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COMule DeerUnit 104July 2026

Colorado Unit 104 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

A Private-Land-Heavy Eastern Colorado Unit With Consistent Harvest Numbers

Colorado Unit 104 sits at the lower end of the state's elevation spectrum, ranging from roughly 4,952 to 7,878 feet. Spanning nearly 931,000 total acres, it's a large unit by any measure — but the critical number for hunters doing their due diligence is 13% public land. That figure defines everything about how Unit 104 hunts. This is not a walk-in, park-the-truck-and-go unit. The vast majority of the landscape is privately held, which means access is the first and most important logistical problem any deer hunter here must solve before applying.

Despite that access challenge, Unit 104 consistently puts up harvest numbers that are difficult to ignore. When hunters can get onto productive ground — whether through landowner permission, lease access, or outfitter relationships — the unit's harvest success rates have been strong across recent seasons. The deer are here. Getting to them is the question.

For hunters willing to invest the time in securing private land access or working with a local operation, Unit 104 represents a legitimate Colorado mule deer opportunity. For hunters expecting to run DIY on public ground, this unit is a poor fit.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 104's harvest data across the three most recent seasons paints a picture of a productive unit with meaningful year-to-year variation:

  • 2023: 1,078 hunters afield, 446 harvested — 41% success rate
  • 2024: 2,029 hunters afield, 1,024 harvested — 50% success rate
  • 2025: 1,270 hunters afield, 563 harvested — 44% success rate

Several things stand out in this data. First, the success rates are genuinely strong — 41% to 50% across three years compares favorably to many Colorado deer units. Second, the hunter count nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, jumping from 1,078 to 2,029, before pulling back to 1,270 in 2025. That kind of volatility in hunter numbers often reflects draw mechanics, tag allocation shifts, or OTC pressure from adjacent hunts — but the success rate remained solidly above 40% even in the high-pressure 2024 season, which is a meaningful signal.

A 44–50% success rate on a large unit with this much private land strongly suggests that hunters who crack the access problem are connecting at a high rate. The deer-to-hunter dynamics in lower-elevation, mixed-agriculture zones often support solid populations, and Unit 104's numbers back that up.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 104 carry a strong history of trophy-class mule deer production. This is qualitatively one of the better areas in eastern Colorado for mature bucks, and the region's record-book history reflects consistent trophy production over multiple decades.

A critical caveat applies here, and it matters for how hunters interpret that pedigree: record-book entries are logged by county, not by hunt unit. The counties overlapping Unit 104 share that trophy history with neighboring units — the same county-level records are distributed across multiple units, and the individual animals may have been taken anywhere within those county boundaries. Unit 104 contributes to that trophy legacy, but hunters should not interpret county-level data as unit-exclusive production.

With that said, the underlying habitat in this elevation range — agricultural fields, creek drainages, rolling terrain, and transition zones between plains and foothills — produces the browse and food resources that grow mature bucks. Hunters with legitimate access to private ground in Unit 104 should approach it with realistic trophy expectations. The unit has the habitat and the history to produce quality animals. It is not a unit where record-book bucks are common, but it is a unit where a mature, heavy-antlered mule deer is a realistic goal for a well-prepared hunter on good ground.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data for Unit 104 is limited — HuntPilot's compiled records include one survey year (2024), which recorded a buck-to-doe ratio of 43:100.

A 43:100 ratio, if representative, sits at the high end of what's typical for a well-managed mule deer herd. Most western states target ratios in the 25–35:100 range for sustainable populations, with higher ratios generally indicating good buck survival. However, with only a single survey year in the data, this number should be treated cautiously. A single survey can reflect localized observation conditions, sample size limitations, or seasonal movement patterns rather than a precise population-wide snapshot.

What the 2024 survey does suggest is that mature bucks are present in the unit at meaningful densities relative to the doe population. Combined with the harvest success data — which has never dipped below 41% across the three most recent seasons — the herd health picture in Unit 104 appears reasonably positive, even if the survey base is thin.

Hunters researching this unit should watch for updated survey data in future seasons. A multi-year trend on buck:doe ratios would sharpen the picture considerably.

Access & Terrain

Unit 104's terrain sits in the 4,952–7,878 foot elevation range — decidedly lower and more open than Colorado's high-country units. At these elevations, expect a landscape that transitions from plains and agricultural zones at the lower end into rolling foothills and canyon country as elevation climbs. Sagebrush, grass draws, riparian corridors, and dryland agriculture define much of the unit's character. There is no designated wilderness within Unit 104's boundaries.

The access math is stark: 13% public land across 930,768 acres means roughly 121,000 acres of publicly accessible ground in a nearly one-million-acre unit. That is not nothing on an absolute basis, but it is spread across a large footprint and likely fragmented by private holdings. DIY hunters who plan to rely exclusively on public access will find their options limited and will likely be competing with other public-land hunters for a small fraction of the unit's total deer habitat.

The productive deer country in units like 104 almost always sits on private ground — crop fields, irrigated pastures, creek-bottom thickets, and CRP grasslands that concentrate deer, particularly as seasons progress and deer seek food resources. Hunters who approach this unit need a plan for private land. Options include:

  • Direct landowner contact well in advance of the season
  • Lease access through established hunting programs
  • Working with a licensed outfitter who holds existing landowner relationships

The unit has no wilderness, so there is no guide requirement for nonresident hunters based on wilderness law. But as a practical matter, the access challenge in a unit this private-land-dominant often makes an outfitter or guide relationship the most efficient path to huntable ground — not for legal reasons, but for logistical ones.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Colorado Unit 104 Worth Applying For?

Unit 104 is a unit that rewards preparation and punishes assumptions. Here is the honest breakdown:

The case for applying:

  • Harvest success rates of 41–50% across three recent seasons are legitimately strong for a Colorado deer unit
  • The counties overlapping this unit carry a strong trophy history for mule deer
  • Lower elevation terrain means less physically demanding hunting than high-country units
  • A 43:100 buck:doe ratio (2024) suggests a healthy buck age structure, pending more survey data

The case against (or for caution):

  • 13% public land is the defining constraint. Hunters without an access plan before applying are setting themselves up for a frustrating experience
  • Hunter numbers swung dramatically between seasons (1,078 in 2023 to 2,029 in 2024), suggesting unpredictable pressure dynamics
  • Trophy potential depends heavily on the specific private ground a hunter can access — not all parts of the unit are equal

Bottom line: Unit 104 is a strong choice for hunters who have already solved the access equation — landowner relationships established, lease in place, or outfitter booked. For those hunters, the harvest success rates and trophy history make it a compelling draw target. For hunters still searching for where they'll hunt after drawing, this unit will be a disappointment. Secure access first, then apply.

For current draw odds and updated tag availability, visit the HuntPilot Colorado page.

How to Apply

Colorado's deer draw uses a preference point system — highest points are drawn first, making points genuinely predictive of draw success in competitive units. Points accumulate annually when hunters apply and do not draw, and a successful draw consumes accumulated points.

2026 Application Deadlines and Fees:

Both resident and nonresident applications open March 1, 2026, with a deadline of April 7, 2026. Draw results are posted May 26, 2026.

Nonresident costs:

  • Application fee: $11.49 (per the draw calendar; listed as $11 in the Application Info)
  • Tag fee: $507.00
  • License fee: $117.62 (required before applying — this is separate from the application and tag fees)
  • Preference point fee: $100.00 (if purchasing a point only, without drawing a tag)

Resident costs:

  • Application fee: $8.93 (per the draw calendar; listed as $9 in the Application Info)
  • Tag fee: $51.00
  • License fee: $53.19 (required before applying)
  • Preference point fee: $50.00

Nonresidents should note that the license fee of $117.62 is a prerequisite to applying — it must be purchased as part of the application process, and it is not refunded if a hunter does not draw. The total upfront cost for a nonresident applying for Unit 104 deer is the license fee plus the application fee, with the tag fee due only upon drawing. Factoring all costs, a nonresident who draws in 2026 will have invested over $636 in license, application, and tag fees before setting foot in the field.

For current draw odds by point level, visit the HuntPilot Colorado page at /states/co.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 104?

Unit 104 sits at elevations between roughly 4,952 and 7,878 feet — lower than most Colorado mule deer units. The terrain transitions from agricultural and plains country at the bottom end into rolling foothills, canyon drainages, and sagebrush breaks at higher elevations. There is no wilderness in the unit. The physical demands of hunting here are moderate compared to high-country Colorado units, but the private land challenge (87% of the unit is privately held) is the real terrain problem hunters face.

What is the harvest success rate in Colorado Unit 104?

Over the three most recent seasons, Unit 104 posted a 41% success rate in 2023 (446 of 1,078 hunters), 50% in 2024 (1,024 of 2,029 hunters), and 44% in 2025 (563 of 1,270 hunters). Those are strong numbers by Colorado standards, averaging out to roughly 45% across the period. Success is strongly correlated with access to private ground, where the bulk of the deer habitat in this unit exists.

How big are the deer in Colorado Unit 104?

The counties overlapping Unit 104 have a strong history of trophy mule deer production. This area has generated trophy-class bucks consistently over multiple decades, and the habitat — lower-elevation agricultural and riparian zones — supports the food resources that mature bucks need. Trophy quality on any specific parcel depends heavily on which ground a hunter has access to. Hunters should not expect Unit 104 to be a unit where record-class bucks are common, but mature, quality mule deer are a realistic goal on productive private ground.

Is Colorado Unit 104 worth applying for?

For hunters with private land access already secured, yes — the harvest success rates are strong and the trophy history of the surrounding region is solid. For hunters planning to hunt public land exclusively, Unit 104 is a poor fit given that only 13% of the unit is publicly accessible. The unit rewards hunters who solve the access problem before they apply, not after.

How do I check draw odds for Colorado Unit 104 deer?

Draw odds change annually based on applicant pools and tag allocations. For current draw percentages by point level for Unit 104 deer, visit the HuntPilot Colorado unit page at /states/co, where updated draw data is compiled each season.

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