GMU 1 GMU 1 — Moffat Co.
Colorado's smallest trophy elk unit, tucked into the Green River's northwest corner
Far Northwest Colorado — Moffat County (Cold Springs Mountain / Browns Park) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
127
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
5,400–8,900
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 1 is a tiny (roughly 127-square-mile) limited-draw unit crammed into the extreme northwest corner of Colorado, wrapped by the Green River on three sides and the Utah line to the west. It is one of the four legendary 'trophy' units (1, 2, 10, 201) where mature 300-class bulls are common, hunter numbers are kept low, and both resident and nonresident tags can take the better part of two decades of preference points to draw. Elk is the headliner and is fully limited-draw here — there is no over-the-counter opportunity — with mule deer and a handful of pronghorn tags rounding out a rugged, high-desert hunt.
Terrain
Rough, rocky, broken country climbing from the Green River corridor and Browns Park up onto Cold Springs and Douglas Mountains. Deep canyons (Lodore, the Gates of Lodore) and steep rimrock separate sage basins from timbered mountain tops, and much of the access hinges on getting up onto the mountain from Browns Park.
Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush and sage-grassland on the lower benches and basins, thickening into pinyon-juniper on the mid slopes and stands of aspen, mountain shrub, and conifer on the higher ground of Cold Springs and Douglas Mountains.
Landmarks: Cold Springs Mountain · Douglas Mountain · Lone Mountain · Lookout Mountain · Green River · Browns Park · Gates of Lodore · Lodore Canyon · Vermillion Bluffs
Access
Overwhelmingly public BLM ground, but the picture is complicated: the Dinosaur National Monument boundary (Lodore Canyon country) is closed to all hunting, and Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge has its own restrictions — know both boundaries cold. Most hunters get onto the unit from Browns Park by climbing up onto Cold Springs Mountain. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so do not count them as huntable. Roads are rough dirt and two-track; high-clearance 4WD is essential.
Managers: BLM Little Snake Field Office, NPS Dinosaur National Monument (closed to hunting), USFWS Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, private ranch
Access points: Browns Park (Moffat County Road 10N / 72) · Cold Springs Mountain road · Green River corridor · US 40 to Maybell then north
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe reason people apply for 15-20 years. A genuine trophy unit where mature, heavy 300-class bulls are common and the herd tends to hold on the unit across the seasons. Fully limited-draw — no OTC. Recent bull success ran near 40%.
- →Glass the sage basins and aspen edges of Cold Springs and Douglas Mountains at first and last light; big bulls here often stay put rather than migrate.
- →The rut can fire as early as the first week of September and run a month — time an archery or muzzleloader hunt to it and locate bugling bulls off the mountain benches.
- →Get well off the Browns Park access points; the further you break from the road up onto the mountain, the better the age class.
Mule Deer
common qualityA quality limited-draw deer unit riding the same trophy-country reputation, though tags are scarce. Bucks use the pinyon-juniper benches and sage draws off the mountain shoulders. Recent success was strong (roughly two of three tags filled).
- →Grid-glass the pinyon-juniper edges and sage pockets on the flanks of Cold Springs and Douglas Mountains rather than the open flats.
- →Later hunts improve as bucks slide down off the high country toward the Green River benches and Browns Park.
- →Cover ground with optics from high rimrock vantage points — this is spot-and-stalk country, not road hunting.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA very thin pronghorn opportunity — a handful of tags and low success (roughly one in seven recently) on the open sage flats and basins. This is an incidental species here, not the draw.
- →Focus on the open sage-grassland flats and basins on the lower end of the unit where the country opens up.
- →Glass long from the two-tracks and use terrain to close the distance in wide-open country.
- →Treat it as a bonus tag paired with scouting for elk and deer rather than a standalone trip.
Pro tips
- →Every tag in GMU 1 is limited-draw — budget many years of preference points, especially as a nonresident.
- →Learn the Dinosaur National Monument and Browns Park NWR boundaries precisely; a boundary mistake in Lodore Canyon country can end your hunt.
- →Access hinges on getting up onto Cold Springs Mountain from Browns Park — scout that route before season.
- →Bulls tend to stay put across seasons here, so time in the unit patterning specific animals pays off.
- →Come with high-clearance 4WD and recovery gear; the mountain roads are treacherous when wet.
Watch out for
- !Dinosaur National Monument (Lodore Canyon / Gates of Lodore) is closed to all hunting.
- !Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge carries its own access and hunting restrictions.
- !Colorado State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Scattered private inholdings require permission before crossing.
- !Steep, remote terrain and clay roads turn dangerous fast with rain or early snow.
Logistics
This is remote, self-contained country. Maybell is a wide spot on US 40; Craig (east) and Vernal, Utah (southwest) are the nearest towns with fuel, groceries, motels, and repair. Plan to camp and haul your own water, extra fuel, and recovery gear. High-clearance 4WD is mandatory, and the roads up onto Cold Springs Mountain turn to greasy clay with rain or early snow. Cell service is essentially nonexistent off the highway — carry a satellite communicator and leave an itinerary.
Nearest towns: Maybell, CO, Craig, CO, Dinosaur, CO, Vernal, UT
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting · Town of Dinosaur — Trophy Elk Hunting (GMUs 1, 2, 10, 201) · Colorado Hunter — The 'Trophy' Units: GMUs 1, 2, 10 and 201 · HuntScore — Colorado GMU 1 (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 1 in Colorado?
- GMU 1 (GMU 1 — Moffat Co.) covers about 127 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,400 to 8,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 1?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM Little Snake Field Office, NPS Dinosaur National Monument (closed to hunting), USFWS Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 1?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 1 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.