Unit 145

Moore Draw, Spring Canyon, Murray Draw, and Mitchell Draw form the drainage network across this relatively flat terrain. These shallow valleys are critical navigation references in country where landmarks are subtle. Spring Canyon and its associated draws matter disproportionately since water is scarce; these drainages may hold seeps or temporary water during wet periods.

The draws also provide the only relief from relentless open grassland, offering cover corridors for animals moving between grazing areas. U.S. Highway 287 forms a western boundary and serves as the primary entry corridor.

Everything here runs between 3,500 and 4,400 feet, solidly within the shortgrass prairie and piñon-juniper transition zone. Don't expect timber—the unit is defined by open grassland, sagebrush flats, and scattered juniper patches. These low elevations mean minimal seasonal elevation migration; animals that use this ground do so year-round.

The sparse forest coverage means open-country visibility dominates—glassing works well here, though the terrain lacks the vertical relief that typically concentrates wildlife.

Two hundred fifty-nine miles of roads provide fair access for a moderate-sized unit, but most is ranch track rather than improved road. U.S. 287 gives logical entry, and County Road M provides northern access. The real limiting factor isn't road density but private land dominance—much of the unit is working ranch country where public access may be restricted.

This creates a paradox: roads exist, but where you can hunt is another question. Pressure should be moderate if public-land access is available, but the sparse terrain offers limited places to hide from other hunters.

GMU 145 occupies the southeastern corner of Baca County, pinned by County Road M to the north, the Kansas border on the east, Oklahoma's line to the south, and U.S. Highway 287 on the west. This is the high plains—a moderate-sized unit defined more by its location at the state's edge than dramatic features. The country sits in cattle ranching terrain where private land dominates the mosaic.

The inclusion of Midway as a reference point anchors this as remote, working-ranch landscape with minimal development.

Water is the limiting factor here. The unit's low elevation and sparse precipitation mean reliable sources are few. Spring Canyon and the various draws (Moore, Murray, Mitchell) represent the primary water collection points, but their reliability depends entirely on seasonal precipitation.

Hunters must scout water locations well before the season and plan days around known sources. The scarcity of water makes this country feel more remote than its modest size suggests—you can't simply push deep without knowing where you'll drink.

Elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, moose, mountain lion, and black bear all have historical presence here, though this is pronghorn and mule-deer country primarily. The low elevation and open terrain mean glassing from distance is the primary tactic—get high on a ridge or rise and scan the grassland and sagebrush for feeding animals. Early season favors higher elevations in scattered timber; as the season progresses, animals work lower into better-watered drainages.

Water becomes critical—hunting near the draws where animals must drink is the highest-percentage approach. The flat, straightforward terrain rewards patience and optics over hiking.