GMU 40 GMU 40 — Mesa Co.
A quality limited-draw deer and elk unit on the Utah-line mesa above the Grand Valley
West-central Colorado — Piñon Mesa (Glade Park / Black Ridge), west of Grand Junction · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
744
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,600–9,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 40 sits on Piñon Mesa, the high timbered block west of Grand Junction that rises off the Grand Valley to the Utah line, wedged between the Colorado River, the Colorado National Monument, and Unaweep Canyon. It is a limited-draw unit for both mule deer and elk — there is no over-the-counter elk opportunity here — and the low pressure shows in the numbers: recent deer success ran roughly 71% and bull elk success near 56%. This is spot-and-stalk mesa country with a strong reputation for mature mule deer, plus a small incidental pronghorn presence out on the openings.
Terrain
Steep, canyon-broken country climbing from the Grand Valley floor and the Colorado River corridor up onto Piñon Mesa and Black Ridge. Deep sandstone canyons on the north (McInnis Canyons / Black Ridge) give way to a broad timbered mesa top near the Utah line.
Cover: Sage, greasewood, and pinyon-juniper on the lower benches and canyon rims, thickening into oakbrush, aspen, and ponderosa/mixed conifer on the higher mesa top around Black Ridge and Glade Park.
Landmarks: Piñon Mesa · Black Ridge · Glade Park · Unaweep Canyon · Colorado National Monument · Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness · Colorado River corridor
Access
A patchwork of public and private. Substantial BLM ground (including the McInnis Canyons NCA / Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness on the river side), but the Colorado National Monument is closed to all hunting — know that boundary cold — and the Glade Park area holds significant private ranch inholdings mixed into the mesa top. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so do not count them as huntable. Access to the mesa is mainly via the Glade Park / Little Park roads out of the Redlands.
Managers: BLM Grand Junction Field Office, NPS Colorado National Monument (closed to hunting), USFS GMUG (Uncompahgre NF), private ranch
Access points: Glade Park Road (DS Road) from the Colorado National Monument · Little Park Road · Black Ridge / BLM roads off DS Road · Divide Road toward Unaweep Canyon (Hwy 141)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe headliner. A quality limited-draw deer unit with a reputation for mature bucks and strong recent success (roughly 71%). Bucks hold in the oakbrush and pinyon-juniper benches off the mesa rim.
- →Glass the oakbrush and pinyon-juniper edges on the mesa flanks at first and last light rather than road-hunting the tops.
- →Work the transition where timber breaks to sage on the canyon rims — bucks bed just below the rim and feed the edges.
- →Later rifle seasons improve as deer slide down off Piñon Mesa toward the lower benches with snow.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA limited-draw elk unit — no OTC — with good bull success (near 56%) reflecting the low pressure. Elk use the timbered mesa top and drop into the canyon heads and oakbrush pockets.
- →Hunt the aspen and mixed-conifer stringers and the dark timber pockets on the Black Ridge / mesa top.
- →During the rut, locate bugling bulls off the timbered heads of the canyons and work the wind up the drainages.
- →Cold, snowy rifle weather pushes elk off the top and concentrates them in the oakbrush below the rim.
Pronghorn
limited lowA very thin, incidental pronghorn presence — only a handful of animals and minimal harvest on the open flats and sage pockets. Not a reason to hunt the unit.
- →Glass the open sage and grass parks on the lower end of the unit if you draw one of the few tags.
- →Treat it strictly as a bonus tag paired with deer or elk scouting.
Pro tips
- →This is a limited-draw unit for both deer and elk — no over-the-counter elk, so budget preference points.
- →Learn the Colorado National Monument boundary precisely; it is closed to all hunting.
- →Glade Park is a private-ranch checkerboard — verify public vs. private with a mapping app before you set up.
- →Focus on the timber-to-oakbrush transition below the rim for both deer and elk.
Watch out for
- !Colorado National Monument is closed to hunting — a boundary mistake ends your hunt.
- !Private ranch inholdings mixed through the Glade Park mesa top.
- !State Trust lands are not huntable unless in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Mesa clay roads become impassable when wet.
Logistics
Grand Junction and Fruita sit right off the mesa with full services — fuel, groceries, lodging, and repair — so this is one of the more logistically easy western Colorado hunts, though the mesa top itself is remote once you leave the highway. High-clearance is recommended for the BLM two-tracks, and the mesa roads turn to greasy clay with rain or early snow. Cell service is spotty on top; carry a communicator.
Nearest towns: Grand Junction, CO, Fruita, CO, Glade Park, CO, Gateway, CO
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW — Over-the-Counter (OTC) Licenses · Colorado Unit 40 Hunting Information — Hunters Domain · BLM McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
FAQ
- How big is GMU 40 in Colorado?
- GMU 40 (GMU 40 — Mesa Co.) covers about 744 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,600 to 9,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 40?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM Grand Junction Field Office, NPS Colorado National Monument (closed to hunting), USFS GMUG (Uncompahgre NF), private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 40?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 40 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.