Colorado Unit 105 Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide
Colorado Unit 105 sits in the lower-elevation plains and rolling terrain of eastern Colorado, spanning just under 731,000 acres at elevations between 5,124 and 7,278 feet. For hunters researching pronghorn antelope opportunities in the state, this unit consistently appears on the radar — and for good reason. The harvest numbers over the past several years tell a compelling story about a unit that produces results across a broad range of hunter experience levels. What makes Unit 105 particularly interesting is that it generates significant hunter participation year over year, yet still maintains strong success rates.
The single most critical factor hunters need to understand before committing a preference point or application fee to Unit 105 is the land ownership picture: only 13% of the unit's 730,999 acres is public land. That is a stark number. The vast majority of this unit is private, and hunters who arrive expecting to walk off a dirt road onto open public ground will find their options severely limited. Access is the central challenge of Unit 105 pronghorn hunting, and any serious strategy for this unit must account for it from the start.
Despite the private land dominance, the unit continues to draw thousands of applicants and produces harvests in the hundreds annually. That tells you something: hunters are finding ways to access animals here, whether through landowner permission, guided access, or careful work of the limited public parcels. This article breaks down the harvest data, herd health indicators, trophy potential, and application process so hunters can make an informed decision about whether Unit 105 belongs on their application list.
Harvest Success Rates
Unit 105 has produced consistently strong harvest success rates across the six most recent documented seasons, and the data from HuntPilot is worth examining closely.
In 2022, the unit posted its second-highest success rate in recent years: 1,835 hunters afield with 1,373 harvested — a 75% success rate. The following year, 2023, saw the largest hunter participation in the dataset (1,904 hunters) with 1,118 harvested and a 59% success rate, the lowest in the six-year window. Whether that dip reflects increased pressure, weather, or access changes is worth monitoring, but it bounced back quickly.
By 2024, 2,017 hunters — the highest participation on record in this dataset — chased pronghorn in Unit 105, with 1,340 harvested at a 66% success rate. The 2025 data shows a notably smaller hunter count of 814, yet success jumped back to 72% with 583 harvested. The smaller 2025 cohort with higher success may indicate tag allocation changes or weather and access factors that concentrated hunting effort more effectively — hunters considering Unit 105 should check current allocation data through HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages.
The standout data point in the entire six-year stretch is 2020, when 560 hunters produced 492 harvests — an 88% success rate. That is an exceptional number for any western pronghorn unit.
Averaging across all six seasons, Unit 105 runs roughly in the 70% success range. For a pronghorn unit, that is genuinely strong performance. Hunters who secure access — public or private — are converting at high rates. The challenge, as discussed, is getting that access in a unit that is 87% privately owned.
Trophy Quality
The counties overlapping Unit 105 carry a limited history of trophy-class pronghorn records. Hunters targeting Unit 105 primarily as a trophy hunt should calibrate expectations accordingly — this unit's appeal lies more in its consistent harvest success and accessible draw structure than in a deep bench of record-book production. That said, the pronghorn population here does support mature animals, and a dedicated hunter who scouts effectively and capitalizes on private land access will encounter quality bucks. Trophy potential in this unit is best characterized as limited, and it would be misleading to frame Unit 105 as a destination trophy hunt without stronger record history to support that claim.
For hunters whose primary goal is meat in the freezer and a successful western pronghorn experience — particularly first-time antelope hunters — the trophy picture is much less relevant than the harvest success numbers, which speak clearly in Unit 105's favor.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Wildlife survey data from six survey years between 2018 and 2024 shows an average buck-to-doe ratio of 52:100 in Unit 105. For pronghorn, a healthy herd typically maintains buck:doe ratios in the range of 40–60 bucks per 100 does, so the 52:100 average is solidly within that window and suggests a functioning, reasonably balanced population.
This ratio indicates that the herd is not under severe buck-harvest pressure that would skew it heavily doe-dominant. Consistent 52:100 performance across multiple survey years — rather than a single anomalous data point — provides more confidence in that assessment. A stable buck:doe ratio across six surveys suggests that harvest levels have been calibrated reasonably well to herd productivity in this unit.
Hunters should note that pronghorn populations in eastern Colorado are influenced by drought cycles, fencing density (a real obstacle for pronghorn movement and survival), and winter severity. These factors fluctuate year to year, and the survey data here reflects a multi-year average rather than a guarantee of current conditions. Checking Colorado Parks and Wildlife's most recent survey reports before the season is always advisable.
Access & Terrain
Unit 105 spans 730,999 acres across terrain typical of Colorado's eastern plains: rolling shortgrass prairie, open sagebrush flats, drainages, and gradual topographic variation between 5,124 and 7,278 feet in elevation. This is pronghorn country — wide-open, glassing-intensive terrain where animals can be spotted from long distances but stalking across exposed ground presents its own challenges.
The 13% public land figure is the defining access constraint. With only roughly 95,000 acres of public land spread across a unit of this size, hunters face real competition for those parcels during the season. Public land pronghorn hunting is achievable, but hunters should identify specific public tracts well in advance and have contingency plans. Units like 105, where private land dominates, are where the relationship between hunter effort and landowner access pays the biggest dividends.
There is no wilderness designation in Unit 105, which means no Colorado-specific guide requirements apply and nonresident DIY hunters face no legal barrier to self-guided hunting. The practical barrier is purely access — specifically, building the private land relationships or locating the public parcels that make a DIY hunt viable.
The forum discussions in antelope hunting communities consistently flag eastern Colorado as a region where private land access is the defining variable. Hunters who arrive with pre-secured landowner permissions or who have scouted and mapped the public parcels well before opening day are the ones converting at rates that match the unit's strong harvest statistics.
HuntPilot Analysis
Is Unit 105 worth applying for? The honest answer depends heavily on what type of hunter is asking.
For a hunter whose primary objective is a successful, experience-rich first pronghorn hunt — and who either has private land access or is willing to work for it — Unit 105's harvest history is genuinely compelling. Success rates hovering around 59–88% across six seasons, with an average well above 65%, are not common across the broader landscape of limited-entry western hunting. Hunters who draw this tag and execute on access are converting at high rates.
For a trophy-driven hunter looking to maximize their chances at a record-class pronghorn buck, Unit 105's limited trophy history suggests there are stronger units available if the point investment is manageable. This unit is better suited to hunters prioritizing a quality experience and meat harvest over chasing exceptional antler size.
The access challenge is real and cannot be understated. At 13% public land, this is not a unit where hunters can rely on parking at a trailhead and walking into pronghorn. Private land access — whether through personal relationships, door-knocking, or a guided arrangement — will make or break the hunt for most applicants. Hunters without a clear access strategy should either develop one before applying or consider units with a stronger public land base.
The draw structure for Unit 105 is relatively approachable compared to Colorado's most coveted, long-burn preference point units. This makes it a realistic target for hunters in low-to-mid point ranges, and the application fees are modest. For hunters willing to do the access legwork, the combination of achievable draw odds and strong harvest success makes Unit 105 a rational investment.
How to Apply
For the 2026 season, applications for Colorado Unit 105 pronghorn are accepted beginning March 1, 2026, with a deadline of April 7, 2026. Draw results are released May 26, 2026.
2026 Nonresident Fees:
- Application fee: $11.49
- Tag fee: $507.00
- License fee: $117.62 (required to apply — must be obtained before submitting your application)
- Preference point fee: $100.00 (if applying for a point only)
2026 Resident Fees:
- Application fee: $8.93
- Tag fee: $51.00
- License fee: $53.19 (required to apply — must be obtained before submitting your application)
- Preference point fee: $50.00 (if applying for a point only)
Colorado uses a true preference point system, meaning the highest-point applicants are drawn first within each draw pool. Points accumulate each year a hunter applies without drawing, making consistent annual applications a viable strategy. Hunters who prefer to bank points rather than draw a tag in a given year can apply for a preference point only at the reduced point fee.
Applications are submitted through Colorado Parks and Wildlife's online licensing portal. For current draw odds, tag allocations, and unit-specific research tools, visit HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages at huntpilot.ai/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 105 for pronghorn hunting?
Unit 105 is eastern Colorado plains and rolling shortgrass terrain, ranging from 5,124 to 7,278 feet in elevation. It is classic open pronghorn country — wide flats, sagebrush, gradual drainages, and long sight lines that reward hunters who invest in optics and glassing. The lack of dense cover means stalking is challenging and approach angles matter significantly. There is no wilderness in the unit, so no terrain-based guide requirements apply.
What is the harvest success rate in Colorado Unit 105 pronghorn hunting?
Unit 105 has averaged approximately 70% or better across the six seasons from 2020 to 2025. The range runs from a low of 59% in 2023 (1,904 hunters, 1,118 harvested) to a high of 88% in 2020 (560 hunters, 492 harvested). In 2024, 2,017 hunters produced 1,340 harvests at 66%. These are strong numbers for a western pronghorn unit, though hunters need to secure access to realize them.
How big are the pronghorn in Colorado Unit 105?
The counties overlapping Unit 105 have a limited history of trophy-class pronghorn records. Hunters targeting this unit for a trophy buck may find stronger options elsewhere in Colorado. Unit 105's primary draw is consistent harvest success and a relatively approachable draw structure — not exceptional antler size. Mature bucks are present in the unit, but trophy potential here is best characterized as limited.
Is Colorado Unit 105 worth applying for?
For hunters prioritizing a successful pronghorn hunt over maximum trophy potential, yes — Unit 105 is worth serious consideration given its strong multi-year harvest success rates. The critical qualifier is access: only 13% of the unit's 730,999 acres is public land. Hunters without a private land access plan will struggle to capitalize on the unit's harvest potential. Those who do have access, or are willing to build it, will find a unit with strong success rates and manageable draw competition.
Can nonresidents hunt Colorado Unit 105 pronghorn without a guide?
Yes. Colorado does not have a nonresident guide requirement, and Unit 105 has no wilderness designation that would trigger one. Nonresident DIY hunters are fully legal and common in this unit. The practical challenge is purely access — the 87% private land ownership means DIY hunters need to identify and secure access to public parcels or obtain landowner permission well before the season opens. For current draw odds and unit research tools, check HuntPilot's Colorado pages.