Colorado Unit 49 Hunting Information

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Overview of CO GMU 49 Hunting Facts

Located in central Colorado, in Lake & Chaffee counties, sits hunting unit 49. Among the mountain ranges and wilderness, Unit 49 performs well annually, so despite not being famed as a “trophy unit”, monster bulls are taken every year! This unit offers an OTC “Whitetail Only” late rifle tag that is available for purchase, exclusively, at CPW offices and state parks. Within the unit limits, there are two state offices that hunters can use as a point of reference for hunting information in Colorado Unit 49. A US Forest Service office is in the northwestern portion of the unit in Leadville and, additionally, there is one located in the northeastern area of the unit in Fairplay, where US Hwy 285 and SH 9 meet. For more Colorado Unit 49 hunting information, check out the Info for Cities Near Unit 49 section on the right.

CO Unit 49 Species Hunting Info

Unit 49 Mule Deer
Unit 49 Elk
Unit 49 Antelope

INFO: Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 49
Unit 49 in Colorado has proven successful for mule deer and whitetail hunting. As previously mentioned, this unit offers hunters a chance to hunt whitetail with a separate OTC license. The statutes around the mule deer seasons are a bit convoluted, so be sure to validate which tag you have drawn. The archery and muzzleloader tags are applicable for either sex and are valid in units 49, 57, 58, and 581. Second and third rifle season doe tags are only legal for units 49 and 57, whereas the second and third rifle season buck tags are valid for Units 49, 57, 58, and 581. The mule deer in unit 49 reflect typical deer behavior by being active in the higher elevations in the warmer seasons and descending to the lower areas as winter arrives.

SUCCESS RATES for Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 49
5 Year Estimated Average for Deer
Archery 17%
Muzzle Loader 20%
2nd Rifle 45%
3rd Rifle 50%
Mule Deer TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 49 Colorado
Average Quality 140″ – 160″
Trophy Potential 160″
Buck to Doe Ratio 24:100
Colorado Unit 49 Mule Deer Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 49
Unit 49 has an appeal that attracts hunters and wildlife alike. The elks gravitate towards the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness since there are remote areas for them to retreat. There are bulls taken from this unit every year that measure 320” and up! This is a great unit to find a monster bull and have an added benefit of the hunting pressure being reduced due to its status as a draw-only elk tag unit.

SUCCESS RATES for Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 49
5 Year Estimated Average for Elk
Archery 30%
Muzzle Loader 30%
1st Rifle 50%
2nd Rifle 38%
3rd Rifle 35%
4th Rifle 42%
Elk TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 49 Colorado
Average Quality 280″ – 320″
Trophy Potential 340″
Bull to Cow Ratio 30:100
Colorado Unit 49 Elk Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 49
With nearly half of land coverage being grasslands in this unit, it is not surprising that this is an exceptional unit for hunting antelope. The vast tracts of meadows and fields occupied with different species of grasses, along with the proximity of several water sources throughout the unit make this territory favorable for antelope herds. Pronghorn tags are draw-only for all seasons. The archery and rifle season tags are valid for use in units 49, 50, 500, and 501. The muzzleloader season tags are VALID in units 49, 50, 57, 58, 500, 501 & 581. (Please check each years CP&W regulations to confirm what units tag is valid)

SUCCESS RATES for Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 49
5 Year Estimated Average for Antelope
Archery 20%
Muzzle Loader 15%
Rifle 90%
Antelope TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 49 Colorado
Average Quality 60″- 65″
Trophy Potential 65″+
Buck to Doe Ratio 44:100
Colorado Unit 49 Antelope Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

Available Hunts

Unit 49 Hunting Information Video

Total Acreage: 345,000 acres over 539 square miles

Total Public Land: 255,000 acres or 74%

Land Ownership Mix: 26% Private; 74% Public; USFS: 211,648 acres; USFS Wilderness: 41,280 acres; BLM: 29,440 acres; State: 10,880 acres

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

Elevation Variances: 7,900 ft. to 13,898 ft.

Terrain Difficulty Overall: Mild to Moderate

Land Coverage/Vegetation: 39% grassland/herbaceous, 37% evergreen forest, 8% barren land (rock/sand/clay) and 6% deciduous forest

Unit 49 Boundaries: (Lake, Park, Chaffee County Colorado) bounded on North by Continental Divide; on East by Colorado 9 and US-South Highway 285; on South by US-US 24; on West by Arkansas River and Tennessee Creek

The terrain of Colorado hunting unit 49 has a feasible landscape for pretty much any physical skill set. Although all of the terrain may not be rugged, the entire unit sits well above sea level with the elevation ranging from 7,900 to 13,900. There are grassy fields with rolling hills where the travel mostly resembles that of a Sunday stroll, as opposed to the mountainous terrain that is found in some portions of the unit. The fact that there are 2 National Forests and one national wilderness territory in this unit sheds some light on the untouched beauty that this unit has to offer. The terrain of Colorado hunting unit 49 has a feasible landscape for pretty much any physical skill set. Although all of the terrain may not be rugged, the entire unit sits well above sea level with the elevation ranging from 7,900 to 13,900. There are grassy fields with rolling hills where the travel mostly resembles that of a Sunday stroll, as opposed to the mountainous terrain that is found in some portions of the unit. The fact that there are 2 National Forests and one national wilderness territory in this unit sheds some light on the untouched beauty that this unit has to offer.

The mountain ranges host a variety of evergreen species ranging from aspens to firs to spruces. These conifers paint a picturesque Colorado backdrop as well as dense cover for the big game, offering them a sense of security in the warmer months. As the winter ramps up, the wildlife are forced to forage for food not covered in snow and/or ice. Thereby, leading them into the middle and lower elevations where they will feed on pinyons and juniper for the expanse of the winter.

Unit 49 has been praised for its good road access, including the 269 miles of trails with 6 trailheads that weave throughout the hunting areas. US-24 hugs the western border running north and south. SH-9 winds along the eastern border. Both of these highways have small roads that sprout off of them granting access to the remote areas of the unit. Motorized vehicles are permitted in certain areas. However, with the majority of this unit being inundated by National Forest lands, all postings must be observed and respected. A good recommendation will be to carry a GPS unit so that you will be aware when crossing into such territories.

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Colorado Unit 49 Hunting Information

Overview of CO GMU 49 Hunting Facts

Table of Contents

CO Unit 49 Species Hunting Info

Available Hunts

Unit 49 Hunting Information Video

Info for Cities Near CO GMU 49

Colorado Unit 49 Topo Map

Lay of the Land in CO Unit 49

Terrain in GMU 49 CO

Vegetation in GMU Unit 49 CO

Access Points in CO GMU 49

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