Colorado GMU 56 Mule Deer Hunting
Chaffee County, central Colorado · 238 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 56 is like
Game Management Unit 56 lies in Chaffee County in the central region and spans 238 square miles across an elevation range from 7,000 feet to 14,300 feet, with typical hunting elevation around 9,600 feet. The terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 36% gentle, 34% moderate, 26% steep, and 3% rugged by area. This combination of varied terrain and mid-to-high elevation supports mule deer hunting across multiple seasons and weapon types throughout the fall.
Roughly 67% of the unit—approximately 159 square miles—is generally open to public hunting, consisting of National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area lands. The National Forest comprises 61% of the unit, with BLM making up 6.2% and State Wildlife Area 0.4%. An additional 2.6% is Colorado State Trust Land, where hunting access depends on whether individual parcels are enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program; hunters should verify enrollment before planning a hunt. The remaining 30% of the unit is private land.
Mule deer occupy the unit extensively during summer months across the full 100% of mapped range. Winter Range covers 53% of the unit, with Winter Concentration covering 45%, indicating that mule deer cluster substantially on winter ground as the season advances. Migration Corridors account for 10% of the unit. This seasonal distribution means hunters should expect mule deer to shift toward winter concentration areas as fall progresses and snow accumulates, though timing and extent vary with weather conditions year to year.
The unit offers seven seasons total, six of which are available to public applicants. Archery runs September 2–30 for bucks in the velvet-shed phase. Early Rifle runs September 12–20 for bucks, also during velvet-shed conditions. Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 for either sex, falling in the same velvet-shed window. Late Rifle extends September 1–October 31 for does, spanning the velvet-shed and early fall migration phases. The 2nd Rifle season runs October 24–November 1 for bucks during the early fall migration and early pre-rut phases. The 3rd Rifle season runs November 7–15 for bucks, covering the early pre-rut and primary rut phases when buck behavior shifts markedly. A private-land-only doe season runs October 24–November 15. September conditions see highs near 69°F and lows near 37°F with negligible snowfall; October highs drop to 57°F with lows near 27°F and about 2 inches of snowfall; November brings highs near 45°F, lows near 17°F, and 5.5 inches of average snowfall. Overall hunter pressure is moderate, and draw difficulty for the easiest qualifying unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt available to adult Colorado residents sits in the 1–2 preference-point range, though premium buck seasons and nonresident applicants require substantially more points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,000–14,300 ft, typically around 9,600 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 17.2°
- Slope breakdown
- 36% gentle · 34% moderate · 26% steep · 3% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~159 sq mi, plus ~6 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 67% of GMU 56 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. A further 3% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest61%
- BLM6%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land3%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private30%
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 56 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 Range53%used in winter
- Winter Concentration45%where mule deer bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors10%movement between ranges, not residence
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 |
| Late Rifle | September 1 – October 31 | Doe |
| Private-land only | October 24 – November 15 | 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 69°F, lows around 37°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 57°F, lows around 27°F, about 2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 45°F, lows around 17°F, about 5.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 56 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with no preference points draw a public-land mule deer tag here?
Not reliably. A zero-point applicant may draw occasionally, but 1–2 preference points is the tier that draws dependably for adult Colorado residents on the easiest qualifying unit-wide hunt.
Is this unit better for early or late season hunting?
The unit offers hunting opportunities across the entire fall. Archery and early rifle in September target bucks in velvet-shed condition when behavior is relatively predictable. Late rifle in September and October through early November offers longer hunting duration and cooler temperatures, with bucks transitioning through early fall migration and early pre-rut phases. The 3rd Rifle season in November coincides with the primary rut, when buck behavior is most active but also most unpredictable.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually access?
Approximately 67% of the unit—roughly 159 square miles—is generally open public land administered by the National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area. An additional 2.6% is State Trust Land where access depends on CPW Public Access Program enrollment on individual parcels. Roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings will still affect practical access to any given parcel.
What does the Winter Concentration layer mean for where mule deer are?
Winter Concentration covers 45% of the unit and indicates where mule deer cluster during winter months rather than spreading evenly across all winter range. This concentration becomes more pronounced as the season advances and snow accumulates, but the mapping does not indicate which elevations or aspects these areas occupy—hunters should use maps and ground reconnaissance to locate them on the terrain.
Does terrain make this unit realistic for a hunter on foot?
The unit's mixed terrain with substantial steep ground—26% steep and 3% rugged by area—offers both ridable high country and challenging uphill walking. A third of the unit is gentle enough for easier foot access, but a hunter should expect to encounter significant elevation gain and steep slopes depending on where they hunt. The 9,600-foot typical elevation supports foot travel but demands fitness and preparation.
How does mule deer distribution shift through the fall hunting season?
Mule deer occupy summer range broadly across the full unit early in the season. As fall progresses and temperatures cool through October and November, they shift toward the 53% of the unit mapped as Winter Range, with 45% of the unit designated as Winter Concentration where they cluster. This shift is gradual and weather-dependent; timing and extent vary year to year based on snowfall and temperature patterns.
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.