Colorado Unit 113 Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 113 sits in the plains country of eastern Colorado, a 135,250-acre unit where every pronghorn hunt is issued through a limited-quota draw. There is no general season here — hunters pursuing antlered or either-sex pronghorn in Unit 113 must successfully draw a tag first. With elevation running a modest 4,568 to 5,237 feet, this is classic high-plains pronghorn habitat: open, flat-to-rolling country with long sightlines and minimal cover.

What makes Unit 113 worth a close look isn't just the terrain — it's the harvest trend. In 2025, the unit saw a significant jump in both hunter numbers and success, and that shift is worth unpacking for anyone building an application strategy. This article breaks down what the data actually shows, what it means for trophy potential, and how to think about applying.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 113 Worth Applying For?

The headline number here is the 2025 season: 1,574 hunters harvested 668 pronghorn for a 42% success rate — a sharp jump from the prior four years, which hovered in the 23-34% range (533 hunters/26% in 2024, 393 hunters/23% in 2023, 399 hunters/29% in 2022, and 485 hunters/34% in 2021). That 2025 spike in both hunter volume and success rate stands out from the pattern established over the previous four seasons and is worth noting before building expectations around it — a single outlier year shouldn't be assumed to represent the new normal until confirmed by another season or two of data.

Looking at the broader five-year window, Unit 113 has generally delivered success rates in the high-20s to mid-30s percent range for hunters who draw a tag, which is solid for a limited-quota pronghorn unit. That's a meaningful data point for anyone trying to gauge whether a season's worth of scouting and travel is likely to pay off with meat in the cooler.

On trophy quality, the counties overlapping Unit 113 carry a moderate history of trophy-class pronghorn production. That puts this unit in a middle tier — not a unit with no track record, but also not one of the standout trophy counties in the state. Hunters whose primary goal is a wall-worthy buck should treat this as a secondary consideration behind units with a stronger documented trophy pedigree, while hunters focused on a solid, representative pronghorn and good odds of filling a tag will find the harvest data here encouraging.

The access picture, however, is the biggest constraint on this unit. Public land sits at just 7%, meaning the overwhelming majority of Unit 113 is private property. That is a critical number for anyone planning a DIY hunt. With public land this limited, hunters drawing a tag here need a real access plan well before the season — whether that's securing landowner permission, researching walk-in access programs, or budgeting for a guided or outfitted hunt on private ground. Showing up with a tag and no pre-arranged access in a 7%-public unit is a recipe for a frustrating week of windshield time.

The wildlife survey data adds one more wrinkle. Across six survey years from 2018 to 2024, the average buck:doe ratio in Unit 113 came in at 26:100. That's a relatively low ratio by pronghorn standards and suggests a herd structure that's been running buck-light relative to healthier benchmark units. It doesn't necessarily tank the unit's value — pronghorn populations fluctuate with drought, winterkill, and habitat conditions on the plains — but it's a data point that should temper expectations about seeing high numbers of mature bucks on any given outing.

Taken together: Unit 113 is a draw unit with genuinely strong recent harvest numbers, moderate trophy potential, and a herd structure that isn't putting up eye-popping buck ratios. It's a unit best suited to hunters prioritizing success and willing to do the legwork on private-land access, rather than hunters chasing a top-end trophy on primarily public ground.

Harvest Success Rates

The five-year harvest record for Unit 113 tells a story of a unit that saw a major shift in 2025:

• 2025: 1,574 hunters, 668 harvested — 42% success
• 2024: 533 hunters, 136 harvested — 26% success
• 2023: 393 hunters, 89 harvested — 23% success
• 2022: 399 hunters, 116 harvested — 29% success
• 2021: 485 hunters, 166 harvested — 34% success

The hunter count nearly tripled from 2024 to 2025, which typically signals either an expanded quota or a change in how hunts were structured in the unit. Whatever drove that shift, the success rate rose in step with it rather than declining — a positive sign that the additional tags weren't simply diluting opportunity. Still, hunters should weigh the four-year baseline (23-34%) as the more conservative planning figure, with 2025 representing a potential high-water mark that may or may not repeat. HuntPilot's unit data is the best source for tracking whether this elevated harvest trend continues into future seasons.

Trophy Quality

Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping Unit 113 reflect a moderate trophy history. This isn't a unit with a blank slate — there's a documented track record of trophy-class pronghorn coming from this part of the state — but it also doesn't carry the kind of standout trophy pedigree that separates the state's elite pronghorn country from everywhere else.

It's worth noting that record-book entries are logged at the county level, not by hunt unit, so the trophy history associated with Unit 113 is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties. A buck entered into the record books from this trophy pool could have been taken anywhere across that broader county footprint, not necessarily inside Unit 113's exact boundary.

For hunters whose main objective is score, this moderate rating suggests tempering expectations: mature, record-caliber bucks are possible but not the unit's calling card. For hunters focused on a representative, mature pronghorn and solid success odds, the trophy data shouldn't be a deciding factor either way — the harvest numbers matter more for that goal.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Survey data collected across six years (2018-2024) shows an average buck:doe ratio of 26:100 in Unit 113. This is on the lower end for pronghorn herds and suggests the population skews doe-heavy relative to bucks — a pattern that can result from several factors including hunting pressure distribution, predation, or regional habitat conditions affecting buck survival differentially.

A buck:doe ratio in this range doesn't necessarily mean a declining or unhealthy herd overall, but it does inform what hunters should expect in the field: fewer mature bucks relative to does on any given day of glassing. Hunters planning a trip to Unit 113 should factor this ratio into their expectations for buck sightings per day, rather than assuming a target-rich environment purely because does will be abundant. This multi-year average, built from six separate survey years, is a more reliable indicator of herd structure than any single-year snapshot would be.

Access & Terrain

Unit 113 covers 135,250 acres at a relatively low and flat elevation band of 4,568 to 5,237 feet — textbook pronghorn country, with open plains and rolling terrain offering long-range visibility and minimal vegetative cover. There is no wilderness designation in this unit, so there are no wilderness-access restrictions or guide requirements to account for.

The defining access statistic for Unit 113 is its public land percentage: just 7%. That means roughly 93% of the unit's acreage is privately held. This is a critical factor for anyone planning a self-guided hunt. With public land this scarce, successful DIY access almost always requires one of the following: securing written permission from private landowners well ahead of the season, researching any walk-in or access-program opportunities that may apply to the unit, or pursuing a guided hunt through an outfitter with established private-land arrangements.

Hunters should not assume that drawing a Unit 113 tag guarantees huntable ground. The access plan needs to be worked out before putting in for the draw, not after a tag shows up. Given the open, low-relief terrain typical of plains pronghorn units, glassing from elevated points and covering ground efficiently are standard tactics — but all of that is moot without a confirmed place to set foot.

How to Apply

Every pronghorn hunt in Colorado Unit 113 is issued through the state's limited-quota draw system — there is no general, over-the-counter option here. Both resident and nonresident hunters must apply through Colorado's draw process to be eligible for a tag, and Colorado uses a preference point system in which hunters with more accumulated points are prioritized ahead of those with fewer, though a weighted random component also applies depending on the specific hunt code and choice.

Residents and nonresidents apply through separate pools, and nonresidents should expect this to be a longer-term point-building proposition relative to resident applicants, consistent with Colorado's broader pronghorn draw structure across its limited units. Because draw odds, point requirements, and tag quotas shift from year to year based on quota changes and applicant pool size, hunters should not rely on historical odds alone when deciding whether to apply.

For current application deadlines, fees, and draw odds specific to Unit 113, hunters should consult HuntPilot's Colorado state page at /states/CO, which tracks the live numbers each cycle, or Colorado Parks and Wildlife's published draw statistics directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colorado Unit 113 worth applying for pronghorn? It depends on the hunter's priorities. The 2025 harvest data (42% success) and the broader five-year trend (23-34% success) suggest solid odds of filling a tag once drawn, making it a reasonable choice for hunters focused on opportunity and meat. However, the unit's 7% public land means DIY access is a major hurdle, and the moderate trophy history means it's not a go-to unit for hunters chasing a record-class buck. It's best suited to applicants who have an access plan already in place.

What is the terrain like in Unit 113? Unit 113 is low-elevation plains country, ranging from 4,568 to 5,237 feet, with open and rolling terrain typical of eastern Colorado pronghorn habitat. There is no wilderness acreage in the unit, and the open sightlines typical of this terrain type favor long-range glassing and spot-and-stalk tactics once legal access to ground is secured.

What is harvest success like in Unit 113? Harvest success has ranged from 23% to 42% over the past five years, with 2021-2024 averaging in the high-20s to mid-30s percent range and 2025 posting a notable jump to 42% alongside a much larger hunter turnout (1,574 hunters). Hunters should treat the 2025 figure as a potential outlier until confirmed by subsequent seasons, and use the broader multi-year trend for planning purposes.

How big are the pronghorn in Unit 113? Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping Unit 113 show a moderate history of trophy-class production — not a blank slate, but not among the state's top-tier trophy units either. Hunters chasing a mature, representative buck have reasonable prospects, but those with record-book aspirations should weigh this unit against others with a stronger documented trophy pedigree.

Can I hunt Unit 113 pronghorn without buying private land access? It's possible but difficult. With only 7% of the unit classified as public land, the vast majority of huntable ground is privately owned. Hunters without pre-arranged landowner permission, access through a walk-in program, or a guided arrangement on private ground will find very limited places to legally hunt, regardless of tag in hand.