GMU 201 GMU 201 — Moffat Co.
A small, nearly all-public Moffat County unit famous for big migratory mule deer
Far Northwest Colorado — Vermillion / Sand Wash trophy mule deer country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
240
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
5,800–8,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 201 sits in the far northwest corner of Colorado in Moffat County, taking in Cold Springs Mountain, Douglas Mountain, Lone Mountain, the Sand Wash Basin, and the Vermillion Bluffs above the Little Snake and Green River country. It is more than 90% public land — mostly BLM sage-and-juniper basins rising into aspen-and-conifer mountains — which makes it a rare high-opportunity access unit. This is one of Colorado's storied trophy mule deer units (the '1-2-10-201' complex), and the harvest shows it: exceptional deer and pronghorn success on limited-draw tags, with a quality-managed elk herd behind them. Nothing here is over-the-counter; every tag is drawn and worth building points for.
Terrain
Open sagebrush basins and juniper breaks around 6,000 ft rising to timbered mountains — Cold Springs and Douglas Mountains — near 8,500 ft, cut by dramatic canyons dropping to the Green and Little Snake Rivers.
Cover: Big-sagebrush and greasewood basins, pinyon-juniper on the breaks, mountain shrub and Gambel oak on the slopes, aspen and mixed conifer on the high mountains, with grassy parks and canyon-bottom riparian.
Landmarks: Cold Springs Mountain · Douglas Mountain · Lone Mountain · Sand Wash Basin · Vermillion Bluffs · Lodore Canyon (Green River)
Access
One of Colorado's best public-access units — well over 90% public, dominated by large BLM blocks with mountain ground up high. Access is via BLM two-tracks and county roads that turn to impassable clay when wet. The Lodore Canyon corner abuts Dinosaur National Monument, which has its own rules; scattered private ranch ground follows the river valleys. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: BLM (Little Snake Field Office), Dinosaur National Monument (Lodore Canyon fringe), private ranch (river valleys), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: BLM road network off CO-318 (Little Snake River corridor) · Irish Canyon / Sand Wash Basin roads · Cold Springs Mountain and Douglas Mountain access roads · County roads out of Maybell and Sunbeam
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyThe reason hunters chase this unit — a genuine trophy mule deer area within the fabled northwest complex, with big migratory bucks moving off the high mountains into the sage basins. Very high draw success (mid-80s) on limited tags reflects both quality and access. Expect to bank significant preference points, especially as a nonresident.
- →Glass sagebrush parks, oak pockets, and the juniper breaks at first and last light
- →Bucks hold in oakbrush and aspen stringers through midday
- →Time later hunts to migration as snow pushes deer off Cold Springs and Douglas Mountains
- →Cover country and glass hard — mature bucks are scattered across big public ground
Pronghorn
common qualityThe open Sand Wash and Vermillion sage basins hold pronghorn, and the numbers back it up — very high draw success on limited tags. A strong secondary draw for hunters who like open-country spot-and-stalk.
- →Glass the wide sage flats and basin edges for bands
- →Use terrain, sagebrush, and cutbanks to close the distance
- →Water sources and open feeding areas concentrate animals in early season
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the quality-managed northwest elk picture — a limited-draw herd (no OTC here) that uses the timbered mountains and works down into the sage and oak. Moderate success reflects big, broken country where finding elk is the challenge, not the tag.
- →Hunt the aspen-and-conifer benches and dark timber on Cold Springs and Douglas Mountains
- →Glass oakbrush-to-sage transitions at dawn and dusk
- →During the rut, work timbered draws and wallows with calling
- →Later seasons: catch elk shifting to lower sage as snow builds
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the oakbrush, aspen, and mountain-shrub belts of the higher country, especially where mast and berries are good in early fall. A bonus opportunity rather than a primary target.
- →Hunt oakbrush thickets and berry patches in early fall
- →Glass shrubby slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Often taken incidentally while deer or elk hunting
Pro tips
- →This is a trophy-deer point unit — apply, bank points, and treat drawing it as a multi-year plan
- →Well over 90% public means access isn't the problem; covering big country and glassing is
- →Time a rifle deer hunt to the first real snow that triggers migration off the mountains
- →Watch the clay roads — get ahead of storms or be prepared to sit them out for days
- →Know the Dinosaur National Monument boundary at Lodore Canyon; different rules apply there
Watch out for
- !Clay/two-track roads become impassable when wet — real risk of getting stranded
- !Extreme remoteness: no cell service, limited fuel, be fully self-sufficient
- !Dinosaur National Monument boundary in the Lodore corner has its own regulations
- !State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Scattered private ranch ground along the river valleys — verify boundaries
Logistics
This is remote country — Craig (services, fuel, lodging, processing) is the practical hub, with Maybell and the town of Dinosaur closer but very limited. Fuel up and provision before heading in; the road network is dirt and clay two-tracks that turn greasy and impassable when wet, so carry chains, recovery gear, water, and be self-sufficient. Cell coverage is largely absent off the main highways.
Nearest towns: Maybell, Craig, Dinosaur, Sunbeam
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 · BLM — Little Snake Field Office · Colorado Hunter — The 'Trophy' Units: GMUs 1, 2, 10 and 201 · Town of Dinosaur — Trophy Elk Hunting (northwest units)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 201 in Colorado?
- GMU 201 (GMU 201 — Moffat Co.) covers about 240 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,800 to 8,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 201?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Little Snake Field Office), Dinosaur National Monument (Lodore Canyon fringe), private ranch (river valleys), 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 201?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 201 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.