Colorado Unit 62 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 62 is a mule deer unit that draws consistent interest from both resident and nonresident hunters, backed by a track record of solid harvest numbers and a large public land base. Spanning elevations from 4,634 to 10,328 feet across 880,844 total acres, the unit offers a wide range of terrain types for hunters willing to put in the legwork. For hunters researching Colorado Unit 62 deer hunting opportunities, the data tells a mixed but generally encouraging story — strong success rates paired with some legitimate questions about herd composition and buck quality.

With 72% of the unit in public ownership, Unit 62 gives DIY hunters real room to operate without needing to lock up private land access before the season. That access, combined with year-over-year harvest data, makes this a unit worth a closer look for hunters weighing where to spend their applications and points.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 62 has produced some of the more reliable success rates among Colorado deer units in recent seasons. In 2025, 1,364 hunters harvested 635 deer for a 47% success rate. That followed a 2024 season where 2,748 hunters took 1,199 deer (44% success), and a 2023 season with 2,806 hunters and 1,288 harvested animals for a 46% success rate. In 2022, a smaller pool of 1,246 hunters posted a 48% success rate with 598 harvested.

The pattern here is notable: success rates have held in a tight band between 44% and 48% across four seasons, regardless of whether hunter numbers were around 1,200 or nearly 2,800. That consistency suggests the unit's deer population and huntability haven't swung wildly year to year, even as pressure has fluctuated. A near-50% success rate for a general mule deer unit is a strong number, and it's one of the more compelling data points in favor of applying here.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The available wildlife survey data for Unit 62 shows a buck:doe ratio of 38:100 based on the 2024 survey year. This is a single-year data point (1 survey year on record), so it should be treated as a snapshot rather than a definitive trend. A ratio in the high-30s per 100 does is within a normal range for a heavily hunted mule deer unit, indicating a functional but not exceptional buck carryover relative to the doe population.

Because only one survey year is available in the data, hunters shouldn't read too much into this single ratio as a multi-year trajectory. It's a useful data point for understanding current herd composition, but it doesn't tell the full story of population trend over time. Hunters wanting a fuller picture should track future survey releases through HuntPilot as more data becomes available.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 62 carry an extensive history of trophy-class mule deer records. That trophy pedigree is shared across neighboring units whose boundaries fall within the same counties, so the presence of a strong trophy history doesn't mean every buck taken in Unit 62 specifically is record-class — but it does indicate the broader area has consistently produced deer capable of reaching notable score thresholds.

This is a meaningful signal for hunters chasing trophy potential rather than just filling a tag. Combined with the unit's above-average success rates, Unit 62 has a real case for hunters willing to be selective and pass on younger bucks early in the season in hopes of connecting with a mature animal later. That said, some hunter forum discussion around the unit suggests recent years have felt tougher for finding genuinely big deer compared to a decade or more ago — a reminder that trophy history reflects cumulative production across time, not a guarantee of what's walking around this season.

Access & Terrain

At 72% public land, Unit 62 is genuinely DIY-friendly. Hunters can plan a hunt here without needing to secure private ground first, though the forum chatter around the unit does mention a private-land tag structure exists for at least part of the unit, so hunters should double-check which specific game management sub-unit or land status code they're applying for before submitting.

The elevation range — 4,634 to 10,328 feet — spans nearly 5,700 vertical feet, meaning the unit holds everything from lower desert-fringe terrain to high alpine basins. That range gives hunters flexibility to hunt early-season deer at higher elevations before they push down, or to focus on lower-elevation sagebrush and broken country depending on weather and time of year. There's no wilderness acreage listed for this unit, which means access via standard roads and trails should be more straightforward than in wilderness-designated units, without special guide requirements to worry about.

Given the terrain variety, hunters should plan to scout multiple elevation bands rather than committing to a single drainage. HuntPilot's public land and terrain overlay tools are useful here for identifying specific public parcels, road access points, and elevation contours worth glassing before the season opens.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 62 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data, Unit 62 earns a solid recommendation for hunters who prioritize a real chance at harvesting a mule deer on mostly public land. The near-50% success rates across four consecutive seasons are hard to ignore — this isn't a unit where hunters are grinding for a low-percentage shot. Combined with 72% public ownership and a genuine trophy history in the surrounding counties, Unit 62 checks several important boxes.

The caveats are real, though. The single-year buck:doe survey data is too thin to draw firm conclusions about herd trajectory, and forum commentary suggests some hunters feel the unit's trophy quality has softened compared to years past, even if the county-level trophy record history remains strong. Hunters going in purely for a wall-hanger should temper expectations and be prepared to hunt hard and pass deer early. Hunters looking for a good opportunity to fill a freezer with a fair shot at a mature buck, on a unit with plenty of public access, will find the numbers here support the unit as a legitimate option.

For nonresidents specifically, the point cost and tag fee are meaningful investments (detailed below), so it's worth weighing this unit against others using HuntPilot's draw odds tools before committing points to the application.

How to Apply

Colorado uses a preference point system for deer, meaning residents and nonresidents build points in years they apply but don't draw — successfully drawing a tag resets accumulated points. Hunters should check current draw odds for Unit 62 by point level on HuntPilot's Colorado unit pages, or at /states/co, before deciding how to allocate points this cycle.

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 harvest success like in Colorado Unit 62? Success rates in Unit 62 have ranged from 44% to 48% over the past four recorded seasons (2022–2025), with 2025 posting a 47% success rate on 1,364 hunters and 635 harvested deer. That's a consistently strong number for a mule deer unit, regardless of whether hunter pressure was high or low in a given year.

What is the terrain like in Unit 62? The unit spans a huge elevation range, from 4,634 feet up to 10,328 feet, giving hunters access to everything from lower sagebrush and broken country to high alpine terrain. With 72% public land and no wilderness acreage, most of the unit is accessible without special guide requirements, though hunters should expect significant elevation changes across the unit's 880,844 acres.

How big are the deer in Unit 62? The counties overlapping Unit 62 have an extensive trophy record history, suggesting the broader area has consistently produced trophy-class mule deer over time. Because those records are logged at the county level and shared with neighboring units, they don't guarantee every buck taken within Unit 62's exact boundary reaches that caliber, but the trophy pedigree of the region is a positive indicator for hunters targeting mature deer.

Is Colorado Unit 62 worth applying for? Based on available data, yes — for hunters prioritizing a solid chance at harvesting a mule deer on mostly public ground. The unit's success rates have held between 44% and 48% for four straight seasons, public land access sits at 72%, and the surrounding counties carry real trophy history. Hunters chasing a top-end trophy specifically should weigh the thin, single-year herd survey data and mixed forum sentiment on recent trophy quality before committing significant points.

Does Unit 62 have a lot of public land access? Yes. At 72% public land, Unit 62 offers considerably more public access than many Colorado units where private land dominates. DIY hunters can build a hunt plan here without first needing to arrange private land permission, though some sub-areas within the unit involve private-land-specific tag types, so hunters should verify exactly what land status applies to the specific tag they're drawing before finalizing plans.