Colorado Unit 137 Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 137 sits in the eastern plains country typical of the state's best pronghorn range, and it draws serious attention from hunters chasing antlered bucks in open, low-relief terrain. With an elevation band of just 4,384 to 5,662 feet, this is classic prairie and shortgrass habitat — flat to gently rolling ground where visibility runs for miles and pronghorn behavior is shaped almost entirely by fence lines, water, and open sightlines rather than elevation or cover.

At 369,726 total acres, Unit 137 is a sizable piece of country, but only 13% of it is public land. That single fact should anchor every planning decision a hunter makes here. This is a unit where the majority of huntable ground sits behind private fences, and DIY public-land access will be a real constraint rather than an afterthought. Every hunt in Unit 137 runs through Colorado's limited-quota draw system — there is no general season here, and that includes antlered, either-sex tags alongside any doe/fawn management hunts the state may offer in a given year.

For hunters willing to do the legwork — whether that means drawing enough points to access better public parcels, negotiating private land permission, or working with a local outfitter — Unit 137 has real upside, backed by both harvest data and a trophy history from the surrounding counties that stands out in the record books.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 137 Worth Applying For?

The harvest numbers here tell a genuinely encouraging story once hunters are actually in the field with a tag. In the 2025 season, 1,078 hunters harvested 405 pronghorn for a 38% success rate — a big jump in hunter volume from prior years, which typically signals an increase in tag allocation. Looking back across recent seasons: 2024 saw 312 hunters harvest 109 animals for 35% success, 2023 put up 285 hunters and 87 harvested for 31% success, and 2022 posted the strongest recent mark at 44% success with 293 hunters taking 130 animals. That's a success rate that has hovered in the low-to-mid 30s to mid-40s across four straight years — solid, dependable numbers for pronghorn hunting, which is inherently a spot-and-stalk or ambush game in open country where visibility cuts both ways for hunter and animal.

The trophy angle is where Unit 137 separates itself from an average pronghorn unit. The counties overlapping this unit carry a strong history of producing record-book entries, which points to genuine trophy potential for hunters who draw a tag and put in the scouting time. That said, record-book entries are logged at the county level and are shared across every unit inside those county boundaries — so this pedigree reflects the broader region's genetics and habitat quality, not a guarantee tied exclusively to Unit 137's fence lines. Still, a strong regional trophy history combined with consistent harvest success in the 30-40% range is a meaningful combination.

The complicating factor is access. With only 13% public land, the majority of Unit 137 is private ground. That's an important reality check: this is not a unit where a hunter can show up, find a chunk of public dirt, and expect an open playing field. Successful hunters here are typically leveraging private land access — whether through direct landowner relationships, leases, or outfitted hunts — or working the limited public parcels hard and early. Nonresidents without an established connection to the area should factor this into their expectations before applying.

The buck:doe ratio from Colorado Parks and Wildlife survey data averaged 23:100 across six survey years from 2018 to 2024. That's a modest ratio by pronghorn standards, but it's consistent across a six-year window rather than being skewed by a single anomalous year, which gives it more credibility as a herd health indicator than a one-off survey. It suggests a herd that isn't flush with bucks relative to does, but one that has been stable enough to track over time.

Bottom line: Unit 137 is worth applying for if a hunter has a plan for access — private land permission, an outfitter connection, or a realistic strategy for the limited public ground — and is chasing a genuine trophy-caliber pronghorn rather than just filling a tag. The harvest success rates support real opportunity once a tag is in hand. The trophy history in the surrounding counties adds meaningful upside. But the 13% public land figure is a legitimate barrier for a DIY-only nonresident with no local access plan.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 137's harvest data shows a unit that consistently produces for the hunters who draw tags:

• 2025: 1,078 hunters, 405 harvested, 38% success
• 2024: 312 hunters, 109 harvested, 35% success
• 2023: 285 hunters, 87 harvested, 31% success
• 2022: 293 hunters, 130 harvested, 44% success

The jump in hunter numbers in 2025 — more than triple the prior year's hunter count — is worth noting. That kind of swing usually reflects a change in the number of tags allocated for that season rather than a sudden surge in unassigned demand. Success rates staying in the mid-30s even with a much larger hunter pool in 2025 is a positive signal: it suggests the herd and habitat can support more hunting pressure without success collapsing. Across the four-year window, success has ranged from 31% to 44%, averaging solidly in the mid-to-high 30s — numbers that put Unit 137 among the more productive pronghorn units for hunters who make it into the field with a tag.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data tied to the counties overlapping Unit 137 points to a strong regional history of producing record-book pronghorn. This is a meaningful signal for hunters focused on antler quality rather than simply meat in the freezer. Because record-book entries are attributed at the county level, this trophy pedigree is shared with neighboring units that fall within the same county boundaries — the specific animals scored may have come from anywhere across that broader area, not exclusively from within Unit 137's lines.

That caveat aside, a strong county-level trophy history combined with consistent 30%+ harvest success is a favorable combination. It suggests the genetics and habitat quality in this part of the state are capable of producing mature, well-developed bucks, and hunters who put in scouting time — particularly on the limited public parcels or through private access — have a real shot at a quality animal, not just an average one.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Colorado Parks and Wildlife survey data covering six years between 2018 and 2024 shows an average buck:doe ratio of 23:100 for Unit 137. This is a below-average ratio compared to many western pronghorn units, and it's the kind of number that suggests either heavier buck harvest pressure relative to the doe population or natural fluctuations common to prairie pronghorn herds subject to winterkill and drought cycles.

The value of this figure is in its consistency: it's an average drawn from six separate survey years, not a single-year snapshot that could be skewed by a small sample or an unusual weather year. Hunters should read this as a herd that maintains a lower buck ratio over time rather than a herd in freefall or a herd experiencing a sudden buck surge. It reinforces the picture painted by harvest data — a unit that produces consistently, but where trophy bucks may take more scouting and patience to locate given the ratio.

Access & Terrain

Unit 137 sits at a low elevation band of 4,384 to 5,662 feet, consistent with open plains and prairie terrain rather than mountain country. Expect flat to gently rolling ground, minimal cover, and the long sightlines typical of shortgrass prairie and agricultural fringe habitat where pronghorn thrive. This kind of terrain rewards patience, glassing from a distance, and careful stalking plans that account for the animal's exceptional eyesight — there's little to hide behind, and pronghorn will pick up movement from well over a mile in open ground.

The critical access number for this unit is public land at just 13% of the total 369,726 acres. That means the overwhelming majority of Unit 137 is private property. Hunters need to treat this as a defining constraint on hunt planning: DIY hunters relying solely on public ground will be working a small fraction of the unit's total acreage, and competition for that ground can be intense during the season. There is no wilderness designation in this unit, so there are no wilderness-specific access restrictions to plan around — but the private land reality is a far bigger factor here than any backcountry access issue would be.

Hunters without existing landowner relationships in the area should budget time before the season to research private land access options, whether that's a walk-in access program, a lease arrangement, or securing permission directly. Those planning to hunt the public fraction of the unit should expect to compete with other tag holders for the same limited ground, and should scout early to identify which pockets of public land actually hold pronghorn given the fence-line and water-source realities of this kind of country.

How to Apply

Every pronghorn hunt in Unit 137 is issued through Colorado's limited-quota draw — there is no over-the-counter or general season option here, and that includes antlered, either-sex opportunities. Both residents and nonresidents apply through the same statewide draw system, though Colorado allocates a portion of tags to each residency category and outcomes differ based on point totals and application choices.

Colorado's pronghorn draw uses a preference point system where the highest point holders draw first for a portion of available tags, alongside additional tags issued through the broader point-influenced pool. Because this is a true preference system, a high enough point total can put a hunter in strong position for a specific hunt code, though actual figures shift every draw cycle as quotas and applicant numbers change.

Hunters should decide before applying whether they're targeting a specific hunt code within Unit 137 for trophy potential, or applying more broadly for opportunity. Given the limited public land here, it's also worth researching access options — private land permission or outfitter connections — before investing points in this specific unit.

Application dates, fees, and current draw odds change every cycle. For the most current numbers on Unit 137, visit HuntPilot's Colorado page at /states/CO, where draw odds and application details are kept current for each new season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 137? Unit 137 sits at a relatively low elevation range of 4,384 to 5,662 feet, placing it firmly in eastern plains and prairie habitat. Expect open, flat-to-rolling country with minimal cover — classic pronghorn terrain where long-range glassing and careful stalking are the primary tactics. There is no wilderness acreage in this unit, so access is defined more by land ownership than by rugged or remote terrain.

What is harvest success like in Unit 137? Recent harvest data shows success rates ranging from 31% to 44% over the past four seasons, with 2025 posting 38% success across 1,078 hunters and 405 harvested animals. That's a consistent, respectable success rate for pronghorn hunting, suggesting hunters who draw a tag have a solid chance of connecting.

How big are the pronghorn in Unit 137? The counties overlapping Unit 137 carry a strong history of producing record-book pronghorn, pointing to real trophy potential in this area. Because trophy records are logged by county rather than by unit, this pedigree is shared with neighboring units in the same counties, but it still signals that the regional genetics and habitat can produce quality bucks for hunters who scout thoroughly.

Is Colorado Unit 137 worth applying for? Yes, with a caveat: the trophy history and harvest success rates make this a genuinely worthwhile unit for pronghorn hunters, but the 13% public land figure means most hunters will need an access plan beyond simply showing up with a tag. Hunters with private land connections, outfitter relationships, or a strategy for working the limited public ground will find real opportunity here.

What is the buck-to-doe ratio in Unit 137, and does it matter? Survey data from 2018 to 2024 shows an average buck:doe ratio of 23:100, tracked across six separate survey years. This is on the lower end for pronghorn units, suggesting bucks may require more scouting effort to locate relative to the overall herd, but the multi-year consistency of this figure makes it a reliable indicator of long-term herd structure rather than a one-time anomaly.