Colorado Unit 57 Hunting Information

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Overview of CO GMU 57 Hunting Facts

Located in Central Colorado in the tri-junction of Chaffee, Park, and Fremont counties, Colorado Unit 57 continues to provide an adequate mule deer, elk, and antelope hunting destination. In the northern territory of the unit, San Isabel National Forest offers a remote element to your hunting trip with its dense, wooded areas and obscure pockets of wilderness. As an added resource, there is a CPW and US Forest Service office located in Salida near the southwestern corner of the unit. Unit 57’s location allows for its residing deer and elk herds to occupy the higher elevations in the warmer seasons and wildlife utilize its pathways to migrate from the high grounds of conjoining units. Be mindful that there is a large tract of private land in the epicenter of the unit. Bring an updated GPS unit with a chip in order to avoid crossing into private land areas. For more Colorado Unit 57 hunting information, check out the Info for Cities Near Unit 57 section on the right.

CO Unit 57 Species Hunting Info

Unit 57 Mule Deer
Unit 57 Elk
Unit 57 Antelope

INFO: Mule Hunting in Colorado Unit 57
Hunters looking to get away from the crowds can stand firm that Unit 57 does offer the appeal of remoteness. The mule deer are constantly moving through this unit whether it be for migratory purposes, weather patterns, or the rut. For archery and muzzleloader seasons, the tags are a limited draw for either sex and are valid in units 49, 57, 58, and 581. The 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons for bucks are valid in these same units (49, 57, 58, and 581). Units 49 and 57 are valid to hunt when holding a doe tag in the 2nd and 3rd rifle season. In addition to the above-mentioned seasons, unit 57 also hosts a month-long late rifle doe season that carries tags that are legal in units 56 and 57. If you have exhausted your efforts by the close of the season, the OTC Whitetail tag is still available for purchase and is valid for either sex from December 1st through December 31st.

SUCCESS RATES for Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado Unit 57
5 Year Estimated Average for Deer
Archery 15%
Muzzle Loader 60%
2nd Rifle 50%
3rd Rifle 35%

Mule Deer TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 57 Colorado
Average Quality 140″ – 160″
Trophy Potential 170″ +
Buck to Doe Ratio 24:100
Colorado Unit 57 Mule Deer Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 57
Unlike several units in Colorado, Unit 57 does not offer any OTC elk tags, for any season. The rules and regulations for elk tags are very standard across the board. For archery, muzzleloader, and all 4 rifle seasons, the tags are a limited draw for either sex and valid in Units 57 and 58. The fact that there are no OTC elk tags can be advantageous to you since this exclusion will lower the hunting pressure. This unit is flying under the radar for most hunters but success rate coupled with lower hunting pressure offer quality trips for elk with a few exceptional bulls. Tough guys seeking to get away from the crowds can often stay in elk each day. Overall, a low number of hunters are in the field making this a great place to chase undiscovered elk.

SUCCESS RATES for Elk Hunting in Colorado Unit 57
5 Year Estimated Average for Elk
Archery 22%
Muzzleloader 27%
1st Rifle 40%
2nd Rifle 35%
3rd Rifle 28%
4th Rifle 38%
Elk TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 57 Colorado
Trophy Potential 270″+
Bull to Cow Ratio 30:100
Colorado Unit 57 Elk Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

INFO: Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 57
With a third of the total unit being grasslands, there are antelope to be had in this unit. For public land bucks, focus away from the national forest and shift your focus to the south and southeastern boundaries. The antelope in Unit 57 like to settle near water sources and there are plenty to choose from in this unit! The antelope seasons are all limited draws with archery and rifle season tags being legitimate in units 57, 58, and 581. The muzzleloader season antelope tags are also accepted in units 49, 50, 57, 58, 500, 501, and 581.

SUCCESS RATES for Antelope Hunting in Colorado Unit 57
5 Year Estimated Average for Antelope
Archery 20%
Muzzle Loader 100%
2nd Rifle 60%
Antelope TROPHY QUALITY for Unit 57 Colorado
Average Quality 65″ – 70″
Trophy Potential 70″+
Buck to Doe Ratio 44:100
Colorado Unit 57 Antelope Hunting FORUM Coming Soon!

Available Hunts for Colorado Unit 57

Unit 57 Hunting Information Video

Salida, CO

Total Acreage: 175,000 acres over 273 square miles

Total Public Land: 135,000 acres or 77%

Land Ownership Mix : 23% Private; 77% Public; USFS: 95,424 acres; BLM: 30,016 acres; State: 2,496 acres

Species: Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Pronghorn

Elevation Variances: 6,890 ft. to 10,995 ft.

Terrain Difficulty Overall: Mild to Moderate

Land Coverage/Vegetation: 45% evergreen forest, 36% grassland/herbaceous, 11% shrub/scrub and 5% deciduous forest

Unit 57 Boundaries: (Chaffee, Park, Fremont County Colorado) bounded on North by US-South Highway 24; on East by Kaufman Ridge and Badger Creek; on S by US-South Highway 50 and Colorado 291; on West by Arkansas River

Colorado Unit 57’s terrain is very diverse depending on the area of the unit you are hunting. The northern territory is inundated with forest land from the San Isabel National Forest. There are rugged ridges and canyons among the mountain ranges in Unit 57. Along with the inclines dispersed throughout the unit, there are some grassy flatlands located within the unit. There is a terrain in Unit 57 that is fit for almost anyone at any physical skill level.

The foliage that populates Unit 57 is exclusive to what elevation in which you are hunting. The higher altitudes contain conifer forests populated with firs and spruces that provide great cover for the wildlife during the warmer months when they are active in their summer pattern. The middle and lower elevations contain a blend of pinyon-juniper, sage, and oak brush. This vegetation will dominate elk and mule deer’s winter diets.

Unit 57 in Colorado is located in the central part of the state bounded by US-Hwy 50 along the south, Hwy 291 runs through the southwestern corner, and US-Hwy 285 winds along the northern border. These major highways have smaller roads that branch off of them granting access to more remote regions in the unit. In addition to these roads, Unit 57 has approximately 58 miles of trails that can be traveled by foot, motorized vehicle, or horseback. Stay vigilant about mapping your route to include areas that permit your method of transportation.

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