Unit 98, Colorado

Gently rolling to flat plains at low elevation (approximately 3,448–4,511 ft). The eastern section contains sand hills interspersed with irrigated center-pivot fields; the western portion is dryland farming on rolling shortgrass prairie; the middle combines both. Dry and intermittent creek beds cross the unit. No steep or rugged country.

Access is severely limited by private ownership. Roughly 95% of the unit is in private hands; CPW-owned parcels comprise less than 1% of the GMU. The only confirmed public hunting parcel within GMU 98 is Frenchman Creek State Wildlife Area (69 acres, Phillips County, GMU 98, managed by CPW Brush office at 970-842-6300), open 4 a.m.–9 p.m.; a valid hunting/fishing license or SWA pass is required for visitors 16 and older. The South Tamarack State Wildlife Area (10,695 acres) is in Logan County but lies in GMUs 91/93, not GMU 98. There is no National Forest, BLM, or Wilderness ground in this unit. Primary road access corridors: US-6 (northern edge), US-34 (southern edge), CO-61 (western edge), and US-385 runs north-south near the eastern side through Holyoke and Wray. County roads provide a grid across the agricultural checkerboard. No seasonal road closures apply. Hunters must secure written landowner permission well in advance. Note: GMU 97 and 99 boundaries were updated for 2026 — confirm current GMU 98 boundaries via the CPW Hunting Atlas before hunting.

Primary cover types: irrigated cropland (corn, wheat, alfalfa under center-pivot), dryland cropland (wheat, dryland corn, sunflowers), sandsage/mid-grass prairie, shortgrass prairie, and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland. Two distinct sandhill complexes run through the unit — one along the entire northern boundary and one in the southeastern portion near the Nebraska border. Three small riparian drainages traverse the unit: Beaver Creek, Bijou Creek, and Frenchman Creek; cottonwood-riparian stringers along these creeks provide the densest deer cover. CRP and sandsage rangelands have improved in quality due to managed grazing and shifting crop practices toward dryland corn and sunflowers.

Mule deer are the dominant big game species, found throughout all habitat types, with highest densities in sandsage rangeland, irrigated cropland, and large CRP complexes. White-tailed deer are also present, with the highest concentrations in GMU 98 specifically (the eastern end of the Tablelands South DAU), typically in riparian and cropland corridors. Deer do not make long-distance migrations in this flat landscape; most movement is local between crop fields, riparian cover, and CRP. Pronghorn antelope occupy the unit and are part of the Sandhills/Arickaree DAU (DAU 4) shared with GMUs 93, 97, 101, and 102; the population has experienced long-term decline from a high of approximately 720 animals in 1996 to roughly 590 modeled post-season by 2015, with drought-suppressed fawn recruitment cited as a key factor. Elk are present but rare — CPW notes low probability of successful hunt due to lack of ideal elk habitat for eastern plains tags. Wild turkey, pheasant, Greater Prairie Chicken, dove, and waterfowl provide additional hunting opportunities.

1. Mule deer harvest statistics (74% success, 46 harvest for rifle season) are from the 2015 CPW Northeast Region booklet — the most granular unit-level data obtainable from public sources. 2. Tag quotas are not publicly listed by CPW at the unit level in available sources. 3. Public land percentage of 5% (HuntScore aggregate) likely includes all state-managed lands; CPW booklet specifies CPW parcels are less than 1% of the GMU. 4. Pronghorn harvest data (5 bucks, 71% success, 2015) represents the rifle season for GMU 98 only. 5. White-tailed deer OTC availability is unconfirmed — the 2016 NE booklet states all deer licenses in NE Colorado are limited/draw; verify in 2026 Big Game Brochure. 6. GMU 97 and 99 boundary changes confirmed for 2026 per Colorado Outdoors Mag; GMU 98 boundaries not listed as changed but hunters should verify via CPW Hunting Atlas. 7. Plains muzzleloader dates are statewide approximations from the 2025–2029 season structure; always confirm plains-specific dates in current CPW brochure before applying.