Colorado GMU 44 Mule Deer Hunting
Eagle County, northwest Colorado · 377 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 44 is like
GMU 44 is a 377-square-mile unit in Eagle County spanning rolling to moderately steep terrain from 6,100 feet to 13,400 feet in elevation. The country is 27 percent gentle, 49 percent moderate slope, and 24 percent steep or rugged by area, with a mean slope of 17.7 degrees. Mule deer inhabit the unit across a spectrum of elevations and terrain types, with seasonal distribution patterns driven by weather and forage.
About 78 percent of the unit—roughly 295 square miles—is public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service (55 percent), Bureau of Land Management (23 percent), and State Wildlife Areas (0.1 percent). Private land comprises approximately 20 percent. Public ownership provides open access to the majority of huntable ground, though roads, trailheads, seasonal restrictions, and private inholdings within the public area still govern which ground a hunter can actually reach and hunt.
Mule deer occupy Overall Range across the entire unit, with Summer Range covering 99 percent and shifting to more concentrated use as fall arrives. Winter Range covers 44 percent of the unit; within that winter-use ground, Winter Concentration (21 percent of the unit) marks where deer cluster most densely. Hunters should expect mule deer to become increasingly nocturnal and mobile during October before settling into winter patterns later in the fall, though the exact timing and extent of seasonal shifts vary with weather and snowfall. September temperatures average highs near 68°F and lows near 40°F with minimal snowfall; October cools to highs near 55°F with average snowfall around 2.6 inches; November brings significant change, with highs near 42°F and average snowfall of 12.1 inches.
The unit offers seven seasons total: Archery (September 2–30, either-sex), Muzzleloader (September 12–20, doe or buck), Early Rifle (September 12–20, buck), and four rifle seasons in fall—2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1, doe or buck), 3rd Rifle (November 7–15, doe or buck), 4th Rifle (November 18–22, buck), and a private-land-only season (October 24–November 15, either-sex). Archery and Muzzleloader fall during velvet shed and early fall transition phases when bucks are shedding antlers and beginning to move. Early Rifle also occurs in velvet shed. The numbered rifle block (2nd, 3rd, and 4th) spans the early fall migration, pre-rut staging, and primary rut phases, with 4th Rifle specifically in the primary rut (November 18–22). Draw difficulty is moderate, requiring 1–2 preference points for the easiest unit-wide either-sex or buck hunt available to adult Colorado residents, though premium buck seasons within the unit demand substantially more points. Hunter pressure on the unit is moderate overall.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,100–13,400 ft, typically around 8,700 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 17.7°
- Slope breakdown
- 27% gentle · 49% moderate · 22% steep · 3% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~295 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 78% of GMU 44 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest55%
- BLM23%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private20%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 44 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
- Summer Range99%used in summer
- Winter Range44%used in winter
- Winter Concentration21%where mule deer bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors<1%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 |
| 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 68°F, lows around 40°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 55°F, lows around 30°F, about 2.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 42°F, lows around 19°F, about 12.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 44 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can someone with zero or one preference point draw a tag here?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide hunt code for adult Colorado residents draws reliably at 1–2 preference points. That scope covers either-sex or buck seasons available to the general public; premium buck hunts on the unit require substantially more points. Applicants should verify the specific code and year against the current draw results, as harder seasons exist alongside the easier options.
Which season offers the best chance at a mature buck?
4th Rifle (November 18–22) falls squarely in the primary rut, when bucks are most active and visible during daylight. 3rd Rifle (November 7–15) overlaps early pre-rut and primary rut phases and also targets actively moving bucks. Earlier seasons (Archery, Muzzleloader, Early Rifle, and 2nd Rifle) occur before or just as rut activity builds, when bucks are more cryptic or still transitioning to nocturnal patterns.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually access?
About 78 percent of the unit—roughly 295 square miles—is publicly owned and generally open to hunting. That total includes National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area land. However, public ownership alone does not guarantee access; roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings within or adjacent to public ground all affect where a hunter can actually reach and hunt.
Is this unit realistic for a foot-based public-land hunter?
The terrain is mixed: 27 percent gentle and 49 percent moderate slope offer walkable country, but 24 percent steep or rugged ground requires fitness and route-finding skills. With 78 percent public land at elevations spanning 6,100 to 13,400 feet, a hunter on foot can find huntable terrain, but success depends on willingness to navigate varied topography and distance from trailheads.
What does the Winter Concentration layer mean for hunting strategy?
Winter Concentration marks 21 percent of the unit where mule deer cluster most densely during winter use—ground where the odds of encountering deer are highest during late-fall and winter hunts. The layer does not indicate location or aspect, only that concentrated winter grounds exist within the unit. Hunters pursuing November rifle seasons should research this ground and plan approaches accordingly.
When does snow typically start affecting hunting conditions?
October sees minimal snow (average 2.6 inches for the month) and is generally huntable at most elevations. November brings substantial change, with average snowfall of 12.1 inches—terrain that is walkable in October may become difficult or impassable at higher elevations by late November. Actual snowfall varies year to year; early seasons (September and early October) typically avoid significant snow.
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.