GMU 6 GMU 6 — Jackson Co.
High sage park on the Wyoming line holding Colorado's best pronghorn success and a genuine moose herd
North-central Colorado — North Park sagebrush basin (Jackson County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
355
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
7,900–12,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 6 covers the northwest quarter of North Park, the big high-elevation sagebrush-grassland basin of Jackson County running up to the Wyoming border and the Northgate/Cowdrey country. It is a strong mixed-bag unit: pronghorn are abundant on the open sage flats and post the region's best success, a real moose herd works the willow bottoms and timber edges (North Park is where Colorado's moose were reintroduced), and elk and mule deer use the basin, the mountainous northern rim, and the Park Range / Medicine Bow-Routt forest along the west. Over two-thirds of North Park is public land, so this is one of the more accessible good-quality units in the state.
Terrain
Open, high sagebrush-grassland park floor near 8,000 ft rising to timbered foothills on the north edge and the steep, forested Park Range along the west, with willow-lined creek and river bottoms threading the basin.
Cover: Sagebrush-grassland flats across the basin; willow carr and riparian along the North Platte and its tributaries; lodgepole, spruce-fir and aspen on the Park Range and northern mountains; scattered dryland hay meadows on the ranches.
Landmarks: North Platte River · Northgate / Cowdrey country · Park Range / Medicine Bow-Routt NF (west rim) · Wyoming state line (north) · willow bottoms and creek drainages of North Park
Access
One of the more public-accessible North Park units — over two-thirds of the greater park is public. National forest covers the western Park Range and the northern mountains; BLM tracts are scattered through the basin. The valley hay-meadow ranches are private and hold game, especially in hard weather. Colorado State Land Board parcels are generally NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — verify each parcel and do not assume state trust ground is huntable.
Managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, BLM (Kremmling Field Office), private ranch, Colorado State Land Board (mostly closed)
Access points: Colorado Highway 125 corridor (Walden–Wyoming line) · county and forest roads west toward the Park Range / Mount Zirkel country · BLM basin tracts off county roads north of Walden · Routt NF access on the west rim
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityThe standout hunt — pronghorn are abundant across the open sage basin and post the area's best success. A limited-draw tag here is one of the more reliable and higher-quality pronghorn opportunities in Colorado.
- →Drive-and-glass the sage flats at first and last light
- →Spot-and-stalk using the rolling basin folds and drainages for cover
- →Watch water sources and creek bottoms in dry early seasons
- →Glass toward private hay meadows and stalk bucks onto adjacent public sage
Moose
common qualityNorth Park is the cradle of Colorado's moose — animals hold in the willow bottoms, creek riparian and timber edges of the basin. Highly limited-draw and a bucket-list tag, but a genuine, established herd.
- →Hunt willow carr and riparian bottoms morning and evening
- →Glass the timber-to-willow transition on the forest edges
- →Move slowly and quietly along creek corridors
- →Work the wetter drainages where willows are thickest
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA large elk herd uses the basin and the surrounding forest — total harvest is high, but this is fully limited-draw (no OTC) and per-hunter success runs low as elk shuffle between public timber, high parks and private ranch meadows.
- →Hunt the timbered north rim and Park Range forest edges at dawn
- →Glass the sage-to-timber transition where elk feed then bed
- →Push into quieter forest pockets away from the highway
- →Watch private meadow edges at first and last light, then intercept on public
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the sage basin, brushy draws and foothill timber, with respectable success for a limited-draw unit. The mix of sage, riparian and forest edge grows solid bucks in the rougher country.
- →Glass sagebrush draws and foothill breaks at first light
- →Still-hunt the aspen and timber edges on the forest rim
- →Focus on brushy creek bottoms and the transition zones
- →Hunt higher and rougher country to escape pressure near the road
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the aspen, timber and berry-producing forest edges on the Park Range and northern mountains — a secondary opportunity concentrated in the wooded portions of the unit.
- →Glass aspen stands and oak/berry patches on forest edges in fall
- →Hunt riparian and food-source corridors morning and evening
- →Focus on the timbered west and north where forage concentrates bears
Pro tips
- →Pronghorn is the reason to draw this unit — the sage basin holds strong numbers and the best success in the area
- →For moose, hunt the willow bottoms and riparian corridors, not the open sage
- →Two-thirds public means real DIY access — anchor on national forest and BLM, then use private meadow edges to your advantage
- →Confirm State Land Board parcels are enrolled in Public Access before hunting them; most are closed
- →Weather is the great mover here — a hard front concentrates game and improves the elk hunt fast
Watch out for
- !Valley hay-meadow ranches are private and hold pressured game — get permission or hunt the public edges legally
- !Colorado State Land Board / state trust parcels are generally closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW Public Access
- !Park Range forest roads are rough and snow-prone; high clearance and recovery gear matter late season
- !Cold, windy, high-elevation weather can turn severe fast — prepare for winter conditions
- !Elk shift heavily between public and private with pressure and weather — scout the transitions
Logistics
Walden is the hub for gas, food, lodging and licenses; Cowdrey and the Northgate country sit to the north. Steamboat Springs is the nearest larger town, reached over Rabbit Ears Pass. Basin roads are good gravel and generally drivable, but the Park Range forest roads get rough and snow-prone; carry chains and recovery gear late in the year. Weather is cold and windy at this elevation — plan for it.
Nearest towns: Walden, Cowdrey, Rand, Steamboat Springs (over Rabbit Ears Pass)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Game Management Units (GMU) boundaries — Colorado Geodata · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 6 profile (North Park, Jackson County) · HuntScore — Colorado GMU 6, Jackson County
FAQ
- How big is GMU 6 in Colorado?
- GMU 6 (GMU 6 — Jackson Co.) covers about 355 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,900 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 6?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Medicine Bow-Routt NF, BLM (Kremmling Field Office), private ranch, Colorado State Land Board (mostly closed). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 6?
- Pronghorn, Moose, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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 6 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.