GMU 581 GMU 581 — Park/Teller/Fremont Co.
High rolling South Park prairie and ridges — hard-to-draw pronghorn, strong deer, migratory elk
Central Colorado — South Park's southeast corner (Wilkerson Pass / Eleven Mile) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
690
sq mi
Public land
35%
approx.
Elevation
8,000–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 581 covers roughly 690 square miles of the southeast corner of South Park, running from the Wilkerson Pass country and Eleven Mile Canyon down into the Puma Hills where Park, Teller, and Fremont counties meet, about 30 miles west of Colorado Springs. It is more than 60% private ranch, though the public Pike National Forest and BLM ground still supports large herds. All tags are limited-draw — there is no over-the-counter elk. Pronghorn are a quality, hard-to-draw prize on the high prairie, mule deer hunt very well (5-year success above 50%), and elk are present but tough (success near 11%), holding high until weather triggers a migration.
Terrain
High, rolling shortgrass prairie of southeast South Park broken by north-south ridges, climbing east and south into the timbered Puma Hills and the granite country around Eleven Mile Canyon. Open, wind-scoured basins give way to forested ridgelines and rimrock.
Cover: Expansive high-elevation grassland and sagebrush across South Park, with ponderosa pine, aspen, and spruce-fir cloaking the Puma Hills, Wilkerson Pass ridges, and the Eleven Mile granite country.
Landmarks: Wilkerson Pass · Eleven Mile Canyon · Eleven Mile Reservoir · Puma Hills · South Park · Badger Mountain · Currant Creek
Access
More than 60% of the unit is private ranch, concentrated across the open South Park basins; the huntable public ground (roughly 79 square miles of Pike National Forest plus BLM) is largely in the timbered Puma Hills, along the Wilkerson Pass ridges, and around Eleven Mile Canyon. A good ownership map is essential — the open prairie that looks best for antelope is mostly deeded. Colorado State Trust lands across South Park are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program; do not count them as huntable.
Managers: USFS Pike NF, BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, private ranch
Access points: US 24 over Wilkerson Pass · Eleven Mile Canyon Road / CR 92 (off US 24 at Lake George) · CO 9 (west edge, near Hartsel) · Forest roads into the Puma Hills · Fourmile / Currant Creek county roads (south)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityA quality, genuinely hard-to-draw pronghorn tag on the high South Park prairie — recent success in the mid-50s%. Buck quality and the scarcity of tags make this a marquee application, but most of the best goat country is private ranch.
- →Glass the high, open South Park basins at dawn — but confirm public boundaries first; the prime prairie is largely deeded.
- →Focus public effort where BLM and accessible parcels meet the grassland, and use the north-south ridges to close distance.
- →Consider private-land-tag or ranch-access options if you draw, since so much antelope range here is private.
Mule Deer
common qualityThe unit's most reliable draw — 5-year success above 50% is excellent for Colorado. Bucks concentrate in the northern and western portions in winter; the rut can fire from late October into December. Rugged, remote pockets hold mature deer for hunters willing to work.
- →Hunt the timbered Puma Hills edges, sage draws, and the ridge-and-park transitions rather than the open middle of South Park.
- →Later hunts pay off as deer concentrate on winter range in the northern and western unit and the rut kicks in.
- →Cover ground on foot into rugged, roadless public pockets — the best bucks reward the physical hunter here.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityPresent in good numbers but a tough, low-success hunt (near 11%) — limited-draw only, no OTC. Bulls hold in high timber and don't drop until inclement weather pushes them; the rut can start the first week of September and run a month.
- →Time an archery or muzzleloader hunt to the September rut and locate bugling bulls in the high Puma Hills and Wilkerson Pass timber.
- →For rifle, hunt the migration — elk here stay high until snow and cold move them, so later, colder hunts concentrate animals.
- →Break far off the roads into the timbered public pockets; heavy private and pressure make elk nocturnal near access points.
Pro tips
- →Over 60% of this unit is private ranch — sort out legal public access (Puma Hills, Eleven Mile, BLM) or a ranch permission before you hunt.
- →No OTC elk: budget preference points, and know that elk success is low unless you time the weather-driven migration.
- →The mule deer hunting is the real strength — apply here for a quality, high-success buck tag.
- →Colorado State Trust parcels across South Park are closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program — don't count them as open.
Watch out for
- !More than 60% private ranch — huntable public ground is limited and often surrounded by deeded land.
- !Colorado State Trust lands here are closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Low elk success unless you catch the weather-driven migration off the high country.
- !South Park weather turns fast and cold at 9,000-10,000 feet; roads slick with snow.
Logistics
Lake George and Woodland Park (east, toward Colorado Springs) offer the closest fuel, groceries, and lodging; Hartsel and Fairplay cover the north and west. US 24 over Wilkerson Pass is the main paved artery. Public access funnels into the Puma Hills and Eleven Mile country on Forest and county gravel roads that turn slick with weather. Cell service is decent along US 24 and fades in the backcountry — carry maps and a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Lake George, CO, Hartsel, CO, Woodland Park, CO, Fairplay, CO, Cañon City, CO
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW — Big Game Hunting & GMU Info · USFS — Pike National Forest (South Park RD) · BLM — Royal Gorge Field Office · GoHunt / Public Lands — Colorado Unit 581 profile
FAQ
- How big is GMU 581 in Colorado?
- GMU 581 (GMU 581 — Park/Teller/Fremont Co.) covers about 690 square miles, ranging from roughly 8,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 581?
- Approximately 35% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Pike NF, BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 581?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 581 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.