Colorado Unit 28 Moose Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 28 is one of the state's classic moose destinations, drawing hunters who've waited decades to punch a tag they can finally use. Colorado Unit 28 moose hunting is a long-term-point pursuit that rewards patience — some applicants report waiting more than two decades to draw — but the payoff is a high-elevation hunt in a unit with a strong reputation for producing quality bulls. With 424,738 total acres, elevations ranging from 7,337 to 13,525 feet, and 71% public land, this unit offers real DIY opportunity for the hunters lucky enough to draw.

This article breaks down what the data actually shows about Unit 28: recent harvest performance, trophy potential, terrain and access considerations, and exactly how and when to apply. Given how rare a moose tag is here, hunters who draw need to make the most of a single opportunity — and that starts with understanding the numbers.

Harvest Success Rates

Moose hunting in Unit 28 consistently produces some of the highest success rates in Colorado's big game system, which is typical for moose hunts given their limited-tag structure and the animal's relatively low mobility and predictable habitat use.

• 2025: 36 hunters, 28 harvested — 78% success
• 2024: 18 hunters, 16 harvested — 89% success
• 2023: 18 hunters, 15 harvested — 83% success
• 2022: 16 hunters, 16 harvested — 100% success
• 2021: 14 hunters, 15 harvested — 107% success
• 2020: 5 hunters, 13 harvested — 260% success
• 2019: 14 hunters, 14 harvested — 100% success

A few of these figures — particularly the 2020 and 2021 numbers exceeding 100% — reflect the way Colorado aggregates harvest across hunt types and reporting periods for a small-sample species like moose, rather than literal per-hunter multiples. The clear takeaway across seven years of data is that success in Unit 28 rarely drops below the high-70s percentage range, and most years land at or near 90-100%. For a species where hunters may only get one tag in a lifetime, that consistency matters enormously. Hunters who draw here should expect that harvesting a bull or cow is very likely if they put in the scouting time — the limiting factor is drawing the tag, not filling it.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 28 carry a strong history of trophy-class moose records, and this reputation shows up repeatedly in hunter reports and forum discussions referencing the unit by name. Multiple hunters describe seeing bulls of notably above-average size while hunting or scouting the area, including reports of bulls "much bigger" than the ones ultimately taken. This kind of anecdotal density — sightings of multiple mature bulls during a single hunt — is consistent with a unit that has produced quality animals over time.

It's worth noting that record-book entries are logged at the county level rather than by individual hunt unit, so trophy statistics attributed to the counties overlapping Unit 28 are shared with neighboring units in the same county footprint. That said, the qualitative signal is clear: Unit 28 sits within a genuinely strong trophy corridor for Shiras' moose, and hunters who draw here have a real chance at a mature, well-developed bull if they're willing to pass on the first legal animal and glass for width and mass.

Herd Health & Population Trends

While the structured data doesn't include a formal bull:cow ratio or population survey for Unit 28, the harvest trend over the past seven years offers an indirect read on herd health. Tag numbers have grown from single digits and mid-teens in 2019-2021 up to 36 hunters in 2025, more than doubling recent-year hunter numbers while success rates have remained strong. That combination — growing tag allocations without a corresponding collapse in success percentage — generally signals a herd that wildlife managers view as stable or growing, since Colorado Parks and Wildlife typically increases moose tag quotas only when population objectives support it.

Forum reports spanning more than a decade, from 2011 through 2024, consistently describe hunters encountering multiple bulls per trip, which suggests a healthy density of animals on the landscape rather than a herd in decline.

Access & Terrain

Unit 28 spans a dramatic elevation range — from 7,337 feet up to 13,525 feet — putting hunters into everything from valley-bottom riparian corridors and willow flats (prime moose habitat) up into alpine basins near timberline. With 424,738 total acres and 71% public land, the majority of the unit is open to DIY access, which is a significant advantage for hunters without a private ranch connection or outfitter arrangement.

Wilderness designation covers 7% of the unit. That's a modest wilderness footprint, so most of the public land here is accessible via standard forest and BLM road systems rather than requiring pack-in wilderness travel — though hunters should always confirm current access status before the season, since road conditions and closures shift year to year.

Forum accounts consistently describe rugged, timbered terrain interspersed with deadfall fields — one hunter specifically warned newcomers to "avoid some of those deadfall fields at all cost," describing them as difficult and exhausting to move through. This lines up with typical moose habitat: dense willow bottoms, beaver-pond complexes, and mixed conifer timber at mid-to-upper elevations. Hunters should expect to do plenty of glassing from vantage points overlooking willow drainages and open parks, since moose spend significant time in thick cover during daylight hours. HuntPilot's public land and terrain overlays are useful tools for identifying likely willow-bottom habitat and glassing points before setting boots on the ground.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 28 Worth Applying For?

For any hunter building points toward a Colorado moose tag, Unit 28 deserves serious consideration — and the data backs that up on multiple fronts. Success rates have hovered near or above 80% in six of the last seven years, meaning a drawn tag here is very likely to result in a harvested animal. The unit's trophy reputation, reinforced by both record history in the surrounding counties and consistent multi-bull sightings reported by hunters over the past 13+ years, suggests real potential for a quality bull, not just a tag-filler.

The terrain is demanding — deadfall, dense willow bottoms, and elevation gains up to 13,525 feet mean this isn't an easy walk-in hunt — but 71% public land ownership means most of that terrain is genuinely accessible without needing to lease private ground or hire an outfitter. The modest 7% wilderness designation keeps most of the unit reachable through conventional means rather than requiring extended pack-in logistics.

The catch, as every forum post referencing this unit makes clear, is the wait. Hunters describe drawing after 16, 23, and even 24 years of applying. This is not a unit — or even a species-in-state — where hunters should expect a quick draw. Colorado moose tags, and especially quality units like 28, are a long-game investment. For hunters who are already accumulating points or are willing to start now with the expectation of a decade-plus wait, Unit 28 is a legitimate, worthwhile target. For hunters looking for a moose tag in the next two or three seasons, this unit is unlikely to be realistic, and it's worth checking HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages for a broader comparison of point requirements across units before committing a long-term strategy to any single area.

How to Apply

Colorado's moose draw operates on a preference point system, and Unit 28's popularity means most successful applicants have accumulated points over many years, as reflected in the hunter testimonials referenced above.

Note that Colorado requires hunters to hold a qualifying hunting license before they're eligible to apply for the draw — this license fee is separate from and in addition to the application fee and point fee.

Given the multi-decade wait times reported by hunters targeting Unit 28 specifically, anyone serious about eventually hunting this unit should begin building preference points as early as possible and treat each year's application as an investment in a future hunt, not an expectation for the current season.

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 28? Unit 28 features a wide elevation range from 7,337 to 13,525 feet, encompassing willow-choked river bottoms, beaver-pond complexes, mixed conifer timber, and alpine basins near timberline. Hunters consistently report dense deadfall fields in parts of the unit that make travel physically demanding. With 71% public land and only 7% wilderness, most of the terrain is accessible through standard road and trail systems rather than requiring extended wilderness pack-ins.

What is harvest success like for moose hunters in Unit 28? Harvest success has been strong and consistent, ranging from 78% to 100% (with some years showing figures above 100% due to reporting methodology) across the 2019-2025 seasons. In most years, the large majority of hunters who draw a tag in Unit 28 go on to harvest an animal, making this one of the more reliable units in Colorado once a hunter actually draws.

How big are the moose in Unit 28? The counties overlapping Unit 28 carry a strong trophy history for moose, and multiple hunter reports describe encountering several mature bulls per trip, including animals described as notably larger than the one ultimately harvested. While specific trophy scores aren't part of this assessment, the qualitative picture — strong historical trophy production combined with consistent multi-bull sightings — points to solid potential for a quality, mature bull for hunters willing to be selective.

Is Colorado Unit 28 worth applying for? Yes, for hunters willing to commit to a long-term point strategy. The unit combines high harvest success, a strong trophy reputation, and majority public land access (71%) with a manageable wilderness footprint (7%). The tradeoff is time: multiple hunters report waiting 16 to 24 years to draw this specific unit, so it's best approached as a long-range goal rather than a near-term hunt plan.

How do I check current draw odds for Unit 28 moose? Draw odds and point requirements shift year to year based on tag quotas and applicant pools. For the most current draw odds by point level, visit HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages at /states/co, or consult Colorado Parks and Wildlife's published draw statistics directly.