Unit S48

Mesa de Maya dominates the skyline and serves as a primary landmark for orientation; it's visible for miles and useful for glassing from distance. The Hogback and Piñon Ridge systems run north-south and provide vantage points for scanning canyon country. Cotton Gap and The Narrows mark natural travel corridors through rougher terrain.

Major canyons—Carrizo, Pacheco, Hart, West Fork Pat—are named features that chunk the unit into recognizable sections. Fallas Mesa, Cerro Negro, and Tecolote Mesa offer additional glassing positions. These landmarks help hunters navigate the maze of drainages and orient themselves in country that can feel uniform from the ground.

The unit spans from 4,200 feet in the lower canyons to nearly 7,000 feet on ridgelines like The Hogback and Piñon Ridge. Most terrain sits between 5,000 and 6,500 feet—open piñon-juniper grassland and sagebrush country with scattered ponderosa on north-facing slopes. Canyon bottoms feature cottonwood and riparian growth around seasonal water.

Vegetation is sparse overall; this is high-desert terrain where rock outcrops, bajada slopes, and desert scrub dominate. The landscape transitions from relatively flat benches to steep canyon walls, creating the cliff systems bighorn depend on for escape.

Fair road access via county roads connects to the unit, though the network is sparse and rough in places. Pritchett Grade and county roads near Branson and Kim offer entry points, but once inside, you're largely on foot or ATV. The unit is big and remote enough that pressure stays moderate—most hunters won't venture far from roads or water. Interior canyons and ridges see minimal use.

Early-season crowds tend to congregate near obvious access points and known water; moving deeper into canyon systems or harder-to-reach ridgelines typically means solitude. Plan for multi-day hunts or pack camp.

S48 occupies the Carrizo Canyon drainage between U.S. 160 on the north and the New Mexico state line on the south, with Colo. 389 anchoring the western edge and Baca County Road 13 (Pritchett Grade) forming the eastern boundary. This positions the unit in the transition zone between the high plains and the Spanish Peaks massif, roughly 40 miles south of Trinidad and 50 miles east of Walsenburg. The unit encompasses roughly 200,000 acres of lower elevation, semi-arid terrain—vast enough to absorb hunting pressure but accessible enough for staged hunts from nearby towns like Branson and Kim.

Water is the limiting factor. Reliable springs include Fallas, Tub, Regnar, Big Hole, Major, John Clay, Clay, Dripping, and Tharp—scattered throughout the unit but not uniformly distributed. Reader Lake and several small reservoirs (A F Mizer Number 1, John L Jones, Tract 1828) provide secondary sources.

Year-round perennial water exists in major drainages like Middle Water Creek, Tomasa Creek, Owl Roost Creek, and West Carrizo Creek, but many washes run seasonally. Knowing active springs is critical; bighorn congregate near reliable water, and dry years compress animals toward known sources. Scout water availability before the season starts.

Desert bighorn in S48 depend on canyon terrain and reliable water. Hunt near reliable springs like Fallas, Tub, and Big Hole, especially during dry periods when animals must water regularly. Glass rim-rock and cliff systems from distance—bighorn spend midday on secure, rough terrain and move to water and forage in early morning and evening.

Mesa de Maya, The Hogback, and Piñon Ridge offer high-angle vantage points for scanning canyon country. Use canyons as travel corridors; they funnel water and vegetation, concentrating sheep. The sparse forest and open terrain favor spot-and-stalk hunting once you locate animals.

Early season (September) offers cooler temperatures and active movement; later seasons compress sheep toward limited water. Expect to cover significant ground on foot.