GMU 132 GMU 132 — Prowers Co.
Shortgrass pronghorn and river-bottom deer on private ground near Lamar
Southeastern Colorado plains — Prowers County Arkansas River country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
817
sq mi
Public land
3%
approx.
Elevation
3,500–4,300
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 132 covers most of Prowers County in the far southeastern corner of Colorado, straddling the Arkansas River as it runs east toward the Kansas line at Lamar and Holly. It is classic High Plains country — shortgrass prairie, sand-sage flats, dryland and irrigated farm ground, and the cottonwood-lined Arkansas River corridor. Pronghorn and deer carry the harvest here; mule deer hold on the sandy uplands and draws while whitetails work the river bottoms and irrigated bottoms, and there is functionally no huntable elk herd. As with nearly all of the eastern plains, the unit is overwhelmingly private ranch and farm land, so securing access is the real hurdle.
Terrain
Flat to gently rolling shortgrass and farm country sloping east along the Arkansas River valley. Long sightlines dominate, broken only by the river corridor, shallow sandy draws, and sand-sage hummocks.
Cover: Blue grama and buffalograss shortgrass, sand-sage and yucca flats, dryland winter wheat and irrigated cropland, CRP grass, and a ribbon of cottonwood, willow, and tamarisk along the Arkansas River and its tributaries.
Landmarks: Arkansas River corridor · John Martin Reservoir (western edge area) · Wildhorse and Clay Creek drainages · US Highway 50 / US 287 corridor near Lamar
Access
This unit is overwhelmingly private. Public opportunity is limited to scattered CPW State Wildlife Areas along the Arkansas (some near John Martin) and CPW's Public Access Program / Walk-In Atlas parcels, which rotate year to year. Colorado State Trust (State Land Board) sections are NOT open to public hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not assume checkerboard state sections are huntable. Get written permission before hunting any private parcel.
Managers: Private ranch/farm, Colorado State Land Board (state trust — generally closed), CPW State Wildlife Areas / Public Access Program (limited)
Access points: County section-line roads off US 50 and US 287 · Arkansas River SWAs and river-access points · Public Access Program / Walk-In parcels (verify annually)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe marquee big game of the unit. Pronghorn use the shortgrass and CRP mosaic on the uplands away from the river. Buck success runs modest because most animals live on private ground where access must be arranged, but the country grows respectable bucks.
- →Glass from section-line high points at first and last light
- →Locate a herd on huntable ground, then use fencelines and terrain rolls to close
- →Watch stock tanks and windmills during hot, dry early-season stretches
- →Lock in private permission or a Walk-In parcel before the season
Mule Deer
common opportunityA solid plains mule deer resource on the sandy uplands, sand-sage draws, and CRP edges. The bulk of the deer harvest; a genuine opportunity for hunters with access.
- →Hunt the transition between crop/CRP feed and sand-sage cover
- →Still-hunt sandy draws and yucca breaks at dawn
- →Focus on drainages that hold year-round cover away from the river
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails hold in the cottonwood and tamarisk bottoms of the Arkansas River and irrigated field edges — the classic eastern-plains river-bottom whitetail. A meaningful share of the deer take on huntable bottom ground.
- →Focus on cottonwood/willow/tamarisk corridors along the Arkansas
- →Watch irrigated and crop field edges at first and last light
- →Hunt the thickest river-bottom cover the plains offer
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient lowThere is no established elk herd here. Harvest is a token handful of wandering plains animals; treat elk as incidental, not a reason to hunt this unit.
- →Do not plan a trip around elk in this unit
- →Any encounter will be an opportunistic river-bottom or crop-field animal
Pro tips
- →Do your access legwork months ahead — line up private permission or scout Public Access Program parcels before you draw
- →The Arkansas River bottoms are the whitetail engine; the shortgrass uplands are the pronghorn and mule deer ground
- →Optics win on the plains — a good spotter and steady tripod turn long sightlines into an advantage
- →Check the current CPW Public Access / Walk-In Atlas every year; enrolled parcels rotate
- →Do not trespass onto unenrolled State Trust sections — they are closed to public hunting
Watch out for
- !Nearly all land is private — no permission, no hunt
- !State Trust sections are closed unless in the Public Access Program
- !Muddy section roads after rain/snow
- !Respect crops, gates, irrigation equipment, and livestock when permitted onto ranch ground
- !Tamarisk and river brush make bottom access thick and slow
Logistics
Base out of Lamar for lodging, fuel, and groceries; smaller services in Holly and Granada. Expect long drives on gravel section-line roads and slick gumbo when it rains. Cell coverage is decent along the US 50/287 corridor and spotty on the back roads.
Nearest towns: Lamar, Holly, Granada, Wiley
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Harvest Statistics · Colorado GMU boundary descriptions (CPW) · USGS National Map — Prowers County / Arkansas River topography
FAQ
- How big is GMU 132 in Colorado?
- GMU 132 (GMU 132 — Prowers Co.) covers about 817 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,500 to 4,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 132?
- Approximately 3% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch/farm, Colorado State Land Board (state trust — generally closed), CPW State Wildlife Areas / Public Access Program (limited). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 132?
- 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 132 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.