GMU 68 GMU 68 — Saguache Co.
OTC bull elk and public-land access on the east side of the Continental Divide above Saguache
South-central Colorado — upper San Luis Valley / La Garita east slope · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
604
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
7,700–14,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 68 sits west of Saguache on the east side of the Continental Divide, tumbling from the alpine peaks of the eastern La Garita Wilderness down through Rio Grande National Forest to the pinyon-juniper foothills at the edge of the San Luis Valley. Unlike the neighboring Gunnison Basin units, 68 still offers over-the-counter bull elk (archery plus 2nd and 3rd rifle), which means more hunters and lower success — recent bull success ran around 10%, so the harvest comes from volume, not odds. Draw hunts (1st rifle, 4th rifle, muzzleloader) offer better odds. Mule deer is limited-draw, and there's a small pronghorn allotment on the valley grasslands.
Terrain
Mostly mountainous — barren ridges, peaks, basins, and rockslides above timberline in the west and south, dropping through sprawling forest and canyons to open foothills at the San Luis Valley edge. The Continental Divide forms the western boundary and about 20,000 acres of La Garita Wilderness sit in the high southwest.
Cover: Open pinyon-juniper woodland and grassland on the lower foothills, thickening to aspen and spruce-fir conifer up the slopes, then alpine tundra and barren rock above treeline. Sage parks and drainage bottoms break up the timber.
Landmarks: Continental Divide · La Garita Wilderness (east side) · Cochetopa Hills · Saguache Creek · Colorado 114 (north boundary) · US 285 (east boundary) · Rio Grande National Forest
Access
Overwhelmingly public — huge tracts of Rio Grande National Forest and BLM with good access at both high and low elevation. The main private is roughly 40 square miles along the eastern and northeastern boundaries (the valley-edge ranch ground toward US 285), plus a few scattered deeded parcels. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not count them as huntable. The La Garita Wilderness in the southwest is non-motorized.
Managers: USFS Rio Grande National Forest, USFS La Garita Wilderness, BLM, private ranch
Access points: Saguache / US 285 corridor · Colorado 114 (Cochetopa Pass road) · Saguache Creek road · USFS Roads 675 / 676 (southern boundary) · La Garita Wilderness trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityAn over-the-counter bull elk opportunity (archery and 2nd/3rd rifle) — the main draw and the reason for the crowds. High pressure means low success (recently near 10%), so this is a volume/opportunity hunt, not a quality one. Draw hunts (1st rifle, 4th rifle, muzzleloader) carry much better odds and lighter pressure.
- →Get well away from roads and trailheads — OTC pressure concentrates near easy access, and elk push into the timber and steep drainages.
- →Hunt the transition between conifer and the pinyon-juniper foothills at first and last light.
- →Consider a draw hunt (1st or 4th rifle, muzzleloader) for better odds and far fewer hunters.
- →Late-season snow moves elk down toward the lower foothills and valley edge — position along the migration lines.
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-draw mule deer hunt with moderate success recently (roughly four to five of ten tags filled). Bucks favor the pinyon-juniper and oak-brush benches and the sage-drainage bottoms below the timber.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper and sage benches on the lower and mid slopes rather than the alpine.
- →Work drainage edges and mountain-shrub pockets in the morning and evening.
- →Later hunts improve as deer drift toward the valley-edge winter range.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA small pronghorn opportunity on the open grasslands and sage of the valley-edge foothills — a modest number of tags and a small annual harvest. A bonus species, not the reason to draw the unit.
- →Focus on the open grassland and sage flats on the eastern, lower-elevation edge toward the San Luis Valley.
- →Glass long and use terrain to close in open country.
- →Verify land status carefully — much of the low, flat ground here is private ranch.
Pro tips
- →Elk is OTC here (archery, 2nd and 3rd rifle) — expect pressure and low success; earn it by getting deep off the roads.
- →Draw hunts (1st rifle, 4th rifle, muzzleloader) offer far better odds and lighter pressure — worth the points.
- →The ~40 square miles of private on the eastern/northeastern boundary is where much of the low ground is off-limits; verify status.
- →Use the elevation: hunt high early, follow snow and animals down to the foothills late.
- →Deer is limited-draw while elk is OTC — mind which tag you hold and where it's valid.
Watch out for
- !Roughly 40 square miles of private ranch line the eastern and northeastern boundary, plus scattered deeded parcels — know the lines.
- !Colorado State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !OTC elk seasons draw crowds near trailheads and roads.
- !La Garita Wilderness is non-motorized — plan the pack-out from the high country.
- !High-elevation weather and early snow can close roads fast.
Logistics
Saguache, just east of the unit on US 285, is the closest town for fuel, basic groceries, and lodging; Monte Vista and Del Norte (south, in the San Luis Valley) and Gunnison (northwest) offer fuller services and repair. Public access is good from both the CO 114 (Cochetopa Pass) and Saguache Creek roads, but the high southwest and wilderness require a real effort. High-clearance 4WD helps on the forest roads; cell service is spotty off the highways.
Nearest towns: Saguache, CO, Del Norte, CO, Gunnison, CO, Monte Vista, 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 · Hunters Domain — Colorado Unit 68 (OTC/draw, boundaries, land status) · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 68 profile (secondary cross-check) · HuntScore — Colorado GMU 68 (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 68 in Colorado?
- GMU 68 (GMU 68 — Saguache Co.) covers about 604 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,700 to 14,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 68?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Rio Grande National Forest, USFS La Garita Wilderness, BLM, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 68?
- 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 68 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.