GMU 138 GMU 138 — Baca Co.
Open pronghorn prairie in the far southeast corner, almost entirely private ranchland
Southeast Colorado — Baca County shortgrass plains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
312
sq mi
Public land
5%
approx.
Elevation
3,900–4,700
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 138 is a small unit on the shortgrass plains of northwestern Baca County, in Colorado's far southeast corner. It is open, gently rolling prairie and dryland farm country broken by shallow draws and the occasional butte — pronghorn are the marquee species and the top harvest, mule deer hold in the brushy draws and along field edges, and elk are only an incidental presence (recent harvest is a single animal). The defining challenge is access: this is overwhelmingly private ranch and farm ground with very little public land, so most hunting hinges on landowner permission or landowner tags.
Terrain
Flat to gently rolling shortgrass prairie and dryland cropland cut by shallow sandy draws, with scattered buttes and playa lows.
Cover: Shortgrass prairie, sandsage and yucca on the rangeland; dryland wheat and fallow fields; brushy sandsage and cottonwood-lined draws.
Landmarks: Two Buttes · Bear Creek / Butte Creek draws · dryland wheat country · Pritchett vicinity
Access
Access is the hardest part of this unit — it is almost entirely private ranch and dryland-farm ground, and public land is scarce. Colorado State Trust Lands scattered through the unit are generally NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so do not count them as huntable. Much of the private ground is leased to outfitters. Realistically you need landowner permission, a landowner tag, or an access lease to hunt here.
Managers: private ranch, private farm, Colorado State Trust Land (mostly closed)
Access points: County roads off U.S. Highway 160 and State Highway 116 · landowner-permission access on private ranches · any parcels enrolled in CPW Public Access Program (verify individually)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe marquee species and top harvest — pronghorn range across the open prairie and dryland fields. Limited-draw with moderate success, but the private-land access problem is the real limiter, not the animals.
- →Drive-and-glass the open flats and field edges at first light
- →Use the rolling terrain and sandsage for a terrain-using stalk once a buck is located
- →Hunt water tanks and stock ponds in hot, dry early seasons
- →Line up landowner permission or a landowner tag well before the season
Mule Deer
limited opportunityMule deer hold in the brushy sandsage draws, creek bottoms and along dryland field edges — modest numbers but decent success for those with access. Fully limited-draw.
- →Glass sandsage draws and cottonwood creek bottoms at first and last light
- →Still-hunt brushy draws mid-day
- →Watch dryland field edges where deer feed
- →Focus effort where you have secured private access
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited lowOnly an incidental, low-density plains elk presence — recent harvest is a single animal. Not a species to plan a hunt around here. Limited-draw only (no OTC).
- →Glass the largest, quietest private tracts and creek bottoms where a stray herd might shelter
- →Treat any elk as a bonus while hunting pronghorn or deer
- →Secure private access before counting on elk at all
Pro tips
- →Solve access first — this unit is almost all private, and permission or a landowner tag makes or breaks the hunt
- →Pronghorn are the reason to draw this unit; hunt water and field edges in dry early seasons
- →Confirm any State Trust Land parcel is enrolled in Public Access before setting foot on it — most are closed
- →Glass from the county roads to locate animals, then work permission for the ground they're on
- →Watch grass and stubble fire risk in dry, windy conditions
Watch out for
- !Very little public land — access is the main obstacle, not game numbers
- !Much private ground is leased to outfitters; secure permission early
- !State Trust Land is generally closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Gravel county roads become slick and rutted when wet
- !Prairie fire risk in dry, windy weather
Logistics
Base from Springfield (the Baca County seat) or Lamar to the northwest for lodging, fuel and services. Roads are mostly county gravel and can turn slick when wet — high clearance helps. Cell service is spotty away from the highways. The single most important prep is arranging private-land access in advance, since public ground is minimal.
Nearest towns: Springfield, Pritchett, Two Buttes, Lamar, Walsh
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Game Management Units (GMU) boundaries — Colorado Geodata · Hunt Talk — CO Antelope Units 137, 138 & 144 · CPW 2017 Southeast Colorado Hunting Guide
FAQ
- How big is GMU 138 in Colorado?
- GMU 138 (GMU 138 — Baca Co.) covers about 312 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,900 to 4,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 138?
- Approximately 5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, private farm, Colorado State Trust Land (mostly closed). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 138?
- 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 138 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.