Colorado Unit 58 Hunting Information

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Overview of GMU 58 Hunting Facts

Located in the heart of Colorado in Park and Fremont counties is Game Management Unit 58. Its inclusion in the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area, Pike National Forest, and San Isabel National Forest represent its natural beauty and untouched wilderness. It may also explain why half of the unit is privately owned, driving the fact home that hunters need to be prepared with a GPS unit to locate the public 287,000 acres this unit has to offer. The majority of private land is concentrated mostly in the northern portion of the unit. Unit 58 is home to the Cripple Creek Deer Herd (approximately 13,000 in population), the Buffalo Peaks Elk Herd (approximately 4,000 in population), and the South Park Antelope Herd (approximately 700 in population). These healthy numbers should provide some insight into the chance for a successful hunt in Colorado Unit 58! For more Colorado Unit 58 hunting information, check out the Info for Cities Near Unit 58 section on the right.

Unit 58 Species Hunting Info

Unit 58 Mule Deer
Unit 58 Elk
Unit 58 Antelope

INFO: Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 58

As mentioned above, the deer numbers are strong in Unit 58. Aside from mule deer hunting, hunters can take advantage of the OTC Whitetail only tag that is available for a late-season month-long whitetail deer season. Archery and muzzleloader seasons, though occurring at different times and different methods of taking, mirror each other in that they are valid for hunting either-sex mule deer and valid in Units 49, 57, 58, and 581. Rifle season regulations are a little more complex. For the 2nd and 3rd rifle season, buck tags are applicable in Units 49, 57, 58 & 581 and doe tags are valid only in units 58 and 581. The mule deer in unit 58 travel throughout the unit according to the weather, hunting pressure, and the rut. These three factors must be taken into account when planning your hunting locations. The lower elevations are going to be best hunted in later seasons when the highland foliage has dissipated. The highlands are going to be better to hunt in the warmer months when the deer activity is much higher since they will be in their summer patterns at these times. Hunting pressure is not as high in this unit as other units that have OTC elk tags.

SUCCESS RATES for Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 58

5 Year Estimated Average for Deer

Archery	35%
Muzzle Loader	38%
2nd Rifle	50%
3rd Rifle	40%

Mule Deer TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 58 Colorado

Average Quality	140″ – 160″
Trophy Potential	160″
Buck to Doe Ratio	24:100

Colorado Unit 58 Mule Deer Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 58

The regulations for elk tags are very cut and dry. All tags drawn for any season are valid for hunting either sex and are applicable for Units 57 and 58. Elk are notorious for retreating to hard to reach areas when the pressure heightens. This activity can be a prime opportunity for those hunters that are willing and capable of pursuing those more rugged hikes. This will allow you to move away from the crowds and infiltrate the remote, safety zones for the elk herds. If strenuous hikes are not for you, then not to worry! Unit 58 has plenty of near-flat and relaxed hunting locations. As with the mule deer, monitor the changing weather patterns, and be sure to master your bugle call so that you can get involved with the rut. Low hunt pressure makes this a great valued for the fall with huntable elk that often respond to calls.

SUCCESS RATES for Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 58

5 Year Estimated Average for Elk

Archery	18%
Muzzle Loader	25%
1st Rifle	35%
2nd Rifle	40%
3rd Rifle	25%
4th Rifle	35%

Elk TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 58 Colorado

Average Quality	270″ – 300″
Trophy Potential	310+
Bull to Cow Ratio	30:100

Colorado Unit 58 Elk Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 58

With the majority of this unit being covered in grasslands, it’s no surprise that antelope inhabit the area. As already mentioned, the South Park herd is known to occupy this unit. The antelope tags for unit 58 are draw-only with no OTC tags available. For archery and rifle season, the either sex antelope tags are valid in Units 57, 58 and 581. Muzzleloader season tags are applicable for hunting either sex in Units 49, 50, 57, 58, 500, 501 and 581.

SUCCESS RATES for Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 58

5 Year Estimated Average for Antelope

Archery	35%
Muzzle Loader	55%
Rifle	70%

Antelope TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 58 Colorado

Average Quality	65″ – 70″
Trophy Potential	70+
Buck to Doe Ratio	44:100

Colorado Unit 58 Antelope Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

Available Hunts for Colorado Unit 58

Cities Near Unit 58

Buena Vista, CO

Canon City, CO

Salida, CO

Lay of the Land in Unit 58

Total Acreage: 560,000 acres over 875 square miles

Total Public Land: 286,472 acres or 51%

Land Ownership Mix: 49% Private; 51% Public; USFS: 52,928 acres; BLM: 164,000 acres; State: 36,224 acres; Other Govt Owned: 9,408 acres

Species: Black Bear; Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Pronghorn

Elevation Variances: 5,760 ft. 11,710 ft.

Terrain Difficulty Overall: Mild to Moderate

Land Coverage/Vegetation: 53% grassland/herbaceous, 29% evergreen forest, 11% shrub/scrub and 4% deciduous forest

Unit 58 Boundaries: (Fremont, Park County Colorado) bounded on North by US-South Highway 24; on East by Park County Road 59 and Colorado 9; on South by US-South Highway 50; on West by Kaufman Ridge and Badger Creek

Colorado Unit 58 Topo Map

Terrain in GMU 58 CO

The terrain in Unit 58 consists of mild to moderate countryside. In the northern portion, you can expect to see flat, grassy terrain at a relatively high altitude surrounded by forested slopes. In the central and southern areas, the elevation gradients vary mostly due to the numerous mountain ranges. Expectedly with mountains, there are valleys and drainages that can be deceiving if you are not up to speed with the area’s features. Some may find themselves trudging through boglands thinking it was lavish, green terrain from afar. The terrain of Unit 58 is serving to all hunters at any skill level.

Vegetation in GMU Unit 58 CO

As is typical in Colorado, the vegetation can be classified in three ways: high altitude, middle altitude and low altitude. The high altitude plant life consists of evergreen forest complete with aspens, spruces and firs. The middle and lower altitudes contain a blend of various pine species, oak brush and aspens. The low terrain is populated with land cover of sagebrush, shrubbery and pinyon-junipers.

Access Points in GMU 58

Access within Colorado Unit 58 is described as average to above-average. There are several BLM trails and roads throughout. The boundaries of the unit are as follows: SH-9 cuts through the northern unit from Hartsel to just south of Guffey and then winds along the eastern boundary line of the unit and ends at the SE corner in Parkdale. In Parkdale, SH-9 intersects with US Hwy 50 which travels along the southern border. Badger Creek forms the western border line of the unit until it runs into US Hwy 24/285 in the NW corner of the unit. In addition to the expansive network of trails, highways and byways, there are several creeks and waterways located within the unit for water transportation.