GMU 19 GMU 19 — Larimer Co.
A long limited-draw unit that climbs from Fort Collins to Cameron Pass along the Poudre
Northern Front Range — Larimer County (Cache la Poudre / Comanche Peak country) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
424
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–12,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 19 is a narrow, roughly 424-square-mile unit that stretches about 45 miles west from the edge of Fort Collins to Cameron Pass, riding the Cache la Poudre River drainage and buttressing Rocky Mountain National Park and three Roosevelt National Forest wilderness areas. It is limited-draw for both elk and deer — there is no over-the-counter opportunity here. Mule deer is the workhorse tag with the strongest success, while the elk hunt is a tougher, lower-odds affair on pressured, high-elevation summer range next to a park boundary the animals learn to hide behind.
Terrain
Dramatic elevation band running from the plains edge at Fort Collins up the Poudre Canyon to Cameron Pass (10,276 ft) and the high peaks of the Comanche Peak and Mummy Range country above 12,000 feet along the national park boundary. Steep timbered canyon walls, high glacial basins, and alpine ridgelines dominate the west end.
Cover: Ponderosa and Douglas-fir on the foothill shoulders, thickening into lodgepole, spruce-fir, and aspen through the mid and high country, with willow parks, wet meadows, and alpine tundra above treeline near the wilderness boundaries.
Landmarks: Cache la Poudre River · Cameron Pass · Comanche Peak Wilderness · Neota Wilderness · Rawah Wilderness · Pingree Park · Rocky Mountain National Park boundary · CO 14 (Poudre Canyon)
Access
The mountainous western two-thirds is largely Roosevelt National Forest with generous public access from the Poudre Canyon corridor, but the east end toward Fort Collins is developed and private. Rocky Mountain National Park forms much of the southwest boundary and is closed to all hunting — know that line precisely. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Wilderness areas are non-motorized.
Managers: USFS Roosevelt National Forest, NPS Rocky Mountain National Park (closed to hunting), private ranch
Access points: CO 14 / Poudre Canyon Road (Ted's Place to Cameron Pass) · Pingree Park Road · Long Draw Road · Roosevelt NF trailheads off CO 14
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe unit's most reliable tag and its largest harvest. Limited-draw deer using the foothill shoulders, canyon breaks, and aspen-timber edges, with recent success around one in three tags filled.
- →Glass the ponderosa and Douglas-fir foothill benches and the oak-brush/aspen edges at first and last light.
- →Work the transition zones on the flanks of the Poudre Canyon rather than the crowded valley bottom.
- →Later rifle hunts improve as bucks drop off the high summer range toward mid-elevation cover.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA pressured, limited-draw elk hunt on high summer range that runs between roughly 9,500 and 11,500 feet. Success is low (recently around 10%) — elk here learn to shelter inside the adjacent national park and hit the timber under hunting pressure.
- →Get deep into the wilderness and roadless timber away from the Poudre Canyon road corridor where most hunters stall out.
- →Hunt the dark north-slope timber and high willow parks near the park boundary, but stay hard on the legal line.
- →Be prepared to hike and pack out of steep, high country; the elk that survive opening pressure hold in the nastiest cover.
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are well distributed through the oak-brush foothills and timbered mid-elevations of the Roosevelt National Forest portion of the unit.
- →Concentrate on oak-brush and berry-producing slopes and mast pockets in the foothill transition.
- →Glass avalanche chutes, aspen edges, and green draws at dawn and dusk.
- →Overlap a fall bear tag with deer scouting in the mid-elevation timber.
Pro tips
- →Both elk and deer are limited-draw — budget preference points and apply strategically.
- →Learn the Rocky Mountain National Park boundary exactly; the elk exploit it and a boundary mistake ends your hunt.
- →The best hunting is off the Poudre Canyon road — hike into the wilderness and roadless timber.
- →Deer are the higher-odds tag; treat the elk hunt as a hard-earned opportunity, not a numbers game.
- →Watch weather at Cameron Pass; early snow reshapes access and animal movement.
Watch out for
- !Rocky Mountain National Park is closed to all hunting — the boundary runs through the southwest of the unit.
- !Comanche Peak, Neota, and Rawah wilderness areas are non-motorized.
- !The east end toward Fort Collins is developed and private — respect boundaries.
- !Colorado State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Early snow and cold at Cameron Pass and the high basins can be dangerous.
Logistics
Fort Collins anchors the east end with full services — fuel, groceries, lodging, and gear — and CO 14 up the Poudre Canyon is the spine of the unit. Rustic offers limited services mid-canyon. The west end near Cameron Pass is remote and snows early; carry chains and cold-weather gear for late seasons. Dispersed camping is available on the national forest, but developed corridors near Fort Collins fill fast.
Nearest towns: Fort Collins, CO, Rustic, CO, Walden, CO, Loveland, 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 19 Profile · HuntScore — Colorado GMU 19 (Larimer County)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 19 in Colorado?
- GMU 19 (GMU 19 — Larimer Co.) covers about 424 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 12,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 19?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Roosevelt National Forest, NPS Rocky Mountain National Park (closed to hunting), private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 19?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 19 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.