GMU 46 GMU 46 — Jefferson/Clear Creek/Park Co.
Denver's backyard elk unit, from Bailey foothills to the roof of Mount Evans
Front Range — North Fork South Platte / Mount Blue Sky country (Pike NF) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
213
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
7,700–14,264
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 46 covers roughly 213 square miles of the Front Range in Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Park counties, northwest of Bailey and straddling the North Fork of the South Platte River. It runs from foothill parks and ponderosa slopes up to the southern portion of the Mount Evans (Mount Blue Sky) Wilderness and the 14,264-foot summit itself, wrapped largely by Pike National Forest. At about 75% public land it offers rare Front Range access — but its proximity to Denver makes it one of the more heavily pressured units in the region. Elk is the headline species with a 2nd- and 3rd-rifle over-the-counter bull component, while mule deer is fully limited-draw.
Terrain
A sweeping foothill-to-alpine gradient. Ponderosa and lodgepole foothills and open parks along the North Fork South Platte climb through dense timber and drainages to subalpine basins and the tundra of the Mount Evans (Mount Blue Sky) massif — the high country tops out above 14,000 feet.
Cover: Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and open grassy parks in the foothills; lodgepole and aspen through the mid elevations; spruce-fir, willow, and krummholz giving way to alpine tundra on the highest ground.
Landmarks: Mount Evans / Mount Blue Sky (14,264 ft) · Mount Evans (Blue Sky) Wilderness — southern portion · North Fork South Platte River · Kenosha Pass (south) · Buffalo Creek area · Deer Creek / Bailey foothills
Access
Roughly three-quarters public, mostly Pike National Forest, with the southern Mount Evans (Mount Blue Sky) Wilderness in the northern part of the unit — motorized access is prohibited inside wilderness. Private mountain subdivisions and ranches fill much of the foothill valley bottoms around Bailey, Pine, and Buffalo Creek, so know the boundaries where Forest Service ground meets private land. Colorado State Trust lands (e.g., isolated parcels off Forest Service roads north of Bailey) are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Access is off US 285 between Conifer and Grant.
Managers: USFS Pike NF, USFS Arapaho NF (northern fringe), private ranch
Access points: US 285 between Conifer, Bailey, and Grant · Buffalo Creek / FSR 543 area · Deer Creek Road out of Bailey · Mount Evans (Blue Sky) Wilderness trailheads (foot access)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe marquee species, with a 2nd- and 3rd-rifle over-the-counter bull component and limited-draw antlerless tags. Recent success ran modest (near 17%) — heavy Front Range pressure and elk seeking private-land and wilderness refuge keep it honest. Elk work the timbered drainages, parks, and high basins and shift away from roads under pressure.
- →Hike deep into the Mount Evans (Blue Sky) Wilderness and the roadless timber where pressured elk retreat from the crowds.
- →Work the timber-to-park transitions at first and last light, well back from US 285 access corridors.
- →Get above the foothill road system into the high basins on OTC rifle hunts to escape day-hunter pressure.
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-draw mule deer hunt with better success than elk (near 35%). Bucks use the ponderosa foothills, aspen pockets, and open parks, working the mid-elevation edges and dropping toward the valleys as snow builds.
- →Glass ponderosa parks and aspen edges in the foothills early and late.
- →Hunt the transition between public timber and private subdivision edges carefully — deer feed toward the valley bottoms.
- →Later seasons pull bucks lower as high-country snow deepens.
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose inhabit the willow-lined drainages and subalpine basins of the Mount Evans (Blue Sky) country. Tags are scarce, coveted, once-in-a-lifetime limited-draw — an incidental presence for most hunters, not a general opportunity.
- →Glass willow bottoms and beaver-pond drainages in the high subalpine basins at first and last light.
- →Focus on the wetter drainages below the Mount Evans massif where willow is thickest.
- →Treat any moose sighting as scouting for a future once-in-a-lifetime draw tag.
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear range the aspen and oakbrush foothills through the fall, feeding heavily before denning. A limited-draw opportunity that overlaps early elk and deer hunts.
- →Glass aspen and berry-heavy slopes in the warm early seasons.
- →Look for feeding sign on south-facing shrub benches in the foothills.
- →Hunt bears while scouting elk in the same timber-and-park edges.
Pro tips
- →This is one of the closest good elk units to Denver — expect crowds and plan to hike deep to escape them.
- →The southern Mount Evans (Blue Sky) Wilderness is foot-and-horse only; use that barrier to reach less-pressured elk.
- →Mule deer posts better success than elk here — the limited-draw deer tag is a serious hunt.
- →Do not count State Trust parcels as open; verify CPW Public Access Program enrollment.
- →Watch fast-changing high-altitude weather on the Mount Evans massif; snow can close high roads and trails.
Watch out for
- !Heavy Front Range / Denver-metro hunting pressure on accessible public ground.
- !Private mountain subdivisions and ranches interlaced through the foothills around Bailey, Pine, and Buffalo Creek.
- !State Trust lands are closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Wilderness boundaries prohibit motorized access; rapid high-altitude weather and early snow on Mount Evans.
Logistics
This is the most road-accessible unit of the three — US 285 threads it, and Bailey, Conifer, Pine, and Evergreen offer fuel, groceries, lodging, and repair, with the full Denver metro an hour east. That accessibility is a double edge: it means easy logistics and heavy hunter traffic. Base out of the 285 corridor, but plan to hike well off the road system for quality hunting, and remember wilderness travel is foot-and-horse only. Weather turns fast at altitude on the Mount Evans massif.
Nearest towns: Bailey, CO, Conifer, CO, Pine, CO, Grant, CO, Evergreen, 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 · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 46 Profile · USFS Pike-San Isabel National Forest
FAQ
- How big is GMU 46 in Colorado?
- GMU 46 (GMU 46 — Jefferson/Clear Creek/Park Co.) covers about 213 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,700 to 14,264 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 46?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Pike NF, USFS Arapaho NF (northern fringe), private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 46?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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 46 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.