GMU 141 GMU 141 — Las Animas Co.
Small, high-success pronghorn-and-deer plains unit on nearly all-private ranchland
Southeast Colorado — Las Animas prairie and Purgatoire breaks east of Trinidad · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
239
sq mi
Public land
8%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–7,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 141 sits east of Trinidad in central Las Animas County, a compact plains-and-breaks unit of shortgrass prairie, sagebrush flats, and the piñon-juniper canyons that feed the Purgatoire River. Pronghorn lead the harvest, with mule deer and a plains elk herd rounding out the big game — and notably strong success across all three, reflecting lightly pressured animals on private ground. Elk and deer are limited-draw (no over-the-counter elk), and the unit is almost entirely deeded ranchland, so access is the central challenge.
Terrain
Rolling shortgrass plains cut by piñon-juniper canyons and arroyos draining toward the Purgatoire River, with scattered mesas and sagebrush benches.
Cover: Shortgrass prairie and big sagebrush on the flats, piñon-juniper and Gambel oak in the breaks and canyon slopes, with cottonwood and willow along the drainages.
Landmarks: Purgatoire River breaks · canyon country east of Trinidad · shortgrass prairie mesas · sagebrush benches
Access
Nearly all of GMU 141 is private ranchland, and the strong success rates largely reflect low-pressure animals behind fences. Public opportunity is thin — scattered Comanche National Grassland and small BLM tracts only — and State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Most hunters here rely on landowner permission, trespass/lease arrangements, or CPW access programs; DIY public hunting requires careful parcel mapping.
Managers: private ranch, Comanche National Grassland (USFS, scattered tracts), BLM (small parcels), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: US-350 (Trinidad–La Junta) corridor · county-road network across the plains and breaks · Comanche National Grassland tract access off county roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe top harvest species — pronghorn range the shortgrass flats, sagebrush benches, and open prairie. Good numbers on lightly hunted private ground and open terrain make for high success when access is in hand.
- →Glass open flats and benches at dawn and dusk for feeding bands
- →Stalk using arroyos, terrain rolls, and sparse cover
- →Water and windmills concentrate animals in dry early season
- →Secure access first — most bands live on private ground
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer hold in the piñon-juniper breaks, oak brush, and canyon country draining to the Purgatoire. Limited-draw, with strong success on low-pressure private ground.
- →Glass juniper and oak-brush edges at first and last light
- →Bucks bed in canyon-head thickets and rim cover through midday
- →Hunt the flats-to-breaks transition where deer move to feed
- →Prioritize huntable breaks with good glassing vantage
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA plains-and-breaks elk herd uses the piñon-juniper canyons and oak brush, feeding out onto parks and flats. Limited-draw, not over-the-counter — the highest success of the three, again tied to lightly pressured private country.
- →Hunt oak brush and timber pockets in the canyon breaks where elk bed
- →Glass parks and benches at first and last light
- →During the rut, call in timbered draws and canyon heads
- →Access is the limiting factor — lock down huntable ground early
Pro tips
- →Access is the whole game — nearly all private, so line up permission or a lease early
- →Strong success rates reflect low pressure; a good tag plus real access is a genuine opportunity
- →Verify any State Trust parcel is open before hunting — most are closed
- →Clay two-tracks turn to gumbo when wet; plan around the forecast
- →Work the Purgatoire breaks and canyon heads for deer and elk holding in oak brush and juniper
Watch out for
- !Almost entirely private land — very limited DIY public opportunity
- !State Trust Land generally closed unless in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Clay roads impassable when wet
- !Fire risk in dry grassland and piñon-juniper
- !Long distances between water and services
Logistics
Trinidad is the nearest full-service hub for fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing. Travel is on dirt and clay county roads and ranch two-tracks that turn greasy and impassable when wet — carry recovery gear and watch the sky. Cell coverage is spotty away from the US-350 corridor.
Nearest towns: Trinidad, Model, Thatcher, La Junta (services, ~1 hr north)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting Statistics · CPW GMU boundary descriptions · USFS Comanche National Grassland
FAQ
- How big is GMU 141 in Colorado?
- GMU 141 (GMU 141 — Las Animas Co.) covers about 239 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 7,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 141?
- Approximately 8% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, Comanche National Grassland (USFS, scattered tracts), BLM (small parcels), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 141?
- 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 141 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.