Colorado Pronghorn Mule Deer

Unit 119 (Pueblo / El Paso County Plains)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Mule Deer

GMU 119 spans the rolling shortgrass plains of Pueblo and El Paso counties in south-central Colorado, south of the Arkansas River valley. Pronghorn populations occupy the open range and grasslands managed by CPW through the preference point draw. Proximity to Pueblo and Colorado Springs makes this a accessible eastern plains unit for Front Range hunters.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 119

Where to Find Pronghorn in GMU 119

Pronghorn in GMU 119 range across shortgrass prairie and rolling benches between Pueblo and the Comanche National Grassland to the south. Small herds of does and fawns are visible most of the year, with bucks becoming more conspicuous during the September rut.

Grassland Edges and Crop Fields

Pronghorn frequently use the edges between native grassland and dryland wheat or corn fields. Early morning and late afternoon are the most active periods. Use binoculars to count and sex animals from roads before selecting a stalk route.

Water Holes

In dry years, stock tanks and rancher ponds concentrate animals. Identify these in pre-season aerial photo review and request landowner access well ahead of your season.

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How to Hunt GMU 119 Pronghorn

GMU 119's mix of private ranch land and limited public grassland parcels requires a flexible approach.

Comanche National Grassland Access

The Comanche National Grassland south of Pueblo provides huntable public land in the broader region. Verify if any Comanche parcels fall within GMU 119 boundaries using the CPW Hunting Atlas. Access points are off CO-109 and county roads south of La Junta.

Driving and Glassing

County roads in this unit allow hunters to cover large areas quickly. Drive slowly at first and last light, glass every draw and grassland flat, then plan approach routes using dry creek beds and low-ground contours.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Rifle74%

Southern Colorado plains pronghorn units generally support 60–75% harvest success for hunters with good land access. The open terrain makes locating and evaluating animals relatively straightforward. Check CPW Big Game Statistics for current GMU 119 harvest data.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— 1st Season	128	134	95.5%	0
Rifle— 1st Season	106	392	27.0%	1

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

GMU 119 pronghorn tags are typically accessible with 0–2 preference points for most hunt codes. Eastern plains units in Colorado draw fewer applicants than western slope units, improving odds for patient hunters. Confirm current draw statistics at CPW's website each spring.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 119

Unit 119 covers the high terrain of the San Juan Mountains in Mineral and Rio Grande counties, including portions of the Rio Grande National Forest. Three-year data shows 121 applicants for 177 tags — favorable odds that make this a draw-friendly unit. We find Unit 119 a quality mule deer destination with exceptional alpine scenery and a healthy deer population that benefits from the remote character of the central San Juan range.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 119

Mule deer in Unit 119 use the high San Juan terrain from the Rio Grande headwaters at 9,000 feet to the alpine ridgelines above 13,000 feet.

High Country Summer

Bucks summer in the alpine basins and tundra above 11,500 feet through early September. Glass the open terrain near treeline — good bucks are visible from ridgelines with quality optics at first light.

Timber Transition in Fall

As hunting season opens and weather turns, bucks move into the spruce-fir drainages between 9,500 and 11,500 feet. Focus on the edges between timber and open parks — prime feeding and staging areas before the November rut.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 119

Unit 119's San Juan Mountain terrain suits both high-alpine glassing hunts in archery season and timber-based rifle hunts in October.

Alpine Basin Archery

Bucks in velvet and early hard-horn are accessible in the high basins above 11,500 feet through mid-September. We access these areas via the Rio Grande headwater trails — a 4-6 mile pack-in reaches largely unhunted terrain.

Timber Rifle Hunting

By first and second rifle seasons, focus on the spruce-fir drainages. Still-hunt slowly through the timber, stopping frequently to glass openings. Wind direction in the steep San Juan drainages shifts constantly — use it carefully.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle28%

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— 1st Season	20	14	100.0%	0
Rifle— 1st Season	47	16	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Colorado's pure preference-point system governs Unit 119. With tags exceeding applicants over three years, residents with 0-2 points are typically competitive for first-choice tags. This is one of the more accessible draws in the central San Juan range. Check the CPW draw recap for current hunt code details.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there public lands to hunt pronghorn in GMU 119?

Public land is limited in GMU 119. Check the CPW Hunting Atlas for any BLM or state land parcels. The Comanche National Grassland is nearby but may fall outside unit boundaries — verify before planning.

When is pronghorn season in Colorado?

Colorado pronghorn archery season typically opens in late August, with rifle season in September. Exact dates vary by year and hunt code — check the current CPW Big Game Hunting Brochure for specific season dates.

How physically demanding is a mule deer hunt in Unit 119?

Unit 119 is a demanding hunt. The best deer country sits above 11,000 feet in the central San Juan range. Hunters should be comfortable hiking 5-8 miles per day at altitude with a pack. Acclimatizing for 2-3 days before hunting greatly improves your effectiveness.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

CPW Big Game Hunting — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: GMU boundaries, Pronghorn license structure, Season dates · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Big Game Statistics — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Pronghorn harvest totals, Hunter success rates, Population estimates per DAU · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Big Game Draw — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Preference point system, Application period, Draw results · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU 119 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: GMU boundary geometry, Public land ownership layers · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU 119 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: GMU boundary geometry, Public land ownership layer, Deer migration corridors · accessed 2026-04-17
Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure (Current Cycle) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Season dates, License structure, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Mule Deer Hunt Statistics and Draw Recap — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Per-GMU harvest totals, Hunter success rates, Draw recap preference point data · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 119 (Pueblo / El Paso County Plains)

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 119

Where to Find Pronghorn in GMU 119

Grassland Edges and Crop Fields

Water Holes

How to Hunt GMU 119 Pronghorn

Comanche National Grassland Access

Driving and Glassing

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 119

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 119

High Country Summer

Timber Transition in Fall

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 119

Alpine Basin Archery

Timber Rifle Hunting

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Terrain Difficulty

Hunting Pressure

Nearest Town

Permit Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification