Unit 120

Box Springs Reservoir and its associated complex of five numbered reservoirs anchor the unit's water infrastructure and serve as key navigation reference points. Lake Henry Reservoir and Roundtree Lake provide additional landmark features. Cow Butte and Black Hills offer modest elevation gains useful for glassing open country.

Steels Fork and Breckenridge Creek drainage systems provide natural travel corridors and orientation lines. The Pinnacles formation and points like Todd Point and Wild Horse Point mark smaller topographic features useful for navigation across the open plains.

The unit sits in the lower elevation band, ranging from about 4,275 to 5,420 feet, creating a relatively uniform high plains environment. Open grassland and sagebrush flats dominate the landscape, with scattered ponderosa pines and juniper groves providing sparse tree cover. The terrain is characterized by gentle rolling country rather than pronounced elevation changes—typical shortgrass prairie transitioning toward foothills.

Vegetation patterns reflect semi-arid conditions with water-dependent riparian corridors supporting denser growth along creeks and near reservoir areas.

Over 500 miles of roads provide fair access throughout the unit, with primary and secondary county roads creating a network suitable for vehicle travel and staging. However, significant private land ownership limits actual hunting ground availability despite the extensive road system. The straightforward terrain and accessible roads likely concentrate pressure near developed areas and known water sources.

Hunters seeking solitude should venture beyond obvious access points and away from reservoir complexes. The low terrain complexity means navigation is manageable, but water remains the limiting factor dictating where most hunters congregate.

Unit 120 spans across Lincoln, Crowley, and Kiowa counties in east-central Colorado, forming a large rectangular block bounded by Colorado Highway 94 on the north, Highway 96 on the south, and Highway 71 on the west. County roads and secondary routes define the eastern boundary. The unit encompasses high plains terrain transitioning into foothill country, positioned between the Front Range influence to the west and the open plains extending eastward.

Towns like Karval and Forder provide local reference points and supply access.

Water is limited but concentrated in specific locations critical for hunting strategy. Box Springs, Metz Springs, and Redwood Tank provide reliable spring sources. The Box Springs Reservoir complex and Lake Henry Reservoir system hold surface water, though seasonal variations affect availability.

Steels Fork, Breckenridge Creek, and Little Horse Creek represent seasonal drainages that flow during wet periods but may be dry in late season. The canal system including West Ditch, East Ordway Lateral, and Sugar City Lateral indicates agricultural water management influencing flow patterns. Hunters should map water sources carefully before planning routes.

Unit 120 historically supports elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, moose, bears, and mountain lions across its grassland and sparse forest habitat. The open plains country favors pronghorn hunting with glassing from elevated points like Cow Butte or Black Hills. Elk and deer utilize riparian corridors along creek drainages and congregate near water sources during dry periods—Steels Fork and Breckenridge Creek drainages merit focused attention.

Early season hunting can target higher scattered timber patches; as water becomes critical in late season, hunters should focus on reliable springs and reservoir areas where animals concentrate. The sparse forest limits ambush opportunities, making glassing and stalking the primary approach across open country.