GMU 69 GMU 69 — Custer/Fremont Co.
A high-harvest mule deer unit in the oakbrush-and-timber Wet Mountains
South-Central Colorado — the Wet Mountains between Cañon City and Westcliffe · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
292
sq mi
Public land
50%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–10,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 69 covers the Wet Mountains and the rolling foothill country between Cañon City, Florence, and the Wet Mountain Valley, spanning Custer and Fremont Counties. Bounded by US 50 on the north, CO 67 on the east, CO 96 on the south, and CO 69/Grape Creek/the Arkansas River on the west, the unit is split by the north-south Wet Mountain range and is roughly half public — mostly San Isabel National Forest — with generally good public access. Mule deer are the standout, producing one of the larger deer harvests in the region at solid success. Pronghorn hold in the open lower parks and ranch country, and elk are a fully limited-draw, quality opportunity in the timbered high ground.
Terrain
A big vertical range — from the low, dry breaks near Florence and Cañon City up through oakbrush foothills into the forested spine of the Wet Mountains topping out on Hardscrabble Mountain.
Cover: Pinyon-juniper and grassland on the low country, dense Gambel oakbrush and mountain shrub on the mid slopes, ponderosa, aspen, and mixed conifer on the high Wet Mountains, with meadow parks and creek-bottom cover.
Landmarks: Wet Mountains · Hardscrabble Mountain (~10,402 ft) · Grape Creek · Oak Creek · Wetmore / Hardscrabble Canyon country
Access
About half public with good access to the San Isabel National Forest ground in the Wet Mountains, laced with forest roads and trailheads. The lower foothills and valley edges hold substantial private ranch ground where permission is notably hard to obtain. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in the CPW Public Access Program. Scout the forest boundary and use a GPS layer where public timber meets private ranchland.
Managers: USFS San Isabel NF (Pike-San Isabel), BLM, private ranch, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: US 50 corridor along the north (Cañon City / Florence) · CO 96 and CO 67 access on the south and east · San Isabel NF forest roads off Hardscrabble and Oak Creek · county roads into the Wetmore / Wet Mountain foothills
Species notes
Mule Deer
abundant qualityThe marquee species by a wide margin — one of the larger mule deer harvests in the area with strong success. Deer are found unit-wide, densest on the west end, with summer concentrations high in the San Isabel timber and heavy use of the oakbrush foothills. Limited-draw, which keeps the hunt quality up.
- →Glass oakbrush and mountain-shrub foothill edges at first and last light
- →Bucks hold in dense oakbrush pockets and timber stringers through midday
- →Hunt the west end and the forest-to-shrub transition
- →Later hunts: catch deer shifting off the Wet Mountains toward lower winter range on snow
Pronghorn
common opportunityA solid pronghorn presence with good harvest — animals use the open grassland parks, lower foothills, and ranch flats below the timber. A genuine opportunity here, more than a token bonus tag.
- →Glass the open lower parks and grassland flats
- →Use rolling terrain and draws to close on bands
- →Water sources and open feeding areas concentrate animals
- →Much of the best pronghorn ground is private — line up access
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityFully limited-draw elk in the timbered Wet Mountains — no over-the-counter tags here, which protects age structure. Moderate harvest and success reflect a draw unit where elk hold in the high conifer and oak, dropping to lower cover as pressure and snow build.
- →Hunt dark timber and aspen pockets in the high Wet Mountains
- →Glass forest parks and openings at dawn and dusk
- →Rut hunters work timbered draws and wallows with calling
- →Later rifle seasons: intercept elk moving to lower oakbrush and foothill cover on snow
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are well distributed through the oakbrush and mountain-shrub of the Wet Mountains, especially where acorns and berries load up in early fall.
- →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
- →Prioritize the deer draw — this is one of the stronger mule deer harvests in the region
- →Hunt the west end and the San Isabel forest-to-oakbrush transition where deer density is highest
- →Elk are draw-only with no OTC; the payoff is better age structure — build points
- →Line up private access for the best pronghorn parks and lower ranch ground
- →Use a GPS layer at the forest boundary — private permission in the foothills is hard to get
- →Time later hunts to a snow event that moves animals down off the Wet Mountains
Watch out for
- !Private ranch ground on the foothills and valley edges — permission is difficult to obtain
- !State Trust Lands generally closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program
- !Dirt forest roads become greasy and rutted when wet
- !Wide elevation band means fast weather changes — dry low country, snow up high
- !Early-season fire danger in the dry oakbrush and timber
Logistics
Cañon City and Florence anchor the north end with full fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing; Westcliffe serves the southwest. Forest roads into the Wet Mountains are dirt and can get greasy and rutted when wet, so carry recovery gear and chains. Cell coverage is decent near US 50 and the towns but fades in the higher timber.
Nearest towns: Cañon City, Florence, Westcliffe, Wetmore, Silver Cliff
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 Pike-San Isabel National Forests (San Carlos Ranger District) · BLM Colorado — Royal Gorge Field Office
FAQ
- How big is GMU 69 in Colorado?
- GMU 69 (GMU 69 — Custer/Fremont Co.) covers about 292 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 10,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 69?
- Approximately 50% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Isabel NF (Pike-San Isabel), 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 69?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 69 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.