Unit 118

Signal Rock and Crows Roost provide modest visual anchors on the flatter terrain. The Buttes and Skinner Hill offer slight elevation relief for orientation and limited glassing opportunities. Major water infrastructure—Hanover Ditch, Fountain Ditch, and Chansler Canal—mark the landscape and indicate irrigation development; Calhan Reservoir, Prospect Lake, and the Johnson Reservoirs are notable water concentrations.

Spring Creek, Little Fountain Creek, Sand Creek, and Bear Creek flow through the unit as drainage corridors that often hold water and provide cover. These creeks serve as both travel routes and habitat features; their seasonal reliability varies considerably.

Elevation spans a modest 1,300 feet, ranging from mid-5,200s to mid-6,500 feet across mostly open grassland and prairie with scattered ponderosa and mixed conifer stands. Lower elevations feature short-grass prairie and sagebrush flats typical of the Colorado plains; as terrain rises eastward, piñon-juniper scrub and patches of ponderosa forest become more prevalent. The sparse forest coverage and open character make this prairie-edge country rather than mountain habitat.

Vegetation transitions are gradual, creating edge habitat suitable for mule deer, pronghorn, and elk when they move through seasonal ranges.

Roughly 1,300 miles of roads crisscross the unit, indicating strong vehicular access throughout. County roads, agricultural roads, and maintained access routes make staging simple and foot travel minimal in many areas. However, extensive private ownership interspersed with public land fragments the hunting landscape; access points require specific knowledge of public-private boundaries.

Proximity to Colorado Springs generates predictable pressure during opener and peak seasons, concentrated around accessible trailheads and water sources. The straightforward terrain and road network mean most accessible public land will see use; finding less-pressured country requires careful boundary research and willingness to walk farther from road parking.

Unit 118 sits in El Paso County immediately northeast and east of Colorado Springs, bounded by Highway 94 on the north, I-25 on the west, and a network of county roads (Yoder, Shear, Boone, Hanover, Finch, Myers) forming the eastern and southern perimeter. The unit encompasses transition country between the Front Range foothills and the high plains, characterized by relatively gentle topography. Proximity to the state's largest population center shapes both access and pressure patterns; hunters should understand that this is semi-developed country with significant private holdings adjacent to public land.

Water availability is inconsistent across the unit. Springs, reservoirs, and major drainages like Cheyenne Creek, Bear Creek, and Sand Creek provide reliable sources in some areas, while other sections depend on seasonal flows and constructed water features. The canal system—Hanover Ditch, Fountain Ditch, Chansler Canal, and Chilcotte Canal—indicates significant irrigation infrastructure that affects water distribution and access.

Summer months can see reduced flows in smaller creeks; hunters should scout water locations before the season and not assume perennial availability in all drainages. Reservoirs and ditch systems offer more predictable water than natural springs.

Unit 118 supports mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, pronghorn, moose (rare), and mountain lion across its plains-to-foothills mosaic. Early season finds deer using higher elevation timber and open parks; they migrate to lower grasslands and creek bottoms as weather cools. Pronghorn hunt open prairie year-round, favoring grassland away from heavy timber.

Elk in this unit are transient or limited—the sparse forest and developed landscape don't provide core habitat; most elk hunting success depends on animals moving through from adjacent higher country. Water sources concentrate animals during dry periods, making creeks and reservoirs strategic glassing and stalking locations. Success requires understanding public-private boundaries and scouting access before season opens.