GMU 64 GMU 64 — Delta/Montrose Co.
Low, dry BLM-and-ranch country where private access makes the mature-animal hunt
West-Central Colorado — arid mesas and the Black Canyon south rim between Montrose and Delta · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
270
sq mi
Public land
42%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–9,716
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 64 is a lower, drier unit in Delta and Montrose Counties, spanning the arid mesas and canyon breaks between Olathe, Montrose, and the south rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Terrain ranges from irrigated farmland and sage flats near 4,900 feet up to pinyon-juniper and oakbrush mesas below 9,700 feet — it never reaches true high country. It is a heavily private unit: roughly 90 square miles are BLM, but most of the productive ground is ranch land and irrigated farmland, and the Black Canyon national park lands are closed to hunting. Mule deer split between the high mesas and the farm-edge, elk hold in year-round bull pockets in the mid-elevation breaks, and a token pronghorn presence lingers on the open mesas. Private access is the difference between an average hunt and a good one.
Terrain
Low, dry country — irrigated farmland and sage flats near 4,900 ft climbing through pinyon-juniper and oakbrush mesas and canyon breaks to just under 9,700 ft, with no alpine.
Cover: Big sagebrush and irrigated ag at the bottom, extensive pinyon-juniper on the mesas and breaks, Gambel oakbrush and serviceberry on the higher slopes, cottonwood and willow along drainages.
Landmarks: Black Canyon of the Gunnison (south rim) · Vernal Mesa · Poverty Mesa · Red Rock Canyon · arid mesas above Olathe and Montrose
Access
Under half the unit is huntable public land. BLM blocks — roughly 90 square miles concentrated along the mesa-and-canyon country — offer the core public opportunity, but private ranch and irrigated farmland dominate the productive low ground and some outfitters lease private access. Black Canyon national park lands are closed to hunting. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Secure private permission before applying if you want to reach mature animals.
Managers: BLM (Uncompahgre Field Office), private ranch, private irrigated farmland, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (closed to hunting), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: BLM roads off Peach Valley / Ute Road · Mesa-top two-tracks above Olathe and Montrose · US-50 corridor access points · County roads to the BLM canyon breaks
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe unit's most reliable draw, split between deer on the high pinyon-juniper and oakbrush mesas and animals living near irrigated farmland at the lower edge. Success is moderate (mid-40s); the best bucks tend to sit on private ground, so access shapes results.
- →Glass oakbrush and juniper mesa edges at first and last light
- →Hunt the transition between sage, juniper, and farm ground
- →Work BLM canyon breaks where deer bed out of the heat
- →Late season, watch the farm-edge as deer concentrate on green feed
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA resident-bull unit — most bulls stay year-round in the mid-elevation breaks roughly between 7,000 and 9,500 feet rather than migrating. Rifle success is modest (low 20s); reaching mature bulls usually means private access or hard glassing of the BLM breaks.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper and oakbrush breaks at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the mid-elevation year-round bull pockets rather than chasing migration
- →Work BLM canyon country away from roads
- →Set up on water in dry early seasons
Pronghorn
transient lowA very small pronghorn presence uses the open sage flats and arid mesas — harvest is negligible, effectively an incidental few animals. Not a destination pronghorn unit.
- →Glass open sage flats and mesa tops for the occasional band
- →Focus on the driest, most open ground near the ag edge
- →Treat as an opportunistic add-on, not a target
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the oakbrush and serviceberry pockets on the higher mesas in early fall when mast is available. A limited, incidental opportunity in this drier unit.
- →Hunt oakbrush and berry pockets on the higher mesas in early fall
- →Glass shrubby slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Focus on the wetter, mast-bearing draws
Pro tips
- →Secure private access before applying — it is the difference-maker for mature bucks and bulls
- →Hunt elk as resident animals in the 7,000–9,500 ft breaks, not as migrators
- →Use a GPS boundary layer — BLM interlocks tightly with ranch and farm ground
- →Carry plenty of water; this is genuinely dry, low country
- →Watch clay BLM roads when weather moves in
Watch out for
- !Under half the unit is huntable public land — private access is critical
- !Black Canyon of the Gunnison national park lands are closed to hunting
- !State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Dry country — water and heat management matter
- !Clay BLM roads become impassable when wet
Logistics
Montrose and Delta bracket the unit and provide full services — fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing — with Olathe in between. This is dry country, so carry ample water; some BLM roads are clay that turns impassable when wet. Weather can swing hard even at these lower elevations. Cell coverage is decent near the US-50 corridor and towns, patchier out on the mesas.
Nearest towns: Montrose, Delta, Olathe
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 · BLM — Uncompahgre Field Office · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 64 Profile
FAQ
- How big is GMU 64 in Colorado?
- GMU 64 (GMU 64 — Delta/Montrose Co.) covers about 270 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 9,716 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 64?
- Approximately 42% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Uncompahgre Field Office), private ranch, private irrigated farmland, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (closed to hunting), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 64?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, 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 64 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.