GMU 120 GMU 120 — Lincoln/Crowley/Kiowa Co.
Big open pronghorn range where the plains roll toward the Arkansas Valley
Southeastern Colorado plains — Rush Creek shortgrass country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
520
sq mi
Public land
8%
approx.
Elevation
4,300–5,400
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 120 covers a large block of high plains where Lincoln, Crowley, and Kiowa Counties meet — rolling shortgrass prairie, sand-sage flats, and shallow drainages feeding the Rush Creek and Big Sandy systems toward the Arkansas Valley. Pronghorn are the flagship, with the best success rates of the eastern-plains units in this set. A light mule deer presence hangs in the breaks and croplands, and elk are only incidental strays. Like all far-eastern units, the land is dominated by private ranch and dryland farm ground, so securing access is the real hunt.
Terrain
Expansive rolling high plains descending southeast toward the Arkansas Valley, broken by shallow sandy drainages and dryland farm country.
Cover: Shortgrass prairie with extensive sand sage and yucca, dryland wheat and fallow fields, CRP grasslands, and thin cottonwood/tamarisk strips along Rush and Big Sandy Creeks.
Landmarks: Rush Creek · Big Sandy Creek · Eads · Haswell · sand-sage flats
Access
Predominantly private ranch and farm ground with a scattering of BLM and CPW Public Access Program / Walk-In Access parcels. Colorado State Trust Land is generally NOT open unless enrolled in the Public Access Program — do not count it as public. Landowner permission, trespass leases, and the annual Public Access atlas are the practical routes to good ground.
Managers: private ranch, private cropland, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program), scattered BLM
Access points: Gravel county-road grid · CPW Public Access Program / Walk-In parcels · US-287 and CO-96 corridors
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityA strong plains pronghorn herd and the unit's headline hunt, with above-average success for eastern Colorado — roughly half of hunters connect. Big open range makes for classic spot-and-stalk and decoy hunting when you have ground to work.
- →Glass from rises, windmills, and section corners at first light before planning a stalk
- →Use fencelines, terrain folds, and dry washes to close distance on the open prairie
- →Water tanks and CRP edges concentrate animals during hot midday hours
- →Decoy or ambush rutting bucks in early seasons; be ready for long shots
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA modest, limited-draw mule deer presence in the sandy draws, sand-sage, and cropland edges. Low harvest — a secondary opportunity rather than a reason to come.
- →Work the creek breaks, sand-sage draws, and CRP edges at dawn and dusk
- →Deer tuck into brushy drainages between feeding periods
- →Private-ground access along the creek bottoms is the deciding factor
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityA few whitetails inhabit the cottonwood and tamarisk bottoms along Rush and Big Sandy Creeks, typical of far-eastern Colorado river-bottom edges. Strictly incidental.
- →Hunt cottonwood bottoms and adjacent crop edges morning and evening
- →Requires access to private creek-bottom ground
Pro tips
- →Best pronghorn success in this set — but the tag means little without ground to hunt; secure access first
- →State Trust Land is generally closed; rely on Public Access parcels and private permission
- →Glass wide and stalk with the terrain — open range rewards patience and marksmanship
- →Water tanks and CRP are the midday magnets in dry early seasons
- →Sort whitetail from mule deer carefully in the creek bottoms
Watch out for
- !Mostly private land — verify boundaries with GPS mapping to avoid trespass
- !State Trust Lands generally closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program
- !Remote services and weak cell coverage
- !Fire and burn-ban risk in dry early seasons
Logistics
Sparse country — fuel and basics in Eads or Ordway, fuller supplies in Lamar or La Junta. Long gravel-road drives; carry water, recovery gear, and paper maps. Cell service drops quickly off the highways.
Nearest towns: Eads, Haswell, Karval, Ordway, Lamar (services)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting Statistics · CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU boundaries and public access · CPW Public Access Program / Walk-In Access
FAQ
- How big is GMU 120 in Colorado?
- GMU 120 (GMU 120 — Lincoln/Crowley/Kiowa Co.) covers about 520 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,300 to 5,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 120?
- Approximately 8% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, private cropland, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program), scattered BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 120?
- 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 120 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.