How big is GMU 122 in Colorado?

GMU 122 (GMU 122 — Cheyenne/Kiowa Co.) covers about 989 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,900 to 4,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for GMU 122?

Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

GMU 122 GMU 122 — Cheyenne/Kiowa Co.

Remote shortgrass plains where deer and pronghorn share the ranches

Far eastern Colorado plains — Cheyenne/Kiowa near the Kansas line · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Mule deer buck trotting across open prairie at dusk

Area

989

sq mi

Public land

approx.

Elevation

3,900–4,600

feet

Motorized

extensive

access

Overview

GMU 122 sits in the far-eastern high plains of Cheyenne and Kiowa counties, running toward the Kansas border around Cheyenne Wells and the upper Smoky Hill and Big Sandy drainages. Unlike the pronghorn-heavy units to the west, deer actually carry the largest harvest here — a mix of mule deer on the open prairie and whitetails in the creek bottoms — with pronghorn a strong second and elk essentially incidental. It is deep, quiet, private ranch and farm country where access is everything.

Terrain

Flat to gently rolling shortgrass plains dissected by shallow, largely dry creek drainages feeding the Smoky Hill and Big Sandy systems. Big skies and long glassing lines.

Cover: Blue grama and buffalograss prairie, sand sagebrush, yucca, cottonwood and tamarisk in the drainages, and dryland wheat, milo and CRP grass.

Landmarks: Smoky Hill River headwaters · Big Sandy Creek · Town of Cheyenne Wells · US 40 corridor to the Kansas line

Access

Access is the defining challenge — the unit is almost entirely private ranchland and dryland farms with minimal federal public land. State Trust Lands in the checkerboard are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so confirm each parcel in the CPW Hunting Atlas. Plan on landowner permission, leases, or mapped Public Access properties.

Managers: Private ranch and farm, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed), County / section-line roads

Access points: Public county and section-line roads · US 40 · CPW Public Access Program properties (verify yearly)

Species notes

Mule Deer

common opportunity

Deer post the biggest harvest in this unit, and mule deer make up the open-country share, using sagebrush breaks, drainages and cropland edges. Five-year deer success has run in the mid-40% range — good for eastern plains hunting where you have access.

→Glass creek breaks and sagebrush pockets at first and last light
→Watch travel between bedding drainages and ag fields
→Use the rolling folds of the prairie to stalk within range

Whitetail Deer

common opportunity

Whitetails hold in the cottonwood and tamarisk bottoms of the Smoky Hill and Big Sandy drainages — a signature of far-eastern Colorado. They cling to cover and water and can produce surprising bucks along the timbered corridors.

→Hunt the timbered creek bottoms and shelterbelts, not the open flats
→Set up on funnels between bedding cover and feed
→Still-hunt the river brush during the rut

Pronghorn

common opportunity

Pronghorn are well established across the open prairie and ag ground, running near 50% five-year success. A solid secondary draw target for buck antelope alongside the deer hunting.

→Spot-and-stalk from high ground using terrain to close the gap
→Hunt water sources in warm early-season weather
→Ambush fence crossings and use decoys during the rut

Pro tips

→Deer, not antelope, carry this unit — apply here if a plains buck is the goal
→Work the creek bottoms hard for whitetails and the open breaks for mule deer
→A drawn tag means nothing without ranch permission or a CPW Public Access property
→Confirm every State Trust parcel in the Atlas — most are closed
→Time whitetail hunts to the rut in the river corridors

Watch out for

!State Trust Lands are generally CLOSED to hunting outside the Public Access Program
!Almost entirely private — trespass risk without explicit permission
!Very remote; long distances to fuel, food and cell coverage
!Two-tracks turn to gumbo after rain or snow

Logistics

This is remote country. Cheyenne Wells offers fuel, food and basic lodging; larger runs mean Burlington or Lamar. Cell service drops off the highways fast. Come self-contained, and settle water and access logistics before you arrive.

Nearest towns: Cheyenne Wells, Kit Carson, Sheridan Lake, Eads

Nearby units

GMU 127 · GMU 127 — Kiowa/Prowers Co. GMU 116 · GMU 116 — Kit Carson/Cheyenne Co. GMU 117 · GMU 117 — Kit Carson/Cheyenne Co. GMU 126 · GMU 126 — Kiowa/Bent/Prowers Co.

Seasons & regulations

This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:

Research sources: CPW Big Game GMU Boundaries and Statistics · CPW Public Access Program (Walk-In Access)

FAQ

How big is GMU 122 in Colorado?: GMU 122 (GMU 122 — Cheyenne/Kiowa Co.) covers about 989 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 122?: Approximately 2% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch and farm, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed), County / section-line roads. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for GMU 122?: Mule Deer, Whitetail 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 122 on your map.

Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.

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