GMU 44 GMU 44 — Eagle Co.
Big, roadable OTC-elk country with a genuinely strong mule deer draw
Central Colorado — Red Table Mountain and the Frying Pan country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
377
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–11,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 44 spans the mountains of Eagle County between the Roaring Fork and Eagle River valleys, centered on Red Table Mountain, Basalt Mountain, and the Frying Pan River drainage above Basalt and Ruedi Reservoir. This is a big, varied unit of sagebrush and oakbrush foothills climbing through aspen to the spruce-fir and high parks of Red Table Mountain, mostly on White River National Forest and BLM with private ranch ground in the valleys. Mule deer are the quality story here — strong numbers and better-than-half success on limited-draw tags — while elk carry high harvest volume with low success, the classic signature of a popular over-the-counter bull unit that draws plenty of hunters.
Terrain
Sagebrush and oakbrush foothills off the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan valleys rising through aspen benches to the spruce-fir timber and open high parks of Red Table and Basalt Mountains.
Cover: Big sagebrush and Gambel oakbrush on the lower slopes, extensive aspen stands, mixed spruce-fir and grassy parks up high, with willow and cottonwood along the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork.
Landmarks: Red Table Mountain · Basalt Mountain · Frying Pan River · Ruedi Reservoir · Hardscrabble Mountain · The Crown / Light Hill
Access
A true mixed-ownership unit. Large White River NF blocks on Red Table and Basalt Mountains plus BLM around the Crown and lower foothills offer real public hunting reached by a good forest-road network, but private ranch ground fills much of the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, and lower valley country — map work is essential to avoid trespass and landlocked public. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS White River NF, BLM (Colorado River Valley Field Office), private ranch, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: Frying Pan Road (Eagle CR-104) up past Ruedi to NF access · Basalt Mountain Road and NF trailheads · Red Table Mountain forest-road network off the Frying Pan and Eagle sides · BLM access around the Crown / Light Hill above Carbondale-Basalt
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe quality draw of the unit — a healthy mule deer herd in the sage-oakbrush-aspen mosaic, hunted on limited-draw tags with strong success (better than half). Deer summer high on the benches and shift to lower oakbrush and sage as fall progresses.
- →Glass sagebrush and oakbrush edges at first and last light
- →Bucks hold in oakbrush pockets and aspen stringers through midday
- →Work the aspen-to-sage transition on the mid-slopes
- →Later hunts: key on deer dropping into lower oakbrush and sage as snow builds
- →Prioritize public NF and BLM benches with good glassing
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityHigh harvest volume paired with low success — the classic over-the-counter bull-unit signature. A good elk herd uses the Red Table and Basalt Mountain timber, but pressure is real; success comes to hunters who leave the road network for the dark timber and steep oakbrush heads.
- →Hunt the dark timber and aspen benches on Red Table and Basalt Mountains where elk bed off the parks
- →Glass high parks and oak-to-timber edges at dawn and dusk away from roads
- →During the rut, work timbered draws and wallows with calling
- →Get deep off the forest roads to escape pressure
- →Later seasons: intercept elk shifting to lower country as snow pushes down
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears thrive in the heavy oakbrush and serviceberry belts, especially in early fall when mast and berries concentrate them on the shrubby mid-slopes — typical of this mountain-shrub country. Often an incidental opportunity.
- →Hunt oakbrush thickets and berry patches in early fall
- →Glass feeding bears at dawn and dusk on shrubby slopes
- →Focus on mast-heavy benches that also hold deer and elk
Pro tips
- →Play the split: draw the quality deer tag, and treat OTC elk as a get-off-the-road grind
- →Hunt the dark timber and steep oak heads on Red Table and Basalt to escape elk pressure
- →Use a GPS boundary layer — NF/BLM public interlocks with valley ranch private
- →Time later hunts to the first real snow that moves game down into the oakbrush and sage
- →Base in Basalt/Carbondale or Eagle depending on which side of the unit you hunt
Watch out for
- !Heavy OTC elk pressure and crowding on the forest-road network
- !Private ranch ground fills the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, and lower valleys — verify boundaries and watch for landlocked public
- !State Trust Land generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Slick roads and fast weather at elevation
- !Early-season fire danger in dry years
Logistics
Basalt and Carbondale on the Roaring Fork side, and Eagle on the north, are the practical hubs for fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing (Glenwood Springs and Aspen add services). The Frying Pan and forest roads are good gravel but climb fast and turn slick when wet — carry recovery gear. Weather swings quickly at elevation; cell coverage fades in the drainages above Ruedi.
Nearest towns: Basalt, Carbondale, Eagle, El Jebel
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting Statistics · CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU boundaries and public access · USFS — White River National Forest (Eagle-Holy Cross & Sopris districts) · BLM Colorado — Colorado River Valley Field Office · CPW — Hunting Elk (OTC vs limited)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 44 in Colorado?
- GMU 44 (GMU 44 — Eagle Co.) covers about 377 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 11,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 44?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS White River NF, BLM (Colorado River Valley Field Office), private ranch, 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 44?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 44 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.