At a Glance
371Square Miles
65.6%Public Land
5,800 - 12,000Elevation Range
Quick Tips
- Grand Junction has several sporting goods stores
- Hike around private parcels to reach isolated public land
- High mountain lakes are great for trout fishing
Hunters generally describe Unit 444 in Colorado as a challenging yet rewarding area for elk hunting, with varied terrain that requires physical readiness. The unit's topography ranges from steep mountains to more accessible areas, necessitating a strategic approach based on physical capability and scouting efforts. There's a consensus that early season hunts yield better chances, as visibility and elk behavior align more favorably during this time. Overall, preparation and understanding of terrain, alongside monitoring elk movement patterns, are emphasized as critical components for a successful hunt in this unit.
This unit is located in central Colorado and lies just east of Glenwood Springs. Hunters will find good populations of deer and elk here but private land distribution can be troublesome at times, particularly during the later seasons. Tags are relatively easy to draw for and this could certainly be a unit hunters could expect to hunt often.
There is enough private land and remote high country is in this unit that some mule deer reach maturity and grow impressive racks. Most winter range is private, but there are remote areas in the south. Hunter success is higher among guided hunters. Private land yields more trophy size animals than public land does.