Unit 110, Colorado

Elevation ranges from approximately 5,971 to 7,686 feet (unit-wide range per HuntScore; Ramah SWA itself sits at 6,156-6,228 ft). Terrain is predominantly flat to gently rolling shortgrass prairie across most of the unit, transitioning to steeper bluffs, small canyons, and dry creek draws toward the northern margin near the Black Forest ponderosa pine plateau. The western portion grades from urban and suburban Colorado Springs communities eastward into rural ranchland around Falcon and Calhan. Slopes are gentle across most accessible ground.

Access is rated fair to poor overall, improving somewhat in the eastern half of the unit where larger private ranches replace suburban ranchettes. There is no National Forest or BLM land within the unit. The primary and essentially only public hunting parcel is the Ramah State Wildlife Area (400 acres, GMU 110; located in the northeast corner of the unit near Ramah, El Paso County). Ramah SWA allows deer, small game, and waterfowl hunting; centerfire rifles are prohibited on the SWA. A valid hunting/fishing license or Colorado SWA pass is required for access (age 16+). Contact: CPW Colorado Springs office, 719-227-5200. Beyond the SWA, hunters depend on private-land permission or paid access from landowners and hunting clubs. The western half of the unit is largely inaccessible due to suburban and exurban Colorado Springs development. The eastern half around Calhan and Ramah contains medium-to-large ranches where hunter access may occasionally be secured through landowner permission or lease. Major travel corridors: US Highway 24 runs east-west through the center; Colorado Highway 94 forms the southern boundary; I-25 forms the western boundary; County Road 523 (Calhan Highway) runs along the eastern boundary. No wilderness areas, no USFS roads, no seasonal Forest Service closures apply in this unit.

The dominant cover is shortgrass prairie across the central and eastern portions of the unit. The northern fringe — especially around the Black Forest community and north of US Highway 24 — supports a significant ponderosa pine forest interspersed with montane shrubland (oakbrush, mountain mahogany). Sagebrush and native grassland mix into the mid-unit transition zones. Riparian draws and dry creek beds provide narrow strips of woody cover. The western edge is heavily developed (suburban/ranchette parcels). There is no spruce-fir, aspen, or alpine tundra in this unit.

The unit supports mule deer (found primarily in the Black Forest ponderosa pine area along the northern edge, mainly north of US Highway 24), white-tailed deer (in riparian draws and brushy edges throughout; the Ramah SWA is specifically noted for whitetail), pronghorn (in the open grassland of the eastern end of the unit), and small, occasional herds of elk (found sporadically in the northern and central Black Forest area). Black bear and mountain lion are present but uncommon given the predominantly open prairie character. Wild turkey are also present. Elk in this unit do not undertake significant mountain-to-plains seasonal migrations as seen in western Colorado; small resident herds occupy the Black Forest ponderosa zone. Mule deer use the Black Forest as summer range and may shift to lower prairie draws in winter. Pronghorn in the eastern unit are year-round residents of the open grasslands. The rut for elk can begin as early as the first week of September and run approximately one month; mule deer rut occurs late October through late December; pronghorn rut occurs early September through mid-October.