Unit 116, Colorado

Flat to gently rolling shortgrass prairie with creek-bottom draws cutting through the landscape. Elevation ranges from approximately 4,285 to 4,807 feet — among the lowest and most level terrain in Colorado's numbered GMUs. No significant mountain ranges, canyons, or alpine zones are present.

The unit is bounded by I-70 on the north, US Highway 385 on the east, US Highway 40 on the south, and Colorado Highway 59 on the west. Burlington (Kit Carson County seat) and Cheyenne Wells are the principal access towns. Public land is approximately 4 percent of the unit — there is no national forest, wilderness, or BLM land of significant scale within GMU 116 itself. There are no designated state wildlife areas confirmed within GMU 116's boundaries. Pronghorn access from private landowners is described as fair to good; deer hunting access on private ranches is more difficult to obtain. No seasonal road closures or wilderness travel restrictions apply — the terrain is predominantly roaded rangeland and cropland. Hunters should expect to secure written landowner permission for nearly all big-game hunting.

Dominant cover is shortgrass prairie — blue grama and buffalo grass mixed with native tall grasses. Dry-land and center-pivot irrigated crops (wheat, corn, millet, sunflower) create a patchwork across the landscape. Sagebrush, soapweed yucca, and prickly pear cactus occur in drier areas. Cottonwoods and riparian shrubs line the Arikaree River, the North Fork of the Republican River, and their tributary creek bottoms — these corridors are the primary woody cover in the unit. CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) grassland tracts are interspersed throughout.

Mule deer are distributed throughout the unit. White-tailed deer concentrate along the Arikaree River, the North Fork of the Republican River, and their tributaries, using creek-bottom riparian cover and adjacent irrigated croplands. Pronghorn occupy the open shortgrass and sage flats. A low resident elk population is present. Rio Grande turkey are present along creek-bottom riparian areas. Black bear and mountain lion are listed among hunted species per CPW, though populations are very low in this plains environment. Deer and pronghorn do not undertake long-distance elevational migrations in this flat terrain; movements track seasonal crop and water availability.

1. Per-species harvest statistics for GMU 116 are not publicly accessible without a paid subscription. HuntScore's free landing page shows aggregate 2022 figures (458 total hunters, 227 harvest, 34.7% success) covering ALL species combined — these are not attributable to any single species and are omitted from per-species fields. 2. Season dates are from the 2025 CPW season structure confirmed via eRegulations; specific hunt codes should be confirmed in the annual Big Game Brochure. 3. The 4% public land figure is sourced from HuntScore and is consistent with the agricultural character of Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties. 4. Elk, black bear, and mountain lion are listed as CPW-hunted species in this unit; their populations in this eastern plains unit are very low. 5. No state wildlife areas confirmed within GMU 116 proper; hunters should not assume any walk-in public hunting grounds exist. 6. The Rokslide forum thread cited in the original draft contained no usable factual content and has been removed as a source.