GMU 411 GMU 411 — Mesa/Delta Co.
A small, largely public Uncompahgre Plateau unit with OTC elk and limited-draw deer
West-central Colorado — Uncompahgre Plateau (Escalante / Roubideau country), south of Grand Junction · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
230
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–9,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 411 is a compact unit on the Uncompahgre Plateau south of Grand Junction and west of Delta, largely public and well regarded for both deer and elk relative to its size. Elk are available over-the-counter for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons — pressure keeps bull success modest (recent success near 16% on roughly 123 elk) — while mule deer is a limited-draw hunt with better success (around 48%). The country is the timbered plateau top breaking into the Escalante and Roubideau drainage heads.
Terrain
Rolling timbered plateau top cut by the steep heads of the Escalante and Roubideau drainages, dropping off the west and north edges into oakbrush benches and pinyon-juniper canyon country.
Cover: Aspen, ponderosa, and spruce-fir on the high plateau top, grading into thick oakbrush and serviceberry on the mid slopes and pinyon-juniper with sage on the lower benches and canyon rims.
Landmarks: Uncompahgre Plateau · Escalante Creek drainage · Roubideau Creek drainage · Divide Road · Unaweep Canyon (northwest edge)
Access
Largely public — Uncompahgre National Forest on the plateau top with BLM on the lower benches and canyon country — which is the unit's main selling point. Private ranch is concentrated on the valley edges and in the lower drainage bottoms. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so do not count them as huntable. The plateau is reached mainly via Divide Road and the Forest road network off the Escalante/Roubideau approaches.
Managers: USFS GMUG (Uncompahgre NF), BLM Uncompahgre Field Office, private ranch
Access points: Divide Road (main plateau spine) · Escalante Creek Road · Roubideau Creek access · Forest roads off Divide Road
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-draw deer unit with the Uncompahgre Plateau's quality reputation and good recent success (around 48%). Bucks hold in the oakbrush and PJ benches breaking off the plateau.
- →Glass the oakbrush and pinyon-juniper benches on the drainage flanks morning and evening.
- →Work the oakbrush-to-timber transition on the mid slopes rather than the open top.
- →Later hunts improve as bucks migrate down off the plateau with snow.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk are over-the-counter for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons in this small unit. Good numbers for the acreage, but pressure holds success modest (near 16%). Elk use the dark timber on top and the oakbrush pockets in the drainage heads.
- →Get off Divide Road and into the dark timber and aspen pockets away from the road hunters.
- →During the archery rut, locate bugles off the Escalante and Roubideau drainage heads.
- →In rifle seasons, hunt the timber and oakbrush edges where snow pushes elk down off the plateau.
Pronghorn
transient lowEffectively incidental — pronghorn are scarce here with essentially no recent harvest. Not a species to plan a hunt around.
- →Glass any open sage parks on the lower benches only if you happen to hold a tag.
- →Treat it as a rare bonus, not a reason to hunt the unit.
Pro tips
- →Elk is OTC for 2nd and 3rd rifle — the small unit can feel crowded, so get deep off Divide Road.
- →Deer is limited-draw quality hunting — the better trophy side of the unit.
- →The high public-land percentage is the draw — use it and break well away from the road network.
- →Hunt the Escalante and Roubideau drainage heads for both deer and elk.
Watch out for
- !Private ranch on the valley edges and lower drainage bottoms.
- !OTC crowding in a physically small unit during 2nd and 3rd rifle.
- !State Trust lands are not huntable unless in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Plateau roads become greasy and difficult when wet.
Logistics
Delta and Grand Junction bracket the unit with full services — fuel, groceries, lodging, and repair — and Whitewater covers basics closer to the north approaches. The plateau top is remote; plan for high-clearance travel on Divide Road and the Forest road network, which turn greasy with rain or early snow. Cell service is minimal on top — carry a satellite communicator and leave an itinerary.
Nearest towns: Delta, CO, Grand Junction, CO, Whitewater, CO
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: Colorado Unit 411 Unit Profile — GOHUNT · CPW — Over-the-Counter (OTC) Licenses · USFS Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
FAQ
- How big is GMU 411 in Colorado?
- GMU 411 (GMU 411 — Mesa/Delta Co.) covers about 230 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 9,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 411?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS GMUG (Uncompahgre NF), BLM Uncompahgre Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 411?
- 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 411 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.