Hunters researching Unit 31 in Colorado are grappling with discrepancies in data from various sources, including terrain difficulty and public versus private land percentages. While some sources report a higher percentage of private land and emphasize challenging terrain, others offer differing views. The unit sees significant oil and gas company land ownership, complicating access, and many prime hunting areas are reportedly on private property, making harvest success often reliant on guided hunts or paying access fees. There's a strong consensus that hunting pressure, especially from out-of-state hunters, is increasing, leading seasoned hunters to explore other units or adjust their strategies. Hunters advise careful e-scouting and suggest reaching out to local biologists or land management offices for the most current access information. Access in the northern areas is noted as challenging, with rugged terrain leading to elk retreating to private lands early in the season. For hunters new to the area, it might be beneficial to focus on publicly accessible areas and consider the unit's suitability for those with mobility concerns, as some areas are accessible by vehicles, while others require significant hiking.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Elk | 260"-300" | 310"+ |
High
Low
North of Interstate 70 at De Beque are thousands of acres of BLM lands and large private ranches that allow large herds of elk and deer to mature. Rugged terrain helps keep hunting pressure low.
This unit was largely burned during the 2020 Pine Gulch Fire. Hunters should be aware that the landscape will be vastly different in areas and animal movements and habits may have changed.
Open sagebrush flats and rolling hills, steep canyons, creeks, vast areas of rim rock, natural springs, mesas, plateaus, long ridges, mountains, draws, alkali flats and a portion of the Colorado River.
Douglas Pass travels to the western boundary then heads south to Kimball Mountain Road. State land Piceance about 5,000 on the northern edge is reached by heading west of Meeker on Colorado Route 64, then south on County Road 5 to 26. Remote hunting areas can be reached by foot, horseback, four-wheel-drive jeeps, or ATVs. Snow above 8,000 feet makes roads impassable without chains.
Landscape changes as elevation increases. Pinyon/juniper can be found here as well as sagebrush-covered hillsides, gullies and creek choke with oak brush, cottonwoods and willows, irrigated crops, hayfields, aspen, spruce, fir and ponderosa pine.
BLM lands offers camping. Grand Junction along Interstate 70 offers motels, restaurants, a regional airport, gas, diesel and medical facilities. Meeker, to the northeast, is a hunter friendly community that provides motels, cafés, restaurants, gas, diesel and medical facilities. De Beque and Parachute have limited gas, cafés and motels.
Roughly 770 square miles
57.2% public land
Elevations from 5,250-9,035 feet
Wet weather creates extremely muddy roads
Four-wheel-drive traction with chains required