GMU 35 GMU 35 — Eagle Co.
A quality limited-draw mule deer unit of sage benches and timbered mesas south of the Colorado River
Central Colorado — Eagle County (Castle Peak / Red Table Mountain, White River NF) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
269
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
6,300–11,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 35 covers the scenic block of mountains and mesas south of the Colorado River and north of Eagle and Gypsum, bounded by Colorado 131 on the east and the Eagle and Colorado rivers on the north and west. It is managed as a high-quality, limited-draw mule deer unit — deer tags take points to draw and produce good bucks off the pinyon benches and aspen-fringed high country of Castle Peak, Red Table Mountain, and Hardscrabble Mountain. Elk are the secondary opportunity here and can be hunted with over-the-counter bull tags during the second and third rifle seasons, though elk numbers and success run lower than the deer reputation would suggest.
Terrain
Elevation climbs from roughly 6,300 feet along the Eagle and Colorado river corridors up through pinyon-juniper benches and mesas to the timbered high country of Castle Peak (about 11,275 ft) and Red Table Mountain, with alpine and subalpine vegetation on the highest ground. Steep, broken canyons and drainages cut down toward both rivers.
Cover: Sagebrush and pinyon-juniper on the lower benches, grading into Gambel oak and mountain shrub on the mid slopes, then aspen and spruce-fir stands with high meadows and pockets of alpine on the tops of Castle Peak and Red Table Mountain.
Landmarks: Castle Peak · Red Table Mountain · Hardscrabble Mountain · Sweetwater Lake · Deep Creek · Eagle River · Colorado River · Gypsum Creek
Access
A largely public unit, with White River National Forest covering the Castle Peak and Red Table Mountain high country and BLM ground scattered across the lower benches, but the river valleys and the ranch country toward State Bridge, Burns, and around Eagle/Gypsum hold significant private land that can wall off access to the public tops. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so do not count them as huntable. Many access roads climb from the valley floor up onto the mesas; know the private inholdings before you commit to a route.
Managers: USFS White River NF, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, private ranch
Access points: Castle Peak / Colorow Road from Eagle · Sweetwater Lake and Deep Creek from Dotsero · Gypsum Creek Road · Forest roads off Colorado 131 near State Bridge
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe headliner. GMU 35 is managed as a quality limited-draw deer unit and produces solid bucks that use the pinyon-juniper and oak benches and the aspen edges below the high peaks. Tags require preference points but reward the wait; recent buck success ran near one in three.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper and Gambel oak benches and the aspen edges at first and last light rather than the open river valleys.
- →As the season progresses and weather pushes deer down, intercept bucks sliding off Castle Peak and Red Table Mountain toward lower winter range.
- →This is spot-and-stalk optics country — set up on a high vantage and grid the broken mesa breaks before moving.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general over-the-counter elk opportunity rather than a trophy draw. Bull tags are available OTC for the second and third rifle seasons, but the unit sees pressure and success runs modest (recently around 13%). Elk hold in the timber and aspen of the higher country and slip onto private in the valleys.
- →Hunt the dark timber and aspen benches of Red Table Mountain and Castle Peak, and work the transition zones where elk move between feed and cover.
- →Get well off the main forest roads — OTC pressure pushes elk into the steep, brushy pockets and onto private ground.
- →Early archery and muzzleloader hunts catch elk higher and less pressured than the rifle seasons.
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a deer-first unit — build points and hunt the pinyon and oak benches hard for a quality buck.
- →For elk, lean on the OTC rifle seasons but expect to work the steep timber away from roads to escape pressure.
- →Scout the boundary between White River NF and the valley ranches before the hunt; access to the public tops often depends on a single road or corner.
- →Later seasons with snow concentrate animals on the lower winter-range benches near the river corridors.
Watch out for
- !Significant private ranch land in the river valleys and toward State Bridge and Burns can block access to public high country.
- !Colorado State Trust lands scattered in the unit are closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !OTC elk seasons draw crowds; expect company on the main forest roads.
- !High mesa roads become impassable with early snow — carry recovery gear and watch the forecast.
Logistics
Eagle and Gypsum on Interstate 70 are the natural staging towns, with full services, fuel, and lodging; Wolcott and the small communities along Colorado 131 offer limited services. Forest and BLM roads onto the mesas are dirt and can be rough — high-clearance and 4WD are strongly recommended, and early snow can close the higher roads quickly.
Nearest towns: Eagle, Gypsum, Wolcott, Burns, McCoy, State Bridge
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW — Big Game Hunting · CPW — Over-the-Counter (OTC) Licenses · CPW GMU boundary and geodata
FAQ
- How big is GMU 35 in Colorado?
- GMU 35 (GMU 35 — Eagle Co.) covers about 269 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,300 to 11,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 35?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS White River NF, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 35?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 35 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.