GMU 133 GMU 133 — Huerfano/Las Animas/Pueblo Co.
Pronghorn-rich transition country between the plains and the Sangre de Cristos
South-central Colorado — Huerfano/Las Animas foothills and grassland · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
577
sq mi
Public land
8%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–7,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 133 sits in the transition zone of Huerfano, Las Animas, and southern Pueblo counties, west and south of Walsenburg where the shortgrass plains give way to piñon-juniper mesas, grassy parks, and the rising foothills toward the Spanish Peaks and Sangre de Cristo Range. Pronghorn dominate the harvest and thrive on the open grassland parks, while a limited-draw elk herd works the piñon-juniper breaks and a modest mule deer population holds in the rougher country. The mix of grassland and foothill cover gives it more habitat variety than the pure plains units to the east, but the land is still largely private ranch ground.
Terrain
Rolling shortgrass and grama parks broken by piñon-juniper mesas, low ridges, and drainages climbing westward toward the mountain front. More vertical relief and cover than the eastern plains.
Cover: Blue grama and mixed-grass parks, piñon-juniper woodland on the mesas and breaks, sagebrush and rabbitbrush flats, scattered ponderosa on higher north slopes, and cottonwood/willow along the Cucharas and Huerfano drainages.
Landmarks: Spanish Peaks (to the southwest) · Cucharas River drainage · Huerfano River valley · I-25 / US 160 corridor near Walsenburg
Access
Predominantly private ranchland with scattered BLM parcels in the foothill breaks and some CPW Public Access Program / Walk-In ground. Public parcels can be landlocked behind private, so verify legal access. Colorado State Trust (State Land Board) sections are NOT open to public hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not treat checkerboard state sections as huntable. Secure written permission for any private parcel.
Managers: Private ranch, BLM, Colorado State Land Board (state trust — generally closed), CPW State Wildlife Areas / Public Access Program (limited)
Access points: County roads off I-25 and US 160 near Walsenburg · BLM foothill parcels (confirm boundaries and access) · Public Access Program / Walk-In parcels (verify annually)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe unit's strongest big game. Pronghorn hold in the open grassland parks and grama flats between the mesas, with the best success rates of the three species. Access to huntable ground is the main constraint on filling a tag.
- →Glass the open grass parks from mesa edges and high points at dawn
- →Use piñon-juniper mesa fingers as cover to close on herds in the open
- →Watch stock tanks and windmills during hot early hunts
- →Prioritize BLM parcels with legal access or Walk-In enrollment
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA modest, limited-draw elk herd uses the piñon-juniper breaks and drainages, moving between private ranch cover and the foothill BLM. Not a big producer, but a real opportunity for hunters who secure access to the rougher country.
- →Hunt the piñon-juniper breaks and drainage heads between grass parks
- →Glass at first and last light where cover meets open feed
- →Focus on foothill BLM with legal access, or arrange private ranch permission
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA modest mule deer resource in the piñon-juniper mesas, sagebrush draws, and riparian corridors. Low tag numbers and harvest; a quality secondary opportunity where cover and access line up.
- →Still-hunt the piñon-juniper edges and sagebrush draws at dawn
- →Work the transition from grass parks into mesa cover
- →Hunt drainages that hold water and year-round cover
Pro tips
- →The grass parks are pronghorn ground; the piñon-juniper breaks hold the elk and deer
- →Map legal access to BLM parcels carefully — several are ringed by private
- →Do your access legwork early; ranch permission and Walk-In parcels win seasons here
- →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
- !Most land is private — secure permission first
- !BLM parcels can be landlocked behind private ground
- !State Trust sections are closed unless in the Public Access Program
- !Slick clay roads after rain or snow in the foothills
- !Respect gates, livestock, and ranch boundaries
Logistics
Base out of Walsenburg for lodging, fuel, and groceries, with I-25 giving quick access from Pueblo or Trinidad. Foothill and mesa roads turn to slick clay when wet, so carry recovery gear. Cell coverage is decent near the I-25/US 160 corridor and drops off in the back country.
Nearest towns: Walsenburg, La Veta, Aguilar, Pueblo
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 — Huerfano/Las Animas foothills topography
FAQ
- How big is GMU 133 in Colorado?
- GMU 133 (GMU 133 — Huerfano/Las Animas/Pueblo Co.) covers about 577 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 7,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 133?
- Approximately 8% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch, BLM, 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 133?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 133 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.