Unit 96, Colorado

GMU 96 is nearly flat eastern-plains terrain. The South Platte River winds approximately 58 miles through the center of the unit, creating a distinct river-bottom corridor. Elevations range from about 3,900 feet near the eastern boundary (Knudson SWA elevation ~3,926 ft) to 4,547 feet at the western edge — a total relief of roughly 600 feet across the unit. Wet weather can make the numerous county dirt roads nearly impassable.

GMU 96 is predominantly private land (approximately 93% private). There is no National Forest or BLM block within the unit; public access is limited to Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Wildlife Areas (SWAs) managed out of the CPW Brush Area Office (970-842-6300). A valid hunting or fishing license or an SWA pass is required (age 16+) to access these SWAs. All SWAs are open 4 a.m.–9 p.m. On the opening weekend of the regular plains rifle deer season and the opening day/first weekend of the late plains rifle deer season, all activities except deer hunting are prohibited at the SWAs listed below. Key SWAs in or overlapping GMU 96: Elliott SWA (2,576 acres, Morgan County, straddles GMUs 95/96, coordinates ~40.3697, -103.5075 — Hamlin Tract requires check-in/out, first-come first-served after 4 a.m., max 4 hunters per area; Union Tract requires waterfowl reservations limited to 3 annually, check-in/out mandatory, waterfowl hunting Sat/Sun/Wed/holidays only; Lonetree Tract requires check-in/out Sept 1 through duck seasons; deer hunting allowed, landowner permission required on easement parcels); Jean K. Tool SWA (903 acres, Morgan County, GMU 96, 40.2851, -103.696 — deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, quail); Cottonwood SWA (884 acres, Morgan County, GMU 96, 40.3474, -103.5547 — deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel); Brush SWA (588 acres, Morgan County, GMU 96, ~40.3051, -103.6221 — deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, small game); Knudson SWA (581 acres, Logan County, GMU 96, ~40.5928, -103.1961 — southeast portion is private property, landowner permission required for deer hunting as posted); Dune Ridge SWA (400 acres, Logan County, GMU 96, 40.5563, -103.2245 — deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, quail, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel); Overland Trail SWA (192 acres, Logan County, GMU 96, 40.5417, -103.2565 — deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel); Atwood SWA (180 acres, Logan County, GMU 96, 40.512736, -103.300601 — deer, turkey, waterfowl, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel; horse use and dog training prohibited). US Highway 6 forms the northern boundary and Interstate 76 the southern boundary. Colorado Highway 63 runs north-south through the unit near Atwood. The cities of Fort Morgan (US-34/I-76) and Sterling (US-6/I-76) are the primary service hubs. Private-land hunting typically requires negotiating trespass-fee access with individual ranchers.

Three broad habitat types define the unit. Cottonwood-lined river bottoms with willows, Russian olives, and marsh grasses form dense riparian corridors along the South Platte and its side channels — the primary deer and turkey cover. Irrigated cropland (corn, wheat, alfalfa) occupies both banks of the river on level fields and constitutes the main food source. Sandsage/mid-grass prairie, yucca, and silver sage occur at field edges and away from the river. There is no montane vegetation; the unit is entirely plains in character.

White-tailed deer are the dominant big game species in the South Platte cottonwood and riparian corridor; mule deer make up less than 10% of the total deer herd. The rut can begin as early as late October and run through late December. White-tailed deer populations were disrupted by the 2013 South Platte floods, which displaced animals into neighboring units; herds have largely rebounded. Wild turkey are present along the river bottoms. Waterfowl (teal, mallard, and other species) use the South Platte corridor seasonally. Upland birds including bobwhite quail and pheasant are present around field edges and shelterbelts. Plains elk (remnant/transient animals) may move through the unit along the river corridor, but Unit 96 is not a primary elk unit. Pronghorn occupy sandsage and open grassland areas away from the river within the northeastern Colorado pronghorn range. Mule deer numbers are low and primarily associated with drier sandsage terrain on the periphery of the unit. Buck-to-doe ratios in the river-bottom whitetail population run approximately 40:100.

Tag quota, hunter success percentage, and reported harvest figures for all species in GMU 96 are not publicly accessible without a paid subscription to third-party platforms (GoHunt, HuntScore, TalloTags); CPW draw recap data was not retrievable via public URLs. Season dates for elk muzzleloader and archery use standard statewide dates. Elliott SWA straddles the GMU 95/96 boundary; confirm which tracts fall within GMU 96 before hunting. Overland Trail SWA is a standard CPW SWA (not a State Trust Land) with 4 a.m.–9 p.m. hours and standard opening-weekend deer-only restrictions. Atwood SWA is 180 acres (single parcel). Pronghorn presence in Unit 96 specifically is inferred from the unit's geographic context (northeast Colorado plains range); confirm dedicated pronghorn hunt code availability in the current CPW brochure.