GMU 39 GMU 39 — Jefferson/Clear Creek/Park Co.
Limited-draw foothills elk and mule deer under one of Colorado's premier bighorn-and-goat massifs
Front Range Colorado — Mount Blue Sky (Mount Evans) high country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
370
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–14,130
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 39 climbs off the Front Range foothills southwest of Denver into the Mount Blue Sky (Mount Evans) massif, spanning parts of Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Park Counties around Bailey, Pine, Conifer, and Guanella Pass. Elevation runs from foothill ponderosa near 6,000 feet to alpine tundra above 14,000 feet on Mount Blue Sky and Mount Bierstadt. Elk and mule deer are the huntable big-game staples and both are limited-draw here, not over-the-counter, which reflects the unit's Front Range management and heavy recreational pressure. The alpine core is nationally known for its bighorn sheep and mountain goats, and moose have pushed into the willow-choked high basins.
Terrain
A steep foothills-to-alpine gradient — ponderosa and Douglas-fir foothills rising through lodgepole and spruce-fir to timberline, tundra, and 14,000-foot peaks.
Cover: Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir on the lower slopes, dense lodgepole and Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir in the middle, aspen stringers and willow-lined creek bottoms, and open alpine tundra above treeline.
Landmarks: Mount Blue Sky (Mount Evans) · Mount Bierstadt · Guanella Pass · Kenosha Pass · Mount Evans Wilderness · Lost Creek Wilderness fringe · Tarryall/Platte River country
Access
The western two-thirds is largely national forest and designated wilderness with strong public access, while the eastern foothills around Conifer, Pine, and Bailey are heavily subdivided private ground. Special hunting closures apply along the Guanella Pass road corridor and around some high-use lakes, and the Mount Blue Sky (CO-5) highway has seen seasonal travel restrictions — check current status. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS (Pike & Arapaho National Forests), Mount Evans Wilderness, private (foothills subdivisions & ranches), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: Forest roads and trailheads off US-285 near Bailey and Pine · Guanella Pass road (seasonal) from Grant to Georgetown · Pike NF access south toward the Lost Creek/Tarryall country · Mount Evans Wilderness trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA limited-draw Front Range elk unit — tags are drawn, not OTC, which protects age structure against very heavy recreational and hunting pressure so close to Denver. Elk hold in the timbered middle elevations and move between foothill winter range and the high basins. Moderate success on modest harvest is typical of a managed metro-adjacent unit.
- →Work the dark timber and aspen benches between the foothills and timberline where elk bed away from trails
- →Glass alpine and subalpine parks at first and last light
- →Hunt away from popular trailheads and pass corridors to escape recreational traffic
- →Later seasons: intercept elk dropping toward lower ponderosa winter range with snow
Mule Deer
common qualityLimited-draw mule deer share the foothill-to-subalpine mosaic with elk. Both migratory and resident deer use the unit, with the rut running into late fall. A managed Front Range deer unit rather than a high-volume one.
- →Glass ponderosa and oakbrush foothill edges at dawn and dusk
- →Bucks hold in timber and rock pockets through midday
- →Focus on public national-forest ground away from subdivisions
- →Late-season migration pushes deer into lower foothill winter range
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyThe Mount Blue Sky (Mount Evans) massif holds one of Colorado's best-known and most-viewed bighorn herds. Sheep tags here are a once-in-a-lifetime, tightly limited draw — a genuine trophy opportunity for the fortunate few who draw.
- →Glass alpine tundra, rocky basins, and cliff bands above treeline
- →Learn the herd's seasonal use of the Guanella Pass and Blue Sky high country
- →Physical fitness and glass are everything at this elevation
Mountain Goat
common trophyMount Blue Sky is one of Colorado's signature mountain-goat units, with goats routinely seen along the high road and ridgelines. A once-in-a-lifetime limited draw and a true trophy hunt in dramatic alpine terrain.
- →Glass the highest cliffs, talus, and tundra ridges
- →Goats favor the steepest broken terrain — plan safe approaches
- →Expect fast-changing alpine weather even in early fall
Moose
limited qualityMoose have expanded into the willow-choked high basins and creek bottoms of the Front Range high country, including the Guanella Pass and upper-drainage areas. Numbers are limited and tags are a tightly drawn, essentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- →Hunt willow-thick riparian bottoms and beaver-pond complexes at high elevation
- →Glass willow flats at dawn and dusk
- →Move slow and quiet in the timber-and-willow mosaic
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the oakbrush, aspen, and berry-rich foothill and mid-elevation slopes, especially in early fall. Typically an incidental opportunity alongside elk or deer.
- →Hunt oakbrush and berry patches in early fall
- →Glass shrubby slopes and aspen at dawn and dusk
- →Often taken while hunting deer or elk
Pro tips
- →Treat GMU 39 as a managed, draw-only Front Range unit — don't expect an OTC elk tag here
- →Escape the crowds: the farther you get from Guanella/Kenosha Pass trailheads, the better the hunting
- →Verify the Guanella Pass road and Mount Blue Sky (CO-5) corridor closures before you hunt — they move the legal-hunting line
- →Foothill subdivisions are private and thickly settled; anchor your plan on national-forest ground
- →For sheep and goat, this is a bucket-list draw — build points and be ready to hunt hard at altitude
Watch out for
- !Heavy foothills private and subdivision ground on the east side
- !Guanella Pass corridor and lake-area hunting closures; Mount Blue Sky highway travel restrictions
- !State Trust Lands generally closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program
- !Very heavy recreational traffic so close to Denver
- !Fast alpine weather and early snow at high elevation
Logistics
This is a metro-adjacent unit — full services in the Denver foothills communities and short drives to major supply. Forest roads are the main access; higher routes close with snow and the alpine turns wintry early. Cell coverage is good near the corridors and fades in the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Bailey, Conifer, Pine, Georgetown, Denver metro (services, close east)
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 Sheep & Goat Regulations Brochure · USFS Pike-San Isabel National Forests — Lost Creek Wilderness · Colorado.com — Guanella Pass & Mount Blue Sky bighorn/goat viewing
FAQ
- How big is GMU 39 in Colorado?
- GMU 39 (GMU 39 — Jefferson/Clear Creek/Park Co.) covers about 370 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 14,130 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 39?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS (Pike & Arapaho National Forests), Mount Evans Wilderness, private (foothills subdivisions & ranches), 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 39?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, 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 39 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.