Colorado Unit 68 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 68 sits in the south-central part of the state and offers a sizable, largely public hunting ground for mule deer hunters willing to put in the legwork. With 385,966 total acres and a public land share of 90%, Unit 68 gives hunters plenty of room to spread out, avoid crowds, and find deer pushed onto public ground during migration and pressure periods. Elevations in the unit range dramatically from 7,583 feet up to 13,822 feet, meaning hunters can chase deer through sagebrush foothills, timbered mid-elevation benches, and high alpine basins all within the same unit boundary.

Unit 68 (often hunted alongside neighboring Unit 681) has built a reputation among Colorado mule deer hunters as a solid, if inconsistent, producer. Forum chatter from hunters who've spent years in the unit reflects that variability — some seasons produce genuinely good bucks, while others leave hunters going home with tags in their pocket. This article breaks down what the data says about Unit 68's harvest trends, herd composition, and application requirements so hunters can decide whether it belongs on their short list.

HuntPilot Analysis — Is Unit 68 Worth Applying For?

Unit 68 is a mixed bag, and the numbers back up what hunters on the ground have been saying for years. Harvest success has swung significantly over the past five seasons — from a low of 38% in 2024 to a high of 58% in 2025. In between, the unit posted 45% in 2023, 46% in 2022, and 48% in 2021. That kind of year-to-year swing suggests success is heavily influenced by weather, snowfall timing, and how deer are pushed off the high country onto more accessible ground — not a steady, predictable pattern hunters can bank on.

The buck:doe ratio data adds a caution flag rather than a green light. The only survey year available, 2024, shows a ratio of 25:100, which is low relative to what's typically considered a healthy mule deer herd. A single survey year makes it difficult to establish a trend, but this number, standing alone, doesn't suggest a herd with abundant mature bucks relative to does. Hunters should treat this as a signal that buck density may be limited in parts of the unit, and it lines up with recurring forum comments about seeing "a lot of doe and very small bucks" in certain seasons.

On the trophy side, the counties overlapping Unit 68 carry a moderate history of trophy records. That means trophy-class bucks have come from this general area, but production isn't consistent enough to call this a top-tier trophy destination. Forum reports reinforce this picture: some hunters have taken bucks in the upper range of quality after extended scouting and hunting effort, while others spend a full week or more in the unit and never see anything worth pulling the trigger on. The takeaway is that Unit 68 can produce a genuinely good buck, but hunters need to manage expectations — this is not a unit where trophy bucks are behind every ridge, and most seasons will require significant time investment for a shot at anything above average.

Where Unit 68 clearly earns its keep is access. With 90% public land and only 6% wilderness, hunters have enormous room to roam without needing a guide and without running into the access restrictions that come with heavily wilderness-designated units. The low wilderness percentage means most of the unit is reachable by vehicle-supported hiking rather than technical backcountry travel, which opens the unit to a broad range of hunters, from those doing quick day hunts to those willing to pack in deep for less pressured ground.

Given the inconsistent success rates, the underwhelming buck:doe data point, and moderate trophy potential, Unit 68 is best suited to hunters prioritizing a public-land, do-it-yourself experience over a high-odds trophy hunt. Hunters chasing a genuine shot at a mature, heavy-antlered buck should go in with patience and be ready to cover a lot of ground — locals consistently point to higher-elevation terrain, and areas like Trickle Mountain and Tracy Canyon get mentioned repeatedly as places where better bucks have historically shown up.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 68's harvest numbers over the last five years show real volatility:

• 2025: 679 hunters, 394 harvested — 58% success
• 2024: 852 hunters, 327 harvested — 38% success
• 2023: 919 hunters, 415 harvested — 45% success
• 2022: 959 hunters, 442 harvested — 46% success
• 2021: 881 hunters, 424 harvested — 48% success

The jump from 38% in 2024 to 58% in 2025 is notable and likely tied to weather and deer movement patterns pushing animals into more huntable positions, rather than any structural shift in the herd. Hunter numbers have also trended down over this period, from 959 in 2022 to 679 in 2025, which may reflect fewer tags allocated or fewer hunters applying as word spreads about tougher recent seasons. Either way, hunters should expect success to fluctuate significantly by season and weather conditions rather than counting on a steady, above-50% success rate every year.

Trophy Quality

Trophy potential in Unit 68 is best described as moderate. The counties overlapping this unit have a history of producing trophy-class bucks, but that production has not been consistent enough to place Unit 68 among Colorado's premier trophy units. Hunters chasing a genuinely big buck need to understand that record-quality entries are the exception here, not the rule — most bucks taken in the unit fall well short of that caliber.

This lines up with on-the-ground reports from hunters who've spent multiple seasons in the unit. Some years produce a standout buck after considerable scouting; other years, even during good conditions, hunters report seeing very few mature bucks worth pursuing. Locals point to specific higher-elevation terrain features as more likely to hold better bucks, but even there, success isn't guaranteed. Hunters willing to invest serious scouting time — ideally multiple days glassing before committing to a hunt — improve their odds of connecting with a quality buck, but should not expect Unit 68 to consistently produce trophy-class deer year after year.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The only wildlife survey data available for Unit 68 comes from a single year, 2024, showing a buck:doe ratio of 25:100. This is a low ratio relative to healthy mule deer benchmarks and, taken at face value, suggests limited buck density relative to the doe population in the surveyed area. Because this represents just one survey year, it's difficult to draw a firm conclusion about the herd's long-term trajectory — but it does align with anecdotal hunter reports of encountering plentiful does but few quality bucks in certain parts of the unit during recent seasons.

Hunters should treat this data point as a signal to adjust expectations rather than a definitive verdict on herd health. Without multiple years of survey data to establish a trend, it's not possible to say whether buck numbers are improving, declining, or holding steady — but the available snapshot points toward a herd that may be doe-heavy relative to bucks in at least part of the unit during the surveyed period.

Access & Terrain

Unit 68 offers an exceptional public-land opportunity, with 90% of the unit's 385,966 acres open to public hunting. Only 6% of the unit falls under wilderness designation, which means the vast majority of the terrain is accessible without the technical backcountry travel or outfitter requirements that come with heavily wilderness-restricted ground.

The elevation range — from 7,583 feet at the lowest points to 13,822 feet at the highest — creates a genuine variety of terrain types within the unit. Hunters can find sagebrush-covered lower benches, mixed timber at mid-elevations, and alpine basins near the peaks. This spread gives hunters options depending on time of season, weather, and where deer are concentrated. Locals report that better bucks tend to show up in higher-elevation pockets, and forum discussion around terrain features like Trickle Mountain and Tracy Canyon suggests that hunters willing to climb and glass extensively into the higher country improve their odds relative to those working lower, easier-access ground near roads.

Given the unit's size and the high percentage of public land, hunters should use mapping tools to identify public parcels, drainage systems, and elevation bands before heading out. HuntPilot's map tools can help hunters pinpoint public land boundaries and terrain features within Unit 68 to build a scouting plan tailored to specific elevation zones and access points.

How to Apply

Note that both resident and nonresident applicants must hold a qualifying license before applying — this license fee is separate from and in addition to the application fee and any point fee paid.

Colorado's deer draw operates on a true preference-point system, meaning the highest point holders draw available tags first. Demand for Unit 68 tags should be checked directly through HuntPilot's Colorado state page for current point requirements and drawability, as this changes from year to year. Nonresidents in particular should expect this to be a limited-entry hunt requiring meaningful point investment, based on discussion from applicants tracking point creep in the unit.

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 68? Unit 68 spans a huge elevation range, from 7,583 feet to 13,822 feet, encompassing sagebrush foothills, mixed timber at mid-elevations, and alpine basins near the higher peaks. With 90% of the unit in public ownership and only 6% wilderness, most of the terrain is accessible without technical backcountry travel, though hunters willing to climb into higher-elevation pockets often find better hunting away from road-accessible areas.

What is harvest success like in Unit 68? Harvest success has ranged from 38% to 58% over the last five seasons (2021–2025), with no clear upward or downward trend — success appears to swing significantly based on annual conditions like weather and deer movement rather than following a predictable pattern.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 68? Trophy potential in Unit 68 is moderate. The surrounding counties have a history of producing trophy-class bucks, but that production isn't consistent, and most bucks taken in the unit fall short of record-book caliber. Hunters seeking a genuinely mature buck should expect to invest significant scouting time, particularly in higher-elevation terrain.

Is Unit 68 worth applying for? It depends on what a hunter is prioritizing. Unit 68 offers outstanding public-land access (90%) and a wide range of huntable terrain, making it a strong option for DIY hunters who value opportunity and space over guaranteed trophy quality. However, the limited 2024 buck:doe survey data (25:100) and inconsistent harvest success suggest hunters should temper trophy expectations and be prepared to scout hard for a quality buck.

What should I know before hunting Unit 68 as a nonresident? Colorado's true preference-point draw system means tags for this unit may require meaningful point accumulation for nonresidents — check HuntPilot's Colorado unit page for current drawability information before planning a trip.