Unit 33, Colorado

Elevation spans from approximately 5,323 feet near Rifle and the Colorado River to roughly 12,361 feet at the high points within or adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness on the northern boundary (Flat Top Mountain). The Roan Plateau itself peaks at 9,290 feet. The unit features sharp relief — lower terrain is characterized by open mesas, sage benches, and canyon breaks along the Colorado River corridor, while mid-elevations hold steep oakbrush and aspen-covered slopes and draws. The upper reaches of the unit abut the Flat Tops plateau (generally above 10,000 feet), a broad volcanic tableland with numerous lakes, parks, and tundra. Approximately 80 percent of the terrain has slopes of 30 degrees or less, making large portions accessible by ATV on open Forest and BLM roads, though the Roan Plateau rim roads are narrow and challenging.

The unit is bounded on the south by the Colorado River (I-70 corridor), on the west by Colorado Highway 13/789 (the Meeker-Rifle highway), on the east by Canyon Creek, and on the north by the White River–Colorado River drainage divide. Primary vehicle access is from I-70 Exit 90 (Rifle) northward. Two main routes reach Roan Plateau BLM lands: (1) Hubbard Mesa/JQS Trail via County Road 244 (Fravert Reservoir Road) — from I-70 Exit 90 north on Highway 6, right on Truck Route Highway 13, left onto County Road 244; the parking area is 1.9 miles ahead; narrow switchback route requiring high-clearance 4WD; trailers not recommended; (2) Cow Creek Road — north from Rifle on Highway 13 approximately 20 minutes, turn left onto Piceance Creek Road (County Road 5), then left onto Cow Creek Road after 4.5 miles; 30–40 minutes to the JQS Trail junction; more accessible but still requires decent clearance. The BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office (2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652; 970-876-9000) administers the Roan Plateau lands; an OHV permit registration is required for the Hubbard Mesa area. White River National Forest (Rifle Ranger District, 0094 County Road 244, Rifle, CO 81650) covers the northern and upper portions. Approximately 25 percent of the unit is private land, concentrated in valley bottoms and lower mesas; hunters should verify ownership carefully. Approximately 120,192 acres are USFS and 76,352 acres are BLM, totaling roughly 75 percent public land. Upper-elevation roads typically become impassable with early snowfall — late-season hunters should anticipate closures above 9,000 feet.

Vegetation transitions strongly with elevation. The lowest zones (5,300–7,000 ft) along the Colorado River and Roan Creek drainages support sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and greasewood with scattered pinyon-juniper. Mid elevations (7,000–9,000 ft) are dominated by Gambel oak (oakbrush) and mountain mahogany brush transitioning to scattered aspen groves and meadow openings. Upper slopes (9,000–11,500 ft) hold extensive aspen forests and parks interspersed with lodgepole pine. Near and above timberline (11,500 ft+) on the Flat Tops rim, Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir form dense stands giving way to alpine tundra and numerous lakes and ponds. Riparian corridors along Canyon Creek, Roan Creek, and the Colorado River provide willows and cottonwood. Vegetation coverage is approximately 31 percent evergreen forest, 27 percent deciduous forest, 15 percent shrub/scrub, 14 percent grassland/herbaceous, and 6 percent pasture/hay. This mosaic creates diverse summer and transitional-range habitat for elk and mule deer.

Elk are the primary big game species, part of the White River herd (E-6). Classification flights in 2025 documented 18,500+ elk across the White River and Williams Fork drainages, with spike bull ratios rising from below 10 per 100 cows post-hunt in 2023, to 14 in 2024, to 16 per 100 cows in 2025 — CPW confirmed the herd returned to population objective range. Elk summer on the high Flat Tops plateau and transition to lower oakbrush and sage country on the Roan Plateau and Colorado River breaks during fall and winter. Mule deer occupy the oakbrush and sage mid-elevations and canyon rims, with bucks moving to lower sage flats during the rut in late October through November. Population figures for both elk and deer from circa-2010 CPW sources (42,370 elk herd-wide; 7,840 deer unit-wide) are outdated; current numbers reflect post-2022-23 winter recovery. Shiras moose are present in willow riparian areas and high subalpine basins. Black bear are widespread across the oakbrush and berry-producing mid-elevations. Mountain lion are present throughout the unit's rough canyon and cliff terrain. Pronghorn occupy lower sagebrush flats and open mesa tops, particularly on BLM Roan Plateau country. Wild turkey use mid-elevation ponderosa, oak, and riparian zones near Rifle and along Canyon Creek. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is documented in surrounding units and the broader northwest Colorado deer population; hunters are encouraged to submit samples.

1. Harvest data (759 harvested, 15.7% success, ~3,939 hunters) is from HuntScore citing 2022 season — most recent unit-level figure available without a paid subscription. 2. GMU 33 was NOT included in the 2024 E-6 severe winter OTC restrictions (those affected GMUs 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 131, 211, 231); GMU 33 retained OTC 2nd/3rd rifle bull throughout. 3. White River herd E-6 figures: 18,500+ observed in 2025 classification flights (up from post-winter lows); spike bull ratios 2023 <10, 2024 14, 2025 16 per 100 cows; herd returned to population objective. 4. Population figures for elk (42,370 herd-wide) and mule deer (7,840 unit) are circa 2010 — outdated but retained as historical baseline. 5. All moose, pronghorn, and mountain lion season dates are statewide framework dates; specific GMU 33 hunt codes must be verified in the 2026 CPW Big Game Brochure. 6. Flat Tops high point is 12,361 ft (Flat Top Mountain); Roan Plateau high point is 9,290 ft. 7. CWD presence stated as documented in surrounding units/northwest Colorado broadly; cannot confirm positive tests specifically within GMU 33 boundaries from available sources.