GMU 111 GMU 111 — Elbert/Lincoln/El Paso Co.
Wide-open pronghorn ground where access is the real hunt
Eastern Plains Colorado — high prairie of Elbert, Lincoln and El Paso counties · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
689
sq mi
Public land
5%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–6,600
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 111 covers a broad sweep of shortgrass prairie and dryland farm country spanning eastern El Paso, southern Elbert, and western Lincoln counties. Pronghorn are the headline — antelope range across the sagebrush flats and winter wheat with strong hunter success — backed by a scattered mule deer population and only a handful of plains elk. The country is almost entirely private ranchland, so lining up permission is the difference between a great hunt and a long drive.
Terrain
Expansive rolling high plains dropping gently eastward, seamed by shallow ephemeral draws and stock ponds, with big open sightlines.
Cover: Shortgrass prairie and sagebrush flats interspersed with dryland winter wheat, milo, and CRP grasslands; sparse cottonwood and willow in the drainages.
Landmarks: Big Sandy Creek drainage · Rush and Ramah plains · Highway 24 / Highway 94 corridors · Lincoln County wheat country
Access
Access is fair — the unit is a patchwork of private ranches and farms, and some absentee landowners are hard to locate. Owners are noticeably more liberal about pronghorn (and does) than bucks and deer. Colorado State Trust Lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Do your homework on ownership and secure written permission before the season.
Managers: private ranch, State Land Board trust (mostly closed to public), scattered State Wildlife Areas
Access points: County road grid off Highways 24, 94, and 40 · Ranch access two-tracks (permission required) · Small SWA parcels where present
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe clear draw of the unit, with strong hunter success — better than one in two in recent years. Antelope are spread across the open flats and wheat country, concentrating where sagebrush meets cropland and water.
- →Glass long from prairie high points at dawn and dusk
- →Use terrain rolls and draws to close the stalk
- →Hunt the September rut when bucks are active and vocal
- →Target winter wheat and stock tanks midday
- →Nail down permission on productive ranches early
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA limited, fully-draw mule deer population lives along creek bottoms, shelterbelts, and CRP edges. Success is respectable with access, but landowners guard their deer more closely than pronghorn.
- →Work drainage and CRP/wheat edges at first light
- →Focus on cottonwood bottoms for bedding cover
- →Secure deer permission separately and specifically
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityA few whitetail hold in the thicker cottonwood and willow bottoms of the Big Sandy and other plains drainages in the eastern reaches of the unit — a minor component alongside the dominant mule deer.
- →Still-hunt creek-bottom timber and brush
- →Watch field edges adjacent to river cover at dawn and dusk
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityPlains elk are only occasional here — very low harvest and a limited-draw (not OTC) tag. Treat any elk as a rare bonus on large private holdings.
- →Scout big contiguous ranches for transient herds
- →Landowner relationships are the only reliable path to plains elk
Pro tips
- →Begin landowner contact months out; absentee owners take time to track down.
- →Ask for pronghorn (and doe) permission first — it's far easier to get than buck deer.
- →Winter wheat fields and stock tanks concentrate pronghorn midday.
- →Glass from the highest ground you can find; the sightlines are enormous.
- →Check the eastern drainages for the occasional whitetail in the cottonwoods.
Watch out for
- !Almost entirely private — confirm boundaries and carry written permission.
- !State Trust Lands are closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Gumbo mud makes dirt roads impassable after rain or snow.
- !Wind and heat with essentially no cover on the flats.
Logistics
Limon and Colorado Springs bracket the unit with fuel, lodging, and groceries; the prairie itself has only small towns like Rush, Ramah, and Simla. Plan on long gravel-road drives, and expect slick gumbo when wet — high clearance is wise.
Nearest towns: Rush, Ramah, Simla, Limon, Colorado Springs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Hunting · HuntScore — GMU 111 El Paso/Lincoln/Elbert
FAQ
- How big is GMU 111 in Colorado?
- GMU 111 (GMU 111 — Elbert/Lincoln/El Paso Co.) covers about 689 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 6,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 111?
- Approximately 5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, State Land Board trust (mostly closed to public), scattered State Wildlife Areas. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 111?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 111 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.