Colorado GMU 63 Mule Deer Hunting
Delta, Gunnison and Montrose counties, southwest Colorado · 369 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 63 is like
GMU 63 spans 369 square miles across Delta, Gunnison and Montrose counties in southwest Colorado, rolling terrain with some steeper breaks. Elevations range from 5,000 feet at the low end to 11,800 feet at the high end, with typical elevation around 7,800 feet. The terrain breaks down as 55% gentle, 29% moderate, 13% steep and 3% rugged by area. The unit receives high overall hunter pressure through the fall.
National Forest and BLM lands make up roughly 49% of the unit, or about 181 square miles of ground generally open to public hunting. Private land accounts for roughly 43%, and National Park Service land covers roughly 7.8% where hunting is prohibited. The remaining ownership is unclassified. Hunters considering this unit should verify road and trailhead access, as public ownership does not guarantee easy entry.
Mule deer occupy summer range across 91% of the unit and winter range across 69%, with winter concentration covering 35% of the unit where deer cluster seasonally. Winter concentration ground sits in the 35% share with no named placement within the unit. A small migration-corridor layer covers 2% of the unit. As fall progresses and snow accumulates, mule deer typically shift toward winter range, though timing and extent vary with weather and snowfall. November snowfall averages 6.2 inches at mid-elevation, and temperatures cool from September highs around 71 degrees Fahrenheit to November highs around 45 degrees.
The unit offers six seasons total, five of which are open to public applicants: Archery (September 2–30, buck), Muzzleloader (September 12–20, buck), Second Rifle (October 24–November 1, buck), Third Rifle (November 7–15, buck) and Fourth Rifle (November 18–22, buck). A private-land-only season runs September 1–November 15 for doe and buck but requires the hunter's own permission to hunt private ground. The three rifle seasons span the early fall transition through the primary rut, with Third Rifle and Fourth Rifle occurring as mule deer enter and progress through their breeding period. Archery and Muzzleloader fall during velvet shed and early fall transition, well before the rut. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide buck hunt is moderate, requiring 1–2 preference points for an adult Colorado resident, though premium buck seasons within the unit demand substantially more.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,000–11,800 ft, typically around 7,800 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 12.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 55% gentle · 29% moderate · 13% steep · 3% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~181 sq mi
Land & access
About 49% of GMU 63 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM. Another 8% is public but closed to hunting — National Park Service.
- National Forest25%
- BLM24%
- National Park Service8%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private43%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 63 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 Range91%used in summer
- Winter Range69%used in winter
- Winter Concentration35%where mule deer bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors2%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 | Buck |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Buck |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Buck |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Buck |
| Private-land only | September 1 – November 15 | Doe, 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 71°F, lows around 41°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 59°F, lows around 30°F, about 1.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 45°F, lows around 20°F, about 6.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 63 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with zero preference points draw a public-land season in this unit?
A hunter with no preference points can draw the easiest unit-wide buck season, which sits in the 1–2 point range. This means that in some draw years, zero-point applicants do draw, but it is not guaranteed. Premium buck seasons within the unit require substantially more points.
Which seasons fall during the mule deer rut?
The Third Rifle season (November 7–15) and Fourth Rifle season (November 18–22) overlap the early pre-rut and primary rut phases. Archery and Muzzleloader occur in September during velvet shed, well before breeding begins. Second Rifle spans the early fall transition and early fall migration but only overlaps the very beginning of pre-rut staging.
How much public land is there to actually hunt in this unit?
Roughly 181 square miles (49% of the unit) is National Forest and BLM ground generally open to public hunting. The remaining 7.8% of public ground is National Park Service land where hunting is closed. Actual access depends on roads, trailheads and seasonal closures, which hunters should verify before applying.
Does this unit's terrain suit a hunter on foot?
The unit is rolling with some steeper breaks, composed of 55% gentle and 29% moderate terrain by area. The remaining 16% is steep or rugged. A foot hunter will find substantial ground where elevation change and slope are manageable, though portions of the unit do include steeper country.
When do mule deer shift from summer to winter range?
Winter range covers 69% of the unit and winter concentration covers 35%, suggesting a seasonal shift as temperatures drop and snow accumulates. November snowfall averages 6.2 inches at mid-elevation, and hunters should expect mule deer to move toward winter ground as late-season rifle hunts progress, though timing and extent depend on actual weather.
What draws more applications—this unit's easier or harder buck seasons?
The unit offers at least one premium buck season alongside its easier unit-wide buck hunts. The easiest season sits in the 1–2 point draw-difficulty band, while premium seasons require substantially more preference points and attract fewer applicants. Prospective hunters should check the specific season codes to understand which tier they are targeting.
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.