Unit 48, Colorado

Terrain rises from 9,023 ft near Clear Creek Reservoir in the south to 14,433 ft at Mt. Elbert, with multiple Fourteeners in or adjacent to the unit. Broad valley bottoms (Arkansas River valley, Twin Lakes basin, Halfmoon Creek drainage) transition rapidly to steep, rugged alpine ridges. Approximately 80 percent of public land has slopes of 27 degrees or less. The western and northern reaches are dominated by alpine tundra above 11,500 ft; mid-elevations hold classic Colorado spruce-fir and aspen. Unit boundaries run north and west along the Continental Divide, east along Tennessee Creek and the upper Arkansas River (US-24 corridor), and south along Clear Creek and the South Fork of Clear Creek.

Public land approximately 89 percent (primarily USFS, small BLM and State components); roughly 32 percent within designated wilderness. Primary managing agency: San Isabel National Forest, Leadville Ranger District. Three paved highways provide perimeter access: US-24 (Tennessee Pass, 10,425 ft) east boundary; CO-91 (Fremont Pass, 11,300 ft) northeast corner; CO-82 (Independence Pass, 12,095 ft) southern boundary — closes seasonally late October through late May. Forest Road 110 (Halfmoon Road) extends west from US-24 south of Leadville to trailheads for Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive. Three wilderness areas: Mt. Massive Wilderness, portion of Holy Cross Wilderness, portion of Collegiate Peaks Wilderness — foot and horse access only, no motorized vehicles or mountain bikes. Private land (approximately 11 percent) concentrated in valley bottoms near Leadville, Twin Lakes, and along the Arkansas River corridor.

Four distinct bands: (1) Riparian corridors and valley-bottom hay meadows at 9,000-9,500 ft along the Arkansas River and Clear Creek; (2) Aspen groves mixed with ponderosa pine at mid-slopes; (3) Dense spruce-fir forest from roughly 9,500-11,500 ft, primary elk summer habitat and core of wilderness backcountry; (4) Alpine tundra, rocky talus, and glacially-carved cirques above timberline. Lower valley edges near Leadville and Twin Lakes support sagebrush-grass patches holding mule deer and limited pronghorn.

Elk are the primary big game; the resident herd concentrates in spruce-fir belt during summer and migrates downslope with snowfall. Southern 30 percent of unit historically holds more elk. Rut begins as early as first week of September and lasts approximately one month. Mule deer occupy the full elevation range in summer and winter to lower valley floors. Shiras moose inhabit riparian willows and drainages — rut runs mid-September through October; antlered tags are once-in-a-lifetime with a lifetime bag limit of one per CPW reg #205. Black bear range the spruce-fir and aspen transition, breeding late May through early July. Mountain lion present throughout. Pronghorn occur at lower grassland elevations near the Arkansas River valley. White-tailed deer inhabit riparian zones near Leadville (dedicated December OTC hunt). Wild turkey also present.

1. CORRECTION: Elk archery (EE048O1A) is LIMITED DRAW (100 either-sex per 2024 CPW reg #255), not OTC as originally drafted. 2. CORRECTION: Elk muzzleloader: EM048O1M=35 antlered, EF048O1M=30 antlerless (draft had these transposed). 3. Elk rifle unit-48-only totals (2024): 1st 50 antlered; 2nd 20 antlered+50 antlerless; 3rd 10 antlered+25 antlerless; 4th 10 antlered+30 antlerless; total 195. 4. Deer rifle quotas (320, 220) are for combined units 48+56+481+561, not unit 48 alone. 5. Whitetail OTC DE048U6R unlimited either-sex Dec 1-31 confirmed CPW reg #250.B.1. 6. No antler-point restrictions in unit 48 confirmed CPW reg #254B. 7. Moose once-in-a-lifetime bag limit confirmed CPW reg #205. 8. Black bear two-license allowance GMU 48 confirmed CPW reg #205. 9. Harvest data (122 harvested, 35% success) from CPW 2022 Elk Harvest Estimates. 10. Independence Pass closure dates vary year to year.