Unit 72, Colorado

Rolling mesas dissected by shallow canyons and tributary drainages; canyons cut 300–800 feet deep through Dakota Sandstone and Morrison Formation (Cross Canyon area). Elevation ranges from approximately 4,925 feet in the lower desert valleys to 8,410 feet on the highest mesa tops (GoHunt confirmed). Terrain is relatively gentle by Colorado standards — mostly driveable mesas with broken canyon country in the north and irrigated agricultural valleys near US-491 in the south.

The unit is managed primarily by the BLM Tres Rios Field Office (Dolores, CO; 970-882-5600). Public hunting is concentrated in the northern portion of the unit within and adjacent to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM). Hunting is permitted in undeveloped monument lands under state regulations; target shooting is prohibited throughout CANM. The Sand Canyon/Rock Creek Recreation Management Area and Mockingbird Mesa RMA have additional use restrictions — confirm current rules with the Tres Rios Field Office before hunting those areas. The Cross Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA) lies within the northern CANM area — no motorized or mechanized travel is allowed in the WSA; foot and horse access via a trailhead reached from the Hovenweep National Monument visitor center by taking County Road 213 north to CR 2031 (turn left), then CR 214 (turn right) to the Canyons of the Ancients NM boundary sign. Primary vehicle access is via US Highway 491, which forms the north and east unit boundary. The Bradfield Bridge Recreation Site (Tres Rios BLM) is accessed from County Road R off US-491 near Cahone, then east on CR 16 and CR S. Most BLM mesa roads are maintained dirt/gravel suitable for high-clearance 2WD when dry; 4WD recommended when wet or accessing primitive spur roads. The southern half of the unit is Southern Ute Indian Reservation land — hunting is prohibited for non-tribal members.

Dominant cover is sagebrush, saltbush, and other semi-desert shrubs on flats and lower slopes. Pinyon pine and Utah juniper (pinyon-juniper woodland) cover most mesa slopes and canyon rims. Gambel oak appears at middle elevations. Cottonwood galleries line canyon bottoms and perennial drainages. The northern canyon country around Cross Canyon WSA and Canyons of the Ancients NM grades into thicker pinyon-juniper with sage and rabbitbrush understory.

Mule deer are the primary big game species; bucks winter on lower mesa and canyon country and move to higher mesa tops in summer. Elk numbers are low for a Colorado unit — the semi-desert terrain is marginal elk habitat and GoHunt notes this is 'not a good unit for elk'; the reported bull-to-cow ratio is approximately 16:100 (low confidence, unverified from CPW primary source). Black bear are present and huntable (OTC add-on). Pronghorn occupy open sage flats, particularly in the northern BLM mesa areas. Moose have been documented in riparian drainages. Mountain lion are present (OTC). Turkey have also been documented. Wildlife density is tied closely to water sources (stock tanks, canyon seeps, creek bottoms) distributed across the BLM mesa country.