Colorado Unit 10 Hunting Information

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Overview of CO GMU 10 Hunting Facts

Competition for elk and deer tags in Unit 10 is insurmountable making this unit one of the most sought-after places to hunt in Colorado. Located in the northwestern corner of Colorado against the Utah border, this unit is a hunter’s paradise with its trophy potential measuring above average for mule deer and elk! The limited tags also reduce the hunting pressure in this unit. For more Colorado Unit 10 hunting information, check out the Info for Cities Near Unit 10 section on the right.

Table of Contents

CO Unit 10 Species Hunting Info

INFO: Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 10

Mule deer numbers have dwindled in recent years, but they are making a comeback with the new restrictions on tag numbers. The mule deer population has a versatile habitat in this unit. In the northern portion rests the southern tip of the Uinta Mountains at Dinosaur National Monument. The Yampa River also winds along this northern portion providing the mule deer a water source in the early season. However, Dinosaur National Monument is off-limits for hunting. Nevertheless, there is BLM land up that way so there are some perfect spots to hunt for mule deer. The White River runs along the southern border of Unit 10 and its elevations are lower than the northern part of the unit. The sagebrush and oak brush covered lower-lying areas provide an ideal location for mule deer grazing.

The average deer quality in unit 10 ranges from 150” to 170” with the trophy potential measuring above 180”, making this unit a prime location for harvesting a big buck.

SUCCESS RATES for Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 10

5 Year Estimated Average for Deer
Archery 60%
Muzzle Loader 65%
2nd Rifle 95%
3rd Rifle 95%

Mule Deer TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 10 Colorado

Average Quality 150″ – 170″
Trophy Potential 180″+
Buck to Doe Ratio 54:100

Colorado Unit 10 Mule Deer Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 10

Considered one of the top elk hunting units in Colorado, unit 10 provides all of the elements for a successful elk hunt. With its variety of landscape and abundance of public land, this unit is a great place to start when planning your elk hunt in Colorado. Elk trophy potential measures at over 350”! Elk behavior is influenced by the weather so keep up with the weather patterns prior to and during your hunt. Moosehead Wilderness area has long been a premium destination for trophy elk hunters. The unit has elk basically distributed all over with a few areas of higher concentration. A drastic cold front would be the difference between hunting in higher elevations as opposed to lower elevations since the elk move to lower altitudes when the snow falls on the mountains. (cow elk hunts) The bull elk hunts are typically over before most bad weather so the warning is usually only applicable to the cow elk seasons. This unit is a great place to hunt cow elk due to the low number of total hunters and minimal hunting pressure. This is one of the top bull elk units in the west and also a top cow elk hunting destination for high success.

SUCCESS RATES for Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 10

5 Year Estimated Average for Elk
Archery 78%
Muzzle Loader 68%
Early Rifle 40%

Elk TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 10 Colorado

Average Quality 280″ – 320″
Trophy Potential 350″
Bull to Cow Ratio 69:100

Colorado Unit 10 Elk Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 10

Antelope inhabit this unit far and wide. With the rolling shrub-covered hills, antelope have room to roam. There is currently not an archery or muzzleloader season for hunting pronghorn in this unit. However, rifle season tags are limited-draw only. The hunting pressure for antelope will be much lower and the herd numbers will be higher.

Colorado Unit 10 Antelope Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

Colorado Unit 10 Video

Info for Cities Near CO GMU 10

Colorado Unit 10 Topo Map

Total Acreage: 531,770 acres over 831 square miles

Total Public Land: 350,000 acres or 65%

Land Ownership Mix: 35% Private; 65% Public; BLM: 328,320 acres; State Land: 2,300 acres; Other Govt. Owned: 72,000 acres

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

Elevation Variances: 6,000 ft. to 9,000 ft.

Terrain Difficulty Overall: Mild to Moderate

Land Coverage/Vegetation: 75% shrub/scrub, 23% evergreen forest and 2% barren land (rock/sand/clay)

Unit 10 Boundaries: (Moffat, Rio Blanco County Colorado) bounded on North by Green and Yampa rivers; on East by Twelve-Mile Gulch Road, US-South Highway 40 to mile marker 38.3 to Elk Springs Ridge to Drill Hole, Winter Valley Gulch, Coal Creek and Wolf Creek; on South by White River; on West by Utah

Lay of the Land in CO Unit 10

Terrain in GMU 10 CO

The terrain in the northern portion of the unit is more mountainous and taxing on hunters to travel through. However, there are smaller hills covered in sagebrush and shrubs that are less strenuous for foot travel. To best plan your hunting route, consult a topographic map.

Vegetation in Unit 10 CO

Vegetation in Colorado unit 10 provides mule deer and elk a diet of shrubs including oak brush and sagebrush. As the winter ramps up, the herds move from the mountains down into the lower-lying areas where the shrubs are thriving. These areas are of significant value to a hunter planning his late-season hunt in Colorado Unit 10.

Access Points in CO GMU 10

The two main highways that make up unit 10 include Highway 10 and Highway 64. County Rd 1 in Rangely cuts north into Unit 10. There is a network of 37 miles of trails throughout the unit, allowing hunters to position themselves in the remote areas of the unit.