GMU 109 GMU 109 — Washington/Yuma/Kit Carson Co.
Prairie pronghorn and cottonwood-bottom deer hard against the Kansas line
Far-eastern Colorado plains — Washington/Yuma/Kit Carson river-bottom country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,043
sq mi
Public land
5%
approx.
Elevation
3,900–4,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 109 covers roughly 1,040 square miles of far-eastern Colorado plains in Washington, Yuma, and Kit Carson counties, bounded by US 36 on the north, US 385 and the Kansas line on the east, I-70 on the south, and County Road 59 on the west. It is classic dryland-farm and short-grass prairie — pronghorn scattered across the open country and mule deer (plus a scattering of whitetail) tucked into the Republican/Arikaree drainage cottonwood bottoms and crop edges. No huntable elk. As with the surrounding plains units, this is almost entirely private ground, and access — easier for antelope than deer — decides the hunt.
Terrain
Flat-to-rolling high plains dropping into sandy river and creek drainages that carve cottonwood bottoms and brushy edges — the cover that holds deer.
Cover: Short-grass prairie, sand-sage, and yucca on the flats; dryland wheat, corn, and milo; CRP grass; cottonwood, willow, and plum thickets along the Arikaree and Republican river drainages.
Landmarks: Arikaree River drainage · South Fork Republican River bottoms · US 385 corridor near the Kansas line · dryland crop circles and CRP · town of Idalia / Kirk area
Access
Roughly 5% or less public. Predominantly deeded farm and ranch ground; success depends on landowner permission, a lease, or a landowner-preference tag. Access is rated fair, with owners more permissive for pronghorn than deer. Colorado State Trust Lands are generally NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — verify enrollment before hunting any such parcel.
Managers: private ranch, private farm, Colorado State Trust (mostly closed to hunting), scattered State Wildlife Areas
Access points: US 385 and US 36 corridors · County Road 59 (west boundary) · I-70 exits near Burlington/Stratton · county grid roads around Idalia and Kirk
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn scattered across the open prairie and CRP; the more attainable permission and the unit's better-success species. Bucks tie to water and green feed early.
- →Glass rolling ground at first light and stalk through terrain folds
- →Sit stock tanks and windmills in warm early seasons
- →Work CRP and stubble edges where does concentrate bucks
- →Lock down antelope permission early — it is the easier ask out here
Mule Deer
common qualityLimited-draw mule deer holding the river-bottom cottonwoods, plum thickets, and adjacent crop fields. Access for deer is tighter than antelope, but mature bucks reward the patient hunter with ground to hunt.
- →Hunt cottonwood and plum-thicket bottoms of the Arikaree/Republican at dawn and dusk
- →Watch crop-to-cover travel routes
- →Still-hunt brushy draws midday
- →Line up deer access well before the draw — it's the harder permission
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityA scattering of whitetail uses the cottonwood river bottoms along the Arikaree and Republican drainages in the far-eastern part of the unit, mixed among the mule deer.
- →Focus the thickest river-bottom timber and brush
- →Hunt edges where crop fields meet cottonwood cover early and late
- →Expect them tight to water and dense cover, unlike the open-country mule deer
Pro tips
- →Draw antelope for the realistic public-adjacent hunt; deer access is the tougher get
- →The river bottoms are the deer engine — mule and the odd whitetail both use them
- →Reach absentee landowners early; permission takes lead time out here
- →Water and green feed pull antelope in warm early seasons
- →Confirm any State Trust / walk-in parcel is enrolled and open before hunting it
Watch out for
- !Almost entirely private — permission is mandatory
- !State Trust Lands generally closed unless in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Hard-to-reach absentee owners
- !Severe winter weather possible by December
- !Respect crop ground and fence lines
Logistics
Burlington and Stratton off I-70 offer the most services (motels, fuel, food); the north end is remote farm country, so stock up. Roads are an easy county grid, but the sections they front are almost all private — arrange permission or a private-land tag before the trip.
Nearest towns: Idalia, Kirk, Cope, Burlington, Stratton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: HuntScore — GMU 109 (Washington/Yuma/Kit Carson) · Colorado GMU boundaries (CPW GIS)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 109 in Colorado?
- GMU 109 (GMU 109 — Washington/Yuma/Kit Carson Co.) covers about 1,043 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,900 to 4,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 109?
- Approximately 5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, private farm, Colorado State Trust (mostly closed to hunting), scattered State Wildlife Areas. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 109?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 109 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.