Colorado Unit 31 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 31 sits in the western part of the state and has earned a reputation among mule deer hunters as a unit worth researching closely before committing draw points. Spanning 449,002 acres with elevations ranging from 4,713 to 9,049 feet, Unit 31 offers the kind of elevational diversity that lets deer move seasonally between low sagebrush benches and higher timbered country. For hunters comparing western Colorado mule deer units, Unit 31's mix of accessible public ground and consistent harvest numbers makes it a unit that deserves a hard look.

This isn't a unit that shows up on every "top 10" list, but it produces solid, workmanlike results year after year. With 63% public land, hunters have real options for DIY access without needing to lease private ground or book a guided hunt on a ranch. The terrain's wide elevation band — over 4,300 feet of vertical relief — means hunters can pattern deer across multiple habitat types within the same unit boundary, which is a meaningful advantage when weather or hunting pressure pushes animals around during the season.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The most recent wildlife survey data for Unit 31 comes from 2024 and shows a buck:doe ratio of 24:100. This figure is based on a single survey year, and a ratio in this range is on the lower end for mule deer herds generally — it suggests either a herd with a lower proportion of mature bucks relative to does, or a survey sample that doesn't capture the full picture. Without multi-year trend data to compare against, hunters should treat this number cautiously rather than drawing firm conclusions about herd composition. HuntPilot's data shows this is the only survey year available for the unit, so hunters should check for updated survey results closer to their season as more recent data becomes available.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 31 has posted strong and improving harvest numbers over the past several seasons. In 2025, 647 hunters harvested 431 deer for a 67% success rate — the best mark in the five-year window provided. That's a notable jump from 2024, when 934 hunters harvested 506 deer for a 54% success rate, and from 2023, when 991 hunters took 519 deer at 52% success. Going back further, 2022 saw 1,076 hunters harvest 580 deer (54% success), and 2021 had 546 hunters harvest 323 deer (59% success).

A few things stand out in this data. First, success rates have consistently held in the low-to-high 50% range across four of the five years, with 2025 breaking well above that trend. Second, hunter numbers have fluctuated significantly — from a low of 546 in 2021 to a high of 1,076 in 2022 — which suggests tag allocations or draw participation have varied meaningfully year to year. Third, and most encouraging for hunters evaluating this unit, the harvest success rate has never dropped below 52% in any of the five years reported. That's a consistently productive unit by any measure, and the 2025 uptick to 67% is worth watching to see if it holds or represents a one-year anomaly.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 31 carry an extensive history of trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books. This points to strong trophy potential in the broader region, though hunters should understand that record-book entries are logged at the county level, not the unit level — meaning these entries are shared across Unit 31 and its neighboring units, and the animals credited to the counties may have been taken anywhere within that broader area. Still, an extensive trophy history in the overlapping counties is a positive signal for hunters targeting mature bucks, and it suggests the habitat and genetics in this part of Colorado are capable of producing deer that make the books. Hunters should not expect every buck taken here to be a record-class animal — the harvest data shows hundreds of deer taken annually, most of which are solid, mature bucks rather than trophy-class outliers — but the regional pedigree is real and long-standing.

Access & Terrain

With 63% public land, Unit 31 offers legitimate DIY opportunity, though more than a third of the unit remains private and hunters will need to be diligent about verifying land ownership before setting foot in the field. The elevation range of 4,713 to 9,049 feet is substantial, spanning from lower sagebrush and pinyon-juniper benches up into higher-elevation timber and subalpine terrain. This vertical diversity is one of the unit's biggest assets: deer can be found at different elevations depending on the timing of the season, recent weather, and hunting pressure, giving hunters multiple strategic options rather than a single narrow approach.

There is no wilderness acreage listed for Unit 31, which means access is generally more straightforward than in units with designated wilderness restrictions — hunters can use standard motorized access where roads exist on public land, without the additional permitting or foot/stock-only travel requirements that wilderness designations impose. Forum discussions among hunters who've spent time in the Unit 31/32 area describe a mix of accessible country and more demanding terrain, reinforcing that this is a unit where physical effort and scouting pay off, but where the ground itself isn't as extreme or remote as some of Colorado's high-country wilderness units.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 31 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available, Unit 31 is a legitimate consideration for mule deer hunters, particularly those who value a track record of steady harvest success combined with real public land access. The five-year harvest trend — bottoming out at 52% success in 2023 and climbing to 67% in 2025 — shows a unit that consistently delivers for hunters who put in the effort, which is not something every Colorado deer unit can claim. Combine that with 63% public land and an extensive regional trophy record history in the overlapping counties, and Unit 31 checks several important boxes: opportunity, access, and a credible shot at a quality buck.

The caveat is the buck:doe ratio data. A single survey year showing 24:100 doesn't provide the kind of multi-year trend confidence hunters want before investing points, and the ratio itself is on the lower side. Hunters should treat this as an area needing more data rather than a red flag, and should check HuntPilot's unit page for updated survey information as it becomes available. Fluctuating hunter numbers (546 to 1,076 over five years) also suggest that draw allocations shift, so hunters should verify current tag structures and draw odds directly rather than assuming stability year to year.

Overall, Unit 31 is worth applying for if a hunter values a unit with strong, improving harvest numbers, real public access, and a county-level trophy pedigree — but it's not a unit to draw blind on trophy expectations alone. Pair the application with a look at HuntPilot's current draw odds data for Unit 31 before committing points.

How to Apply

For 2026, Colorado's deer application window opens March 1, 2026, with a deadline of April 7, 2026, and results are expected by May 26, 2026 for both resident and nonresident applicants.

Nonresident applicants face the following 2026 costs: an $11 application fee, a $507 tag fee, a $117.62 license fee (required to apply, in addition to the application fee), and a $100 point fee for hunters building preference points rather than applying for a tag this cycle.

Resident applicants face lower costs: a $9 application fee, a $51 tag fee, a $53.19 license fee (required to apply), and a $50 point fee for those banking points.

It's critical to note that Colorado requires hunters to hold a qualifying license before they can even submit a deer application — this license fee ($117.62 for nonresidents, $53.19 for residents) is a separate cost from the application fee itself, and hunters need to budget for both. Nonresidents in particular should plan for the full cost stack: application fee, license fee, and eventually the tag fee if drawn.

For current draw odds specific to Unit 31, hunters should check HuntPilot's Colorado state page at /states/co, which tracks year-to-year application data separate from the general application calendar.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 31? Unit 31 spans a wide elevation range from 4,713 to 9,049 feet, offering everything from lower sagebrush and pinyon-juniper benches to higher-elevation timbered country. There's no designated wilderness acreage in the unit, which generally makes access more straightforward than in wilderness-restricted units, since standard motorized access applies where roads exist on public land. The terrain's vertical diversity means deer can shift elevation zones depending on season timing and pressure, giving hunters multiple areas to focus on throughout the hunt.

What is harvest success like in Unit 31? Harvest success in Unit 31 has ranged from 52% to 67% over the past five years reported (2021–2025), with 2025 posting the strongest mark at 67% success on 647 hunters and 431 deer harvested. Every year in the available data has cleared 50% success, which reflects a consistently productive unit for hunters willing to put in the scouting and effort.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 31? The counties overlapping Unit 31 carry an extensive history of trophy-class entries in the record books, pointing to strong regional trophy potential. Because record-book entries are attributed at the county level and shared with neighboring units, hunters shouldn't assume every buck taken in Unit 31 specifically is trophy caliber — most harvested deer are solid, mature animals rather than record-book standouts — but the genetics and habitat in this region have a long track record of producing quality bucks.

Is Unit 31 worth applying for as a mule deer hunter? Yes, with some caveats. The unit offers 63% public land, consistently strong harvest success (52–67% over five years), and a strong regional trophy history in the surrounding counties. The one open question is herd composition — only one year of buck:doe survey data (24:100) is available, which isn't enough to establish a reliable trend. Hunters should check HuntPilot's current draw odds for Unit 31 before applying and watch for updated survey data.

How much public land is available in Unit 31 for DIY hunters? Unit 31 is 63% public land, which supports legitimate DIY hunting opportunity. That said, over a third of the unit remains private, so hunters need to carefully verify land boundaries and ownership before hunting, particularly in areas where public and private parcels are intermixed.