Composed of largely public land south of the ski resort town of Vail, this unit offers mule deer and elk hunting in mostly steep terrain and dense cover. This area is largely roadless and backcountry hunters will be at home here. Good deer and elk populations can be found here but hunters will definitely need to work for their opportunities. Due to the thick vegetation, some bucks and bulls can grow to large size and patient hunters who hunt hard could be in some incredible opportunities.

There is an early season rifle hunt in the Holy Cross Wilderness that gives hunters a chance to harvest velvet muleys. This is a great unit for archery hunters that want to get away from crowds and hunt deer and elk. Most deer migrate off the Unit 45 to neighboring units during the later seasons, choosing to summer in Unit 45 and winter in Unit 44. There is a lot of public high country and elk hunters have a good opportunity to take branch-antlered bulls.

Some impressive peaks tower over this unit, which lies south of Interstate 70 and the ski resort town of Vail. Mountains of the San Isabel National Forest are in the east, including Battle Mountain. Most of the terrain is covered by dense forests. The entire unit is in Eagle County, famous for producing record-book bucks. Peaks range from about 9,500-12,500 feet above sea level. Hunters can choose between easy-to-reach and remote areas. In late summer and early fall most game animals are at high elevations, where hunting can be difficult.

U.S. Highway 24 runs runs the length of the unit north and south with the wilderness to the west and San Isabel National Forest to the east. Access roads branch from the highway. Shrine Pass Road east of Red Cliff meets with Interstate 70, the northern boundary. Several ATV trails are on the east side. Access to the wilderness area is primarily by foot or horses.

Most high ridges and slopes above 11,000 feet are treeless with many cliffs, rock fields, a good amount of water and low-lying alpine vegetation. Most north slopes below 11,000 feet are timbered, mostly with firs and spruces, while middle elevations have Douglas fir, aspens, grass meadows and sagebrush, and low elevations have pinion/juniper, sagebrush, oak brush, grasses and other browse. Water is scattered with many springs, small lakes and perennial streams.

Vail, Avon and Minturn have lodging and places to buy gas, groceries, sporting goods and other supplies. Camping is allowed on federal land. Hornsilver Campground near Minturn accommodates RVs. Hikers can camp inside the Holy Cross Wilderness but must register at trailheads and may not build campfires.