GMU 24 GMU 24 — Rio Blanco/Garfield Co.
High-country OTC bull elk and quality mule deer wrapped around the Flat Tops Wilderness
Northwest Colorado — the Flat Tops heart of the White River elk herd · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
440
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
6,700–12,354
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 24 is the mountainous core of the White River elk complex, taking in a huge portion of the Flat Tops Wilderness on the White River National Forest south and east of Buford in Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties. This is the largest migratory elk herd in North America, and GMU 24 is a popular, heavily hunted early-season elk unit — almost entirely public land, with the Flat Tops making up more than half the acreage. Elk dominate the harvest, mule deer are quality but concentrated on lower private ground along the White River, and the high willow basins hold a small Flat Tops moose population. Bull elk are over-the-counter for second and third rifle seasons, so this is a big-country opportunity unit.
Terrain
Dramatic high country — the flat-topped volcanic plateau and cliff-rimmed basins of the Flat Tops rising from around 6,700 feet near Buford to over 12,000 feet, a mile-plus of relief within the unit.
Cover: Spruce-fir and lodgepole timber, extensive aspen, alpine tundra and krummholz on the plateau tops, willow-choked basins and creek bottoms, with oakbrush and sagebrush on the lower western flanks near Buford.
Landmarks: Flat Tops Wilderness · White River-Colorado River divide · White River-Yampa River divide · Buford-Newcastle Road (FSR 245/CR 17) · South Fork White River
Access
Overwhelmingly public — a large share of the unit is White River National Forest, and the Flat Tops Wilderness alone comprises more than half of it. That means foot-and-horse access into designated wilderness with no motorized travel across large blocks. The private ground that matters is concentrated in the lower White River bottoms and around Sleepy Cat and Sand Peak, where much of the best mule deer holds. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS White River NF, Flat Tops Wilderness, private ranch (White River bottoms), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: White River NF trailheads into the Flat Tops Wilderness · Buford-Newcastle Road (FSR 245/CR 17) corridor · FSR 250 and forest roads off the North Fork White River near Buford · South Fork White River access
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant opportunityThe marquee species and the reason most hunters come — GMU 24 is a heavily hunted early-season unit inside the White River herd, the largest migratory elk herd in North America. Bull elk are over-the-counter for second and third rifle seasons. Success runs modest given the pressure and the vast wilderness terrain, but elk numbers and public access are excellent for those willing to hike.
- →Get deep into the Flat Tops Wilderness on foot or horseback to leave road pressure behind
- →Glass timberline parks and the plateau-edge basins at dawn and dusk
- →During the rut, work the aspen-and-timber fringes and wallows with calling
- →Later rifle seasons: intercept migration as early snow pushes elk off the plateau toward lower country
- →Plan for weather — the high basins can lock up with snow fast
Mule Deer
common qualityA quality, fully limited-draw mule deer unit, though the best deer ground sits lower and often on private — deer concentrate along the White River and in the Sleepy Cat and Sand Peak areas rather than the high wilderness. Worth points to draw.
- →Hunt the lower oakbrush-and-aspen benches and the forest-to-sage transition rather than the high plateau
- →Glass at first and last light along cover edges
- →Rut and migration bring mature bucks lower into accessible country
- →Sort public from private carefully along the White River bottoms
Moose
limited qualityThe Flat Tops hold an established, slowly growing moose population that uses the willow-choked high basins and creek bottoms. Tags are very limited and hard to draw — a genuine bonus, not a season plan — but the habitat and animals are real.
- →Glass willow bottoms and beaver-pond complexes in the high basins at dawn and dusk
- →Still-hunt timber-and-willow edges slowly
- →Moose hold to wet drainages far more than the open plateau
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the aspen and oakbrush country, keying on berries and mast in early fall — abundant across the mid-elevation Flat Tops flanks.
- →Hunt aspen berry patches and oakbrush thickets in early fall
- →Glass feeding bears at dawn and dusk on shrubby slopes
- →Usually an incidental opportunity while elk or deer hunting
Pro tips
- →OTC 2nd/3rd rifle means crowds near trailheads — earn quiet elk by going deep into the wilderness
- →The high plateau is elk country; hunt lower benches and the White River flanks for mule deer
- →Willow basins are where the moose live — glass them at first and last light even if you're elk hunting
- →Watch the sky — early snow both helps (migration) and hazards (locked-up basins, greasy roads)
- →Horses or a serious backpack plan pay off in a unit this big and this wild
Watch out for
- !Large wilderness blocks are foot/horse only — plan access and pack-out logistics
- !Best mule deer ground is lower and often private along the White River
- !OTC elk seasons bring heavy pressure near roads and trailheads
- !High-country snow and cold can arrive fast and strand the unprepared
- !Clay/forest roads become impassable when wet; early-season fire danger in dry years
Logistics
Meeker is the primary hub for fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing, with tiny Buford the last outpost before the forest and Glenwood Springs/New Castle on I-70 to the south. Much of the unit is wilderness, so plan for foot or horse access, backcountry camps, and full self-sufficiency. Forest and clay roads turn greasy when wet; carry chains and recovery gear. Cell coverage is essentially gone off the main corridors.
Nearest towns: Meeker, Buford, New Castle, Glenwood Springs
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 · CPW 2024 Big Game Regulations — OTC bull elk units (White River herd) · CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU 24 boundaries and public access · USFS White River National Forest — Flat Tops Wilderness
FAQ
- How big is GMU 24 in Colorado?
- GMU 24 (GMU 24 — Rio Blanco/Garfield Co.) covers about 440 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,700 to 12,354 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 24?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS White River NF, Flat Tops Wilderness, private ranch (White River bottoms), 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 24?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, 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 24 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.