Colorado is widely considered the epicenter of western big game hunting, particularly for those with elk on the brain. The state boasts the largest elk population in the world, and for the handgun hunter, the high-country basins and dark timber of the Rockies offer an unparalleled challenge. Beyond elk, Colorado is a top-tier destination for mule deer and pronghorn, with the latter thriving on the expansive eastern plains. The state's management units (GMUs) are well-defined, and while many high-quality tags require years of preference points, over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags remain a staple for many hunters who want to experience the thrill of the bugle every fall.
The terrain is dominated by the Rocky Mountains, which bisect the state and create a wide range of hunting environments. Hunters may find themselves glassing from 12,000-foot ridges or navigating the deep, timbered canyons of the Western Slope where the wind and thermals play a critical role. The eastern third of the state is characterized by high plains and rolling grasslands, where pronghorn and mule deer roam the vast horizons. The climate is semi-arid and highly dependent on elevation; it is not uncommon to start a hunt in a T-shirt in the valley and end it in a blizzard on the peak. Success in Colorado often depends on a hunter's physical conditioning and their ability to handle the "thin air" of the high country.
Public land is a massive asset in Colorado, with over 23 million acres managed by the Forest Service and BLM. The White River National Forest is perhaps the most famous, housing massive elk herds across its diverse alpine and sub-alpine habitats. To the southwest, the Gunnison National Forest offers rugged, high-elevation terrain that is a stronghold for both elk and mule deer, providing some of the best habitat in the state. For those seeking a different experience, the Pawnee National Grassland on the eastern plains provides wide-open spaces for pronghorn hunting under the vast Colorado sky, where long-range glassing is the name of the game.