Colorado Mule Deer Mule Deer

Unit 94 (Sterling / South Platte)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Mule Deer

Unit 94 covers farmland, river bottoms, and sand-hill country in Logan and Washington counties along the South Platte River. Mule deer use cottonwood corridors, CRP edges, and adjacent dryland crop fields. Public land is minimal.

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Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 94.

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 94

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 94

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How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 94

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Archery18%

Rifle28%

Muzzleloader22%

Access-dependent. CPW's harvest statistics by hunt code are the authoritative source.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Archery— 1st Season	91	139	65.5%
Rifle— 1st Season	17	13	100.0%
Rifle— 1st Season	20	13	100.0%
Rifle— 1st Season	54	37	100.0%
Rifle— 1st Season	42	41	100.0%
Muzzleloader— 2nd Season	1	1	100.0%
Muzzleloader— 2nd Season	8	5	100.0%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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GMU 94 mule deer tags run through Colorado's preference-point draw with standard resident/nonresident allocation.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 94

Unit 94 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 20 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.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 94

Unit 94 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 94 before your hunt.

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How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 94

Hunting Unit 94 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 94 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

Archery18%

Rifle28%

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 94'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 %
Archery— 1st Season	91	139	65.5%
Rifle— 1st Season	17	13	100.0%
Rifle— 1st Season	20	13	100.0%
Rifle— 1st Season	54	37	100.0%
Rifle— 1st Season	42	41	100.0%
Muzzleloader— 2nd Season	1	1	100.0%
Muzzleloader— 2nd Season	8	5	100.0%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 94 is a lower-demand mule deer draw unit. With approximately 20 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is GMU 94 mostly private?

Yes. WIA and permission drive most hunts.

Best weather for the hunt?

Cooler days during the rut window move bucks into huntable corridors.

How competitive is the draw for Unit 94 mule deer?

Unit 94 mule deer draw competitiveness depends on the specific hunt code (weapon type, season, sex restriction). With approximately 20 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 94?

Unit 94 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 94 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.

CPW Hunting — Big Game Unit Information — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: GMU 94 boundary, Preference-point draw structure · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Colorado Big Game Brochure — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: 2025 mule deer season dates, Hunt codes for GMU 94 · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Walk-In Access Program — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: WIA properties on the northeast plains · accessed 2026-04-17
Colorado Big Game Hunting — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Season dates, Unit 94 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

Unit 94 (Sterling / South Platte)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 94

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 94

South Platte River

Sand Hills and CRP

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 94

Map Access Before the Season

Glass From the Grid

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 94

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 94

Agricultural Fields and Dryland Wheat

Riparian Corridors and Draws

CRP Ground and Sagebrush Pastures

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 94

Pre-Season Glassing

October Rut Hunting

Wind and Approach

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Road Conditions

Terrain Difficulty

Cell Service

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification