Colorado Unit 104 Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 104 is a pronghorn hunting destination that draws attention for its consistent harvest numbers, even though it comes with a significant access challenge that every hunter needs to understand before applying. Spanning 930,768 acres with elevations ranging from 4,952 to 7,878 feet, this unit sits in the plains and rolling terrain typical of eastern Colorado pronghorn country. For hunters researching Colorado Unit 104 pronghorn hunting opportunities, the harvest data tells a story of a productive unit — but the public land situation demands careful planning.

Unit 104 has produced strong success rates over the past five seasons, with harvest percentages ranging from 61% to 70% depending on the year. That's a meaningful data point for hunters trying to decide where to spend hard-earned points, but success rates alone don't tell the whole story. With only 13% public land within the unit boundary, the vast majority of Unit 104 is private property, and that reality shapes everything about how a hunt here needs to be planned and executed.

This article breaks down what the data actually shows for Unit 104 — harvest trends, access realities, trophy potential, and the application process — so hunters can make an informed decision about whether this unit deserves a spot on their application list.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 104's harvest data over the last five years shows some of the more consistent success rates found in Colorado pronghorn units. Here's the year-by-year breakdown:

• 2025: 394 hunters, 239 harvested — 61% success
• 2024: 838 hunters, 584 harvested — 70% success
• 2023: 699 hunters, 425 harvested — 61% success
• 2022: 631 hunters, 404 harvested — 64% success
• 2021: 518 hunters, 356 harvested — 69% success

Success rates have held in a fairly tight band, never dropping below 61% in any of the last five seasons, and hitting a high of 70% in 2024. That's a strong indicator that pronghorn density in Unit 104 is solid and that hunters who draw a tag here have a real chance of filling it. The hunter numbers themselves have fluctuated considerably — from a low of 394 hunters in 2025 to a high of 838 in 2024 — which reflects changes in tag allocations from year to year rather than any decline in the herd. Overall, this is a unit where, historically, a majority of hunters who put in the effort have gone home with an animal.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across six survey years (2018-2024) shows an average buck:doe ratio of 52:100 for Unit 104. That ratio falls within a normal, biologically expected range for pronghorn herds and suggests a stable population structure rather than one skewed by unusually light or heavy buck harvest. A 52:100 ratio indicates there are enough mature bucks in the herd to support healthy breeding activity while also providing a reasonable pool of animals for hunters to pursue each fall.

Six years of survey data is a decent sample size for evaluating trend stability, and the consistency of this ratio — rather than wild swings from year to year — is a good sign for hunters concerned about long-term herd health in the unit. Combined with the multi-year harvest success rates above 60%, the survey numbers support the conclusion that Unit 104's pronghorn population is being managed sustainably.

Trophy Quality

Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 104 shows a limited history of entries. This doesn't mean quality bucks don't exist in the unit, but it does mean hunters shouldn't count on Unit 104 as a go-to destination for chasing record-book pronghorn. Given the limited trophy history in this area, hunters should approach Unit 104 primarily as a solid opportunity and meat-hunting unit rather than a unit built around trophy potential. That framing matches what several hunters on public forums have described when discussing Colorado pronghorn hunts generally — many applicants are looking for a good, fillable tag rather than chasing inches, and Unit 104's harvest data supports that kind of hunt.

Access & Terrain

This is the section that deserves the most attention for anyone considering Unit 104. With only 13% public land, more than 85% of this unit's 930,768 acres is privately owned. That is a critical number, and it changes the entire strategy for a DIY hunt here. Hunters should not expect abundant public access points or the ability to simply pick a spot on a map and start glassing — the numbers make clear that private land dominates the landscape.

Elevation in the unit ranges from 4,952 feet up to 7,878 feet, which suggests some topographic variation beyond flat prairie — likely rolling hills, drainages, and possibly some higher benches or ridgelines mixed into the lower plains terrain typical of pronghorn country. That kind of variety can help hunters find pockets of cover and vantage points to glass from, but with limited public ground, finding a legal place to set up and hunt takes real pre-season work.

Hunters targeting Unit 104 should prioritize scouting the specific public parcels available — whether isolated Wildlife Areas, BLM sections, or state trust lands — well before the season, since water sources and travel corridors that cross onto private ground can concentrate animals where hunters have no access. HuntPilot's public land layer and mapping tools can help identify exactly where those public parcels sit relative to the private ground that dominates this unit, which is essential prep work given the 13% figure. There is no wilderness designation in this unit (0%), so access considerations here are strictly about the public/private land split, not backcountry travel difficulty.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 104 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available through HuntPilot, Unit 104 presents a mixed but ultimately favorable picture for the right kind of hunter. The harvest success rates — consistently in the 61-70% range over five years — are genuinely strong and suggest a healthy, huntable pronghorn population. The buck:doe ratio of 52:100 across six years of survey data backs that up with evidence of a stable, well-managed herd.

The limiting factor is access. At 13% public land, Unit 104 is not a unit where a hunter can show up with a general strategy and expect to freelance across open country. Success here will likely depend heavily on securing access to the public parcels that do exist, or on private land access through leases or landowner relationships — a reality echoed by hunters on forums who've described past pronghorn hunts being complicated by private land controlling key water sources.

For hunters focused on trophy quality, the limited trophy record history in this area means Unit 104 is not a unit to chase for record-book potential. But for hunters prioritizing a fillable tag and a legitimate chance at a pronghorn dinner, the harvest numbers make a strong case. Unit 104 is worth applying for if a hunter goes in with realistic expectations: this is an opportunity-focused, meat-hunt-caliber unit with good success rates, provided the access homework gets done in advance.

How to Apply

Colorado's draw system for pronghorn combines a hybrid preference and weighted random structure — hunters accumulate points that improve their draw position over time.

Nonresident tag fees are substantially higher than resident tag fees, so nonresidents should budget accordingly when planning to apply for Unit 104 or any Colorado pronghorn unit.

For current draw odds specific to Unit 104, hunters should check HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages at /states/co, where year-specific odds and quota information are tracked as they're released.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Colorado page at /states/co.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 104? Unit 104 spans an elevation range of 4,952 to 7,878 feet, indicating a mix of lower plains and higher rolling terrain typical of eastern Colorado pronghorn habitat. The unit does not include any wilderness acreage, so there are no backcountry travel restrictions, but the terrain variety may offer some topographic relief and vantage points for glassing beyond flat prairie.

What is harvest success like in Unit 104? Harvest success in Unit 104 has been consistently strong over the past five years, ranging from 61% to 70%. In 2024, hunters posted a 70% success rate with 584 animals harvested out of 838 hunters. Even in the lower years, such as 2025 and 2023, success held at 61%. This consistency suggests a healthy, huntable pronghorn population.

How big are the pronghorn in Unit 104? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 104 shows a limited history of entries, meaning this is not a unit with a strong track record of producing record-book pronghorn. Hunters should approach Unit 104 as a solid opportunity unit for filling a tag rather than a destination built around trophy size.

Is Colorado Unit 104 worth applying for? Yes, for hunters prioritizing a fillable tag over trophy potential. The five-year harvest success rates (61-70%) and stable buck:doe ratio (52:100 average across six survey years) point to a healthy population and solid odds of success once a hunter is in the field. The tradeoff is access — with only 13% public land, hunters need to plan carefully around available public parcels or secure private land access before the season.

What is public land access like in Unit 104? Public land makes up just 13% of Unit 104's 930,768 acres, meaning the large majority of the unit is privately owned. DIY hunters relying solely on public ground will face limited options and should scout available public parcels thoroughly in advance, since key water sources and travel corridors often sit on private land in units with this level of private ownership.