Colorado GMU 86 Pronghorn Hunting
Fremont, Custer and Chaffee counties, southwest Colorado · 496 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 86 is like
Game Management Unit 86 covers 496 square miles across Fremont, Custer and Chaffee counties in Colorado's southwest region and is open to pronghorn hunting. The unit spans from 6,200 feet at its low point to 14,300 feet, with typical elevations around 8,500 feet. Terrain is rolling to moderately steep: 45 percent of the unit is gentle, 32 percent is moderate, 22 percent is steep and 2 percent is rugged. The combination of high terrain and mixed slope classes gives the unit varied country for hunting.
Approximately 55 percent of the unit—roughly 271 square miles—is generally open to public hunting. This includes National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. An additional 1.2 percent is Colorado State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled parcels in the Public Access Program; access to that ground depends on specific enrollment. The remaining 44 percent is private land. Because nearly all of the public holdings are National Forest and BLM, hunters have substantial ground to work with, though topography and access points will shape where they can actually get on the ground.
Pronghorn use in this unit is mapped by CPW across a much smaller range than the unit itself. Overall Range, the full extent of mapped pronghorn habitat, covers 26 percent of the unit. Winter Range is mapped on 2 percent of the unit's area, and Winter Concentration, where pronghorn cluster during that season, is also 2 percent. The small Winter Range and Concentration shares indicate that pronghorn are concentrated in specific portions of the unit during winter months rather than dispersed across open ground. Through the Primary Rut—September 6 to 25—and into the Late Rut and Post-Rut Recovery phase ending October 15, pronghorn occupy the Overall Range mapped for the species, though their distribution tightens where concentrated-use areas exist.
The unit offers two pronghorn seasons open to public hunting. Muzzleloader runs September 21 to 29 and allows either-sex harvest. Rifle season runs October 3 to 11, also either-sex. The Muzzleloader season falls during the Primary Rut and the transition into Late Rut and Post-Rut Recovery. The Rifle season sits entirely within the Late Rut and Post-Rut Recovery phase. September weather brings highs around 69 degrees and lows around 41, with negligible snowfall. October brings cooler conditions with highs around 58 degrees, lows around 31, and an average of 4 inches of snow. The unit draws moderate hunter pressure overall, and the easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt code draws reliably with 1 to 2 preference points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,200–14,300 ft, typically around 8,500 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 15°
- Slope breakdown
- 45% gentle · 32% moderate · 22% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~271 sq mi, plus ~6 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Habitat & cover
What actually grows here, by elevation. Each band adds to 100% on its own — these are shares of that band, not of GMU 86.
Lower elevations
- Sagebrush34%
- Conifer31%
- Other cover18%
- Grass and meadow10%
- Riparian7%
Mid elevations
- Grass and meadow34%
- Conifer31%
- Sagebrush27%
- Aspen4%
- Riparian3%
- Other cover1%
Higher elevations
- Conifer50%
- Sagebrush29%
- Grass and meadow10%
- Aspen8%
- Other cover3%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database, split into elevation bands. “Other cover” is the remainder of the classification — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land — and is left unnamed rather than guessed at.
Land & access
About 55% of GMU 86 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. A further 1% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest43%
- BLM12%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private44%
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 pronghorn live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps pronghorn seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 86 each range covers — the single best clue to whether pronghorn are here in September, in November, or only passing through. The layers overlap, so they do not add to 100%.
- Overall Range26%the full extent of range CPW maps for pronghorn — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when pronghorn are present
- Winter Range2%used in winter
- Winter Concentration2%where pronghorn bunch up in winter
Pronghorn seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzleloader | September 21 – September 29 | Doe, Buck |
| Rifle | October 3 – October 11 | 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 4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 46°F, lows around 22°F, about 6.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 86 pronghorn hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with no preference points draw pronghorn here?
Applicants with zero points can draw the easiest unit-wide either-sex pronghorn hunt codes in the primary draw, though the lowest tier that drew dependably carries 1 to 2 preference points. Because pronghorn archery is sold over-the-counter in many Colorado units, a hunter should verify whether this unit's archery season is over-the-counter or limited-draw before planning; if it is over-the-counter, no points are needed for that season. Other draw routes—the secondary draw (pure random, no points) and the leftover list (first-come, first-served)—also remain open after the primary draw.
How much of this unit can a public-land hunter actually access?
Approximately 55 percent of the unit is generally open to public hunting through National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. An additional 1.2 percent is State Trust Land, though only parcels enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program are open to hunting. The remaining 44 percent is private. Actual access depends on roads, trailheads and seasonal restrictions in addition to ownership; a hunter should scout the specific area planned before applying.
Do pronghorn stay distributed across the whole unit or concentrate in specific areas?
Pronghorn occupy Overall Range across 26 percent of the unit throughout the fall, but they concentrate heavily during winter: Winter Concentration, where herds cluster, covers only 2 percent of the unit. Outside the winter period and outside those concentrated areas, pronghorn distribution is less predictable across the broader range available to them.
Is the Rifle season better than Muzzleloader for this unit?
The Muzzleloader season (September 21–29) occurs during the Primary Rut when pronghorn are actively breeding and territorial, while the Rifle season (October 3–11) falls in the Late Rut and Post-Rut Recovery phase. The timing difference may affect pronghorn behavior and hunter strategy, but both seasons are unit-wide and open to either-sex harvest. Weather is also warmer during the earlier Muzzleloader season.
What kind of terrain should a hunter expect to move through?
The unit is rolling to moderately steep, with 45 percent gentle terrain, 32 percent moderate, 22 percent steep and 2 percent rugged. Elevations range from 6,200 to 14,300 feet, so hunters should be prepared for varied topography across high-elevation country. The mix of slopes means some areas are accessible on foot, but steep terrain in portions of the unit will demand fitness and navigation skill.
How does snow affect hunting here in October?
October averages 4 inches of snowfall at mid-elevation, with temperatures dropping to around 31 degrees at night and 58 during the day. While October snow is possible and weather patterns vary year to year, the Rifle season typically occurs before the heaviest snow accumulation, making conditions manageable compared to later fall months when November averages 6.4 inches.
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 — Pronghorn 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
- USGS / MRLC — National Land Cover Database — habitat and cover classes by elevation band
- CPW — Maps and GIS (Species Activity Mapping) — pronghorn seasonal range
- CPW — State Trust Land Finder — which State Trust acreage is enrolled and open to public hunting
- USGS PAD-US — Protected Areas Database of the United States — land ownership and access
- Daymet daily climate, 1991–2020 (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) — 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 September 24, 2026.