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Colorado Unit 22 Hunting Information

Home » Hunting Informations » Colorado Units Hunting Information » Colorado Unit 22 Hunting Information

Overview of CO GMU 22 Hunting Facts

Situated in western Colorado just southwest of Meeker in Rio Blanco county is Unit 22, a unit populated by elk, deer and antelope. Between its 130 miles of trails and abundance of county roads, Unit 22 is a highly accessible unit for public land hunting. Public land comprises approximately 73% of the unit’s 632,000 total acres. Due to its proximity to the Roan Plateau, this unit can be physically demanding especially around the deep canyons the mountain ranges offer. However, if you are confident in your physical ability, you have a huge advantage to sneak into those remote areas where the hunting pressure is low. For more Colorado Unit 22 hunting information, check out the Info for Cities Near Unit 22 section on the right.

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CO Unit 22 Species Hunting Info

INFO: Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 22
Trophy Mule deer are harvested from this unit every single year with the average quality averaging between 150” and 170” and the trophy potential measuring 180” and up. There is a substantial amount of hunting pressure in this unit due to the availability of OTC elk tags and this will need to be considered when planning a later season hunt as the deer will feel pressured and move into thicker timber and they will be harder to find. Archery season is best approached at the higher elevations before the weather cools down, pushing them into lower elevations. The temperatures can reach a staggering 90 degrees during archery season, so be prepared to pre-scout those bedding areas since the deer are not active during the extreme heat of the day. Early mornings and late evenings are going to be your best plan for success.

SUCCESS RATES for Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 22
5 Year Estimated Average for Deer
Archery 30%
Muzzle Loader 50%
2nd Rifle 75%
3rd Rifle 70%
4th Rifle 70%
Mule Deer TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 22 Colorado
Average Quality 150″ – 170″
Trophy Potential 180″+
Buck to Doe Ratio 33:100
Colorado Unit 22 Mule Deer Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 22
Similar to the mule deer, the elk is also directly influenced per the weather patterns. The higher elevations are populated more densely with elk in the warmer climate where they can forage for food fairly easily. The lower canyons and open country lands of unit 22 are infiltrated by elk as the weather cools down and food becomes sparse. The rut time is a great time to display your skill as a master hunter either by bugling or decoy hunting. The elk trophy potential in Colorado hunting unit 22 measures 300” and up with the average quality ranging from 260” to 300”. Elk feel pressured into the thick woodlands as people descend into their habitat along the roads and meadows.

SUCCESS RATES for Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 22
5 Year Estimated Average for Elk
Archery 17%
Muzzle Loader 20%
1st Rifle 25%
2nd Rifle 18%
3rd Rifle 10%
4th Rifle 19%
Elk TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 22 Colorado
Average Quality 260″ – 300″
Trophy Potential 300″+
Bull to Cow Ratio 24:100
Colorado Unit 22 Elk Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 22
When planning your antelope hunting trip to Colorado Unit 22, a few factors should come to mind. Currently, there is only an archery season for antelope in this unit, but it is a month-long season and the tags are available OTC. Unit 22 contains open country lands covered in shrub vegetation and various species of grass to provide an ideal roaming ground for antelope. The rolling, prairie-like hills in the western region of the unit paint an antelope paradise and water sources are located nearby.

SUCCESS RATES for Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 22
5 Year Estimated Average for Antelope
Archery 25%
Colorado Unit 22 Antelope Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

Available Hunts

Unit 22 Hunting Information Video

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Info for Cities Near CO GMU 22

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Colorado Unit 22 Topo Map

Total Acreage: 632,000 acres over 987.5 square miles

Total Public Land: 463,000 acres or 73%

Land Ownership Mix: 27% Private; 73% Public; BLM: 445,440 acres; State Land: 38,720 acres; Other Govt Owned: 18,368 acres

Species: Common in the Area: Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Pronghorn

Elevation Variances: 5,300 ft. to 8,900 ft.

Terrain Difficulty Overall: Mild to Moderate

Land Coverage/Vegetation: 45% shrub/scrub, 41% evergreen forest, 10% deciduous forest, 2% pasture/hay and 2% barren land (rock/sand/clay)

Unit 22 Boundaries: (Rio Blanco, Garfield County Colorado) bounded on North by White River; on East by Colorado 13/789; on South by White River- Colorado River Divide; on West by Rio Blanco County Roads 26 and 103, Monument Gulch Road, Colorado 64 and Monument Gulch

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Lay of the Land in CO Unit 22

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Terrain in GMU 22 CO

Unit 22 has been described as a very tough unit to maneuver through if you are not in shape. There are large canyons and rocky ridges that make it difficult to successfully navigate in an agile way as to not spook the deer or elk you are hunting. Another key consideration if you’re planning a trip to Colorado
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Vegetation in GMU Unit 22 CO

As is standard in Colorado, the higher elevations contain an evergreen forest mix of spruce, pines and firs, the middle elevations are covered in sagebrush, scrub oak and pinyon pine, and the lower territory is a mix of oak brush and juniper. The big game is going to migrate to where the food is plentiful.
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Access Points in CO GMU 22

The unit is bound on the east side by SH-13, on the northern border by the White River and there are several intertwining county and lease roads. The lease roads are for the oil and gas industry that is present in this unit, but the majority of these are public access and can aid hunters in reaching their destination. The roads are primarily well maintained but during wet conditions, they can become difficult to drive through without a 4-wheel drive.

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