How big is GMU 33 in Colorado?

GMU 33 (GMU 33 — Garfield/Rio Blanco Co.) covers about 417 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,300 to 10,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for GMU 33?

Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

GMU 33 GMU 33 — Garfield/Rio Blanco Co.

A big over-the-counter bull unit climbing from the Colorado River to the White River divide

Northwest Colorado — Garfield & Rio Blanco Counties (Rifle to the White River divide) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Bull elk standing at the edge of dark timber

Area

417

sq mi

Public land

75%

approx.

Elevation

5,300–10,800

feet

Motorized

moderate

access

Overview

GMU 33 is a roughly 417-square-mile unit stretching north from the Colorado River at Rifle up to the White River–Colorado River divide, straddling the Garfield/Rio Blanco county line. It is a classic over-the-counter elk unit — bull licenses are sold OTC for the second and third rifle seasons (with a four-point antler restriction) and archery is OTC, while first rifle is limited-draw — which makes it popular, pressured, and heavy on elk harvest even as per-hunter success stays modest. About 75% of the unit is public (White River National Forest up high, BLM lower), with the private ranch valley bottoms around Rifle and New Castle. Mule deer here is a solid limited-draw hunt.

Terrain

Rises from the Colorado River corridor through steep oakbrush and pinyon-juniper canyons onto timbered ridges and high parks near the White River divide. The lower unit is broken, brushy, and steep; the upper unit opens into aspen, dark timber, and grassy meadows on the national forest.

Cover: Sagebrush and pinyon-juniper on the low benches grading up through dense oakbrush and mountain-shrub, then aspen and spruce-fir dark timber with grassy parks near the divide.

Landmarks: White River–Colorado River divide · Canyon Creek (east boundary) · Colorado 13/789 (west boundary) · Rifle Mountain Park area · Colorado River corridor

Access

About 75% public — roughly 120,000 acres of White River NF up high and 76,000 acres of BLM lower — with the remaining quarter private ranch land concentrated in the valley bottoms near Rifle and New Castle. Forest Service roads and trailheads access the high country from the Rifle side; expect a scramble through steep, brushy BLM oakbrush to reach public timber in places. Colorado State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.

Managers: USFS White River National Forest, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, private ranch

Access points: Rifle / I-70 corridor · Colorado 13 north toward Meeker (west boundary) · Forest roads north out of Rifle toward the divide · Rifle Mountain Park / East Rifle Creek

Species notes

Rocky Mountain Elk

abundant opportunity

The reason most hunters come — a high-harvest OTC bull unit where a lot of elk are killed but per-hunter success stays modest (recently around one in eight) because of pressure. Bull licenses are OTC for second and third rifle with a four-point/brow-tine antler restriction; archery is OTC and first rifle is limited-draw. Volume, not trophy quality, is the story.

→Break away from the Forest Service roads and trailheads — hunt the dark timber, oakbrush benches, and steep pockets most hunters skip.
→In the OTC rifle seasons, use pressure to your advantage: sit escape terrain and timber pockets where pushed bulls funnel.
→During archery and the September rut, locate bugling bulls in the high aspen and timber parks near the divide.
→Know the four-point-or-brow-tine antler restriction cold before you shoot.

Mule Deer

common quality

A limited-draw mule deer hunt with moderate success (recently around a third of tags filled) and far less pressure than the elk. Bucks work the oakbrush and pinyon-juniper benches on the lower and mid slopes.

→Glass oakbrush and pinyon-juniper edges and steep draws on the mid slopes rather than the open bottoms.
→Later hunts improve as bucks slide down off the high country toward the river-corridor benches.
→Spot-and-stalk from high vantage points — a drawn tag here is worth hunting patiently.

Black Bear

common opportunity

Excellent oakbrush-and-aspen black bear country. Bears feed hard on acorns and serviceberry in the fall, making the steep mid-elevation brush a productive incidental hunt for tag holders.

→Glass oakbrush and serviceberry patches at first and last light, especially in a strong mast year.
→Focus the mountain-shrub band between the pinyon-juniper and the dark timber.
→Pair a bear tag with an elk or deer hunt rather than making a dedicated trip.

Pro tips

→Elk here are OTC bull for second and third rifle (archery OTC, first rifle draw) — this is an opportunity unit, expect company.
→The four-point-or-5-inch-brow-tine antler restriction applies in all seasons; confirm your bull is legal before shooting.
→Success correlates with distance from the trailhead — the harder the country you hunt, the better your odds.
→About 75% public but the valley bottoms near Rifle/New Castle are private ranch — sort your access before season.
→A drawn mule deer tag is the quieter, higher-quality opportunity in this unit.

Watch out for

!Heavy crowding during the OTC second and third rifle seasons.
!Private ranch inholdings in the valley bottoms near Rifle and New Castle require permission.
!Colorado State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
!Steep, brushy oakbrush access to the public timber in the lower unit.
!Forest roads turn muddy or snowbound in the later rifle seasons.

Logistics

Rifle sits right on I-70 with full services — fuel, groceries, motels, sporting goods, and repair — making GMU 33 an easy unit to base out of, which is part of why it gets hunted hard. Meeker to the north is the other supply point. Forest roads into the high country turn muddy or snowbound as the seasons progress; carry chains and recovery gear for the later rifle seasons.

Nearest towns: Rifle, CO, New Castle, CO, Silt, CO, Meeker, CO

Nearby units

GMU 23 · GMU 23 — Rio Blanco/Garfield Co. GMU 42 · GMU 42 — Mesa/Garfield Co. GMU 34 · GMU 34 — Garfield/Eagle Co. GMU 24 · GMU 24 — Rio Blanco/Garfield Co.

Seasons & regulations

This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:

Research sources: CPW Hunting Elk · HuntScore — Colorado GMU 33 (Garfield & Rio Blanco, land ownership) · GoHunt — Colorado OTC elk licenses and where they are valid

FAQ

How big is GMU 33 in Colorado?: GMU 33 (GMU 33 — Garfield/Rio Blanco Co.) covers about 417 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,300 to 10,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in GMU 33?: Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS White River National Forest, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for GMU 33?: Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

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