GMU 41 GMU 41 — Mesa/Delta Co.
An over-the-counter elk unit on the north face of the Uncompahgre Plateau with limited-draw quality deer
West-central Colorado — north end of the Uncompahgre Plateau (Kannah Creek / Whitewater), south of Grand Junction · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
328
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
4,700–9,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 41 covers the north end of the Uncompahgre Plateau just south of Grand Junction, rising off the Gunnison River and Whitewater up the Kannah Creek drainages onto the timbered plateau top. Elk here are available over-the-counter for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons, which brings pressure and holds bull success modest (recent success near 16% on roughly 278 elk), while mule deer remains a limited-draw hunt with much stronger success (around 43%). It is classic Uncompahgre migration country — big timber and oakbrush on top, sage and pinyon-juniper on the benches.
Terrain
A long climb from the Gunnison River and Grand Valley floor up the north face of the Uncompahgre Plateau, gaining nearly 5,000 feet onto a broad timbered top cut by the Kannah Creek and Whitewater drainages.
Cover: Sage, greasewood, and pinyon-juniper on the lower benches, grading into oakbrush and serviceberry on the mid slopes, and aspen with spruce-fir and ponderosa on the high plateau top.
Landmarks: Uncompahgre Plateau (north end) · Kannah Creek · Whitewater · Land's End Road area · Gunnison River corridor · Unaweep Canyon (west edge)
Access
The plateau top is largely Uncompahgre National Forest with BLM on the lower and mid benches, but the valley edge along the Gunnison and Whitewater is private ranch, and the Kannah Creek drainage is Grand Junction's municipal watershed with access restrictions in places — verify before entering. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Getting from the valley onto public ground can require crossing or routing around private, so map your access lines in advance.
Managers: USFS GMUG (Uncompahgre NF), BLM Grand Junction / Uncompahgre Field Office, private ranch, municipal watershed (Grand Junction — Kannah Creek)
Access points: Land's End Road / Divide Road (forest access onto the plateau) · Kannah Creek Road · US 50 corridor from Whitewater · Hwy 141 up Unaweep Canyon (west side)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-draw deer unit sharing the Uncompahgre Plateau's quality reputation, with solid recent success (around 43%). Bucks work the oakbrush and pinyon-juniper benches on the north face.
- →Glass the oakbrush and PJ benches on the north-facing slopes at first and last light.
- →Hunt the transition zones where timber meets oakbrush on the mid slopes rather than the open top.
- →Later hunts improve as bucks migrate down off the plateau toward the lower country with snow.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe primary draw for most hunters — elk are over-the-counter for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons. Numbers are good but pressure is real and success runs modest (near 16%). Elk use the dark timber on top and the oakbrush pockets on the benches.
- →Get well off Divide/Land's End Road and into the dark timber and aspen pockets away from the crowds.
- →During the archery rut, locate bugling bulls off the timbered drainage heads and hunt the wind.
- →In rifle seasons, hunt the oakbrush and timber edges on the benches where snow pushes elk down off the top.
Pro tips
- →Elk is OTC for 2nd and 3rd rifle — expect pressure and get deep off the main forest roads.
- →Deer is limited-draw quality hunting — apply and treat it as the trophy side of the unit.
- →The Kannah Creek watershed has access restrictions — verify municipal-watershed rules before hunting it.
- →Focus the north-face oakbrush and timber edges rather than the flat plateau top.
Watch out for
- !Private ranch along the Gunnison River and Whitewater valley edge.
- !Grand Junction municipal watershed (Kannah Creek) access restrictions.
- !OTC crowding during 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons.
- !State Trust lands are not huntable unless in CPW's Public Access Program.
Logistics
Grand Junction is minutes from the north edge of the unit with full services, and Whitewater and Delta cover fuel and basics closer in. The plateau top is remote once you leave the valley — plan for high-clearance travel on Forest and BLM roads that turn greasy with rain or early snow. Cell service fades quickly on the plateau; carry a communicator and leave an itinerary.
Nearest towns: Grand Junction, CO, Whitewater, CO, Delta, 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 41 Hunting Information — Hunters Domain · USFS Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
FAQ
- How big is GMU 41 in Colorado?
- GMU 41 (GMU 41 — Mesa/Delta Co.) covers about 328 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,700 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 41?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS GMUG (Uncompahgre NF), BLM Grand Junction / Uncompahgre Field Office, private ranch, municipal watershed (Grand Junction — Kannah Creek). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 41?
- 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 41 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.