GMU 161 GMU 161 — Jackson Co.
Northern North Park toward the Wyoming line — top-tier pronghorn, limited-draw elk
North-central Colorado — northern North Park (Jackson County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
408
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
7,900–10,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 161 covers the northern reach of North Park, the high sagebrush basin of Jackson County, stretching from the ranchlands north of Walden and Cowdrey to the Wyoming state line where the North Platte River exits the park. It is open, wind-blown sage-and-grass country broken by the Sentinel and Independence mountain uplifts and the river bottoms. Pronghorn is the marquee here — antelope success is excellent on this expansive basin — while elk is a fully limited-draw hunt (no over-the-counter in North Park) with a large herd but modest per-hunter success, and mule deer is draw-only along the river breaks and foothills.
Terrain
Broad, open high-desert basin near 8,000 ft that tilts north toward the lowest point in the park where the North Platte crosses into Wyoming, rising to the isolated Sentinel and Independence mountain masses. Big sky, big sage, few trees on the floor.
Cover: Sagebrush steppe and grassland dominate, with willow and cottonwood riparian along the North Platte and its tributaries and scattered conifer/aspen on the higher mountain uplifts.
Landmarks: North Platte River (exits to Wyoming) · Independence Mountain · Sentinel Mountains · Cowdrey · Big Creek / Norris drainages
Access
Northern North Park carries substantial BLM acreage interspersed with large private ranches along the river bottoms and hay ground. Colorado State Trust (State Land Board) sections are generally NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not count them as public. The best antelope ground is a mix of walk-in BLM and private; identify boundaries carefully. Public-land percent is an estimate.
Managers: BLM (Kremmling Field Office), private ranch, Colorado State Land Board, USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF
Access points: County roads off CO Hwy 125 north of Walden and Cowdrey · BLM tracts toward the Wyoming line · Independence Mountain area roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant opportunityThis is prime North Park pronghorn range — the open northern basin holds strong antelope numbers with high tag success. One of the more attainable and productive draws in the park.
- →Glass wide-open sage flats and low rises at dawn and dusk
- →Prioritize BLM parcels away from the private ranch cores
- →Use the subtle rolls and drainages to close on stalks in flat country
- →Waterholes and fence corners concentrate animals in dry stretches
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe North Park elk herd is large but this is fully limited-draw (no OTC), and elk here spend much of the season on private meadows and the mountain fringes, keeping per-hunter success modest.
- →Hunt the timber-and-sage transition on the mountain uplifts
- →Target public ground on Independence/Sentinel edges
- →Watch private hay-meadow edges where elk feed at night
- →Snow and late seasons push elk into more visible, lower country
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer hold along the North Platte breaks, willow bottoms and foothill fringe; draw-only, so bucks can reach maturity where tags are limited.
- →Work river breaks and willow bottoms early and late
- →Glass sage benches and the timber edge on the uplifts
- →Late-season rut brings bucks into the open
Moose
limited qualityMoose from North Park's founding herd use the willow bottoms and beaver complexes along the North Platte and tributaries. Tags are once-in-a-lifetime and very limited.
- →Hunt willow carrs and beaver ponds along the North Platte drainage
- →Glass riparian corridors at first and last light
- →Drawing a tag is a long-odds proposition
Pro tips
- →This is arguably North Park's best pronghorn unit — antelope is the play if you can draw
- →Separate BLM from State Trust and private before hunting; State Trust is closed unless in the Public Access Program
- →Focus elk effort on the Independence/Sentinel mountain fringes for public access
- →The North Platte willow bottoms hold moose and the better mule deer
- →Prepare for relentless wind and early snow near the Wyoming line
Watch out for
- !Large private river-bottom ranches control much of the prime ground
- !State Trust lands generally closed to hunting (Public Access Program only)
- !Basin roads greasy when wet; open country offers little shelter from weather
- !Elk often bedded or feeding on out-of-reach private meadows
Logistics
Walden (just south) and Cowdrey provide fuel and basic services; Walden is the county seat with lodging and licenses. Steamboat Springs (~1 hr over Rabbit Ears Pass) is the nearest full-service town and airport, with Laramie, WY reachable north. Graded county/BLM roads cross the basin and turn slick when wet; expect wind and early cold near the state line.
Nearest towns: Cowdrey, Walden, Steamboat Springs (over Rabbit Ears Pass), Laramie WY (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 (harvest & success by GMU) · BLM — Kremmling Field Office (North Park public lands) · CPW — North Park moose (reintroduction history)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 161 in Colorado?
- GMU 161 (GMU 161 — Jackson Co.) covers about 408 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,900 to 10,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 161?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Kremmling Field Office), private ranch, Colorado State Land Board, USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 161?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 161 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.