GMU 11 GMU 11 — Moffat/Rio Blanco Co.
OTC-second-and-third elk, strong mule deer, and antelope in the sage basins of Moffat and Rio Blanco
Northwest Colorado — Danforth Hills elk and mule deer country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
611
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
6,100–8,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 11 covers roughly 610 square miles of northwest Colorado in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties, centered on the Danforth Hills with sage basins, oak brush ridges, and pinyon-juniper mesas dropping toward Axial Basin and the Yampa/White River divide. It carries all three big-game species: a strong mule deer herd with a good draw rate, a productive elk herd that is OTC for second and third rifle seasons, and pronghorn in the open sage basins. Public BLM ground — plus State Wildlife Areas like Bitterbrush — is intermixed with big private ranches and the Colowyo coal operation, so game shuttles between private and public almost daily.
Terrain
Rolling to steep foothill terrain in the Danforth Hills, with oak-brush and aspen ridges up high grading into sagebrush basins and pinyon-juniper mesas lower down. Overall the walking is moderate and mostly 2WD/4WD-friendly.
Cover: Sagebrush and bitterbrush basins, Gambel oak brush, serviceberry, pinyon-juniper, aspen pockets and mountain shrub on the higher north slopes.
Landmarks: Danforth Hills · Axial Basin (adjacent GMU 211) · Bitterbrush State Wildlife Area · Crooked Wash · Colowyo Coal Mine
Access
A genuine mix of public and private. Substantial BLM ground plus State Wildlife Areas (e.g., Bitterbrush) give walk-in opportunity, but large private ranches (Buffalo Horn, Colowyo Coal, others) hold much of the game and animals cross the fence lines daily. Colorado State Trust Lands are generally NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Map property lines carefully — public and private are tightly interwoven here.
Managers: BLM, private ranch, Colorado State Wildlife Areas (Bitterbrush), Colorado State Trust (mostly closed to hunting)
Access points: SH 13 corridor between Craig and Meeker · County Road 27 / Axial Basin roads · BLM two-tracks off the Danforth Hills · Bitterbrush SWA access
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityProductive elk herd with OTC bull tags in second and third rifle seasons, which raises hunter pressure but keeps success respectable year after year. Elk shuttle between private ranches and BLM, moving to public on daily feeding cycles.
- →Hunt the public-private fence lines at dawn and dusk when elk cross to feed
- →Glass sage basins and oak-brush pockets in the Danforth Hills
- →Push into BLM pockets away from the SH 13 road pressure of OTC crowds
- →Work migration timing — colder weather and snow move elk down into Crooked Wash and lower BLM by third season
Mule Deer
common qualityOne of the unit's strengths — a limited-draw mule deer herd with a good draw rate. Deer hold in the Danforth Hills for second rifle, then shift to lower elevations, Bitterbrush SWA, adjacent BLM, and Crooked Wash by third and fourth seasons.
- →Second season: hunt the Danforth Hills oak brush and mountain shrub
- →Later seasons: drop to Bitterbrush SWA, BLM, and Crooked Wash lower country
- →Glass sage/oak transitions at first and last light
- →Time later hunts to migration and snow to catch bucks moving down
Pronghorn
limited qualityA limited-draw antelope herd in the open sage basins posts high success for the few who draw. Fewer animals than the plains, but quality bucks and low competition.
- →Glass open sagebrush flats and basin edges
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds and the low sage
- →Focus water and green feed in warm early seasons
Pro tips
- →Elk here is an OTC opportunity hunt — expect crowds off SH 13 and hunt the fence lines and back-in BLM pockets to escape pressure
- →Time deer to season and weather: high in the Danforth Hills early, low toward Bitterbrush/Crooked Wash late
- →Game lives on private ranches (Buffalo Horn, Colowyo) and feeds onto BLM daily — hunt the boundaries at prime time
- →The limited antelope tag is a high-success sleeper if you draw it
- →Carry good mapping — public/private is a checkerboard and State Trust ground is generally closed
Watch out for
- !Heavy OTC elk pressure in second/third rifle
- !Interwoven private ranches and mine ground — verify boundaries
- !State Trust Lands generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Muddy two-tracks and early snow late in the fall
- !Respect the Colowyo and large-ranch private lines
Logistics
Craig is the main hub for lodging, fuel, groceries, and gear, with Meeker to the south; both put you within a short drive of the Danforth Hills. The SH 13 corridor bisects the unit, and most terrain is 2WD/4WD accessible — 4WD is not strictly required in most areas. Expect company on OTC elk seasons.
Nearest towns: Craig, Meeker, Hayden, Steamboat Springs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: HuntScore — GMU 11 (Moffat/Rio Blanco) · Hunters Domain — Colorado Unit 11 · Colorado GMU boundaries (CPW GIS)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 11 in Colorado?
- GMU 11 (GMU 11 — Moffat/Rio Blanco Co.) covers about 611 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,100 to 8,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 11?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, private ranch, Colorado State Wildlife Areas (Bitterbrush), Colorado State Trust (mostly closed to hunting). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 11?
- 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 11 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.