GMU 551 GMU 551 — Gunnison/Saguache Co.
Tomichi Creek elk country on the Divide's Gunnison side
Central Colorado — west-slope Sawatch and Cochetopa Hills above Gunnison · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
547
sq mi
Public land
86%
approx.
Elevation
7,900–13,375
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 551 sits on the western flank of the Sawatch Range and the Cochetopa Hills in Gunnison and Saguache counties, draining toward Tomichi Creek and the upper Gunnison Basin. It is a high, heavily forested public-land unit straddling the Continental Divide, with Monarch, Old Monarch, Marshall and Hancock passes along its spine. Elk are the marquee draw and deer are strong along the creek benches; a small pronghorn presence holds the Tomichi grasslands. The east boundary with GMUs 56/561 rides one of the most vertical, rugged divides in the state.
Terrain
High mountain unit rising from Tomichi Creek pastures near Sargents to timberline and alpine ridges along the Continental Divide; steep, densely timbered slopes with rolling foothills on the west end.
Cover: Sagebrush, willow and hay meadows along Tomichi Creek; juniper, pinyon and Gambel oak on south-facing foothills; aspen, ponderosa, lodgepole and spruce-fir on the higher slopes grading into alpine tundra near the Divide.
Landmarks: Continental Divide · Monarch Pass & Old Monarch Pass · Marshall Pass · Hancock Pass · Tomichi Creek · Cochetopa Hills · Sargents
Access
Mostly public national-forest land with good access via US 50, SR 114 and SR 76 feeding a dense network of forest and four-wheel-drive roads to Old Monarch, Tomichi, Marshall and Hancock passes. Private ranches concentrate along Tomichi Creek and the valley floor near Sargents and Doyleville — get permission there. Colorado State Trust Land is closed to hunting unless the parcel is enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program; verify before hunting it.
Managers: USFS Gunnison NF (GMUG), USFS Rio Grande NF, USFS San Isabel NF, BLM, Private ranch (Tomichi Creek valley)
Access points: US 50 over Monarch Pass · SR 114 toward North Pass / Cochetopa · Marshall Pass Road from Sargents · Old Monarch Pass Road · Tomichi / Hancock four-wheel-drive routes
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe signature species — CPW recently ended over-the-counter second- and third-rifle bull tags here (aligning 54/55/551 with the limited 66/67 units) to cut crowding and grow bull quality. The best bulls hold south of US 50 in the timbered Cochetopa and Divide country. Now largely a limited-draw unit, trending toward better age structure.
- →Hunt the dark timber and north-facing benches south of US 50
- →Work the aspen-to-spruce transition at first and last light
- →Push deep off the four-wheel-drive passes to escape road pressure
- →Glass high parks and timber edges near the Divide during the rut
Mule Deer
common qualityDeer hunt better north of US 50 on the oak-and-sage foothills and creek benches. A fully limited-draw unit where patient hunters find mature bucks in the mid-elevation brush and aspen pockets.
- →Glass oak brush and sage foothills north of US 50 at dawn
- →Watch feed-to-cover movement along Tomichi Creek benches
- →Still-hunt aspen stringers and mountain-shrub draws
- →Build points — deer here is application-only
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA small band of antelope uses the Tomichi Creek grasslands and sage flats on the valley floor; only a few tags and a handful of animals taken most years. A minor, limited-draw opportunity, not a primary target.
- →Glass the open sage and hay ground along Tomichi Creek
- →Cover valley-floor country by vehicle to locate the few resident bucks
- →Plan terrain-and-wind stalks on open flats
- →Secure ranch permission where the sage is private
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the oak brush, aspen and berry-rich mid-elevation slopes, especially the Gambel-oak foothills on the west end. A reasonable added tag while chasing elk in the early seasons.
- →Hunt oak-brush and serviceberry slopes in early fall
- →Check aspen and creek-bottom feed during good mast years
- →Glass avalanche chutes and forest openings at first and last light
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyBighorns range the alpine crags along the Continental Divide near Monarch and the Cochetopa high country. A once-in-a-lifetime limited draw with very few tags — a lottery hunt, not a general opportunity.
- →Glass alpine cliff bands and talon ridges near the Divide
- →Scout the Monarch and Marshall Pass high country in summer
- →Expect long-range spotting and steep, technical approaches
Pro tips
- →Split the unit at US 50: deer north, big bulls south in the Cochetopa/Divide timber
- →Use the four-wheel-drive passes as jumping-off points, then hunt on foot away from the roads
- →Time a rifle hunt to the first hard snow that slides elk off the Divide toward Tomichi Creek
- →Nail down ranch permission for the private Tomichi valley floor before relying on it
- →Confirm Public Access Program enrollment before hunting any State Trust Land parcel
Watch out for
- !Private ranch inholdings along Tomichi Creek and the valley floor
- !State Trust Land closed unless PAP-enrolled
- !Early snow closing Monarch/Marshall/Old Monarch pass roads
- !Steep, vertical east boundary with 56/561 — know exactly which side of the Divide you're on
- !Historic OTC crowding fading as elk goes limited-draw
Logistics
Gunnison to the west and Salida/Poncha Springs to the east are the main hubs for fuel, lodging, groceries and processing, with tiny Sargents at the unit's heart on US 50. Dispersed national-forest camping is plentiful along the pass roads. Monarch Pass gets early snow — high routes over the Divide can close or turn treacherous fast in October and November.
Nearest towns: Gunnison, Sargents, Doyleville, Salida, Poncha Springs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Big Game Hunting · CPW — OTC bull elk eliminated in GMUs 54/55/551 (limited draw) · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 551 profile · Colorado State Land Board — Public Access Program
FAQ
- How big is GMU 551 in Colorado?
- GMU 551 (GMU 551 — Gunnison/Saguache Co.) covers about 547 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,900 to 13,375 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 551?
- Approximately 86% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Gunnison NF (GMUG), USFS Rio Grande NF, USFS San Isabel NF, BLM, Private ranch (Tomichi Creek valley). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 551?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 551 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.