GMU 114 GMU 114 — Lincoln/Kit Carson/Cheyenne Co.
The pronghorn engine of the east-central plains
Eastern Colorado plains — Lincoln/Kit Carson/Cheyenne County shortgrass · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
560
sq mi
Public land
2%
approx.
Elevation
4,200–5,300
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 114 is a large block of shortgrass prairie and dryland farm country straddling Lincoln, Kit Carson, and Cheyenne counties near the town of Kit Carson. It is one of the more productive pronghorn units on this stretch of the plains, posting solid buck success and healthy harvest numbers, with plains mule deer and creek-bottom whitetails as capable secondary opportunities. Elk are essentially transient, drifting in occasionally along the creek corridors rather than holding as a huntable herd. As across the eastern plains, the land base is almost entirely private, so arranging access is the whole game.
Terrain
Expansive rolling shortgrass and sand-sage prairie cut by the Big Sandy Creek and Rush Creek drainages, with broad dryland farm sections and CRP grasslands between the breaks.
Cover: Blue grama/buffalograss shortgrass, sand-sagebrush and rabbitbrush, CRP grass, dryland winter wheat and fallow ground, and cottonwood/willow gallery along the creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Big Sandy Creek · Rush Creek · Town of Kit Carson · US Highway 40/287 · State Highway 94
Access
Predominantly private ranch and cropland. Realistic public opportunity comes from CPW's Public Access Program / Walk-In Atlas parcels and any private permission you secure. State Trust (State Land Board) sections are NOT open to public hunting unless enrolled in the Public Access Program — the checkerboard state sections are closed by default. Get written permission before hunting private ground.
Managers: Private ranch/farm, Colorado State Land Board (state trust — generally closed), CPW State Wildlife Areas / Public Access Program (limited)
Access points: Section-line county roads off US 40/287 and SH 94 · Kit Carson town access corridors · Public Access Program / Walk-In parcels (verify annually)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe unit's marquee species and a genuinely good pronghorn destination — buck success runs well above the neighboring units and harvest is strong. The shortgrass/CRP/wheat mosaic supports good numbers and respectable bucks.
- →Cover ground and glass from section-line high points to inventory bucks
- →Use a spot-and-stalk approach exploiting the subtle terrain rolls and fencelines
- →Watch stock tanks and windmills during hot early hunts
- →Lock down access on a parcel holding a good buck before opening morning
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA steady plains mule deer opportunity for a secondary unit — deer concentrate along the creek breaks and CRP/ag edges, with reasonable buck success given the low tag numbers.
- →Hunt CRP-to-crop transitions at first and last light
- →Still-hunt sand-sage draws off the creek bottoms
- →Glass the drainage edges where cover meets feed
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails inhabit the cottonwood/willow bottoms of Big Sandy and Rush creeks, tied to cover and adjacent ag. A minor but real slice of the deer harvest.
- →Focus on the timbered creek corridors
- →Watch field edges near bottom cover morning and evening
- →Hunt the densest gallery timber the plains provide
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient lowElk are occasional wanderers along the creek corridors, not a resident herd — harvest is a handful of animals in a good year. Not a species to plan a hunt around here.
- →If pursuing at all, watch the Big Sandy corridor and large CRP blocks
- →Treat any elk as an incidental opportunity while hunting deer or pronghorn
Pro tips
- →This is a preference-point unit for pronghorn bucks — check draw odds and bank points accordingly
- →Secure private permission or scout Public Access parcels well before the season
- →Bring premium glass and a tripod; inventorying bucks across miles of prairie is the work
- →Reconfirm State Trust vs. Public Access boundaries in the Walk-In Atlas — don't hunt closed state sections
- →Carry mud/recovery gear for wet section roads
Watch out for
- !Overwhelmingly private — access is the limiting factor
- !State Trust sections closed unless enrolled in Public Access Program
- !Gumbo section roads impassable after rain/snow
- !Sparse services and unreliable cell coverage
- !Respect gates, crops, and livestock on permitted ground
Logistics
Kit Carson, Hugo, and Limon offer fuel, groceries, and basic lodging; plan to be self-sufficient once off the highways. Long gravel-road drives are the norm and gumbo mud follows any storm. Cell service fades quickly away from US 40/287.
Nearest towns: Kit Carson, Hugo, Cheyenne Wells, Limon
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Harvest Statistics · Colorado GMU boundary descriptions (CPW) · USGS National Map — Eastern Colorado plains topography
FAQ
- How big is GMU 114 in Colorado?
- GMU 114 (GMU 114 — Lincoln/Kit Carson/Cheyenne Co.) covers about 560 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,200 to 5,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 114?
- Approximately 2% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch/farm, Colorado State Land Board (state trust — generally closed), CPW State Wildlife Areas / Public Access Program (limited). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 114?
- 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 114 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.