Unit 101, Colorado

Flat to gently rolling eastern plains with scattered sandhills, dry canyons, and irrigated flats. Elevation ranges from approximately 3,547 ft (low) to 4,462 ft (high). Dominant topography is sandsage-grass sandhills (over 50% of the DAU) broken by four riparian drainages: the North Fork of the Republican River, Dry Willow Creek, Black Wolf Creek, and the Arikaree River. No significant relief; most travel is on a well-developed county road network, though wet conditions can render secondary roads impassable.

Public land is minimal: Sandsage State Wildlife Area (287 acres, GPS 40.0633, -102.3181, Yuma County) lies south of Wray. Allowed hunting species: deer, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey, and waterfowl. Weapon rule: discharge of firearms or bows is prohibited except shotguns with birdshot or bows when actively hunting — rifles and handguns are not permitted. Open 4 a.m.–9 p.m. A valid hunting/fishing license or SWA pass is required for anyone 16 or older. No other State Wildlife Areas or significant BLM parcels fall within the unit boundaries. Unit boundary roads: US-34 (north), US-385 (east), US-36 (south), County Hwy 61 (west); Colorado Route 59 and County Road 23 provide interior access. Hunting on private land requires advance landowner contact — CPW strongly advises contacting landowners well before the season opens. No wilderness areas, no National Forest.

The unit is dominated by sandsage/mid-grass prairie sandhills interspersed with short-grass prairie, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands, dry cropland (dryland corn, domestic sunflowers, wheat), and center-pivot irrigated fields (corn, wheat, alfalfa). Riparian corridors along the Republican River tributaries support cottonwood-willow bottoms. Yucca and Russian thistle are common upland associates. No conifer, aspen, or mountain-shrub communities are present. Habitat quality has improved in recent decades due to CRP enrollment, managed grazing, and a shift from wheat-fallow toward dryland corn and sunflower rotations.

Mule deer and white-tailed deer are the primary game species. Mule deer occur in all habitat types, with highest densities in sandsage rangeland, irrigated cropland settings, and large CRP complexes. White-tailed deer concentrate along the North Fork of the Republican River, Arikaree River, and their tributaries — the cottonwood-riparian bottoms — though whitetails can be found throughout. The deer rut can begin as early as late October and extend through late December. Pronghorn occupy the sandsage grasslands as part of the Sandhills/Arickaree herd (GMUs 93, 97, 98, 101, 102); this herd has experienced long-term decline due to drought, poor fawn survival, and habitat constraints, with the modeled population sitting below objective; buck numbers are low relative to other eastern plains units. Elk are present in low, opportunistic numbers on the eastern plains but are not the primary target species in this unit; a plains OTC elk season applies. Rio Grande turkeys use the riparian cottonwood corridors. Black bear and mountain lion are present but at low densities given the limited woody cover. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been documented in adjacent unit 102 and is broadly present across northeastern Colorado; hunters should submit animals for testing.

1. Mule deer hunter_success_pct (61%) and reported_harvest (146) are from the 2015–16 CPW Northeast CO hunting guide — the most recent GMU-level draw-season data available from public sources. HuntScore 2022 aggregate shows 150 total harvest across all species/methods and 25.3% overall success. 2. Pronghorn stats (84% success, harvest 9) also from the 2015–16 CPW guide. 3. Public land pct: CPW DAU narrative states less than 3% public (CPW-owned); HuntScore/GoHunt cite ~8% which likely includes State Trust Lands. Value of 3 reflects the authoritative CPW DAU source. 4. Plains archery deer season opens Oct 1, not Sep 2 — the Sep 2 date applies to statewide/mountain archery elk. 5. Pronghorn optional rifle season 2 (Oct 17–25) from original draft was not confirmed in any 2026 source; season_general reflects only confirmed season 1 dates. 6. CWD documented in adjacent unit 102; broadly present in northeastern CO. 7. Tag quotas null — draw recap data behind authenticated portals. 8. Turkey and plains elk season dates should be verified in the official 2026 CPW brochures before hunting.