Colorado Unit 31 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 31 sits in the northwest corner of the state, a rugged mix of high mesa country and lower sagebrush drainages that has long drawn mule deer hunters willing to put in the miles. With elevations ranging from 4,713 to 9,049 feet across 449,002 acres, the unit offers real vertical diversity — from low desert-like benches to timbered high country — and that terrain variety is part of what makes it a serious mule deer destination for hunters researching Colorado Unit 31 mule deer hunting opportunities.

Unlike many Colorado deer units that pair a general season with limited draw tags, Unit 31 runs entirely on a limited-quota system. Every mule deer hunt here, antlered or otherwise, requires a successful draw. There's no walk-in, buy-an-OTC-tag option for this unit — hunters need to plan and apply in advance, which also means the unit sees more controlled hunting pressure than a general unit would. With 63% of the unit in public ownership, there's a substantial base of BLM and public ground to hunt, though hunters should expect pockets of private land mixed throughout, particularly in the lower-elevation drainages where deer concentrate during cooler months.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 31 Worth Applying For?

The harvest numbers here tell a genuinely interesting story. In the 2025 season, 647 hunters harvested 431 deer for a 67% success rate — a notable jump from the previous several years. Looking back across recent seasons, success rates have held remarkably steady in the 52-59% range: 54% in 2024 (934 hunters, 506 harvested), 52% in 2023 (991 hunters, 519 harvested), 54% in 2022 (1,076 hunters, 580 harvested), and 59% in 2021 (546 hunters, 323 harvested). That's a five-year run of success rates rarely dipping below half, which is a strong indicator for a limited-draw mule deer unit. Few Colorado units sustain success rates in that range year after year.

It's also worth noting the trend in hunter numbers — participation dropped from over 1,000 hunters in 2023 to under 650 in 2025, while success rates climbed. That could reflect tighter quotas, better hunter distribution, or simply less pressure on the resource, but whatever the cause, the recent data shows fewer hunters chasing tags are finding more success.

On the trophy side, the counties overlapping Unit 31 carry an extensive history of trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books. That's a meaningful signal — this isn't a unit propped up purely on management-tag volume. Real trophy genetics have come out of this region over the decades, giving it exceptional trophy potential relative to many Colorado deer units. That said, hunters should remember that record-book entries are logged by county, not by unit boundary, so that trophy pedigree is shared with neighboring units in the same overlapping counties — it doesn't mean every buck taken in Unit 31 specifically is a record-book animal, but it does confirm the genetic potential and habitat quality in this broader area are real.

The one data point that tempers enthusiasm is the herd survey information. The 2024 survey recorded a buck:doe ratio of 24:100, based on a single survey year. That's a fairly low ratio for a mule deer herd and, taken at face value without multi-year context, suggests either herd-management pressure favoring does or fewer bucks surviving to maturity relative to the doe population. Without additional years of survey data to establish a trend, hunters should treat this as one data point rather than a definitive herd health verdict — but it's a number worth watching, and prospective applicants shouldn't ignore it when weighing this unit against others with more robust ratios.

Putting it together: strong and improving success rates, extensive trophy history in the surrounding counties, and majority public land access make Unit 31 a legitimate consideration for mule deer hunters. The thin buck:doe survey data is the caveat that keeps this from being an unqualified recommendation — hunters chasing volume and a real shot at a mature buck should find this unit worth the draw investment, but shouldn't go in expecting a high-density buck herd based on the most recent survey alone.

Harvest Success Rates

The five-year harvest record for Unit 31 is one of the more consistent data sets available for a Colorado limited-draw mule deer unit:

• 2025: 647 hunters, 431 harvested, 67% success
• 2024: 934 hunters, 506 harvested, 54% success
• 2023: 991 hunters, 519 harvested, 52% success
• 2022: 1,076 hunters, 580 harvested, 54% success
• 2021: 546 hunters, 323 harvested, 59% success

Success rates never dropped below 52% in any of the last five years, and the 2025 season's 67% mark is the strongest of the period. For a limited-quota mule deer unit, sustained success rates above 50% suggest good hunter-to-habitat ratios and a deer population that's accessible to hunters who put in scouting time. The declining hunter numbers alongside rising success (2022's 1,076 hunters down to 2025's 647) may reflect tag quota adjustments by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, concentrating opportunity among fewer applicants.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 31 shows an extensive history of record-book mule deer entries. This places the broader region among Colorado's more storied mule deer areas, historically. Hunters pursuing a mature buck in Unit 31 are hunting country with proven genetic potential — the terrain and habitat here have produced trophy-class animals over time.

That trophy pedigree, however, is attributed at the county level and shared across Unit 31 and its neighboring units, since record-book entries aren't tagged to a specific unit boundary. Hunters shouldn't assume every drainage in Unit 31 is holding a record-class buck, but the surrounding trophy history combined with solid harvest success does support the case that a patient, mobile hunter has a real chance at a quality, mature buck here — not just a tag-filler.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The available survey data for Unit 31 is limited to a single year: 2024, showing an average buck:doe ratio of 24:100. This is a notably low ratio for mule deer, and because it's drawn from only one survey year, it should be treated cautiously rather than as a definitive statement on herd composition. Without multiple years of survey data to compare against, hunters can't reliably say whether 24:100 represents a stable pattern, a down year, or an anomaly in sample methodology.

Forum reports from hunters in the broader 31/32 area echo some caution here — several accounts describe difficult hunts on public land with limited deer sightings, particularly following wildfire activity in the region, while noting that private land nearby held more deer and better bucks. That aligns with a picture of a unit where deer distribution can be uneven and where scouting public-access drainages carefully matters more than in units with denser, more evenly distributed herds.

Given the single-year survey limitation, hunters should weigh this data point alongside the harvest success numbers rather than in isolation. Success rates staying above 50% for five straight years suggest hunters are still finding deer and connecting, even if the buck:doe ratio number alone looks thin.

Access & Terrain

Unit 31 spans a wide elevation band — from 4,713 feet up to 9,049 feet — giving hunters options to hunt lower sagebrush and pinyon-juniper benches early in the season and shift toward higher timbered country as deer move with weather and pressure. With 449,002 total acres and 63% public land, there's a solid base of BLM and public ground for hunters to work, though the remaining 37% in private ownership means hunters need to pay close attention to boundaries, particularly around the productive lower-elevation drainages where mule deer often concentrate.

There's no wilderness acreage recorded for this unit, which means access isn't restricted by wilderness travel regulations — mechanized access via roads is generally the norm here rather than pack-in wilderness travel, though hunters should always verify current road status directly with local land management before a trip.

One access wrinkle worth noting: portions of this broader 31/32 region have been affected by wildfire activity in past years, which has at times led to temporary road and area closures within burn perimeters. Hunters planning a trip to Unit 31 should check current conditions with the local BLM field office before finalizing camp and access plans, since burn-related closures and regrowth patterns can shift deer distribution and change which drainages are worth prioritizing in a given year. HuntPilot's mapping tools can help hunters overlay public land boundaries and terrain features to plan routes and identify likely glassing points before ever setting foot in the unit.

How to Apply

Unit 31 mule deer hunts are entirely limited-quota — there is no general season option here, so every hunter needs to apply through Colorado's draw system to hunt this unit. Colorado's draw operates as a true preference system: the state allocates a portion of tags to the highest preference-point holders first, meaning a sufficient point level can put a hunter in a strong position to draw, while the remainder go through the broader applicant pool. This is not a weighted lottery in the way some other western states run their draws — points carry real, cumulative weight in Colorado.

Both residents and nonresidents apply through the same statewide draw system, though nonresidents should expect the competition for quality mule deer units like this one to run higher given the demand from out-of-state hunters.

Because application windows, exact deadlines, and fees are subject to change every cycle, hunters should confirm current numbers directly rather than relying on any static reference. For the most current deadlines, fees, and draw information, visit HuntPilot's Colorado state page at /states/co.

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 31? Unit 31 covers a broad elevation range from 4,713 to 9,049 feet, mixing lower sagebrush and pinyon-juniper benches with higher timbered mesa country. There's no wilderness acreage in this unit, so access is generally road-based rather than requiring pack-in wilderness travel. Terrain varies significantly across the unit's 449,002 acres, and portions have been affected by past wildfire activity, which can alter vegetation and deer distribution in specific drainages from year to year.

What is harvest success like in Unit 31 for mule deer? Success rates have been strong and consistent, ranging from 52% to 67% over the last five recorded seasons (2021-2025). The 2025 season posted the highest success rate at 67% with 647 hunters and 431 deer harvested, while the four prior years all landed in the 52-59% range. This is a solid track record for a limited-quota mule deer unit.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 31? The counties overlapping Unit 31 carry an extensive history of trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books, indicating strong genetic potential and habitat quality in the region. Because record-book entries are attributed at the county level rather than the specific unit, that trophy history is shared with neighboring units, but it does confirm this broader area has consistently produced quality, mature bucks over time.

Is Colorado Unit 31 worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — with a caveat. Five straight years of success rates above 50%, an extensive regional trophy history, and majority public land access (63%) make a strong case for this unit. The one item to weigh carefully is the 2024 survey showing a low 24:100 buck:doe ratio, drawn from a single survey year. Hunters should view that number cautiously given the limited sample, but it's worth factoring into expectations alongside the strong harvest data.

Is Unit 31 a good unit for public land DIY hunters? With 63% public land, there's a meaningful base of accessible ground, but the remaining 37% is private, and forum reports from hunters in the area describe more deer sightings on private property than on public land in some seasons. DIY hunters should expect to scout thoroughly, focus on the boundaries of private inholdings where legal, and be prepared to cover ground across the unit's wide elevation range to locate deer consistently.