GMU 13 GMU 13 — Moffat/Routt Co.
OTC bull elk on the Craig-to-Steamboat divide, from sage flats up into Routt National Forest
Northwest Colorado — Upper Yampa elk country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
363
sq mi
Public land
40%
approx.
Elevation
6,300–10,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 13 sits in the Upper Yampa between Craig and Steamboat Springs, running from the sagebrush and oakbrush benches of the Yampa River valley up into the coniferous forest and aspen of the Routt National Forest, which blankets roughly the eastern two-thirds of the unit. Elk are the marquee draw here — a productive herd that puts up strong harvest and holds an over-the-counter bull season, so the unit sees real pressure. Pronghorn work the open sage parks and mule deer scatter through the aspen edges and brush.
Terrain
Rolling sagebrush and oakbrush benches along the Yampa valley step up eastward into timbered ridges, aspen pockets and coniferous highlands of the Routt National Forest.
Cover: Big sagebrush, serviceberry and Gambel oak on the lower benches transitioning to aspen stands and lodgepole/spruce-fir conifer at elevation, with mountain-park meadows in between.
Landmarks: Yampa River · Elkhead Mountains · Routt National Forest · Trout Creek · Fish Creek · U.S. Highway 40 corridor
Access
The eastern and higher portions carry substantial Routt National Forest that is walk-in and road accessible, while most ground outside the forest — the lower sage benches and valley bottoms — is private ranchland. Colorado State Trust Lands here are generally closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so do not treat them as open. Pressure is heavy on the accessible OTC ground; hunters willing to walk into the back timber find more elk and more solitude.
Managers: USFS Routt National Forest (Medicine Bow-Routt), BLM, private ranch
Access points: National forest roads and trailheads off the eastern boundary · U.S. 40 access near Steamboat and Milner · County Highway 13/789 on the west side · Routt CR 179 / Trout Creek approaches
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant opportunityThe headline species — a strong resident and migratory elk herd with an over-the-counter bull component (archery plus 2nd/3rd rifle) and success that has run above 30% for years.
- →Hunt the timber-to-sage transition and aspen edges at first and last light
- →Push into remote national forest pockets away from road-hunted OTC pressure
- →Glass mountain parks and oakbrush draws where elk feed between bedding timber
Mule Deer
common qualityFully limited-draw deer scattered through the oakbrush, aspen edges and sage benches; lower numbers than elk but decent bucks in the brushy mid-elevations.
- →Glass oakbrush and serviceberry pockets mornings and evenings
- →Work aspen/sage transition lines
- →Focus effort on accessible national forest edges
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn hold in the open sagebrush parks and valley benches on the western side of the unit; draw-only, with modest but steady harvest.
- →Glass long across open sage flats
- →Watch fence lines and water sources
- →Plan a careful terrain-using stalk once a buck is located
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear inhabit the oakbrush and aspen-timber mosaic, keying on serviceberry, chokecherry and acorn crops in late summer and early fall.
- →Glass oakbrush hillsides feeding on ripe berries
- →Concentrate on the timber-brush edges
- →Watch productive mast pockets in the September window
Pro tips
- →The eastern national forest holds the elk once pressure builds — walk past the road hunters into the back timber
- →Ride out early storms; fresh snow moves elk down into the aspen and oakbrush where they're huntable
- →Scout the sage benches on the west for pronghorn as a separate, lower-elevation opportunity
- →Verify boundaries carefully — private ranchland is interwoven with the national forest on the lower two-thirds
Watch out for
- !Heavy OTC rifle pressure on accessible national forest ground
- !Extensive private ranchland outside the forest — know exactly where you are
- !State Trust Lands are closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Early-season snow and mud on forest roads
Logistics
Steamboat Springs and Craig bracket the unit with full services, lodging, fuel and processing; both sit on U.S. 40. Forest roads on the east side open the high country but can turn greasy with early snow. Expect company on the OTC ground during rifle seasons.
Nearest towns: Steamboat Springs, Craig, Hayden, Milner
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: HuntScore — GMU 13 Elk (Moffat & Routt Counties) · GoHunt — Colorado Unit 13 Profile · CPW — Over-the-Counter (OTC) Licenses
FAQ
- How big is GMU 13 in Colorado?
- GMU 13 (GMU 13 — Moffat/Routt Co.) covers about 363 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,300 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 13?
- Approximately 40% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Routt National Forest (Medicine Bow-Routt), BLM, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 13?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 13 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.