Unit 112, Colorado

Flat to mostly level, gently rolling high-plains terrain. Elevation ranges from approximately 5,070 to 5,336 feet (CPW 2017 guide lists 5,336 as upper and 5,070 as lower). Topography is mostly level with occasional low draws and shallow creek valleys; no significant escarpments or canyon country. Long sightlines are characteristic — hunters and game can see each other at great distance across the open landscape.

GMU 112 is 100% private land per CPW 2017 Southeast Colorado Hunting Guide (land status: '100 percent private'). HuntScore reports 13% state/public land, likely reflecting Colorado State Trust Land parcels that do not allow public access without a permit. Per CPW 2017 guide: hunter access is good for pronghorn but only fair for deer. Hunters must obtain written landowner permission, pay trespass fees, purchase landowner vouchers, or book through an outfitter holding private leases. There are no National Forest or BLM public parcels, no SWAs, no designated trails or trailheads within the unit boundary. Hugo SWA and Kinney Lake SWA are located in adjacent GMU 113, not GMU 112. Key access roads are the county road grid off U.S. 40, CO 71, CO 94, and County Primary 109; most are unpaved county roads. Nearest services: Hugo (hospital, gas, food); Limon (lodging, gas, food, small medical clinic, Mon–Fri); Arriba (gas, food, lodging). Colorado Springs also has a hospital. No seasonal road closures typical of mountain units, but wet weather can make unpaved plains roads impassable.

Dominant cover is shortgrass prairie interspersed with large tracts of dry-farm cropland (winter wheat, alfalfa, corn, and hay). Rangeland carries native shortgrass, scattered sagebrush, and yucca. Riparian cover along Big Sandy Creek, Rush Creek, and Long Branch Creek consists of scattered cottonwoods, willows, and shrubby draws. Weedy, brushy fallow fields and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres provide additional deer habitat. No timber, no aspen, no conifer stands in the unit. Per CPW 2017 Southeast Colorado Hunting Guide: 'Short-grass prairie with interspersed agricultural crops. There is limited cottonwood riparian.'

Pronghorn antelope are the most abundant and widely distributed large-game species, found throughout the unit and concentrated near winter wheat fields. The rut runs from early September through mid-October. Mule deer and white-tailed deer occur in the unit; per CPW 2017 guide, 'some deer herds growing.' Both species use riparian corridors (Big Sandy Creek, Rush Creek drainage) and are found near alfalfa fields, cropland edges, and brushy/weedy draws and fallow fields. Deer rut runs late October through late December. Elk are not established residents — 2016 CPW harvest data shows 0 harvest from 3 hunters; confirmed 'not found in unit' as a resident species. OTC plains elk tags may be technically valid but dedicated elk hunting is not productive. Black bear and mountain lion are listed as potentially present in very low numbers; the flat, open, mostly treeless terrain provides minimal habitat. Wild turkey may appear along creek drainages seasonally. Cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits widespread; mourning dove found near sunflower stands, cottonwood trees, and open water early in fall. Waterfowl (mostly teal) found early in season along creek corridors and stock ponds. Water sources vary dramatically by year and season.