This lightly hunted unit includes Lake City and part of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forests, including three wilderness areas and a wilderness study area. Deer and elk tags are limited. The Southern Ute Tribe owns private land, which elk and deer use as winter range.

Limits on the number of hunters in every deer and elk season has resulted in increasing numbers of older, trophy size bucks and bulls and a few exceptional animals are taken every year. Elk muzzleloader season offers an excellent chance to take a big bull and rifle seasons are easy to draw. Hunters must be in tiptop physical shape or use horses as there are 55 peaks over 13,000' and four over 14,000'.

North of the Continental Divide and south of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, this unit features some of the highest and roughest terrain in the Lower 48. The Uncompahgre Wilderness north and west of Lake City has 25 peaks over 13,000 feet and two over 14,000 feet, Uncompahgre (14,309 feet) and Wetterhorn (14,015 feet). The Red Cloud Peak Wilderness Study Area, south and west of Lake City, includes 30 peaks over 13,000 feet and two peaks over 14,000 feet, Red Cloud (14,034 feet) and Sunshine (14,001 feet). The western part of La Garita Wilderness features 14,014-foot San Luis Peak. The Powderhorn Wilderness east of Route 149 includes numerous alpine lakes and prominent Calf Creek Plateau. Big Blue, Mineral and Elk creeks and the East and West Forks of Powderhorn Creek are major drainages.

Main roads include U.S. Highway 50, which follows the Gunnison River west of Gunnison, Colorado Highway 149, which intersects Highway 50 at Blue Mesa Reservoir and heads south toward Lake City. Numerous trailheads lead into the Uncompahgre Wilderness, Red Cloud Wilderness Study Area and La Garita Wilderness. Deer and elk hunting is allowed on 1,400-acre Cebolla Creek State Wildlife Area, renamed Mason Family State Wildlife Area.

Sagebrush mixed with oak brush cover foothills that rise into aspens, spruces, firs, willows and pines. Grassy parks are fringed with aspen groves and timbered forests. Wildflowers, perennial grasses, mosses and lichens grow above timberline and in alpine basins.

Gasoline stations, motels, medical facilities and restaurants are in Lake City along Highway 149 in the central part of the unit as well as in Gunnison and Montrose 40-60 miles away.