GMU 66 GMU 66 — Gunnison/Hinsdale/Saguache Co.
Limited-draw elk and trophy-managed mule deer in the rugged peaks above Lake City
Southwest Colorado — Gunnison Basin / Lake City high San Juans · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
901
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
7,500–14,309
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 66 is a big (roughly 900-square-mile) high-country unit in the southern Gunnison Basin, sprawling across the San Juan Mountains above Lake City between the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and the Cebolla Creek / Colorado 149 corridor. It is fully limited-draw for elk — the entire Gunnison Basin, including 66, converted away from over-the-counter tags back in 1999 — so hunter numbers are capped and both bull and buck age classes have benefited. Elk carries the harvest here (recent bull success near 40%), backed by a genuinely strong limited-draw mule deer hunt and a token pronghorn opportunity.
Terrain
Some of the most vertical country in Colorado. The unit climbs from river-bottom benches around the Lake Fork near Lake City to a crown of alpine peaks — dozens of thirteeners and the 14,309-foot Uncompahgre Peak, the high point of the San Juans. Deep timbered drainages, glacial basins, and open tundra ridgelines dominate the upper unit.
Cover: Sagebrush parks and pinyon-juniper on the lower benches give way to aspen and mixed conifer (spruce-fir, Douglas-fir) on the mid slopes, then krummholz and alpine tundra above treeline. Willow-lined creek bottoms hold elk and deer at dawn and dusk.
Landmarks: Uncompahgre Peak · Wetterhorn Peak · Powderhorn Wilderness · Cannibal Plateau · Lake Fork of the Gunnison River · Cebolla Creek · Slumgullion Pass · La Garita Wilderness (western edge) · Colorado 149
Access
Roughly 80% public — a mix of Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forest, multiple wilderness areas (Powderhorn, La Garita edge, Uncompahgre), and BLM. Private ground clusters on the valley floors and river benches, which double as critical winter range, so scout land status before season. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not count them as huntable. The wilderness areas are foot-and-horse only; expect a serious pack-out from the high basins.
Managers: USFS Gunnison National Forest (GMUG), USFS Uncompahgre National Forest, BLM Gunnison Field Office, private ranch
Access points: Lake City / Colorado 149 corridor · Slumgullion Pass (CO 149) · Cebolla Creek road (Powderhorn) · Lake Fork of the Gunnison drainage · USFS trailheads into Powderhorn and La Garita Wilderness
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe headline hunt and a fully limited-draw one — no OTC anywhere in this unit. Capped hunter numbers have built respectable bull age class, and recent bull success ran near 40%, strong for public high-country elk. Muzzleloader in particular has a reputation for producing good bulls.
- →Hunt the aspen-conifer transition and dark timber pockets on the mid slopes; big bulls slip up into wilderness away from roads under pressure.
- →Glass the alpine basins and tundra edges at first and last light in early seasons before snow pushes elk down toward the parks.
- →Work the willow-lined creek bottoms and sage parks near dawn — elk feed low and bed high.
- →Later rifle seasons improve as snow at elevation moves herds toward winter range on the lower benches.
Mule Deer
common qualityA quality limited-draw deer unit — hunter caps have produced increasing numbers of older, larger bucks. Recent success was excellent (roughly seven of ten tags filled). Bucks favor the oak-brush, sage, and pinyon-juniper benches off the mountain shoulders.
- →Grid-glass the sage and pinyon-juniper edges on the mid-elevation benches rather than the alpine.
- →Later hunts get better as bucks slide down toward winter range on the lower slopes and river benches.
- →Spot-and-stalk from high vantage points at first light; this is optics country, not road hunting.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA very thin pronghorn opportunity — only a handful of tags and a tiny annual harvest on the limited open sage parks. Incidental to the unit's elk and deer, not a reason to come.
- →Focus on the open sage-grassland parks on the lower, flatter fringes of the unit.
- →Glass long and use terrain to close in wide-open country.
- →Treat it as a bonus tag paired with high-country scouting.
Pro tips
- →Every elk and deer tag in GMU 66 is limited-draw — no OTC. Budget preference points, especially as a nonresident.
- →Muzzleloader elk has a local reputation for producing better bulls thanks to the timing and lower pressure.
- →Get off the CO 149 corridor and into the wilderness basins for the best age class on both elk and deer.
- →Watch the weather — an early San Juan snow can both improve hunting and strand you; carry recovery and survival gear.
- →Acclimate for altitude before hunting the high basins; several days at elevation pays off.
Watch out for
- !Private ground and critical winter range concentrate on the valley floors and river benches — verify land status.
- !Colorado State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Wilderness areas (Powderhorn, La Garita, Uncompahgre) are non-motorized — plan the pack-out.
- !High altitude and fast-moving mountain weather are real hazards; early snow can close high roads.
- !Scattered private inholdings within the forest require permission before crossing.
Logistics
Lake City is the hub — small but stocked with fuel, groceries, lodging, and outfitters, and it sits right on the CO 149 spine of the unit. Gunnison (north) is the nearest full-service town for major supplies and repair. This is genuine high country: plan for altitude, carry water filtration, and be ready for weather to turn on a dime. Horses or serious fitness are close to mandatory for the wilderness basins, and a high-clearance vehicle helps on the forest roads.
Nearest towns: Lake City, CO, Gunnison, CO, Powderhorn, CO, Creede, 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 · Colorado Outdoors — 2026 Gunnison Basin OTC/Limited elk changes · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 66 profile (secondary cross-check) · Hunters Domain — Colorado Unit 66 (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 66 in Colorado?
- GMU 66 (GMU 66 — Gunnison/Hinsdale/Saguache Co.) covers about 901 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,500 to 14,309 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 66?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Gunnison National Forest (GMUG), USFS Uncompahgre National Forest, BLM Gunnison Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 66?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 66 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.