GMU 681 GMU 681 — Saguache Co.
Big public-land mule deer country between Saguache and the Continental Divide
South-Central Colorado — Saguache foothills and Cochetopa Hills · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
445
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
7,700–12,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 681 sits in northern Saguache County at the top of the San Luis Valley, climbing from the town of Saguache northwest into the Cochetopa Hills and up to the Continental Divide. It is a heavily public unit — huge tracts of Rio Grande National Forest (Saguache Ranger District), Gunnison/GMUG forest along the Divide, and BLM foothills — with good access, which sets it apart from the private valley units nearby. Mule deer are the marquee draw here, posting the highest harvest and strong success, while elk deliver high-volume opportunity and a small pronghorn herd works the open sage and valley edge. Deer is fully limited-draw; elk carry a large over-the-counter component that explains the big harvest and modest success rate.
Terrain
Rises from the flat San Luis Valley floor near Saguache through juniper-and-sage foothills into forested ridges and parks that top out on the Continental Divide.
Cover: Sagebrush and rabbitbrush parks on the valley edge, pinyon-juniper and Gambel oakbrush on the foothills, aspen stringers and spruce-fir on the higher ridges, with grassy meadows and willow creek-bottoms.
Landmarks: Cochetopa Hills · Saguache Creek · North Pass (CO 114) · Continental Divide · Sawtooth Mountain country
Access
One of the more public-friendly units in the northern San Luis Valley — huge national-forest and BLM blocks with good road and trailhead access blanket the foothills and the country up to the Divide. Private ranch ground concentrates on the lower Saguache Creek bottoms and valley edge near town; scout the transition between private valley ag and public forest. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in the CPW Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS Rio Grande NF (Saguache Ranger District), USFS GMUG (Gunnison NF along the Divide), BLM, private ranch, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: CO 114 / North Pass corridor into the Cochetopa Hills · Saguache Creek and county roads west of town off US 285 · Rio Grande NF (Saguache RD) forest roads and trailheads · BLM two-tracks on the foothill breaks
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe headline species and the top of the harvest sheet, with solid success. Deer use the sage-oak-juniper foothills and aspen benches, migrating off the higher country as snow builds. Limited-draw tags keep pressure and age structure reasonable.
- →Glass sage and oakbrush foothill edges at first and last light
- →Bucks hold in oakbrush pockets and juniper breaks through midday
- →Work the aspen-to-sage transition and creek drainages
- →Time later hunts to migration off the Cochetopa high country
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityHigh harvest volume driven by a large over-the-counter component — the low success rate reflects heavy tag numbers and pressure rather than poor elk numbers. A good general-opportunity elk unit with plenty of public ground to spread out on.
- →Push into dark timber and aspen pockets away from roads where elk bed off pressure
- →Glass parks and forest openings on the Divide-side ridges at dawn and dusk
- →Rut hunters should work timbered draws and wallows with calling
- →Later rifle seasons: intercept elk moving to lower winter range as storms hit
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA small pronghorn herd uses the open sagebrush parks and valley-edge flats. Modest harvest and success mark it as a bonus tag rather than a primary reason to hunt the unit.
- →Glass the open sage flats and parks on the valley edge
- →Use terrain and sparse cover to close the stalk
- →Water and open feeding areas concentrate bands
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the oakbrush and aspen country of the foothills, especially where acorns and berries are heavy in early fall — typical San Luis Valley mountain-shrub bear habitat.
- →Hunt oakbrush thickets and berry patches in early fall
- →Glass shrubby slopes at dawn and dusk for feeding bears
- →Often an incidental opportunity while deer or elk hunting
Pro tips
- →This is one of the more public-accessible northern SLV units — use it as an OTC elk option with room to roam
- →For deer, hunt the oakbrush-juniper-to-sage foothill transition and glass hard at the edges
- →Get away from the CO 114 / North Pass road corridor to escape OTC elk pressure
- →Time later hunts to a snow event that pushes animals down toward Saguache Creek winter range
- →Verify the private valley-ag boundary near town before hunting the lower creek bottoms
Watch out for
- !OTC elk pressure concentrates near roads and the North Pass corridor
- !Private ranch ground on the lower Saguache Creek bottoms and valley edge
- !State Trust Lands generally closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program
- !Dirt/clay forest and BLM roads become impassable when wet
- !Early-season fire danger in dry years
Logistics
Saguache is the closest town for basic fuel and supplies; Salida and Gunnison are the fuller service hubs for lodging, groceries, and processing. Forest and BLM roads are dirt that turns greasy when wet — carry recovery gear and watch the weather. Cell coverage drops off quickly once you leave US 285 and CO 114.
Nearest towns: Saguache, Center, Gunnison (services, ~1 hr NW), Salida (services, ~45 min N)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting Statistics · CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU boundaries and public access · USFS Rio Grande National Forest — Saguache Ranger District · BLM Colorado — San Luis Valley Field Office
FAQ
- How big is GMU 681 in Colorado?
- GMU 681 (GMU 681 — Saguache Co.) covers about 445 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,700 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 681?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Rio Grande NF (Saguache Ranger District), USFS GMUG (Gunnison NF along the Divide), BLM, 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 681?
- 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 681 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.