Colorado Unit 711 Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 711 is a limited-quota mule deer unit spanning 524,122 acres, with every hunt in the unit allocated through the draw rather than over-the-counter. For hunters researching this unit, that's the first and most important fact to understand: there is no general season fallback here. Every buck tag, whether antlered or either-sex, comes through a draw application, which shapes both the hunting pressure and the overall experience on the ground.

The unit sits at elevations ranging from 5,431 to 9,641 feet, offering a mix of lower sagebrush and foothill country up through higher timbered and alpine transition zones. With 65% of the unit in public ownership and no wilderness acreage recorded, this is a unit where DIY hunters can find real access without needing to negotiate private land leases or plan around wilderness travel restrictions — though hunters should still expect a mix of public and private parcels to navigate depending on where they choose to hunt.

Recent harvest data shows this is a unit that consistently produces results, with success rates ranging from 44% to 61% over the past five years. Combined with a trophy history tied to the surrounding counties, Unit 711 warrants a serious look from mule deer hunters weighing where to spend hard-earned points.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 711 Worth Applying For?

Based on the data available, Unit 711 stacks up as a solid option for mule deer hunters, particularly those who value consistent success over a purely trophy-focused gamble. The five-year harvest trend tells a clear story: this unit reliably produces. Success rates of 61% in 2021 and 59% in 2023 are strong numbers for a limited-quota mule deer hunt, and even the "weak" year in this window — 2020 at 44% — is still a respectable outcome for deer hunting anywhere in the West.

The counties overlapping Unit 711 carry a strong history of producing trophy-class mule deer, which adds real weight to this unit's appeal. That doesn't guarantee any individual hunter will tag a record-book buck, but it does mean the genetics and habitat in this region have a proven track record of growing mature deer. Combined with 65% public land access and no wilderness restrictions complicating logistics, this is a unit where a well-prepared hunter — resident or nonresident — can realistically plan a self-guided hunt.

The one data point worth flagging honestly is the buck:doe ratio. The 2024 survey recorded a ratio of 33:100, drawn from a single survey year. That's on the lower end for a mule deer herd and, without multiple years of survey data to compare against, it's hard to say definitively whether this represents a stable herd structure or a herd under some pressure. Hunters should treat this number as one data point rather than a verdict on herd health, but it's worth keeping in mind when setting expectations — a lower buck:doe ratio can mean fewer mature bucks in the population relative to does, which may translate into more effort required to locate a quality buck even in a unit with strong harvest success.

Overall, the combination of no general-season dilution, consistent harvest success in the 44-61% range, majority public land access, and a trophy pedigree tied to the surrounding counties makes Unit 711 a unit worth serious consideration for hunters who draw a tag here. It's not a unit to write off, and the data supports treating it as a legitimate target rather than a fallback option.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 711's harvest numbers over the past five seasons show a unit that consistently rewards hunters who draw a tag:

• 2024: 1,303 hunters, 662 harvested — 51% success
• 2023: 1,376 hunters, 810 harvested — 59% success
• 2022: 1,276 hunters, 731 harvested — 57% success
• 2021: 1,456 hunters, 894 harvested — 61% success
• 2020: 1,334 hunters, 592 harvested — 44% success

Averaging these five years puts overall success right around the low-to-mid 50% range, which is a strong benchmark for a limited-quota mule deer unit. The dip to 44% in 2020 stands out as the outlier in an otherwise consistent trend, while 2021's 61% success rate represents the high-water mark in this dataset. Hunter numbers have stayed relatively stable across the five years, ranging from roughly 1,276 to 1,456 hunters afield per season, suggesting the unit's tag allocations haven't swung wildly year to year.

For hunters evaluating this unit through HuntPilot's data, the takeaway is that Unit 711 delivers dependable results. A hunter drawing a tag here has, in four of the last five years, faced better than 50/50 odds of filling that tag — numbers that hold up well against many other limited-quota mule deer units in the West.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Unit 711 carry a strong history of trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books. As with any unit-level trophy discussion, it's important to understand that record-book entries are logged by county, not by hunt unit boundary — meaning the trophy history associated with this area is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties. The animals behind those records could have been taken anywhere within that broader county footprint.

That caveat aside, the qualitative signal here is meaningful: this is not a unit sitting in a trophy desert. The surrounding counties have a documented track record of producing mule deer bucks that make the record books, which speaks to both the genetic potential of the deer herd and the habitat quality across this stretch of country. Hunters chasing a genuine trophy-caliber buck should view Unit 711 as a legitimate contender, particularly when paired with the unit's consistent harvest success and predominantly public land base.

That said, trophy-class bucks are, by definition, uncommon even in the best units. Most hunters who fill tags in units like this one will take solid, mature bucks rather than record-book animals. The lower buck:doe ratio noted in the 2024 survey also suggests hunters may need to put in extra time and scouting effort to locate the most mature age classes, since a lower ratio can mean fewer bucks surviving to full maturity relative to the doe population.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The only wildlife survey data available for Unit 711 comes from a single year — 2024 — which recorded a buck:doe ratio of 33:100. With just one survey year on record, it's not possible to establish a reliable multi-year trend for this unit's herd structure. A single data point can't tell hunters whether the herd is stable, declining, or recovering, and states typically caution against drawing firm conclusions from one year of survey data alone.

What can be said is that a 33:100 ratio is on the lower side compared to what's generally considered a healthy, buck-rich mule deer population. Hunters should factor this into their expectations: it may mean more does relative to bucks on the landscape, which can translate into more time glassing to turn up a shooter buck. Given the lack of additional survey years in the data, hunters seriously considering this unit should check for updated survey information through HuntPilot or Colorado Parks and Wildlife before finalizing their season strategy, as more recent data may have since become available.

Access & Terrain

Unit 711 offers 65% public land, giving DIY hunters a solid foundation to build a hunt around without leaning heavily on private land access. With no wilderness acreage recorded in the unit, hunters won't need to plan around wilderness travel restrictions or pack-in-only access — motorized access to public land tracts should be more straightforward than in wilderness-heavy units elsewhere in Colorado.

The elevation range of 5,431 to 9,641 feet points to a unit with real topographic diversity, from lower sagebrush-and-foothill country up into higher timbered slopes and possibly alpine basins near the top end of that range. This kind of vertical relief typically means mule deer will use elevation seasonally — lower country early and higher country as temperatures and hunting pressure build — giving hunters options to adjust their approach depending on when in the season they draw a tag.

With 524,122 total acres to work with, Unit 711 is a large unit, and 65% public ownership still leaves a meaningful amount of private land woven throughout. Hunters should study land ownership maps carefully before the season to identify public parcels large enough to hunt effectively and to avoid inadvertently trespassing on the remaining 35% private ground. HuntPilot's mapping tools can help hunters overlay public land boundaries against the unit's terrain to plan scouting routes and stands before ever setting boots on the ground.

How to Apply

Every mule deer hunt in Unit 711 is allocated through Colorado's limited-quota draw system — there is no over-the-counter or general season option here. Hunters, whether resident or nonresident, must apply for a tag and be drawn before they can hunt this unit.

Colorado's draw system uses a preference point structure, meaning hunters who apply but don't draw accumulate a point that improves their position in future draws for point-based allocations. Resident and nonresident applicants apply through separate pools, and nonresidents should expect a more competitive draw given the smaller allocation typically set aside for out-of-state hunters in Colorado's limited-quota units.

Because this is a 100% limited-quota unit, understanding current draw odds at various point levels is essential before applying — a hunter with zero points and a hunter with several years of accumulated points will face very different odds for the same tag. Application structures, point requirements, and deadlines change from year to year, so hunters should not rely on outdated information when planning their application strategy.

For current draw odds, point requirements, application deadlines, and fees for Unit 711, visit HuntPilot's Colorado state page at /states/co, where hunters can review up-to-date figures before submitting an application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Unit 711? Unit 711 spans an elevation range of 5,431 to 9,641 feet across 524,122 acres, offering a mix of lower sagebrush and foothill terrain transitioning into higher timbered country. This vertical diversity gives mule deer room to shift elevation seasonally, and gives hunters options depending on weather and pressure during their hunt.

What is harvest success like in Unit 711? Harvest success in Unit 711 has ranged from 44% to 61% over the past five recorded seasons (2020-2024), with the average landing in the low-to-mid 50% range. That's a strong and consistent success rate for a fully limited-quota mule deer unit, indicating hunters who draw a tag here have a solid chance of connecting.

How big are the mule deer in Unit 711? The counties overlapping Unit 711 have a strong history of producing trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books, suggesting real trophy potential in this area. Because record-book entries are logged at the county level and shared across overlapping units, this history reflects the broader region rather than a guarantee for this specific unit boundary alone. Most hunters will still take mature, solid bucks rather than record-book animals, but the genetic and habitat foundation for trophy deer is clearly present.

Is Unit 711 worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — Unit 711 offers a compelling combination of consistent harvest success (44-61% over five years), majority public land access at 65%, no wilderness-related access complications, and a trophy history tied to the surrounding counties. The main caveat is a single-year buck:doe survey ratio of 33:100, which is on the lower side and worth monitoring, but it shouldn't overshadow the unit's otherwise strong track record.

Is Unit 711 a good option for a DIY nonresident hunter? With 65% public land and no wilderness acreage to complicate access, Unit 711 is structurally well-suited to DIY hunting for both residents and nonresidents. Nonresidents should expect a more competitive draw process than residents, since all tags in this unit come through Colorado's limited-quota draw system, but a hunter who draws a tag here has good public land access to work with once in the field.