GMU 65 GMU 65 — Gunnison/Hinsdale/Montrose/Ouray Co.
A large elk unit rising from mesas to 14ers, with a heavy general-season crowd
Southwest Colorado — the Big Cimarron and Uncompahgre high country southeast of Montrose · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
672
sq mi
Public land
53%
approx.
Elevation
5,821–14,309
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 65 is a big, vertically dramatic unit southeast of Montrose in Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, and Ouray Counties, built around the Big Cimarron drainage, Owl Creek Pass, and the alpine crest of the Uncompahgre and Mount Sneffels Wilderness areas. It climbs from arid mesas near 5,800 feet to 14,309-foot Uncompahgre Peak — a full sweep of sage, oakbrush, aspen, spruce-fir, and alpine tundra on the Uncompahgre National Forest. It supports a large elk herd and good mule deer, but second and third rifle bull tags are over-the-counter, so public ground gets crowded; archery and muzzleloader hunts are the quality window. Nearly half the unit is private, which makes late-season access harder. The alpine backbone also holds bighorn sheep and mountain goats on coveted limited draws.
Terrain
Enormous relief — arid mesas and sage near 5,800 ft climbing through oakbrush and aspen to spruce-fir and alpine tundra, topping out on 14,309-ft Uncompahgre Peak and the Mount Sneffels crest.
Cover: Sagebrush and pinyon-juniper on the low mesas, Gambel oakbrush and serviceberry on the benches, aspen and Douglas-fir mid-mountain, Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir up high, and alpine tundra above treeline.
Landmarks: Uncompahgre Peak (14,309 ft) · Big Cimarron / Cimarron Ridge · Owl Creek Pass · Silver Jack Reservoir · Uncompahgre Wilderness · Mount Sneffels Wilderness
Access
About half the unit is huntable public land — extensive Uncompahgre National Forest and wilderness up high, plus BLM on the lower breaks — but private ranch ground holds much of the productive lower and mid-elevation winter range, which makes late-season hunting harder without permission. Wilderness areas are non-motorized. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS Uncompahgre National Forest (GMUG), Uncompahgre Wilderness, Mount Sneffels Wilderness, BLM (Uncompahgre Field Office), private ranch, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: Big Cimarron Road to Silver Jack and the forest · Owl Creek Pass road (CR-8/10) · Wilderness trailheads into the Uncompahgre and Mount Sneffels backcountry · BLM and county roads on the lower mesa breaks
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant opportunityThe marquee species — a large elk herd across the Uncompahgre high country drives strong harvest volume, but second and third rifle bull tags are over-the-counter, so success runs low (around 20%) and public ground gets busy. Archery and muzzleloader are the quality opportunity before the crowds.
- →Hunt archery and muzzleloader for quiet timber and rutting bulls
- →In rifle seasons get deep into wilderness and steep spruce-fir away from the OTC crowd
- →Glass aspen-to-tundra transitions at dawn and dusk
- →Late season, key on snow pushing elk down toward lower (often private) winter range
Mule Deer
common qualityLimited-draw and managed for quality, with the best early-season bucks on public high country before pressure and weather shift deer toward private winter range. Moderate success (low-to-mid 40s) rewards early hunters who hit the aspen-and-oak benches.
- →Hunt early for high-country bucks on the oakbrush and aspen benches before they push low
- →Glass oak-to-aspen transitions at first and last light
- →Work the mesa breaks and timber edges
- →Late season, deer concentrate on lower winter range — access dependent
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are widespread in the oakbrush and berry belt on the mid-slopes, most active in early fall when mast is heavy. A solid incidental opportunity alongside deer and elk.
- →Hunt oakbrush thickets and serviceberry patches in early fall
- →Glass feeding bears on shrubby slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Focus on mast-heavy benches where deer also feed
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe rugged alpine of the Uncompahgre and Sneffels high country holds bighorn sheep — a coveted, hard-to-draw limited tag hunted in steep, remote terrain above treeline.
- →Glass alpine basins, cliff bands, and ridgelines above treeline
- →Plan a physically demanding backcountry hunt with spotting optics
- →Locate rams during summer scouting and pattern their feeding cliffs
Mountain Goat
limited trophyMountain goats occupy the high alpine crags of the Uncompahgre and Mount Sneffels Wilderness — a rare limited-draw tag in some of the steepest country in the state.
- →Glass the highest cliff faces and rock bands above treeline
- →Scout in summer to locate goats on their favored crags
- →Prepare for extreme, exposed alpine terrain and long approaches
Pro tips
- →Hunt archery or muzzleloader elk to beat the OTC rifle crowd for a quality experience
- →Get deep into wilderness timber in rifle season — the OTC pressure stays near roads
- →Bank points for the quality mule deer tag and hunt bucks high and early
- →Line up private access if you want a productive late-season hunt on winter range
- →For sheep or goat, scout in summer and train for steep, exposed alpine terrain
- →Use pack stock for wilderness pack-outs from the high basins
Watch out for
- !Heavy OTC bull-rifle crowding on accessible public ground
- !Nearly half the unit is private — late-season winter-range access is limited
- !Wilderness areas are non-motorized — plan long approaches and pack-outs
- !Fast alpine weather and early snow at high elevation
- !State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
Logistics
Montrose is the full-service hub for fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing, with Ridgway and Ouray closer to the south end of the unit. High country roads climb fast and can hold early snow; wilderness access means long non-motorized approaches and, for many, pack stock. Carry chains and recovery gear, and expect little to no cell coverage in the backcountry. Ouray Hot Springs and trout fishing make good rest-day options.
Nearest towns: Montrose, Ridgway, Ouray, Cimarron
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 · USFS — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 65 Profile
FAQ
- How big is GMU 65 in Colorado?
- GMU 65 (GMU 65 — Gunnison/Hinsdale/Montrose/Ouray Co.) covers about 672 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,821 to 14,309 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 65?
- Approximately 53% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uncompahgre National Forest (GMUG), Uncompahgre Wilderness, Mount Sneffels Wilderness, BLM (Uncompahgre Field Office), private ranch, 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 65?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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 65 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.