Unit 140, Colorado

Elevation ranges from approximately 5,414 feet on the lower shortgrass prairie flats to 9,544 feet on the highest mesas and ridges. The landscape transitions from gently rolling grassland and low arroyos in the east and north to steep canyons, elevated mesas, and heavily dissected breaks in the south and west. Major canyon systems carved by the Purgatoire River and its tributaries (including Trinchera Creek and San Francisco Creek) dominate the southern portions of the unit near the New Mexico line. The upper reaches of James M. John SWA reach above 9,600 feet.

Public land is extremely limited — approximately 3–8% of the unit total. Two State Wildlife Areas (SWAs) provide the only walk-in public access: 1. Lake Dorothey SWA (4,500 acres; coords 37.0037, -104.3703; elevation 7,511–9,079 ft; GMU 140): Hunting for deer, elk, bear, and turkey is permitted. All big game hunting requires a hunting access permit issued by drawing — applications open July 1, due July 21. Access restricted to foot or horseback from designated parking areas. All trails closed December 1–April 30 and May 15–June 30 (except licensed spring turkey hunters). Camping allowed during licensed seasons ±3 days; no camping within 200 yards of Lake Dorothey or 100 feet of any stream except designated areas. Trapping prohibited. Contact: Pueblo CPW Office, 719-561-5300. 2. James M. John SWA (8,200 acres; coords 37.0592, -104.4256; elevation 7,468–9,653 ft; GMU 140): Hunting for deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, small game, and turkey is permitted. Big game hunting requires a drawn hunting access permit — applications accepted July 1–July 22. Access restricted to foot or horseback. Public access prohibited December 1–June 30. Dogs not allowed. Camping allowed during big game or turkey season ±3 days; no camping within 100 feet of any stream. The unit's highway boundaries (I-25, US-160, CO-389) provide road access to the perimeter. Most internal roads and ranch trails are on private land requiring landowner permission. No National Forest or BLM lands are present within the unit boundaries. Landowner permission or outfitter access is required before applying for pronghorn limited licenses per CPW regulation. Trinidad (US-160/I-25) and Raton, NM (just south on I-25) are the nearest service towns.

Vegetation is highly diverse across the elevation gradient. Lower elevations support shortgrass prairie dominated by buffalo grass and blue grama. Mid-elevations (roughly 6,000–7,500 ft) transition into pinyon-juniper woodland, Gambel oak, and ponderosa pine. Higher mesa tops and canyon rims carry aspen groves and mixed spruce-fir forest on north-facing slopes. Riparian corridors along the Purgatoire River and Trinchera and San Francisco Creeks host cottonwood, willow, and dense brush, providing critical white-tailed deer habitat. Open flats in the northern portion of the unit carry scattered sagebrush mixed with shortgrass.

Mule deer occupy the foothills, mesas, pinyon-juniper breaks, and canyon country in the southern half of the unit. White-tailed deer concentrate in the riparian creek bottoms (Purgatoire River, Trinchera Creek, San Francisco Creek) and adjacent brushy draws. Elk are found primarily on the high mesas and in canyon systems in the southern half of the unit; the rut typically begins in early September and runs approximately one month. Pronghorn antelope use the open shortgrass prairie and rolling flats, particularly in the northern portions. Wild turkey inhabit the southern oak and pinyon-juniper canyon country. Black bear and mountain lion are present throughout. The unit's private-land character means most trophy-class game is associated with large ranches; the Purgatoire Wildlife Ranch operates under the Ranching for Wildlife (RFW) program.