Colorado GMU 561 Mule Deer Hunting
Chaffee and Saguache counties, central Colorado · 128 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 561 is like
GMU 561 spans 128 square miles across mixed terrain in the Central Region. Elevations run from 7,400 feet to 14,000 feet, with typical hunting occurring around 10,000 feet. The unit is 53% moderate slope, 27% steep, 18% gentle, and 1% rugged by area, making for mixed terrain with substantial steep ground. Mule deer occupy the unit through the summer months and concentrate on winter grounds as the season cools.
Public land comprises roughly 90 percent of the unit, split between National Forest (84%) and BLM (6.2%). Private land makes up roughly 8.8%, and a small share is State Trust Land. The National Forest and BLM acreage is generally open to public hunting and forms the huntable base a public-land applicant can count on.
Summer Range covers the entire unit, reflecting broad occupancy across elevations during the warm months. As fall progresses, a 40% Winter Range share indicates mule deer shift toward winter grounds, with 29% of the unit mapped as Winter Concentration. Timing and extent of that movement vary with weather and snow, but expect a consolidation of mule deer on the mapped winter grounds as November advances.
The unit offers five seasons across two weapons: Archery from September 2–September 30 for bucks; Muzzleloader from September 12–September 20 for either-sex; Early Rifle from September 12–September 20 for bucks; 2nd Rifle from October 24–November 1 for bucks; and 3rd Rifle from November 7–November 15 for bucks. The three rifle seasons include the two numbered seasons running through mid-November and a separate early-season rifle hunt in mid-September. Archery and the two early hunts fall in the Velvet Shed phase when bucks are shedding velvet or transitioning into early fall. The 2nd Rifle season straddles the early migration and pre-rut phases, while the 3rd Rifle season encompasses the pre-rut and primary rut phases. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt available to adult Colorado residents rates as Moderate, requiring one to two preference points. Hunter pressure on the unit is moderate overall.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,400–14,000 ft, typically around 10,000 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 19.4°
- Slope breakdown
- 18% gentle · 53% moderate · 27% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~116 sq mi, plus ~1 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 90% of GMU 561 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest84%
- BLM6%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Private9%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 561 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 Range40%used in winter
- Winter Concentration29%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 65°F, lows around 37°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 54°F, lows around 27°F, about 2.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 42°F, lows around 17°F, about 7.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 561 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with zero preference points draw a tag on this unit?
No. The easiest qualifying hunt here requires one to two preference points for an adult Colorado resident seeking the simplest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt code available. Other seasons, weapons, and nonresident applicants require substantially more points.
When should a hunter expect to encounter the rut on this unit?
The 3rd Rifle season (November 7–November 15) overlaps the primary rut, which peaks in mid-to-late November. The 2nd Rifle season (October 24–November 1) starts in the early migration phase and moves into pre-rut staging. Archery and the early-season rifle hunt fall well before the rut, during velvet shed in September.
How much public land can a hunter actually access here?
Roughly 90 percent of the unit is public land managed by the National Forest and BLM and is generally open to hunting. Access still depends on roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures, which vary by specific location and year. A hunter should check current access conditions before planning a hunt.
Does the unit's terrain suit foot hunting?
The unit mixes gentle and moderate slopes with substantial steep ground. Just over half the unit (71%) is gentle or moderate terrain, while 28% is steep or rugged. Hunters on foot can find ground suited to their ability, though steep sections are present and should factor into trip planning.
When during the fall do mule deer concentrate, and where?
As fall progresses from September through November, expect mule deer to shift from broad summer occupancy toward concentrated winter grounds, with 29% of the unit mapped as Winter Concentration. Timing and extent of that movement vary with weather and snow. Winter concentration intensifies as temperatures drop through October and November.
Is this unit realistic for a first-time applicant?
A first-time applicant cannot draw the easiest hunts, which require one to two points. Building points through non-draw applications may be an option depending on CPW's current rules. An applicant should verify current preference-point structures before deciding whether to apply.
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.