Unit 97

South Reiradon Hill, Eagle Point Hill, and Fremont Butte serve as modest elevation breaks and navigation references in otherwise flat country—useful visual markers for orientation but subtle terrain features. Buffalo Creek Reservoir and A-27 Reservoir represent the few named water impoundments in the unit, both critical focal points given limited water overall. Summit Springs provides another water reference.

Twin Mills and Midway function as practical staging areas near the unit boundaries. These scattered landmarks help orient hunters in country that otherwise offers little visual distinction across broad expanses.

The entire unit sits in a narrow elevation band between 3,960 and 4,764 feet—genuinely low-elevation country that remains completely below 5,000 feet. Terrain is overwhelmingly grassland and open prairie with very sparse forest coverage, primarily in draws and scattered on ridge tops. This is shortgrass prairie habitat with minimal tree cover, creating wide-open vistas broken only occasionally by juniper or ponderosa pine in drainage bottoms.

The landscape is fundamentally flat to gently rolling, with Jones Flat representing typical terrain character across much of the unit.

Nearly 900 miles of ranch roads crisscross the unit, creating excellent vehicle connectivity despite the vast size. However, much of this network crosses private land, requiring prior permission. Public access exists but is scattered and fragmented given few public land concentrations.

The low terrain complexity and open country mean most hunters can reach areas easily by vehicle, potentially creating distribution pressure across broad areas rather than concentrated use at trailheads. The straightforward terrain means there's little advantage to being off-road; most hunting happens from vehicles or short walks from accessible roads.

Unit 97 covers portions of Logan, Washington, and Morgan counties in northeastern Colorado, bounded by Colorado State Highway 61 to the north and east, U.S. Highway 34 to the south, and I-76 to the west. The unit encompasses a vast expanse of relatively low-elevation plains and prairie grassland with scattered populated places including Twin Mills, Midway, and Akron. This is working ranch and agricultural country typical of Colorado's northeastern plains, characterized by minimal topographic relief and extensive private land ownership interspersed with accessible public sections.

Water is the limiting factor across this unit. Buffalo Creek Reservoir and A-27 Reservoir provide the most reliable water sources, but they're scattered across the landscape. Summit Springs and other unnamed springs offer supplemental options, though springs in this region tend toward seasonal reliability.

Perennial surface water is limited; hunters must plan water access carefully or focus efforts near identified reservoirs and springs. The lack of substantial drainages or permanent streams means water scarcity drives much of the hunting strategy and influences where game concentrates, particularly during dry seasons.

Elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, moose, bears, and mountain lions all inhabit this unit historically, though the open prairie country is typically deer and pronghorn territory rather than prime elk habitat. Pronghorn thrive in grassland—glassing from vehicles or high points like the named hills provides primary hunting method. Mule and white-tailed deer concentrate near water sources and in scattered timber in drainage bottoms.

Early season hunting capitalizes on animals still in summer patterns; water-dependent game shifts toward reservoirs in heat. The lack of cover means stealth and distance matter; patience and optics trump physical hiking. Limited water demands hunting near identified sources or waiting for seasonal precipitation patterns to influence movement.