Unit 72

Sleeping Ute Mountain stands as the unit's most prominent feature, visible across much of the terrain and serving as an excellent navigation reference. Goodman Point and Big Point cliffs provide glassing opportunities and landmark identification. The major canyons—Ruin Canyon, Hovenweep Canyon, Cow Canyon, and Trail Canyon—form natural drainages and travel corridors.

Ute Peak, Black Mountain, and The Island peaks can aid orientation. McElmo Falls marks a notable water feature. These landmarks help break the vast terrain into recognizable sections and provide elevated positions for surveying country, making them critical for hunting strategy in this complex landscape.

The unit spans from low-desert valley floors near 4,600 feet to high points exceeding 9,900 feet, with the bulk of huntable terrain in the 6,000-8,000 foot range. Low elevation basins transition into pinyon-juniper slopes, then ponderosa and mixed conifer zones on higher ground. The moderate forest coverage means open country and timbered pockets mix throughout.

Terrain varies dramatically over short distances—mesas like Sleeping Ute Mountain and Mail Trail Mesa provide elevated vantage points, while deep canyons slice through the landscape. This elevation range and vegetation mosaic creates multiple habitat types on a single hunt, requiring flexibility in approach.

Nearly 950 miles of roads crisscross the unit, though exact road density can't be calculated from available data. U.S. 491 provides primary corridor access from the north and south. Fair connectivity means most terrain can be reached by vehicle, but many roads are rough and suitable only for high-clearance vehicles.

The Ute Mountain Ditch and various lateral canals crossing the unit follow historic travel corridors that may aid navigation. Most hunting pressure likely concentrates along main roads and near population centers. The terrain complexity and canyon-heavy topography mean hunters willing to work the rougher country away from primary drainages can find quieter ground.

Unit 72 encompasses the high-desert plateau country of southwestern Colorado, straddling Dolores and Montezuma counties. The northern and eastern boundaries follow U.S. 491, a major north-south corridor that provides primary access to the unit. The southern boundary runs along the New Mexico state line, while the western edge meets Utah.

The nearby towns of Towaoc and Mariano serve as logical basecamp locations. This is mesa and canyon country—the landscape sits at the crossroads of the Colorado Plateau, characterized by flat-topped formations, deep slot canyons, and dissected drainages that create significant vertical relief despite the moderate median elevation.

Water is limited but present strategically throughout the unit. Named springs include Champagne Spring, Navajo Spring, Littlewater Spring, Bug Spring, and several others scattered across the terrain. Reliable creeks include Fisher Creek, Ute Creek, Berry Creek, Littlewater Creek, and Mud Creek, though many flow seasonally or have unreliable flow.

Cottonwood Wash, Mariano Wash, Navajo Wash, Aztec Wash, and other major washes drain the plateau but often run dry except in wet seasons. Ducks Nest Reservoir, E G Merritt Reservoir, and smaller reservoirs provide supplemental water. Water location will heavily influence camp placement and daily hunting routes, making spring research essential before the hunt.

Unit 72 holds elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, moose, bear, and mountain lion. The elevation range and mixed habitat support multiple species across different terrain. Early season elk typically occupy higher ridges and timbered slopes; rut period elk move through canyons and connecting drainages.

Mule deer use the open mesa breaks and ridgeline transitions. Pronghorn inhabit the lower, more open basins. Canyon country funnels animal movement—glassing from mesa rims like Goodman Point or Sleeping Ute Mountain lets hunters spot distant animals, then stalk through the canyons below.

Water scarcity means animals concentrate near reliable springs and creeks, making these zones high-probability areas. The high terrain complexity rewards hunters who study topo maps and plan routes well before arrival.