Unit 49, Colorado

Elevation ranges from approximately 7,874 feet near Johnson Village on the Arkansas River corridor to 14,238 feet at Mt. Cameron in the Mosquito Range. Terrain transitions from broad valley bottoms along the Arkansas River and South Park grasslands, through moderately steep foothills, to steep alpine ridges. The Mosquito Range forms the central spine, with peaks such as Mt. Sherman (14,040 ft) and Mt. Lincoln (14,286 ft). The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness occupies the southern portion of the unit and features rugged, largely trailless terrain with elevations from approximately 9,200 to 13,326 feet.

The unit is approximately 80 percent public land, administered primarily by the Pike-San Isabel National Forests (Leadville and South Park Ranger Districts). The unit is bounded on the north by the Continental Divide, east by Colorado Highway 9 and US 285, south by US 24, and west by the Arkansas River and Tennessee Creek. Key access highways are US 285 (Fairplay side/east) and US 24 (Leadville/Buena Vista side/west). Weston Pass Road (Forest Service Road 22 off US 285) is a primary access route into National Forest land and the Weston Pass area. FS Road 431 and FS Road 435 on the east side provide access to Lynch Creek and Buffalo Peaks Wilderness trailheads. FS Road 396 (Hayden Gulch Road) and FS Road 149 (Low Pass Road) provide 4WD-only access from US 24 to the west side of the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness; Chaffee County Road 375 (Four Mile Trailhead) also requires 4WD for the final mile. The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness (43,410 acres, designated 1993) prohibits motorized vehicles; groups of 15 or more require a special use permit from the South Park Ranger District (719-836-2031). State Wildlife Areas within the unit include Alma, Buena Vista, Chubb Park Ranch, Paddock (approximately 1,300 acres in Lake County, restricted access Aug 15-Nov 30 for hunting seasons), and Reddy. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) provides year-round camping along the river as a base camp; no hunting within 100 yards of any campground, picnic area, or boat ramp. State Trust Lands (Antero, Chubb Park, Crystal Lake, High Creek, Tiger Lilly) supplement public access. Approximately 20 percent of the unit is private; private parcels are not always contiguous, and a property ownership map is strongly recommended especially in the center of the unit.

Lower elevations along the Arkansas River and Chaffee County portions feature pinyon-juniper woodland, sagebrush flats, and cottonwood-willow riparian corridors. Mid-elevation slopes (roughly 8,500 to 11,500 feet) support aspen groves, ponderosa pine, and mixed spruce-fir forest interspersed with grassy meadows. Timberline transitions to alpine tundra with grass, sedge, and wildflowers above approximately 11,500 feet. The Weston Pass area offers a mix of spruce-fir and open parks used as a travel corridor between summer and winter range.

Elk are the primary big game species; most elk summer in the higher Mosquito Range and Buffalo Peaks country, with the Fairplay (east) side historically holding more animals. Herds have been increasing near Leadville. Weston Pass sits between summer and winter ranges, making it a significant migration corridor. Mule deer occupy the pinyon-juniper and lower aspen zones, with the Chaffee County portion and Paddock SWA being noted deer areas. White-tailed deer exist in low numbers along the Arkansas River drainage on the west side of the unit, primarily on private land. Pronghorn are present in small numbers across the GMU 49 unit group (GMUs 49/50/500/501); they occupy grassland and valley-bottom portions. Shiras moose have been increasing in the unit; the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness-only hunt code reflects a self-sustaining wilderness moose population. The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness contains Colorado's largest herd of bighorn sheep per CPW and Wikipedia sources. Black bear range throughout the forested portions of the unit. Mountain lion are present. Small game includes dusky (blue) grouse and ptarmigan at high elevations, snowshoe hare in the spruce-fir belt, and cottontail rabbits at lower elevations; waterfowl use the streams and rivers early in the season.