Colorado GMU 751 Mule Deer Hunting
Archuleta, Hinsdale, La Plata and San Juan counties, southwest Colorado · 463 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 751 is like
GMU 751 spans four counties in southwestern Colorado and covers 463 square miles of mixed terrain ranging from 6,100 feet to 14,000 feet, with a typical elevation around 8,900 feet. The unit is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 35 percent is gentle, 36 percent moderate, 24 percent steep, and 6 percent rugged. Mule deer hunting here encounters country that transitions from lower valleys through moderate ridgelines into high alpine terrain, with slopes averaging 17.9 degrees across the unit.
Approximately 71 percent of the unit—roughly 329 square miles—is generally open to public hunting on National Forest and BLM land. The remaining 29 percent is private ground or state trust land. The National Forest dominates, comprising 71 percent of the unit's total area. Public hunters have access to extensive terrain, though private inholdings and ownership patterns mean some country requires careful planning to reach.
Mule deer occupy summer range across 100 percent of the unit and use migration corridors on 45 percent of it. Winter range covers 34 percent of the unit, with 18 percent marking concentration areas where mule deer cluster during winter months. As the fall season progresses from September into November, hunters should expect mule deer to shift from summer to winter ranges, though the timing and extent of that movement vary with snow and weather. Early-season hunters in archery and muzzleloader phases work summer and early-transition habitat; rifle hunters in October encounter the migration period; and late-season hunters in November face the pre-rut and rut phases as mule deer consolidate toward winter ground.
The unit offers seven seasons across multiple weapons. Six are available to public applicants: archery September 2–September 30 for either-sex deer; muzzleloader September 12–September 20 for doe or buck; and four rifle seasons—October 14–18 (buck only), October 24–November 1 (doe or either-sex), November 7–15 (doe or either-sex), and November 18–22 (doe or buck). A private-land-only season runs October 24–January 15. Draw difficulty is easy, often drawing at zero preference points for the most accessible either-sex hunts. Hunter pressure is moderate overall. September temperatures at mid elevation average highs near 69°F and lows near 41°F with minimal snowfall; by November those highs fall to around 47°F with average snowfall near 7 inches, cooling conditions that favor late-season hunting as mule deer move and become more active.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,100–14,000 ft, typically around 8,900 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 17.9°
- Slope breakdown
- 35% gentle · 36% moderate · 24% steep · 6% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~329 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 71% of GMU 751 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest71%
- BLM<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private28%
Where mule deer live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps mule deer seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 751 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 Corridors45%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Range34%used in winter
- Winter Concentration18%where mule deer bunch up in winter
Mule Deer seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Either-sex |
| Muzzleloader | September 12 – September 20 | Doe, Buck |
| 1st Rifle | October 14 – October 18 | Buck |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Doe, Buck |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Doe, Buck |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Doe, Buck |
| Private-land only | October 24 – January 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 69°F, lows around 41°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 58°F, lows around 31°F, about 1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 47°F, lows around 22°F, about 7.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 751 mule deer hunting FAQ
Can someone with zero preference points draw a tag on this unit?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide either-sex hunt codes draw at zero preference points reliably. Early-season weapons like archery and muzzleloader offer the most accessible entry, though applicants pursuing specific hunts later in the season or buck-only tags may need additional points. The draw difficulty is rated easy overall for adult Colorado residents applying through the primary draw.
Does this unit work for early-season bowhunting, or is it better in rifle season?
Archery (September 2–30) and muzzleloader (September 12–20) hunt mule deer in the velvet-shed and early fall transition phase, before the November rut peaks. Early-season hunters find deer on summer and early-transition ranges. Rifle seasons span October through late November, with late October and November hunts occurring during pre-rut and primary-rut phases when mule deer are concentrated on migration corridors and winter range. Both early and late seasons have merit depending on the hunter's preference for terrain and behavior patterns.
How much public ground can a bowhunter or rifle hunter actually access and hunt?
About 71 percent of the unit—roughly 329 square miles—is National Forest and BLM ground generally open to public hunting. However, roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings affect where that ground is actually reachable. Hunters should scout access points and plan routes carefully, as the presence of public ownership does not guarantee straightforward entry to all areas.
Does elevation matter for picking a season on this unit?
Yes. The unit spans 6,100 feet to 14,000 feet, with substantial terrain at all levels. September temperatures average 69°F at mid elevation; by November they drop to 47°F with 7 inches of average snowfall. Early-season hunters work lower and mid-elevation summer ranges where deer begin shifting; late-season hunters should expect higher-elevation snow and cooler conditions as mule deer consolidate toward winter ground on lower slopes.
Where should hunters expect to find mule deer as the fall progresses?
Mule deer occupy the entire unit in summer but shift toward winter ranges covering 34 percent of the unit as seasons cool. Winter concentration areas mark 18 percent of the unit where clustering becomes pronounced. Hunters in early archery and muzzleloader seasons find deer more dispersed; those hunting October into November should focus on migration corridors and emerging winter-concentration areas as animals move and consolidate, with timing and extent varying by weather and snow.
What is the draw difficulty for buck-only versus either-sex tags?
Buck-only hunts, particularly the first rifle season (October 14–18), require more preference points than either-sex alternatives. The easiest qualifying code—typically an either-sex hunt—draws at zero points; other weapons, seasons, and buck-specific tags can require substantially more points. An applicant's draw likelihood depends on which hunt code they pursue and how many preference points they hold.
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.