and middle elevations offer varied terrain.
Will the weather change much across the hunting season?
Yes. September highs average near 75°F with virtually no snow, while November highs drop to around 47°F with an average of 2.6 inches of snowfall for the month. October sits in between, with highs around 61°F and light snow possible. Hunters should plan for a steady cooling trend and the possibility of snow, especially in the later rifle seasons.
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.