Colorado GMU 471 Mule Deer Hunting
Pitkin County, northwest Colorado · 104 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 471 is like
GMU 471 covers 104 square miles of the northwest Colorado high country in Pitkin County, spanning from 7,700 feet to 14,000 feet with a typical elevation around 11,300 feet. The terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 15 percent gentle, 40 percent moderate, 40 percent steep, and 5 percent rugged by area. The unit sits in high-elevation country where mule deer occupy the full mapped range throughout the fall hunting season.
The National Forest comprises roughly 90 percent of the unit and is generally open to public hunting, providing hunters access to approximately 93 square miles of public ground. The remaining acreage is private land at roughly 10 percent. National Forest ownership means the ground is accessible where roads and trailheads allow, though seasonal restrictions and private inholdings still apply as in any high-altitude unit.
Mule deer use the Summer Range throughout the unit. The seasonal range mapping shows Summer Range covers 100 percent of the unit. As fall progresses from September through November, weather cools markedly: September highs average 56°F, October highs drop to 45°F, and November highs settle around 36°F. Snowfall increases through the fall, averaging 1.7 inches in September, 11.2 inches in October, and 28.3 inches in November at mid-elevation. The combination of decreasing temperature and increasing snow shapes hunting conditions and where hunters should expect to find deer.
The unit offers nine seasons total, six of which are open to the general public. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex hunting during the velvet-shed phase. Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 for doe and buck. Early Rifle runs September 12–20 for buck only. The numbered rifle seasons run from October 24 through November 22: 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1) and 3rd Rifle (November 7–15) both take doe and buck, while 4th Rifle (November 18–22) is buck only. The 4th Rifle season falls in the Primary Rut, while 3rd Rifle spans the early pre-rut and primary rut phases. A private-land-only season runs October 24–November 15 for either-sex hunting. Youth-only seasons exist but are restricted to applicants under the specified age and are not open to general adult applicants. Overall hunter pressure is low. The draw rates as easy, often at zero preference points, based on the least-competitive public-land buck or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents; premium buck seasons require substantially more points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,700–14,000 ft, typically around 11,300 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 22.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 15% gentle · 40% moderate · 40% steep · 5% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~93 sq mi
Habitat & cover
What actually grows here, by elevation. Each band adds to 100% on its own — these are shares of that band, not of GMU 471.
Lower elevations
- Conifer64%
- Aspen17%
- Sagebrush9%
- Other cover5%
- Riparian5%
Mid elevations
- Conifer53%
- Sagebrush35%
- Riparian5%
- Other cover3%
- Grass and meadow3%
Higher elevations
- Sagebrush59%
- Other cover28%
- Grass and meadow12%
- Conifer1%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database, split into elevation bands. “Other cover” is the remainder of the classification — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land — and is left unnamed rather than guessed at.
Land & access
About 90% of GMU 471 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest.
- National Forest90%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private10%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 471 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
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 |
| Youth only (Muzzleloader) | September 12 – September 20 | Doe |
| Youth only (Rifle) | October 24 – November 15 | Doe |
| 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 56°F, lows around 33°F, about 1.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 45°F, lows around 24°F, about 11.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 36°F, lows around 12°F, about 28.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 471 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with zero preference points draw a public mule deer tag here?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt code for an adult Colorado resident draws reliably at zero preference points in the primary draw. Other seasons, nonresident applicants, and premium hunts may require more points, and individual results vary, but the draw is characterized as easy.
Which rifle seasons fall during the rut?
The 3rd Rifle season (November 7–15) spans the early pre-rut and primary rut phases, and the 4th Rifle season (November 18–22) falls entirely in the primary rut. The 2nd Rifle season (October 24–November 1) overlaps only the early fall migration and nocturnal buck phase, before the rut begins. Early Rifle (September 12–20) occurs during velvet shed, well before the rut.
Is this unit realistic for someone with no previous high-country experience?
The unit spans elevations up to 14,000 feet with 40 percent steep terrain, so hunters should be prepared for high-altitude demands and rugged conditions. Snow arrives early and accumulates heavily in October and November, which can complicate access and hiking. Preparation and fitness for high-country hunting are essential.
How much public ground can a hunter actually access here?
Approximately 90 percent of the unit, or 93 square miles, is National Forest generally open to public hunting. However, public ownership does not guarantee easy entry—roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings within the public land still govern whether a specific drainage or ridge is reachable. A hunter should scout access points and plan accordingly.
What should a hunter expect weather-wise during each season?
September archery and early rifle seasons occur with highs around 56°F and minimal snow, roughly 1.7 inches per month. October seasons average highs of 45°F and see substantial snowfall around 11.2 inches. By November, conditions turn harsh with highs around 36°F and heavy snow averaging 28.3 inches, making higher elevations increasingly difficult to hunt as the month progresses.
Are there any seasons on this unit that do not require drawing a tag?
The facts block lists only published limited seasons; whether over-the-counter tags are available beyond these hunt codes is not addressed here. A hunter should contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife directly for current over-the-counter availability.
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
- USGS / MRLC — National Land Cover Database — habitat and cover classes by elevation band
- 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
- USGS PAD-US — Protected Areas Database of the United States — land ownership and access
- Daymet daily climate, 1991–2020 (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) — 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 September 24, 2026.