Colorado Unit 4 Mule Deer Hunting Guide
Introduction
Colorado Unit 4 mule deer hunting draws consistent attention from hunters across the West — and the harvest numbers explain why. Spanning 299,151 total acres at elevations ranging from 6,189 to 10,853 feet, Unit 4 offers a diverse mix of terrain that supports a meaningful mule deer population and, more importantly, a track record of harvest success that outperforms many comparable Colorado units. With 48% public land, roughly half the unit is accessible to DIY hunters who are willing to put in the legwork to identify holdouts away from road pressure.
Unit 4 sits in a limited-entry draw structure, meaning hunters are competing for a controlled number of tags rather than walking into an over-the-counter situation. For hunters who have been stacking Colorado deer preference points, or for nonresidents evaluating where to invest their time and application fees, Unit 4 deserves serious analysis. The data assembled here through HuntPilot gives hunters a grounded, numbers-based look at what this unit has delivered and what it realistically offers going into the 2026 draw season.
The elevation spread across Unit 4 is one of its defining characteristics. From rolling lower-elevation terrain near the 6,189-foot floor to alpine country pushing past 10,853 feet, deer in this unit have options across seasonal transitions. That vertical range means hunters need to think carefully about timing and where animals will be at different points in the season — but it also creates genuine opportunity to find deer away from other hunters if you're willing to climb.
Harvest Success Rates
The harvest data for Unit 4 over the past four seasons tells a compelling story, though one with some year-to-year volatility worth understanding.
In 2025, Unit 4 recorded its best recent performance: 1,518 hunters in the field, 995 harvested, for a 66% success rate. That's a strong number by any Colorado standard and represents a meaningful rebound from the previous two seasons. The 2024 season saw 1,356 hunters with 768 harvested at 57% success, and 2023 came in at 1,319 hunters, 624 harvested, and just 47% success — the low point of the four-year window. Rolling the clock back to 2022, the unit produced 1,093 harvested deer out of 1,703 hunters for a 64% success rate.
What does this mean for hunters evaluating the unit? A few takeaways stand out:
- The average success rate across 2022–2025 is approximately 59%, which is a solid mid-tier performance for a Colorado limited-entry mule deer unit.
- Hunter numbers fluctuate — from a high of 1,703 in 2022 to a low of 1,319 in 2023 — suggesting that tag allocations are adjusted in response to harvest and population conditions.
- The 2025 spike to 66% success with notably more hunters than 2023 or 2024 is an encouraging signal, though one season doesn't establish a trend.
Hunters should enter Unit 4 with realistic expectations: this is not a unit where every hunter punches their tag, but it does deliver consistent success for prepared hunters who put in pre-season scouting and understand the terrain.
Trophy Quality
Counties overlapping Unit 4 carry a strong history of trophy-class mule deer production. The region has demonstrated consistent trophy output over multiple decades, making it a legitimate option for hunters whose primary goal is a quality buck rather than simply filling a tag.
It's important to calibrate expectations honestly. Even in units with strong trophy histories, the majority of harvested bucks are representative animals rather than record-book candidates. Trophy-class mule deer are rare by nature — they require age, genetics, and the kind of low hunting pressure that limited-entry units are specifically designed to protect. Unit 4's draw structure helps preserve that age class better than over-the-counter alternatives in Colorado.
The area's trophy history, combined with the elevation diversity that allows mature bucks to find low-pressure sanctuary, suggests that hunters willing to pass on average deer and glass extensively have a real chance at a quality buck. Hunters focused on trophy potential should plan to spend significant time behind optics before committing to a shot.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Wildlife survey data from 2024 recorded a buck:doe ratio of 22:100 across Unit 4. A single year of survey data limits conclusions, but this ratio sits at the lower end of what managers typically target for healthy mule deer populations in Colorado's limited-entry units. Colorado Parks & Wildlife generally aims for buck:doe ratios in the 30–40:100 range in quality limited-entry units, making 22:100 a data point worth monitoring.
It's worth noting that a single survey year provides limited statistical confidence — this ratio could reflect survey sampling conditions, timing, or localized herd concentrations rather than a unit-wide population reality. Hunters should treat the 22:100 figure as a flag to watch rather than a definitive conclusion about herd quality.
For hunters scouting Unit 4, the practical implication is that does will be visible and identifiable in numbers, but locating mature bucks — especially away from pressure — will require effort. This isn't unusual for Colorado mule deer units; mature bucks tend to occupy timbered north slopes and broken terrain that keeps them out of standard survey areas. The gap between survey ratios and what hunters actually find in the field is often wider in this type of terrain.
Access & Terrain
Unit 4's 48% public land figure puts it squarely in mixed-access territory. Hunters cannot assume open access across the unit — roughly half the land is private, and understanding those boundaries before the hunt is essential. The good news for Colorado hunters is that nonresidents are not required to hire a guide to hunt public land in Colorado, so DIY access on the public portion of Unit 4 is fully legal and logistically manageable with proper preparation.
The elevation range — from just over 6,189 feet at the low end to 10,853 feet at the upper reaches — creates distinct habitat zones within the unit. Lower-elevation terrain tends toward drier, more open country where deer are visible from long distances. Moving into the mid and upper elevations, the terrain becomes more rugged with timbered north faces and broken draws. Mature bucks in this type of country tend to bed in dense cover and become most visible during low-light periods.
With no designated wilderness within Unit 4's boundaries, all public land is accessible to motorized vehicles on open routes, which simplifies logistics for hunters without pack stock. That said, the upper-elevation country above treeline can be physically demanding — hunters planning to work above 9,000 feet should be physically prepared for the altitude and willing to cover ground on foot once road access ends.
For the roughly 52% of the unit that is private, hunters should research adjacent public parcels carefully and identify legal access corridors. Glassing private from public vantage points is common practice in mixed-access units, but make sure the actual harvest and recovery happen on legal ground.
HuntPilot Analysis
Is Unit 4 worth applying for? The honest answer is: yes, with conditions.
The harvest data is genuinely strong — a four-year average hovering near 59% success, with a 66% peak in 2025, puts Unit 4 ahead of many Colorado deer units on raw efficiency. Hunters who draw here have a better-than-even chance of filling a tag in a normal year. That alone separates Unit 4 from a lot of the competition.
Trophy history is real. The counties covering this unit have produced trophy-class deer consistently, giving hunters with a quality-focused mindset a legitimate target. This isn't a unit where you're chasing rumors — the trophy production is documented.
The counterpoints: the buck:doe ratio from 2024 surveys sits below ideal targets, which is worth watching in future data. And with 48% public land, hunters who don't do their access homework may find themselves bouncing off private boundaries. The unit is not a lock for DIY hunters — it requires pre-season mapping work to identify where public land elk concentrations are likely to hold deer and where private land creates access pinch points.
For resident hunters, the application fee is modest ($9 application fee, $51 tag fee, and a $53.19 license required to apply), making this a reasonable unit to test with a modest point investment. For nonresidents, the total cost of entry is more significant — $11.49 application fee, $507 tag fee, and a $117.62 license required to apply — so nonresidents should stack points and apply when their draw odds represent real value. Check the HuntPilot Unit 4 page at huntpilot.ai/states/co for current draw odds before making that calculation.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026 Colorado deer draw open March 1, 2026, and the deadline for both residents and nonresidents is April 7, 2026. Draw results are released May 26, 2026.
2026 Fee Breakdown — Residents:
- Application fee: $8.93
- Tag fee: $51
- License fee: $53.19 (required to apply — must be purchased before submitting application)
- Preference point fee (if not drawing): $50
2026 Fee Breakdown — Nonresidents:
- Application fee: $11.49
- Tag fee: $507
- License fee: $117.62 (required to apply — must be purchased before submitting application)
- Preference point fee (if not drawing): $100
Colorado uses a preference point system, meaning hunters with the most accumulated points are drawn first. Applicants who do not draw a tag and pay the preference point fee will accumulate one point toward future draws. Hunters who apply and do not draw should ensure they've paid the point fee to keep their point bank growing.
Applications are submitted through Colorado Parks & Wildlife's online licensing system. Hunters must hold a valid Colorado hunting license before their application is accepted — plan to purchase that license at the same time as the application to avoid processing delays.
For current draw odds by point level and hunt type, visit HuntPilot at huntpilot.ai/states/co.
Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 4?
Unit 4 spans a significant elevation range from approximately 6,189 feet to 10,853 feet, creating a mix of habitat types. Lower elevations feature more open country where deer are visible at distance. Mid and upper elevations transition into timbered north slopes, broken draws, and high-country basins where mature bucks tend to hold under pressure. With no designated wilderness and 48% public land, the terrain is accessible to DIY hunters with motorized vehicles on open routes, though upper-elevation hunting requires physical conditioning and willingness to hike beyond road access.
What is the harvest success rate in Colorado Unit 4?
Unit 4 has averaged roughly 59% harvest success across 2022–2025. The best recent year was 2025 at 66% success (995 of 1,518 hunters), while 2023 was the low point at 47% (624 of 1,319 hunters). These figures represent all hunters in the unit combined, and individual results vary based on preparation, scouting, and the specific area hunted within the unit.
How big are the mule deer in Colorado Unit 4?
The counties overlapping Unit 4 have a strong and consistent history of trophy-class mule deer production, making this a legitimate option for quality-focused hunters. As in any limited-entry unit, the majority of harvested animals are representative bucks rather than record-book contenders — but the trophy history here is real, and hunters who are selective and patient have found genuine quality bucks in this area over multiple decades.
Is Colorado Unit 4 worth applying for?
For most hunters, yes — especially residents who can apply at low cost and build points efficiently. The harvest success data is above average for Colorado mule deer, the trophy history is credible, and the terrain diversity creates opportunity for hunters willing to work. Nonresidents face a higher financial commitment (over $600 in license and tag fees alone), so the calculus depends on draw odds at your current point level. Check current draw odds at huntpilot.ai/states/co before applying. The unit's mixed public/private access means DIY hunters need to do their mapping homework, but those who prepare will find legitimate public land opportunity.
How does the buck:doe ratio in Unit 4 compare to Colorado targets?
The 2024 wildlife survey recorded a buck:doe ratio of 22:100 in Unit 4. Colorado Parks & Wildlife generally targets ratios closer to 30–40:100 in quality limited-entry units, so the 2024 figure sits below ideal benchmarks. A single survey year has limited statistical power, and survey conditions can affect results significantly. Hunters should monitor future seasons' data as it becomes available. A below-target ratio doesn't eliminate trophy opportunity but does suggest that locating mature bucks will require more effort and patience than in units with healthier age-class representation.