Colorado Unit 39 Moose Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 39 offers one of the state's more rugged high-country moose hunting opportunities, spanning 236,179 acres with elevations ranging from 7,049 to 14,236 feet. This dramatic elevation gradient — from valley floors to alpine peaks — puts Unit 39 squarely in the kind of terrain moose hunters dream about, and with 72% of the unit on public land, there's a genuine DIY opportunity here for hunters who draw a tag.

Moose hunting in Colorado is a fundamentally different pursuit than the state's elk or deer draws. Tags are scarce, expensive, and require dedicated point accumulation, but the payoff is a hunt that many western hunters describe as a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. Unit 39, with its mix of high alpine basins and 16% wilderness designation, gives hunters willing to work for it a legitimate shot at a mature bull or a meat-hunting cow tag in classic Colorado high country.

This article breaks down what the available data says about Unit 39 moose hunting — harvest trends, application logistics, and what hunters can realistically expect from the terrain and trophy potential — using HuntPilot's unit-level data as the foundation.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Harvest numbers for Unit 39 moose are small, which is typical for a limited-entry, low-tag-quota species like moose almost everywhere in Colorado. Looking at the recent multi-year record: in 2025, 21 hunters harvested 19 animals for a 90% success rate — by far the largest sample size in the dataset and a strong indicator of a healthy, huntable moose population in the unit. In 2024, only 3 hunters were credited with 5 harvests (a 167% success figure, which reflects a very small sample size and likely multiple harvest opportunities or reporting nuances rather than a literal interpretation of "more than one moose per hunter"). In 2023 and 2022, success ran at 100% on samples of just 2 and 3 hunters respectively, and 2020 showed 1 harvest out of 2 hunters (50%). In 2019, both of the unit's 2 hunters were successful.

Across nearly every year in this record, success rates are exceptionally high — a hallmark of Colorado moose hunts generally, where tags are so limited that nearly everyone who draws eventually connects. The 2025 season stands out both for the increased number of tags issued and for maintaining a 90% success rate at that larger scale, which is a meaningfully more reliable data point than the earlier years' tiny samples. Hunters should treat the small-sample years (2, 3 hunters) with caution — a single missed or filled tag swings the percentage dramatically — but the consistent theme across all six years is that Unit 39 moose hunters who draw a tag are converting it into a harvest at a very high rate.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 39 shows a limited history of record-book entries. This doesn't mean trophy-class bulls don't exist in the unit — Colorado's high country regularly produces mature moose — but the record suggests hunters should approach Unit 39 with realistic expectations rather than assuming it's a hotspot for record-book bulls. For hunters whose primary goal is a big set of antlers, Unit 39's limited trophy pedigree means the odds of connecting with a true trophy-class bull are lower than in units with a deeper, more consistent trophy history.

That said, moose hunting success in Colorado is rarely just about score. Many hunters — echoed in hunter forums discussing Colorado moose hunts generally — prioritize the experience and the meat over inches, and Unit 39's high success rates suggest that hunters focused on filling a tag (bull or cow) have a strong track record of doing so.

Access & Terrain

Unit 39 covers 236,179 acres with an elevation range of 7,049 to 14,236 feet, encompassing everything from lower valley terrain to true alpine peaks. That's an enormous vertical range within a single unit, and it means moose hunters should expect to work through multiple habitat zones — from riparian willow bottoms favored by moose at lower and mid elevations, to high basins and timberline country near the unit's upper reaches.

With 72% of the unit classified as public land, DIY access is genuinely strong here. The majority of the unit is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private land access, which is a significant advantage for nonresident hunters planning a self-guided trip. Sixteen percent of the unit falls within designated wilderness, which affects equipment and access planning for those portions — wilderness regulations prohibit mechanized access (no e-bikes, no motorized vehicles), so hunters targeting the wilderness portion of Unit 39 should plan on foot or stock-based access. Colorado does not impose a nonresident guide requirement in wilderness areas (unlike Wyoming), so nonresident hunters can hunt the wilderness portion of Unit 39 unguided if they choose.

Forum discussion referencing this general area (often labeled "Unit 39/46" by hunters familiar with the adjoining deer and elk units) notes that much of the accessible terrain sits within a few miles of roads before hunters push into more remote pockets — useful context for trip planning, though hunters should verify current access conditions and road status directly rather than relying on older forum reports.

HuntPilot Analysis

Is Unit 39 worth applying for as a moose hunter? Based on the data, this unit presents a solid opportunity for hunters who prioritize a high-probability, high-quality DIY experience over chasing a record-book bull. The harvest data tells a clear story: hunters who draw tags in Unit 39 have historically converted those tags into harvested animals at rates at or near 100% in most years, including a robust 90% success rate on the largest recent sample (21 hunters in 2025). That's about as strong a harvest signal as a hunter can ask for in a limited-entry moose unit.

The terrain and access profile support this assessment. With 72% public land and a dramatic elevation range that offers multiple habitat types for moose, hunters have room to hunt effectively without heavy private-land constraints. The 16% wilderness component adds a layer of remote, foot-access-only opportunity for hunters who want to get away from roads.

Where Unit 39 falls short is trophy potential. The limited trophy record history in the surrounding counties means hunters chasing a true record-class bull should temper expectations, or at minimum understand that Unit 39 is not documented as a trophy factory in the way some other Colorado moose units are. For hunters focused on the experience, the meat, and a strong chance of filling a tag — especially those drawing a cow tag — Unit 39 looks like a strong pick. For hunters whose sole objective is a top-end bull, it's worth comparing Unit 39's qualitative trophy profile against other units on HuntPilot before committing points to this specific unit.

Given how scarce moose tags are across the West, and Colorado's steep points requirements for nonresidents in particular, the decision to apply for Unit 39 should be weighed against a hunter's specific goals: meat and experience versus trophy score. The data supports Unit 39 strongly for the former.

How to Apply

Colorado's moose draw operates on an annual application cycle, and for 2026 the key dates and fees are as follows:

Resident applicants: The application deadline is April 7, 2026, with results released May 26, 2026. The application fee is $9, with a tag fee of $386 if drawn. A qualifying license fee of $53.19 is required to apply — this is a mandatory cost on top of the application fee. Hunters wishing to build preference points instead of applying for a tag this cycle can pay a $50 point fee. The application window opens March 1, 2026.

Nonresident applicants: The application deadline is also April 7, 2026, with results on May 26, 2026. The application fee is $11, and the tag fee jumps significantly to $2,824 if drawn. Nonresidents must also hold a qualifying license, priced at $117.62, in order to apply. The point-only fee for nonresidents is $100. Applications open March 1, 2026.

Note the separate "Nonresident regular" and "Resident regular" figures listed in HuntPilot's draw calendar also confirm the same April 7, 2026 deadline and May 26, 2026 results date, with modest base application fees of $11.49 (nonresident) and $8.93 (resident) reflecting the underlying license/application system costs.

Colorado's moose draw is a bonus-points-squared system for nonresidents and residents alike, meaning no point level guarantees a tag — it remains a weighted lottery even for hunters with substantial point totals. Colorado does not publish draw odds data in a way that guarantees any outcome, so hunters should check current draw odds and point requirements for Unit 39 specifically on HuntPilot's Colorado state page before applying.

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 Unit 39? Unit 39 spans a huge elevation range from 7,049 feet up to 14,236 feet, meaning hunters will encounter everything from lower valley and riparian habitat to high alpine basins near the unit's peaks. With 72% public land and 16% wilderness, there's substantial room to hunt without heavy private-land interference, though the wilderness portion requires foot or stock access since mechanized travel is prohibited there.

What is harvest success like for moose in Unit 39? Recent harvest data shows consistently high success rates for hunters who draw Unit 39 moose tags. In 2025, 21 hunters harvested 19 moose for a 90% success rate — the most statistically reliable data point given the larger sample size. Earlier years (2019–2024) showed success rates ranging from 50% to 100%, but those years involved very small numbers of hunters (2-3 per year), so they should be read as directional rather than definitive.

How big are the moose in Unit 39? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 39 shows a limited history of record-book entries, suggesting this unit is not documented as a major trophy producer. Hunters focused on antler score should approach with modest expectations, while those prioritizing the overall hunt experience and meat will find the unit's harvest data far more encouraging.

Is Unit 39 worth applying for as a moose hunter? For hunters prioritizing a high-probability, DIY-accessible moose hunt with strong public land access, yes — the harvest data supports Unit 39 as a unit where drawn tags convert to filled tags at a high rate. For hunters solely chasing a trophy-class bull, the limited trophy record history suggests looking at units with a deeper trophy pedigree, which can be compared on HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages.

How difficult is it to draw a moose tag in Unit 39? Colorado's moose draw uses a bonus-points-squared system for both residents and nonresidents, meaning higher point totals improve odds but never guarantee a tag outright. Draw odds and point distributions change year to year, so hunters should check HuntPilot's Colorado state page (/states/co) for current odds before applying rather than relying on point totals alone.