GMU 181 GMU 181 — Grand Co.
Long, narrow OTC elk unit stretching from the sage benches at Kremmling up to the Continental Divide
North-Central Colorado — Grand County (Kremmling to the Rabbit Ears Range) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
182
sq mi
Public land
62%
approx.
Elevation
7,416–11,340
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 181 is a long, narrow Grand County unit that runs from the sage-and-ranch country around Kremmling in the south up to the Rabbit Ears Range and the Continental Divide in the north. Roughly 62% public, it mixes BLM sage benches and creek bottoms low down with Routt National Forest timber up high. Elk is over-the-counter for bull hunters in the second and third rifle seasons and is the volume species; mule deer is a limited-draw option with some mature bucks thanks to the mix of private cover and wilderness security. Pronghorn scattered on the lower sage rounds out the opportunity.
Terrain
The unit steps up from roughly 7,400-foot sage benches and creek bottoms near Kremmling through pinyon-poor foothills and aspen into lodgepole and spruce-fir timber toward the Rabbit Ears crest above 11,000 feet. Broken sage draws and willow bottoms dominate the south; timbered ridges the north.
Cover: Big sagebrush and grass benches, willow-lined creek bottoms, aspen and mountain shrub on the mid slopes, and lodgepole and spruce-fir dark timber on the higher ground toward the divide.
Landmarks: Rabbit Ears Range · Continental Divide · Muddy Creek / Troublesome Creek country · Wolford Mountain Reservoir · Kremmling · Colorado River corridor
Access
About three-fifths public, but the split is geographic: BLM sage benches and Routt NF timber offer good access on the north and higher ground, while the lower valley and creek bottoms around Kremmling are heavily private cattle ranch. Colorado State Trust lands are generally NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not count them as huntable. Access comes off US 40, Colorado Highway 14, and Grand County roads onto BLM and forest ground; secure private permission early if you want the productive valley bottoms.
Managers: USFS Routt National Forest, BLM Kremmling Field Office, private ranch
Access points: US 40 near Kremmling · Colorado Highway 14 toward Rabbit Ears · Grand County / Routt NF forest roads · BLM two-tracks off the Muddy Creek benches
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe unit's volume species and OTC for bull hunters in the second and third rifle seasons. Per-hunter success is modest (recently around one in ten) under the OTC pressure, but elk are here and the timbered north end holds bulls. An opportunity hunt that rewards effort off the roads.
- →Push into the Routt NF timber and toward the Continental Divide on the north end, well off the road network, for less-pressured bulls.
- →Glass the sage-timber edges and willow bottoms at dawn and dusk, then still-hunt adjacent dark timber for daytime animals.
- →Time archery or early hunts to the rut before OTC rifle crowds arrive.
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-draw mule deer unit that produces some mature bucks thanks to the blend of private cover and higher-country security. Bucks work the sage draws, aspen benches, and mountain-shrub transitions. Tags require preference points.
- →Grid-glass the sage draws and aspen-timber edges on the foothill shoulders rather than the open valley flats.
- →Later hunts improve as bucks slide down toward the lower benches and river bottoms with snow.
- →Glass from high vantage points with good optics and stalk — not road-hunting country.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA thin pronghorn opportunity on the open sage benches around Kremmling and Muddy Creek — few tags and modest success (recently about one in five). An incidental bonus tag rather than a primary draw.
- →Focus on the open sagebrush benches and grass parks on the lower, southern end of the unit.
- →Glass long from the two-tracks and use terrain to close in open country.
- →Line up public parcels or private permission, since much of the low ground is ranch land.
Pro tips
- →Go north and high into the Routt NF timber toward the divide for the least-pressured OTC elk.
- →The productive lower bottoms are largely private ranch — secure permission early or work the BLM and forest ground.
- →Build points for the limited-draw deer tag; the unit gives up some mature bucks.
- →Watch the weather off the Rabbit Ears crest — early storms close roads and can strand vehicles.
- →Carry a GPS land-ownership map; the sage benches are a public/private patchwork.
Watch out for
- !Heavy private ranch ownership on the lower valley bottoms near Kremmling
- !OTC rifle pressure concentrated in the accessible country
- !Colorado State Trust lands closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Early snow and mud on the higher forest and BLM roads
- !Checkerboarded public/private boundaries on the sage benches
Logistics
Kremmling is the local hub for fuel, groceries, and basic lodging at the south end; Steamboat Springs (northwest) and Granby (east) are the nearest larger towns. Camping is available on Routt NF and BLM ground. High-clearance vehicles help on the two-tracks and forest roads, which turn greasy with rain or snow. Carry a solid land-ownership map — the public/private mix along the valley bottoms is easy to misjudge.
Nearest towns: Kremmling, CO, Hot Sulphur Springs, CO, Granby, CO, Steamboat Springs, CO, Walden, CO
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW — Big Game Hunting · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 181 Profile · USFS — Routt National Forest
FAQ
- How big is GMU 181 in Colorado?
- GMU 181 (GMU 181 — Grand Co.) covers about 182 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,416 to 11,340 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 181?
- Approximately 62% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Routt National Forest, BLM Kremmling Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 181?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 181 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.