GMU 131 GMU 131 — Routt/Rio Blanco Co.
OTC bull elk on a mostly-private strip running southwest from Steamboat to the Routt forest edge
Northwest Colorado — Steamboat's private-ground fringe · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
194
sq mi
Public land
15%
approx.
Elevation
6,700–9,000
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 131 is a compact, largely private mule deer and elk unit that runs about 23 miles southwest from Steamboat Springs to the edge of the Routt National Forest. Elk are the clear marquee here — a solid herd with an over-the-counter bull season (2nd and 3rd rifle) drives most of the harvest — while mule deer hold through the sage and aspen edges. Public hunting is the tight spot: opportunity is limited to scattered BLM parcels and the small Emerald Mountain State Wildlife Area, so access planning matters more than in the big-forest units nearby.
Terrain
Sagebrush and hay-meadow valley floor around Steamboat rising through oakbrush and aspen benches to the coniferous forest edge on the southwest.
Cover: Big sagebrush and irrigated meadows in the valley, Gambel oak and serviceberry on the slopes, aspen stands and scattered conifer near the national forest boundary.
Landmarks: Yampa River valley · Emerald Mountain State Wildlife Area · Routt National Forest edge · Fish Creek · Trout Creek · County Highway 131
Access
The unit is largely private ranchland running out from Steamboat, so public opportunity is limited and scattered. Public ground is confined to BLM parcels and the 674-acre Emerald Mountain SWA (open 4 a.m.–10 p.m., July 1 through Nov. 30, closed to motor vehicles). Colorado State Trust Lands are generally closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not count them as open. Most quality elk and deer hunting will require landowner permission or a lease.
Managers: private ranch, BLM, USFS Routt National Forest (edge), Emerald Mountain State Wildlife Area (CPW)
Access points: Emerald Mountain State Wildlife Area (walk-in, no motor vehicles) · Scattered BLM parcels · Routt National Forest boundary on the southwest · County Highway 131 and Routt county roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe primary species — a productive herd with an over-the-counter bull season (2nd and 3rd rifle) that accounts for most of the unit's harvest, though access to private ground shapes success.
- →Work the sage-to-aspen transition and forest edge at first and last light
- →Hunt the Routt NF boundary and BLM pockets where public and elk overlap
- →Time late seasons to intercept elk shifting toward the valley on snow
Mule Deer
common qualityDraw-only mule deer inhabit the oakbrush, aspen edges and sage benches; a genuine deer unit with respectable bucks in the mid-elevation brush.
- →Glass oakbrush and serviceberry pockets mornings and evenings
- →Hunt aspen-sage transition lines
- →Use Emerald Mountain SWA and BLM parcels for public-land access
Pronghorn
transient lowPronghorn are marginal here — only a trace show in the open valley sage, and harvest is minimal; not a target species for this unit.
- →Glass open valley sage flats on the fringe
- →Treat any pronghorn as incidental to elk or deer hunting
Pro tips
- →Lock down private access early — public ground is scarce and the elk are mostly on private
- →Emerald Mountain SWA is walk-in only and closes to motor vehicles — plan to hunt it on foot
- →Hunt the Routt National Forest edge and BLM parcels where public overlaps elk range
- →Late-season snow moves elk toward the valley; be positioned on the migration route
Watch out for
- !Largely private ranchland — limited, scattered public access
- !Emerald Mountain SWA has time-of-day and no-motor-vehicle restrictions
- !State Trust Lands are closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !OTC bull season concentrates pressure on the little accessible ground
Logistics
Steamboat Springs anchors the unit with full services, lodging, fuel and processing right at the northeast edge. The compact size and valley access make travel easy, but the private-land pattern means most of your planning is about securing access rather than covering ground.
Nearest towns: Steamboat Springs, Oak Creek, Yampa, Hayden
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: HuntScore — GMU 131 Elk (Routt & Rio Blanco Counties) · GoHunt — Colorado Unit 131 Profile · CPW — Over-the-Counter (OTC) Licenses
FAQ
- How big is GMU 131 in Colorado?
- GMU 131 (GMU 131 — Routt/Rio Blanco Co.) covers about 194 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,700 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 131?
- Approximately 15% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, BLM, USFS Routt National Forest (edge), Emerald Mountain State Wildlife Area (CPW). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 131?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule 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 131 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.