GMU 125 GMU 125 — Bent/Crowley/Kiowa/Otero Co.
Pronghorn prairie and river-bottom deer around Las Animas
Southeast Colorado plains — lower Arkansas River valley · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
586
sq mi
Public land
5%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–5,200
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 125 covers the shortgrass plains and lower Arkansas River valley across Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, and Otero counties, roughly between Ordway, Rocky Ford, and Las Animas. It is a pronghorn-and-deer unit: antelope roam the open grass and sand-sage uplands while mule deer and whitetail share the cottonwood corridors of the Arkansas and its ditches. Nearly all of it is private ranch and irrigated farmland, so access defines the hunt far more than tag odds.
Terrain
Flat to gently rolling high plains split by the Arkansas River bottomland; open prairie uplands drop into irrigated valley and cottonwood galleries.
Cover: Shortgrass prairie and sand sagebrush uplands, yucca and cholla flats, dryland and irrigated ag (alfalfa, corn, melons, wheat), CRP, and dense cottonwood/tamarisk bottoms along the Arkansas and John Martin drainage.
Landmarks: Arkansas River · John Martin Reservoir (east edge) · Las Animas · Rocky Ford · Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake)
Access
Predominantly private agricultural and ranch land; public hunting is limited to scattered CPW State Wildlife Areas and reservoir tracts (e.g., Adobe Creek/Blue Lake and areas near John Martin). State Trust Land parcels are closed to public hunting unless specifically enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — confirm parcel-by-parcel. Landowner permission or a lease is essentially required for the uplands.
Managers: Private ranch and farm, CPW State Wildlife Areas, Colorado State Trust Land (limited)
Access points: US 50 corridor through Las Animas and Rocky Ford · Highway 96 and 71 county grids · Arkansas River bottom county roads · Adobe Creek / Blue Lake SWA access
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe lead species and top of the harvest sheet. Antelope work the open sand-sage and grass uplands away from the river; a plains limited-draw hunt where reasonable buck numbers reward hunters who lock up private access.
- →Glass upland flats and sage from vehicle-height at dawn/dusk
- →Belly-crawl the last stretch using yucca, cholla, and terrain dips
- →Cover ground to locate herds, then plan a wind-right stalk
- →Sit water and ag edges during hot midday lulls
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use prairie draws, sand-sage breaks, and the transition between grass and irrigated ag. Limited draw with steady if unspectacular numbers — a solid plains deer opportunity for access holders.
- →Hunt sage and yucca breaks bordering alfalfa and CRP
- →Glass draws and shelterbelts at first light
- →Target the upland-to-ag transition where bucks feed and bed
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails are well established in the Arkansas River cottonwood bottoms and irrigated corridor, often outnumbering mule deer near the water. A river-bottom hunt gated by permission along the Arkansas.
- →Still-hunt or stand-hunt cottonwood and tamarisk river bottoms
- →Watch dawn/dusk travel between river cover and adjacent crop fields
- →Concentrate on permission or SWA tracts that touch the Arkansas
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient lowElk are incidental — a few taken each year off wandering animals in river bottoms and large private ag blocks. Not a reason to hunt the unit.
- →Hunt opportunistically while chasing pronghorn or deer
- →Check heavy river-bottom cover where stray elk hold
Pro tips
- →Line up private access or an SWA plan early — the tag is the easy part out here
- →Split effort by habitat: uplands for pronghorn and mule deer, river cottonwoods for whitetail
- →Use midday water and ag edges to relocate pronghorn when morning movement stops
- →Hunt the Arkansas bottoms in the rut window when whitetail bucks travel hard
- →Check every State Trust Land parcel for Public Access Program enrollment before hunting
Watch out for
- !Heavily private — no hunting without clear permission or a designated public tract
- !State Trust Land closed unless PAP-enrolled
- !Slick roads after rain/snow in the valley
- !Dense tamarisk can make river bottoms hard to work and easy to get turned around in
Logistics
La Junta and Rocky Ford (just off the unit) plus Las Animas provide fuel, lodging, groceries, and game processing along the US 50 corridor. Cell service is good near towns and the highway, spotty on ranch roads. Expect graded gravel and dirt that gets slick after storms.
Nearest towns: Las Animas, Rocky Ford, Ordway, La Junta, Cheraw
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Big Game Hunting · CPW Hunting Atlas (GMU boundaries & land status) · Colorado State Land Board — Public Access Program
FAQ
- How big is GMU 125 in Colorado?
- GMU 125 (GMU 125 — Bent/Crowley/Kiowa/Otero Co.) covers about 586 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 5,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 125?
- Approximately 5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch and farm, CPW State Wildlife Areas, Colorado State Trust Land (limited). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 125?
- 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 125 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.