Unit 39, Colorado

GMU 39 spans approximately 369 square miles with a dramatic elevation gradient from roughly 5,100 feet in the eastern foothills (near Evergreen and Kittredge) to 14,266 feet at the summit of Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) — one of Colorado's 14ers. The unit features steep canyons, deep gulches, alpine basins, open parks, and numerous creek drainages. The western high country is defined by alpine and subalpine terrain; the middle elevations (8,000–11,500 ft) include forested ridges and benches; the eastern margins drop into lower foothills.

The unit is bisected by I-70 to the north (exits 228–240) and bounded by US 285 to the south and west. The primary access corridor is from I-70 Exit 240 at Idaho Springs: follow CO-103 (Chicago Creek Road) south to Echo Lake, then CO-5 (Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway) to the upper wilderness. No hunting is permitted within 1/2 mile of either side of CO-5 above its junction with CO-103. CO-74 (Evergreen Parkway) from Evergreen connects to Upper Bear Creek Road, which reaches the Mount Evans State Wildlife Area (3,438 acres, accessed via CR 480; vehicles prohibited after Labor Day through June 14 except during regular rifle deer/elk seasons). Georgetown provides access to Guanella Pass Road (FR 381/County Road 381) on the south edge of the unit. The Arapaho and Pike National Forests (Clear Creek Ranger District, Idaho Springs office) manage the majority of public land. The Mount Blue Sky Wilderness (74,401 acres) is entirely roadless and spans Clear Creek and Park counties. State Wildlife Areas within the unit: Bergen Peak SWA (1,093 acres), Mount Evans SWA (3,438 acres), Georgetown SWA (670 acres), Bakerville SWA, and Urad Lake SWA. Georgetown SWA: public access prohibited December 1 through June 14 (except Union Pass Trail); day use only. The Mount Blue Sky Byway operates seasonally (typically Memorial Day to Labor Day) and requires a timed-entry fee for the paved summit road. The eastern foothills contain private-land checkerboard with residential development around Evergreen, Kittredge, and El Rancho, limiting lower-elevation public access.

Lower elevations (5,100–7,500 ft) support mountain mahogany, oakbrush, ponderosa pine, and pinyon-juniper with sagebrush openings and riparian cottonwood and willow along creek bottoms. Mid elevations (7,500–10,500 ft) transition to lodgepole pine, blue spruce, and aspen parks with open grassy meadows. North-facing slopes at upper elevations carry Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir. Treeline transitions to alpine tundra above roughly 11,500–12,000 ft, with Rocky Mountain Bristlecone pine stands present along upper ridgelines. Riparian habitat follows Bear Creek, Chicago Creek, and Geneva Creek drainages. Much of the prime winter range for elk and deer is at lower elevations, with a significant portion on private land in the eastern valleys.

Elk are the primary big game species, with resident and seasonally migratory animals. Elk summer in the alpine and subalpine zones and migrate to lower elevations as snow arrives; much of the winter range is in the eastern foothills, including substantial private land. Mule deer are present throughout the unit with similar migration patterns. A small moose population is associated with riparian drainages and willow habitat in higher basins. Black bear are common, particularly in mid-elevation aspen and oakbrush. Mountain lion are present throughout and are documented to depress deer and elk numbers in steep Front Range terrain. Bighorn sheep inhabit the high rocky terrain around Mount Blue Sky; mountain goat have been documented near the summit area. Wild turkey occur in the lower foothills and river drainages. High year-round recreational traffic — hikers, mountain bikers, and sightseers on the Mount Blue Sky Byway — can affect wildlife movement and hunting conditions, particularly during archery and early rifle seasons.

1. Summit elevation corrected to 14,266 ft per Wikipedia/NAPGD2022 (draft had 14,271 ft). 2. Mount Evans SWA acreage corrected to 3,438 acres per CPW official page (draft had 3,398). 3. Wilderness counties are Clear Creek and Park (Jefferson County is in the broader GMU but not the designated wilderness per Wikipedia). 4. Elk harvest/success (136, 33%) from 2022 CPW Elk Harvest Estimates; deer harvest (147, 28%) from 2024 CPW Deer Harvest Estimates — most recent years parseable from public PDFs. 5. OTC bull elk for 2nd/3rd rifle is unconfirmed from primary CPW sources; web search found units 54/55/551 moved to draw for 2026 but unit 39 not mentioned — OTC status likely remains but hunters must verify against 2026 CPW Big Game Brochure. 6. Public land percentage 68.8% (rounded to 69) sourced from GoHunt unit profile. 7. Season dates use the 2025–2029 CPW season structure. 8. Mountain goat not included in species_data — documented near summit but no hunt codes confirmed in CPW materials.