GMU 56 GMU 56 — Chaffee Co.
Fourteener elk country between Buena Vista and Salida
Central Colorado — Collegiate Peaks east slope above the upper Arkansas · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
238
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
7,054–14,269
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 56 covers the east slope of the southern Sawatch Range in Chaffee County, west of the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Salida. It is dramatic, high public-land country crowned by three fourteeners — Mount Antero, Mount Shavano and Tabeguache Peak — dropping from alpine tundra to the Arkansas valley near 7,000 feet. Elk are the marquee species and this is a classic over-the-counter unit; mule deer hold the mid-elevation brush, and a few pronghorn use the valley grasslands. Steep terrain and roughly 90% public land define the hunt.
Terrain
Steep east-facing Sawatch slopes rising from the Arkansas valley to alpine tundra and multiple fourteeners; timbered drainages, high basins and rugged ridgelines throughout.
Cover: Sagebrush and pinyon-juniper on the valley benches; Gambel oak and mountain shrub mid-slope; aspen, lodgepole, ponderosa and spruce-fir on the higher slopes grading into alpine tundra and rock above timberline.
Landmarks: Mount Antero (14,269 ft) · Mount Shavano · Tabeguache Peak · Chalk Cliffs · Chalk Creek · Cottonwood Creek · Arkansas River valley
Access
About 90% public, almost all San Isabel National Forest, with excellent trailhead and four-wheel-drive access up the drainages. Private ranch and residential ground lines the Arkansas valley floor and the mouths of the canyons — cross to the forest at established access points and respect the valley private. Colorado State Trust Land is closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program; verify individual parcels.
Managers: USFS San Isabel NF, BLM, Private ranch (Arkansas valley)
Access points: US 285 / US 24 corridor at Buena Vista · US 50 corridor at Salida · Chalk Creek Road (Mt. Princeton / St. Elmo) · Cottonwood Creek Road · Baldwin Gulch / Mt. Antero four-wheel-drive road
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe headline species and a well-known over-the-counter unit — elk are found unit-wide but concentrate between roughly 8,000 and 10,000 feet, with early-season animals in the Shavano high country near timberline. Expect company and the 'sea of orange' on OTC rifle seasons; success rewards hunters who climb away from the crowds.
- →Hunt the 8,000–10,000 ft timber and aspen bands where elk hold
- →Get above the trailhead traffic on the Shavano and Antero slopes early
- →Work north-facing dark timber for daytime bedding
- →Let opening-day pressure push elk and hunt the escape timber and steep benches
Mule Deer
common qualityA fully limited-draw deer unit with good numbers in the oak brush, sage and aspen of the mid-elevations. Mature bucks reward hunters who glass the transition zones; apply and build points for a tag.
- →Glass oak-brush and sage benches above the valley at dawn and dusk
- →Work aspen stringers and mountain-shrub draws mid-slope
- →Hunt feed-to-cover edges on the lower canyon faces
- →Deer is application-only — build preference points
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA handful of antelope use the sage and grass of the upper Arkansas valley floor near Buena Vista and Salida; very few tags and only a few animals taken most years. A minor, limited-draw sidelight to the mountain hunting.
- →Glass the open valley sage and hay ground
- →Cover the valley by road to locate the few resident bucks
- →Plan wind-and-terrain stalks on open flats
- →Secure permission where valley sage is private
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the oak brush, aspen and berry slopes of the mid-elevations, especially the Gambel-oak canyon faces. A solid added tag during the early seasons.
- →Hunt oak-brush and serviceberry slopes in early fall
- →Focus aspen and creek bottoms in good mast years
- →Glass forest openings and avalanche chutes at first and last light
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyBighorns range the alpine and cliff country around the Chalk Cliffs and the Antero–Shavano high peaks. A once-in-a-lifetime limited draw with very few tags — a lottery hunt only.
- →Glass the Chalk Cliffs and high alpine crags
- →Scout the fourteener basins in late summer
- →Expect steep, technical alpine approaches and long-range spotting
Mountain Goat
limited trophyMountain goats inhabit the alpine tundra and rock of the Antero, Shavano and Tabeguache high country. A once-in-a-lifetime limited draw with a tiny quota — a prized lottery tag, not a general hunt.
- →Glass the tundra and rock above timberline on the fourteeners
- →Scout goat bands from the Baldwin Gulch and Shavano approaches in summer
- →Plan for extreme-elevation, high-effort hunting
Pro tips
- →Climb above the trailhead crowds — the OTC pressure stays low, the elk go high and steep
- →Focus the 8,000–10,000 ft aspen-and-timber band where elk actually hold
- →Use opening-day hunter pressure to your advantage in the escape timber and north faces
- →Time later rifle hunts to the first snow that slides game off the fourteeners
- →Confirm Public Access Program enrollment before hunting any State Trust Land parcel
Watch out for
- !Heavy OTC hunter crowding on second/third rifle elk
- !Private ranch and residential ground along the Arkansas valley floor
- !State Trust Land closed unless PAP-enrolled
- !Extreme-elevation, avalanche-prone alpine terrain and early snow on high roads
- !Recreational summit and mining traffic on the Mt. Antero road
Logistics
Buena Vista and Salida bracket the unit on the Arkansas and cover fuel, lodging, groceries, gear and processing; Nathrop and Poncha Springs are closer small stops. Dispersed San Isabel camping is abundant up Chalk and Cottonwood creeks. High trailheads and the Mt. Antero four-wheel-drive road get early snow — the fourteener country turns serious in late fall.
Nearest towns: Buena Vista, Salida, Poncha Springs, Nathrop, Leadville
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 · HuntScore — Colorado GMU 56 (elk, terrain, public land) · DIY Hunting Maps — Colorado Unit 56 deer statistics · Colorado State Land Board — Public Access Program
FAQ
- How big is GMU 56 in Colorado?
- GMU 56 (GMU 56 — Chaffee Co.) covers about 238 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,054 to 14,269 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 56?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Isabel NF, BLM, Private ranch (Arkansas valley). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 56?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 56 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.