Colorado Unit 104 Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide
Colorado Unit 104 sits in eastern Colorado at elevations ranging from 4,952 to 7,878 feet, covering a sprawling 930,768 total acres. It's classic pronghorn country — rolling terrain with open vistas that suit the fastest land animal in North America. Hunters researching this unit will find a consistent harvest record worth examining closely, but one critical access reality demands attention before anyone submits an application: with only 13% public land, Unit 104 is predominantly private ground. That single fact shapes every strategic decision a hunter needs to make before applying.
This is a unit where raw harvest numbers can look attractive at a glance, but context matters. The 61% to 70% success rates recorded over recent years reflect hunters who are actually in the field — and in a unit where the overwhelming majority of acreage is privately held, the hunters harvesting pronghorn here are largely those with private land access, whether through permission, leases, or guided hunts. Hunters without a plan to access private property will find their options here genuinely limited.
That said, Unit 104 is a legitimate draw-application destination for hunters who have the access equation solved. HuntPilot data shows a steady, multi-year harvest record and herd surveys that speak to a functional pronghorn population. This article breaks down everything hunters need to evaluate whether Unit 104 belongs in their Colorado pronghorn draw strategy.
Harvest Success Rates
Unit 104 has posted strong and consistent success rates over five documented seasons, making it one of the more productive units on paper in the Colorado pronghorn landscape.
| Year | Hunters Afield | Harvested | Success Rate | |------|---------------|-----------|--------------| | 2025 | 394 | 239 | 61% | | 2024 | 838 | 584 | 70% | | 2023 | 699 | 425 | 61% | | 2022 | 631 | 404 | 64% | | 2021 | 518 | 356 | 69% |
The five-year average success rate sits comfortably in the mid-to-upper 60% range. The 2024 season stands out — 838 hunters afield with 584 harvested at a 70% clip represents the highest participation and one of the highest success rates in the dataset. The 2025 season saw a sharp drop in hunter participation to 394, yet maintained a 61% success rate, suggesting the pronghorn population can support consistent harvest even in lower-pressure years.
What these numbers don't tell the story of is private land access. A 64–70% success rate in a 13%-public-land unit almost certainly reflects that a substantial portion of applicants who draw tags here have pre-arranged access to private ground. Hunters without that access should not assume these success rates will apply to their situation.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Wildlife surveys spanning 2018 through 2024 give hunters a meaningful look at Unit 104's pronghorn herd structure. Across six survey years, the average buck-to-doe ratio clocks in at 52:100.
A 52:100 buck-to-doe ratio is a healthy benchmark for pronghorn. In well-managed herds, wildlife managers typically target ratios in the 25–35:100 range to ensure adequate breeding activity — Unit 104 is running well above that floor. This ratio suggests the unit is carrying a good proportion of mature bucks relative to does, which is positive news for hunters pursuing quality animals.
Six years of survey data also provides some confidence that this isn't a single-year anomaly. A multi-year average of 52:100 indicates stable herd management over time, and the consistent hunter participation and harvest numbers in the harvest table align with that stability. Managers appear to be calibrating tag numbers to what the herd can sustain without degrading the buck-to-doe ratio.
For hunters, a strong buck ratio combined with consistent 60%+ success rates paints a picture of a functional, well-managed pronghorn unit — provided the private land access challenge can be solved.
Trophy Quality
The counties overlapping Unit 104 carry a limited history of trophy-class pronghorn records. Hunters targeting a genuine record-book buck should temper expectations here — this is not a unit with a deep bench of trophy production. The area can and does produce quality bucks, but the trophy history suggests those animals represent the exception rather than the rule.
It's worth noting the county-level caveat here: trophy records are logged by county, not by hunt unit. Any records attributed to counties overlapping Unit 104 are shared with every neighboring unit that falls within those same counties. The animals behind those records could have been taken anywhere in those counties, which further dilutes the unit-specific trophy picture.
For hunters whose primary goal is a freezer-filling pronghorn experience with a quality buck as a reasonable bonus, Unit 104 can deliver. Hunters chasing a legitimate record-book animal should likely look at limited-entry units with stronger trophy histories before settling on Unit 104 as their top application choice.
Access & Terrain
This is where Unit 104's profile gets challenging. With 13% public land across 930,768 total acres, the math is stark: roughly 121,000 acres of huntable public ground spread across a unit nearly the size of Rhode Island. The remaining 87% — over 810,000 acres — is private.
There is no wilderness designation within Unit 104, so Colorado's nonresident guide requirement does not apply. Nonresident hunters can pursue a DIY hunt here without hiring an outfitter. However, the private land reality makes a guided or outfitter-assisted hunt a practical consideration for hunters who lack established landowner relationships in the area. Many of the best pronghorn habitats in eastern Colorado's predominantly agricultural units sit on private ranches where access requires either a lease, a guided hunt, or a pre-built relationship with landowners.
The unit spans a meaningful elevation range — 4,952 to 7,878 feet — which is notable for eastern Colorado pronghorn country. The lower elevations reflect typical high plains terrain, while the upper range suggests some topographic relief that could concentrate pronghorn in predictable locations depending on season and hunting pressure. Open rolling country with agricultural influence is the dominant landscape type across much of this region.
Hunters planning a DIY public-land approach here should do extensive pre-season scouting using mapping tools to identify accessible public parcels and understand how they relate to surrounding private ground. Pronghorn don't respect property boundaries, and hunting pressure on opening days can push animals significantly.
HuntPilot Analysis
Is Unit 104 worth applying for?
The honest answer depends almost entirely on your access situation.
The case for applying: Unit 104's harvest data is genuinely impressive. A five-year average success rate in the mid-to-upper 60s is strong by any measure, and the buck-to-doe ratio of 52:100 across six survey years indicates a healthy, well-structured herd. The unit is large, tag numbers have supported meaningful hunter participation across multiple seasons, and the draw appears to be accessible without an extreme point investment — though hunters should check current draw odds on the HuntPilot Colorado page at /states/co for the most current figures.
The case against applying: Thirteen percent public land is a significant hurdle. This unit is not a DIY-friendly destination for hunters who plan to show up with maps and work public parcels. The vast majority of the unit is privately held, and the access question must be answered before application, not after. Trophy history is limited, so hunters prioritizing a record-book buck will likely find better options in higher-pressure limited-entry units with stronger historical production.
Bottom line: Unit 104 is a legitimate choice for hunters who have private land access lined up, are comfortable with a guided or outfitter-assisted hunt, or are pursuing a quality pronghorn experience without strict trophy requirements. For nonresident DIY hunters banking on public land access alone, the 13% public land figure is a dealbreaker that should push them toward units with more favorable public access.
How to Apply
Colorado pronghorn draws operate through Colorado Parks & Wildlife's annual big game draw system. For the 2026 season, applications open March 1, 2026, with a deadline of April 7, 2026. Draw results are released May 26, 2026.
2026 Application Costs — Nonresidents:
- Application fee: $11.49
- Tag fee: $507.00
- License fee (required to apply): $117.62
- Point fee (if applying for preference points only): $100.00
2026 Application Costs — Residents:
- Application fee: $8.93
- Tag fee: $51.00
- License fee (required to apply): $53.19
- Point fee (if applying for preference points only): $50.00
A critical note for all applicants: Colorado requires hunters to hold a valid annual hunting license before they can submit a draw application. The license fees listed above are separate from the application and tag fees and must be purchased as part of the application process. Nonresidents should budget approximately $636 total for the application package (license + application fee + tag fee) if they draw a tag.
Colorado operates a preference point system for pronghorn, meaning applicants with more accumulated preference points are drawn before lower-point applicants in the same pool. Points are consumed upon a successful draw — hunters who draw a tag restart their point accumulation from zero for that species. For current draw difficulty and point requirements for Unit 104, visit the HuntPilot Colorado page at /states/co.
Applications are submitted through the Colorado Parks & Wildlife licensing portal. Hunters can list up to three choices on their application, with Unit 104 listed as a first, second, or third choice depending on their strategy.
Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 104?
Unit 104 covers high plains and rolling eastern Colorado terrain, spanning 4,952 to 7,878 feet in elevation. The lower end reflects classic open plains pronghorn habitat with agricultural influence, while the upper elevations suggest some topographic variation that can concentrate animals. The unit contains no designated wilderness. The dominant access challenge isn't terrain difficulty — it's private land. With 87% of the unit under private ownership, navigating land access is the central challenge for hunters here, not physical ruggedness.
What is the harvest success rate in Colorado Unit 104?
Unit 104 has averaged strong harvest success over five documented seasons. In 2024, 838 hunters afield produced 584 harvested pronghorn at a 70% success rate — the highest in the dataset. The 2025, 2023, and 2022 seasons each recorded 61–64% success rates. The 2021 season came in at 69%. Across all five years, success rates have not dipped below 61%, which is notably consistent. Keep in mind that these rates reflect all hunters who drew tags, including those with established private land access, which likely inflates the figures for public-land-only hunters.
How big are the pronghorn in Colorado Unit 104?
The counties overlapping Unit 104 carry a limited trophy history. This is not a unit with a track record of producing exceptional record-book bucks on a consistent basis. Hunters should expect a quality pronghorn hunting experience with the possibility of a good mature buck, but those targeting strictly record-book-class animals may find more compelling trophy history in other Colorado units. The 52:100 buck-to-doe ratio indicates the herd is carrying a good proportion of bucks, which supports the opportunity for quality animals even if the trophy ceiling isn't the highest in the state.
Is Colorado Unit 104 worth applying for?
Yes — conditionally. Unit 104 has a strong harvest record and a well-structured herd by survey data, making it a legitimate draw destination for hunters who can solve the access equation. The 13% public land means DIY public-land hunters face real limitations, while hunters with private land connections, a guided hunt, or landowner access are likely the ones driving those 60–70% success rates. For hunters without a private land plan in place, there are more DIY-friendly units in Colorado's pronghorn draw. For hunters who have access sorted, Unit 104 is a reliable, huntable unit with competitive success rates and a healthy pronghorn herd.
How competitive is the draw for Colorado Unit 104 pronghorn?
Draw competitiveness for Unit 104 varies by residency and point level. Colorado's preference point system means higher-point applicants are drawn first within each pool. For current draw odds and point requirements specific to Unit 104, visit HuntPilot's Colorado page at /states/co, which tracks annual draw data and updates figures each cycle. The 2026 application deadline is April 7, with results posted May 26.