GMU 20 GMU 20 — Larimer/Boulder/Weld Co.
Steep foothill-to-alpine draw country on the doorstep of the northern Front Range cities
Front Range — Roosevelt National Forest foothills west of Loveland and Boulder · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,208
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–13,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 20 climbs off the plains west of Loveland, Longmont, and Boulder into the Roosevelt National Forest high country of Larimer and Boulder Counties. It's classic Front Range terrain — grassy foothills and open south slopes giving way to steep canyons, dark timber, and long drainages that top out near the crest. Mule deer are the clear leader here by harvest, with a solid resident elk herd behind them. Both deer and elk are entirely limited-draw in this unit — there is NO over-the-counter elk here — which reflects the urban interface and heavy private foothill ownership rather than any lack of animals.
Terrain
A big vertical range — 5,000-foot grassy foothills in the east rising through timbered canyons and drainages to alpine ground near the crest in the west. Most game lives in the 6,500–9,000 ft belt.
Cover: Foothill grassland and open south-facing slopes low down, ponderosa and Douglas-fir on the mid-slopes, lodgepole and spruce-fir dark timber up high, with meadows, aspen pockets, and shrubby draws throughout.
Landmarks: Big Thompson Canyon · Roosevelt National Forest · Estes Park (western gateway) · Buckhorn Creek country · Horsetooth / Masonville foothills · Carter Lake foothills
Access
The high, western half is well-served by Roosevelt National Forest with good access from Estes Park and the canyon roads. The eastern foothills are a patchwork of private ranch, foothill homes, and open space, so hunters concentrate on national-forest ground and public trailheads. State Trust Land is generally closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Verify boundaries carefully near the urban fringe.
Managers: USFS Arapaho–Roosevelt National Forest, private ranch / foothill residential, county & municipal open space, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: Roosevelt NF trailheads and forest roads off US-34 (Big Thompson Canyon) · Buckhorn Road / Pingree Park corridor · Access from Estes Park into the western high country · County-road network into the foothills west of Loveland and Berthoud
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe unit's leading big-game harvest — a healthy foothills mule deer herd spread from the grassy breaks up into the timber. Colorado manages all deer as limited-draw, and CPW does not manage GMU 20 for big bucks, though a few mature deer come out each year. Solid mid-40s success reflects good numbers and reasonable access.
- →Glass open south-facing foothill slopes and grassy breaks at first and last light
- →Bucks hold in timbered pockets and shrubby draws through midday
- →Work the transition where ponderosa meets foothill grassland
- →Focus effort on national-forest ground and public trailheads to stay off private
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA resident Front Range elk herd that summers high in the Roosevelt NF timber and works the canyons and parks. This is a limited-draw unit — no OTC elk — so pressure is controlled and tags are worth points. Steep, timbered terrain rewards hunters who get away from the roads.
- →Hunt dark-timber benches and the heads of long drainages where elk bed
- →Glass high meadows and open slopes at dawn and dusk
- →During the rut, work timbered draws and parks with calling
- →Later rifle seasons: intercept elk moving down the canyons as snow builds
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the shrubby foothill draws, oak and berry patches, and timbered slopes typical of the Front Range. Usually an incidental opportunity while deer or elk hunting rather than a primary target.
- →Hunt shrubby draws and berry/oak patches in early fall
- →Glass feeding bears on open slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Focus on the foothill-to-timber transition where food concentrates
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a draw unit for both species — no OTC elk, so apply and bank points
- →Get off the roads and into the steep timbered drainages to escape the day-hunter crowd
- →Hunt the foothill-grassland-to-ponderosa edge at first and last light for deer
- →Time later hunts to snow that pushes game down the canyons
- →Use a GPS boundary layer near the urban fringe — private, open space, and forest interlock tightly
Watch out for
- !Heavy private ranch and foothill-residential ownership in the eastern half — verify boundaries
- !State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Urban-interface crowding and day-hunter pressure near the towns
- !Snow can close higher forest roads in later seasons
- !Wildfire history and closures can affect access in dry years
Logistics
Full services are minutes away in Loveland, Fort Collins, and Estes Park — fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing are never far, which is part of the appeal of a Front Range unit. Mountain roads are paved on the main canyon corridors but turn to dirt forest roads quickly; snow can close higher routes in later seasons. Cell coverage is good near the towns and canyon mouths, spotty in the western high country.
Nearest towns: Loveland, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, Boulder
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Big Game Hunting · CPW — Hunting Elk (OTC vs limited) · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 20 Profile · USFS — Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests
FAQ
- How big is GMU 20 in Colorado?
- GMU 20 (GMU 20 — Larimer/Boulder/Weld Co.) covers about 1,208 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 20?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Arapaho–Roosevelt National Forest, private ranch / foothill residential, county & municipal open space, 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 20?
- 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 20 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.