GMU 38 GMU 38 — Gilpin/Boulder/Clear Creek/Jefferson Co.
Broken, heavily-private Front Range unit west of Golden with OTC elk in scattered national forest — but access is the whole game
Front Range Colorado — Clear Creek foothills and James Peak Wilderness · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
457
sq mi
Public land
25%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–13,300
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 38 covers the Front Range foothills and high country across Gilpin, Clear Creek, Boulder and Jefferson counties, sitting immediately west of Golden and Denver and split by I-70 and US 40. Roughly three quarters of the unit is private land, mountain subdivisions or county open space, so genuine public hunting ground is limited and scattered — concentrated in the Arapaho–Roosevelt National Forest and the James Peak Wilderness in the northwest. Elk are the marquee species and carry an over-the-counter bull option for 2nd and 3rd rifle, but success is low and the country is fragmented by roads, development and mining history. Mule deer post the unit's largest harvest, and a small moose population exists in the high willow country.
Terrain
Steeply broken Front Range foothills rising from the plains edge near Golden through canyon-and-ridge mining country to the alpine crest at James Peak and the Continental Divide.
Cover: Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and Gambel oak on the lower foothills, stepping up through lodgepole and spruce-fir conifer and aspen, to willow basins and alpine tundra along the divide.
Landmarks: James Peak Wilderness · Continental Divide · Clear Creek · Mount Evans area · Central City / Black Hawk · Interstate 70 corridor
Access
Public land is the limiting factor here — roughly three quarters of the unit is private, mountain subdivision, mining ground or county open space (much of which restricts or prohibits hunting). The huntable public is mainly the Arapaho–Roosevelt National Forest and James Peak Wilderness in the northwest and scattered forest parcels along the high country; verify boundaries carefully in this checkerboarded, developed terrain. Colorado State Trust Lands are generally NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Wilderness portions are foot/horseback only.
Managers: USFS Arapaho National Forest, USFS Roosevelt National Forest, USFS James Peak Wilderness, county open space, private (ranch, subdivision, mining)
Access points: James Peak Wilderness trailheads near Rollinsville and St. Mary's · Arapaho–Roosevelt NF roads above Idaho Springs and Central City · US 40 / Berthoud Pass corridor forest access · Clear Creek and Fall River drainages
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe marquee species, carrying an over-the-counter bull option for 2nd and 3rd rifle, but success is low and the herd is fragmented across private, developed and public ground. Elk shift onto inaccessible private land under pressure, so the hunt hinges on finding public timber they hold in.
- →Focus on the James Peak Wilderness and larger national forest blocks in the northwest
- →Hunt dark-timber benches and small parks well off the roads
- →Watch travel routes between public timber and the private ground elk retreat to
- →Get in early and deep to beat Front Range day-hunter pressure
Mule Deer
common qualityFully limited-draw deer that post the unit's largest big-game harvest, using the ponderosa-and-oak foothills, aspen edges and canyon breaks — though much of the best deer ground is private.
- →Glass oakbrush and ponderosa-edge pockets mornings and evenings
- →Work the foothill canyon breaks and aspen fringes
- →Concentrate on the accessible national forest edges away from development
Moose
limited qualityA small moose population uses the high willow basins and riparian near the Continental Divide; highly limited-draw only, but a quality hunt for the rare tag holder.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver ponds in the high basins mornings and evenings
- →Check spruce-willow riparian along the upper drainages
- →Move slowly and glass — moose hold tight in the willows
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear work the oak-and-aspen foothill mosaic, keying on serviceberry, chokecherry and berry crops through late summer and early fall — with human-food conflicts common near the mountain towns.
- →Glass oakbrush and berry-laden foothill slopes in September
- →Concentrate on timber-brush edges and canyon breaks
- →Watch productive mast and berry pockets at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →Access is everything here — map the public/private lines before you hunt this checkerboard
- →Concentrate on the James Peak Wilderness and bigger national forest blocks in the northwest
- →Expect Front Range crowds; hunt deep and early on public timber to find undisturbed elk
- →Watch travel routes where elk shuttle between public forest and off-limits private ground
- →Don't count county open space or state trust land as huntable — verify each parcel
Watch out for
- !Roughly three quarters of the unit is private, subdivision, mining or open-space land — public access is limited and fragmented
- !County open space often restricts or prohibits hunting despite looking public
- !State Trust Lands are closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Heavy Front Range day-hunter pressure on accessible national forest
- !Developed, road-cut terrain and safety-zone/discharge restrictions near towns and homes
Logistics
This is the most road-accessible, service-rich unit imaginable — Idaho Springs, Golden, Central City and the Denver metro put lodging, fuel, gear and processing minutes away, with I-70 running through the middle. The trade-off is people and private land: the country is developed, checkerboarded and crowded, and the real work is finding huntable public ground and legal access rather than logistics. Expect Front Range day-hunter traffic on the accessible forest.
Nearest towns: Idaho Springs, Golden, Central City, Nederland, Georgetown
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 38 Profile · HuntScore — GMU 38 (Gilpin, Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson) · Visit Clear Creek — Colorado Hunting in Clear Creek County
FAQ
- How big is GMU 38 in Colorado?
- GMU 38 (GMU 38 — Gilpin/Boulder/Clear Creek/Jefferson Co.) covers about 457 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 13,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 38?
- Approximately 25% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Arapaho National Forest, USFS Roosevelt National Forest, USFS James Peak Wilderness, county open space, private (ranch, subdivision, mining). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 38?
- 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 38 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.