Hunting is allowed on Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, which covers most of the public land in this unit and has good road access. The Southern Ute Indian Reservation, which is closed to public hunting, comprises the southern half of the unit.

There is good public access in the north on BLM land, but this is not a good unit for elk.

Irrigated fields are along U.S. Route 491 in the south, lying below foothills bordering the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. Most of the monument is composed of broken desert canyonlands leading west to the Utah border. Elevations are about 6,000 feet above sea level. The southern half of the unit is part of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, where hunting is prohibited.

Public access is limited by private and tribal land. Public lands have well-maintained roads that branch into primitive four-wheel-drive roads. No vehicles are allowed in Cross Canyon Wilderness Study Area in the north.

Mostly rolling hills covered in sagebrush, juniper and pinyon pines with sparse cottonwood trees along creeks. There are irrigated fields on private property in the valley bottoms.

Most hunters camp along roads on public ground. The closest town with lodging is Cortez. Campers must follow National Park Service regulations.