Unit 123

Several small reservoirs provide both water access and navigation anchors: Thatcher Reservoir, Greenview Reservoir, and J N Holland Reservoir Number 2 are the most reliable. Baculite Mesa and Beacon Hill offer modest elevation gains for glassing the grasslands. Creeks like Haynes, Porter, and Black Squirrel provide drainage corridors worth checking for sign and water.

The network of irrigation ditches—including Jackson, Burke, and Greenville Ditches—creates additional reference lines for navigation and may concentrate wildlife during dry periods. These canals are artifacts of the agricultural landscape but serve as practical waypoints for route-finding.

The unit sits in the lower foothills and high plains zone, ranging from roughly 4,450 to 5,630 feet with most country clustering around the 5,000-foot mark. Vegetation transitions from semi-arid grasslands and sagebrush flats to scattered ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper woodlands on slightly higher slopes. The sparse forest coverage means most hunting happens in open grassland and shrubland interspersed with low timber.

This elevation band supports year-round game presence, though migrations are minimal due to the relatively gentle topography. The lack of high country means seasons run longer and weather impacts are less severe than in higher units.

Over 440 miles of roads network the unit, though exact density metrics aren't available—access is fair overall. Most access is via ranch roads, county routes, and some maintained forest service roads. I-25 provides western corridor access, and U.S. 50 offers southern approach.

The straightforward terrain and accessible road network mean this unit sees moderate pressure during season. Popular hunting areas cluster near reliable water and reservoirs; less-hunted country exists in drainage headwaters and rolling grassland away from main access roads. Public land is scattered, requiring good pre-hunt scouting to identify accessible parcels.

Unit 123 spans the transition zone between El Paso and Pueblo Counties, anchored by I-25 on the west and bounded by U.S. 50 to the south. The northern boundary traces through ranch country via Hanover, Finch, and Myers roads, while the eastern edge follows Boone Road. This is foothill country at the interface between the Front Range and the eastern plains, positioned roughly between Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

The unit encompasses a mix of private ranches and public land scattered throughout, creating a patchwork landscape typical of lower-elevation Colorado hunting country.

Water is the critical constraint in this unit. Permanent streams are limited; Haynes Creek, Porter Creek, and Black Squirrel Creek are the most reliable, though flow depends on season and irrigation demands. Small reservoirs scattered across the unit provide supplemental water but may be inaccessible due to private land.

Irrigation ditches support riparian vegetation and can concentrate game, especially during dry months, but access varies. Springs are rare—Nussbaum Spring is documented but isolated. Late-summer and fall hunting requires scouting water sources beforehand; many natural seeps dry up, forcing game to ditches and reservoirs.

This unit supports elk, deer, pronghorn, moose, and black bear historically, though pronghorn and mule deer are the primary draws in this lower-elevation environment. The sparse timber and open grasslands favor glassing and spot-and-stalk approaches over stillhunting. Early season benefits from animal movement on open ridges and grassland edges; later season pushes game toward remaining water sources and sparse timber patches.

Elk favor creek bottoms and juniper stands; mule deer use the same riparian corridors and scattered brush. Pronghorn work the open flats year-round. Success depends on locating water and sign, then stalking across open country.

The low terrain complexity means the hunt is about reading animals and country, not navigating difficult terrain.