Deer Hunting in Colorado GMU 62 - Delta, Mesa, Montrose, and Ouray Counties

The Uncompahgre Plateau is a broad structural uplift within the Colorado Plateau physiographic province. The Uncompahgre Plateau consists of a relatively flat 9,000 Ò 9,800 foot summit that runs northwest from Ridgway to the Unaweep Canyon. The summit drops off quickly on the Unit 61 side and more gradually slopes downward on the Unit 62 side. Both sides of the Uncompahgre Plateau are incised by deep canyons separated by relatively flat mesas that typically run perpendicular to the main summit ridge and end at the San Miguel, Dolores, Gunnison or Uncompahgre Rivers.

The elevation in this area ranges from 4,570 feet along the Dolores River near Gateway to 10,338 feet at the summit of Horsefly Peak near the southeast end of the Plateau. At elevations below approximately 6,500 ft near the Dolores, San Miguel, Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers, a high desert plant community is the predominant, extant vegetation type. Important plant species of this community include four-wing saltbush, shadscale saltbush, black sagebrush, winterfat, broom snakeweed, rabbitbrush, greasewood, and, in the Gateway area, black brush. Elevations between approximately 6,000-7,500 ft, are characterized by piñon pine and Utah juniper woodlands and grassland/shrub (e.g., basin big sagebrush, black sagebrush, Wyoming/mountain big sagebrush, mountain mahogony, Indian ricegrass).

The piñon-juniper type covers approximately 40% of this area and is the predominant plant community. From approximately 7,500 to 8,500 ft, ponderosa pine/mountain shrub (e.g., Gambel oak, serviceberry, mountain mahogany, mountain big sagebrush, silver sagebrush, snowberry, manzanita) is the dominant vegetation type. Elevations above 8,500 ft are generally characterized by aspen forests and a mixed spruce-fir complex (aspen, Douglas fir, sub-alpine fir and Engleman spruce). Common plant species found in lowland riparian areas on the Uncompahgre Plateau include narrowleaf cottonwood, coyote willow, chokecherry, tamarisk, and boxelder.

In higher elevation riparian areas characteristic species include thinleaf alder, birches, willows, and blue spruce. Agricultural areas and cultivated croplands within the area occur primarily in the Uncompahgre Valley between Montrose and Delta.and in the other major river valleys surrounding the Plateau