GMU 134 GMU 134 — Las Animas/Pueblo Co.
High-success pronghorn and mule deer in the mesas north of Trinidad
Southeastern Colorado — Las Animas/Pueblo piñon-juniper mesa and canyon country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
399
sq mi
Public land
8%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–7,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 134 covers the piñon-juniper mesa and canyon country of northern Las Animas and southern Pueblo counties, in the rolling breaks north and east of Trinidad. It is a mix of grassland parks, piñon-juniper woodland, rimrock mesas, and cottonwood drainages — richer, more broken habitat than the flat plains farther east. The unit posts strong success on both pronghorn and mule deer, and holds a small limited-draw elk herd in the timbered breaks. Access is the limiter: the country is dominated by large private ranches, with only scattered public opportunity.
Terrain
Rolling grassland parks broken by piñon-juniper mesas, rimrock, and canyon drainages. Good vertical relief and cover give the country more habitat structure than the eastern plains units.
Cover: Grama and mixed-grass parks, piñon-juniper woodland blanketing the mesas and breaks, sagebrush flats, scattered ponderosa on higher north-facing slopes, and cottonwood/willow along the Purgatoire and Apishapa drainages.
Landmarks: Purgatoire River drainage · Apishapa River canyon country · piñon-juniper mesas north of Trinidad · I-25 corridor between Trinidad and Walsenburg
Access
Large private ranches dominate this unit, with scattered BLM and Comanche National Grassland parcels in the breaks and some CPW Public Access Program / Walk-In ground. Many public parcels are small or landlocked, so confirm 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. Get written permission for any private parcel.
Managers: Private ranch, BLM, USFS Comanche National Grassland (scattered), Colorado State Land Board (state trust — generally closed), CPW Public Access Program (limited)
Access points: County roads off I-25 near Trinidad and Aguilar · BLM and Comanche National Grassland parcels (confirm boundaries/access) · Public Access Program / Walk-In parcels (verify annually)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe unit's top producer, with strong buck success on the grassland parks between the mesas. The broken country lets hunters use terrain to close the distance, which helps success rates run higher than on the open plains.
- →Glass grass parks from mesa rims and rimrock edges at first light
- →Use piñon-juniper fingers and terrain rolls to stalk into range
- →Watch stock tanks and windmills on hot early hunts
- →Prioritize BLM/Comanche parcels with confirmed legal access
Mule Deer
common qualityA genuinely good mule deer resource for southeastern Colorado, with strong success in the piñon-juniper mesas, canyon breaks, and sagebrush draws. The mesa-and-canyon structure holds and hides deer better than the flat plains.
- →Still-hunt piñon-juniper mesa edges and rimrock at dawn
- →Glass canyon breaks and the heads of drainages at first and last light
- →Work the transition from grass parks into juniper cover
- →Focus on drainages with water and year-round cover
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA small, limited-draw elk herd uses the piñon-juniper breaks, canyon drainages, and ponderosa pockets, shifting between private ranch cover and public breaks. A real opportunity for hunters who secure access to the rougher country.
- →Hunt the timbered canyon breaks and drainage heads
- →Glass where piñon-juniper and ponderosa cover meets open feed at dawn
- →Arrange private ranch permission or hunt public breaks with legal access
Pro tips
- →The mesa-and-canyon structure is why this unit out-hunts the flat plains — use rims to glass and terrain to stalk
- →Grass parks hold pronghorn; the piñon-juniper mesas and breaks hold the deer and elk
- →Map legal access to BLM and Comanche National Grassland parcels — many are small or landlocked
- →Do your access legwork early; large ranches control most of the ground
- →Do not trespass onto unenrolled State Trust sections — they are closed to public hunting
Watch out for
- !Large private ranches dominate — secure permission first
- !Public parcels can be small or landlocked behind private
- !State Trust sections are closed unless in the Public Access Program
- !Slick clay two-tracks after rain or snow
- !Respect gates, livestock, and ranch boundaries
Logistics
Base out of Trinidad for lodging, fuel, and groceries, with I-25 giving fast access from Pueblo. Mesa and canyon two-tracks turn to slick clay when wet, so carry recovery gear and air-down tires. Cell coverage is decent along I-25 and unreliable in the back canyons.
Nearest towns: Trinidad, Aguilar, Walsenburg, 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 — Las Animas/Pueblo mesa and canyon topography
FAQ
- How big is GMU 134 in Colorado?
- GMU 134 (GMU 134 — Las Animas/Pueblo Co.) covers about 399 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 7,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 134?
- Approximately 8% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch, BLM, USFS Comanche National Grassland (scattered), Colorado State Land Board (state trust — generally closed), CPW Public Access Program (limited). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 134?
- Pronghorn, Mule 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 134 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.