Unit 139

Two Buttes and Black Butte stand out as the most recognizable landmarks on an otherwise flat horizon—useful for navigation and distant glassing. Buffalo Point offers another reference feature. Fern Canyon, Lone Rock Draw, and Wild Horse Canyon are subtle terrain breaks worth knowing for travel corridors.

Horse Creek and Antelope Creek provide named drainages that funnel game movement, though water is unreliable. These draws break up the monotony and offer slight concealment in otherwise open country. Springs like Horse Creek Springs are critical waypoints when water is scarce.

The entire unit sits in the lower elevation band between 3,570 and 4,646 feet—all high plains, no significant elevation gain. Grasslands dominate, broken by sparse juniper and ponderosa pine scattered across buttes and draws. Buffalo Point, Two Buttes, and Black Butte provide slight rises in otherwise open country.

Vegetation is low and patchy; this isn't timbered mountain hunting. The sparse forest coverage means wide-open glassing terrain with limited vertical variation. Expect dry, windswept conditions typical of southeastern Colorado plains.

About 1,300 miles of roads network through the unit, creating fair accessibility despite the vast size. County roads and ranch access routes spread hunters across the landscape, so pressure disperses rather than concentrates. Most public access follows existing roads; off-road movement is limited.

Springfield and Walsh provide the logical staging points for hunters. The open terrain means most hunters stay near roads and visible features. Knowing where vehicle traffic concentrates lets you head to quieter country on foot.

Truck access is straightforward, but good hiking legs still give you an advantage.

Unit 139 occupies the northeastern corner of Baca County, bounded by U.S. 287 to the west and Kansas to the east. The northern boundary follows Prowers County roads D and F, while County Road M marks the southern edge. Springfield and Walsh are the nearest towns for supplies and access.

This is vast, flat-to-rolling plains terrain—nothing confined or tight. The unit's straightforward geography and fair road access make navigation manageable, though the open nature means little terrain complexity to work with.

Water is the limiting factor across this unit. Horse Creek, Antelope Creek, and their various branches are the named drainages, but don't expect reliable flow outside spring conditions. Horse Creek Springs and a handful of reservoirs—Burchfield Lake, Two Buttes Reservoir, and several smaller pond structures—mark dependable water locations.

Muddy Creek, Sand Creek, and Dry Creek are seasonal at best. Plan water strategy around known springs and reservoirs; don't rely on creek flow. This limitation shapes hunting patterns—game congregates near reliable water, making those areas worth focused effort.

Pronghorn and mule deer are the primary targets in this terrain; white-tailed deer, elk, and moose are present but secondary. The sparse habitat and open grassland favor pronghorn and mule deer glassing from distance—two buttes, draws, and high ground are your vantage points. Early season rewards high-elevation pockets; by rut season, focus on draws and water sources where bucks congregate.

Elk use the sparse timber around canyon breaks and draws; hunting them means glassing far and hiking to promising country. The low complexity means straightforward stalking once you spot game, but finding animals in such open terrain requires patience and good optics. Pronghorn hunting focuses on morning and evening movement near water and good grass.