Unit 143

Colorado Hunting Guide — Mule Deer

Unit 143 covers Colorado's eastern plains — shortgrass prairie and agricultural land and holds a resident mule deer population shaped by the terrain and vegetation of this part of Colorado. With approximately 6 applicants per year — a low-demand unit with realistic draw prospects, this limited-entry mule deer unit is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to maintain quality buck-to-doe ratios and older age-class bucks where tag allocation allows.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 143

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 143

Unit 143 mule deer occupy the plains-grassland landscape of eastern Colorado, using a combination of agricultural fields, sagebrush pastures, and riparian corridors.

Agricultural Fields and Dryland Wheat

Mule deer in plains units feed heavily on dryland wheat stubble, corn residue, and alfalfa during fall. Deer move from bedding cover in CRP grassland, draws, and cattail patches to ag fields at dawn and dusk. Glassing from elevated road shoulders can locate deer in open terrain.

Riparian Corridors and Draws

River and creek drainages provide the primary travel corridors and bedding cover in plains units. Cottonwood and willow riparian zones on public land — including SWA properties — hold deer through the season. Focus morning and evening hunts on these transition zones between open fields and cover.

CRP Ground and Sagebrush Pastures

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland and native sagebrush provide bedding cover and travel habitat. Check Colorado PLOTS and SWA maps for publicly accessible parcels within Unit 143 before your hunt.

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How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 143

Hunting Unit 143 mule deer effectively requires understanding the seasonal patterns of Colorado deer and applying pressure-management tactics appropriate for the terrain.

Pre-Season Glassing

Invest time glassing Unit 143 in late August and early September when bucks are still in velvet and in summer patterns. Identify target bucks and memorize their terrain features. Velvet bucks are the most predictable — late August is the best time to find a specific animal before the season.

October Rut Hunting

Colorado's October rifle seasons are timed perfectly for the mule deer pre-rut and rut. Bucks abandon their tight summer ranges and cruise the terrain in search of does. Hunt all day during the peak rut — midday movement can be as good as dawn and dusk when bucks are actively covering ground.

Wind and Approach

Mule deer rely on their nose as much as their eyes. Hunt with the thermals — in mountain terrain, thermals rise as the day warms and fall at dawn and dusk. Plan your approach routes to keep wind in your favor at the time of day you're hunting each specific terrain feature.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle28%

Archery18%

Muzzleloader22%

Colorado limited-entry mule deer units are designed to provide quality hunting with selective harvest of mature bucks. Rifle success rates for limited-entry units typically run 25-50% — significantly higher than OTC deer units. Unit 143's managed tag allocation reflects CPW's herd management objectives for this portion of Colorado. Check current CPW harvest reports for unit-specific data.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— 2nd Season	14	9	100.0%	0
Rifle— 2nd Season	6	1	100.0%	0
Rifle— 1st Season	4	0	100.0%	0
Rifle— 2nd Season	5	1	100.0%	0
Rifle— 1st Season	13	5	100.0%	0
Rifle— 2nd Season	1	0	100.0%	0
Rifle— 1st Season	2	0	100.0%	0
Rifle— 1st Season	10	16	62.5%	1
Rifle— 1st Season	26	62	41.9%	0
Rifle— 1st Season	20	6	100.0%	0
Archery— 1st Season	19	17	100.0%	0
Archery— 3rd Season	5	0	100.0%	0
Archery— 3rd Season	0	0	0.0%	0
Muzzleloader— 3rd Season	1	0	100.0%	0
Muzzleloader— 2nd Season	5	1	100.0%	0
Muzzleloader— 2nd Season	8	10	80.0%	0

Data from 2021 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 143 is a lower-demand mule deer draw unit. With approximately 6 applicants per year, hunters should plan their preference-point strategy accordingly. Colorado's preference-point system rewards consistent application over time. Check current CPW Draw Odds statistics for point requirements and odds by hunt code before applying.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

Limited on open plains. Carry sufficient drinking water. Stock tanks and irrigation sources exist but are unreliable for drinking.

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Road Conditions

State highways and county roads provide access. Improved gravel roads generally passable in dry conditions. Wet conditions can make unimproved roads difficult.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy to moderate. Flat to gently rolling plains and agricultural land with minimal vertical relief.

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Hunting Pressure

Generally low to moderate on plains units.

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Weather

September-October temperatures can range from warm to cold. Strong plains winds are common. Weather changes rapidly on the eastern Colorado plains.

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Cell Service

Moderate. Coverage generally available near towns and major highways. Limited on remote plains.

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Permit Notes

Colorado limited big game license required. Confirm season dates and regulations in current CPW Big Game Hunting Regulations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How competitive is the draw for Unit 143 mule deer?

Unit 143 mule deer draw competitiveness depends on the specific hunt code (weapon type, season, sex restriction). With approximately 6 applicants per year, check CPW's Draw Odds statistics for current point requirements by hunt code. Colorado's preference-point system rewards consistent annual applications — apply every year to accumulate points.

Is there public land to hunt in Unit 143?

Unit 143 is primarily private agricultural land on Colorado's eastern plains. Public hunting access is available through BLM parcels, State Wildlife Area (SWA) properties, and the Colorado PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) program. Download the CPW SWA Atlas and Colorado PLOTS maps at cpw.state.co.us before your hunt to identify all publicly accessible parcels in the unit. Landowner permission is also worth pursuing for private-land access.

What gear is essential for hunting Unit 143 mule deer?

A quality optics system — 10x binoculars and a spotting scope — is the most critical gear investment for mule deer hunting. Colorado mule deer country demands long-range glassing before committing to a stalk. Add comfortable boots for terrain-specific conditions (mountain boots for steep country, lighter footwear for plains), a daypack, and a rangefinder for complete gear preparation.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

Colorado Big Game Hunting — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Season dates, Unit 143 boundary, Tag allocation, Regulations · accessed 2026-04-18
Colorado Draw Odds Statistics — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Applicant counts, Draw odds data, Preference point requirements · accessed 2026-04-18