Colorado GMU 48 Mule Deer Hunting
Lake and Chaffee counties, central Colorado · 300 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 48 is like
GMU 48 spreads across 300 square miles of the central Colorado high country in Lake and Chaffee counties, with elevations ranging from 8,800 feet to 14,400 feet and a typical hunting elevation around 11,100 feet. The terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 31 percent gentle, 38 percent moderate, 28 percent steep, and 4 percent rugged by area. The unit encompasses alpine basins, timbered drainages, and high parks typical of this elevation band, offering a mix of open and forested country that demands fitness and preparation for variable conditions.
Approximately 88 percent of the unit—roughly 263 square miles—is generally open to public hunting, consisting of National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas managed primarily by the U.S. Forest Service with smaller BLM and state holdings. Private land comprises about 9.8 percent of the unit, and roughly 1.8 percent is unclassified in ownership records. Hunters have substantial public ground to work, though access depends on the usual variables: road conditions, trailhead availability, and seasonal closures that apply to any high-country unit of this type.
Mule deer range across the unit seasonally. Summer Range covers 100 percent of the unit, while Winter Range covers only 12 percent, indicating significant seasonal shift. Migration Corridors occupy 29 percent, and Winter Concentration—where deer cluster during deep snow—covers 7 percent. This distribution reflects typical high-country dynamics: deer spread widely across high elevation in summer and fall, then consolidate on lower ground as snow accumulates. A hunter should expect a gradual shift toward lower elevations and migration corridors as the season advances into November, though the timing and extent of that movement varies with weather and snow conditions.
The unit offers five seasons. Early Rifle runs September 12–20 and takes bucks. Archery runs September 2–30 and takes bucks. Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 and takes does or bucks. Three numbered rifle seasons follow: 2nd Rifle runs October 24–November 1 and takes bucks; 3rd Rifle runs November 7–15 and takes bucks. Early Rifle and Archery fall during the Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition, when bucks are shedding velvet and beginning to respond to the cooling season. Muzzleloader coincides with the same phase. The two numbered rifle seasons overlap two rut phases: 2nd Rifle falls in Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase and Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, while 3rd Rifle spans Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging and Primary Rut, reaching the peak rut in November. September temperatures range from highs around 57 degrees to lows around 33 degrees with minimal snow; October cools to highs around 46 degrees with roughly 8 inches of average snowfall; November brings highs around 35 degrees and heavy snow averaging 21 inches. Draw difficulty for the easiest qualifying buck hunt is Moderate, requiring 1–2 preference points for an adult Colorado resident. Overall hunter pressure on the unit is low.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 8,800–14,400 ft, typically around 11,100 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 18.3°
- Slope breakdown
- 31% gentle · 38% moderate · 28% steep · 4% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~263 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 88% of GMU 48 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest83%
- BLM4%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership2%
- Private10%
“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 48 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
- Migration Corridors29%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Range12%used in winter
- Winter Concentration7%where mule deer bunch up in winter
Mule Deer seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Buck |
| Muzzleloader | September 12 – September 20 | Doe, Buck |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Buck |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Buck |
| Early Rifle | September 12 – September 20 | 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 57°F, lows around 33°F, about 0.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 46°F, lows around 23°F, about 8 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 35°F, lows around 12°F, about 21.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 48 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can someone with zero preference points draw a mule deer tag here?
The easiest qualifying buck hunts draw at 1–2 preference points for adult Colorado residents, so a zero-point applicant will not draw those. However, some preference-point-zero hunts may be available in the unit; a hunter would need to check the current license division structure to confirm. Premium buck seasons in the unit require substantially more points.
Is this unit realistic for a public-land hunter with limited fitness?
At elevations from 8,800 to 14,400 feet with 28 percent steep and 4 percent rugged terrain by area, the unit demands solid fitness and high-altitude acclimatization. About 31 percent of the ground is gentle and may be more manageable, but a hunter should expect mixed, challenging terrain and plan accordingly.
Which season is best for the September hunting window?
Archery, Early Rifle, and Muzzleloader all hunt in September and fall in the Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition, when bucks are shedding velvet and temperatures are mild—highs around 57 degrees, lows around 33 degrees, with little snow. All three offer similar conditions; the choice depends on weapon preference and license availability.
Do bucks migrate out of the unit as the season progresses?
Winter Range covers only 12 percent of the unit against Summer Range at 100 percent, and Migration Corridors occupy 29 percent. Hunters should expect a gradual shift of deer toward lower elevations and migration corridors as snow accumulates in November, though the timing and scale of movement depend on weather; some bucks may remain on higher ground if conditions allow.
When does the peak rut occur in GMU 48?
Mule deer in this unit enter Primary Rut from November 11–25. The 3rd Rifle season (November 7–15) overlaps the early and middle portion of this peak, while 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1) precedes it, hunting during migration and early pre-rut staging. Archery, Early Rifle, and Muzzleloader all occur well before the rut, during velvet-shed and early-fall transition.
How much of this unit's 300 square miles can a public-land hunter actually hunt?
About 263 square miles—roughly 88 percent—is generally open public ground managed by the Forest Service, BLM, and state agencies. Private land (9.8 percent) and unclassified ownership (1.8 percent) are not available without permission. Access to the public ground still depends on roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures.
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.