GMU 71 GMU 71 — Dolores County/Montezum County Co.
High, public, rugged — the elk anchor of the Dolores three-unit complex
Southwest Colorado — upper Dolores River / San Juan NF elk country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
521
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
7,000–13,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 71 sits in the high San Juan National Forest between the town of Dolores and Rico, draining the upper Dolores and West Dolores rivers. It is overwhelmingly public land and holds the strongest resident elk herd of the 71/711/72 group, with mule deer as a quality draw-only secondary. Rugged aspen-and-spruce benches, heavy hunting pressure on the road systems, and deep timbered pockets push elk into the remote nooks — a classic Colorado over-the-counter mountain unit.
Terrain
Steep, timbered mountain country rising from ponderosa foothills near Dolores up to spruce-fir and alpine peaks along the northern and eastern edges toward the Lizard Head high country.
Cover: Gambel oak and ponderosa pine on the lower benches, dense aspen and spruce-fir on the mid and upper slopes, alpine tundra and rock on the highest ridges, with willow and grass in the drainage bottoms.
Landmarks: Upper Dolores River · West Dolores River · Groundhog Reservoir · Taylor Mesa · Fish Creek · Lizard Head high country (northern edge)
Access
Very high public ownership — San Juan NF blankets most of the unit with an extensive Forest road and trail network out of Dolores and the Dolores River corridor. Private ranch inholdings cluster in the valley bottoms and along the lower West Dolores; scattered Colorado state trust parcels are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Get on the ground early to beat road-hunting pressure.
Managers: USFS San Juan National Forest, private ranch, BLM
Access points: Dolores–Norwood Road (FR 526) up the West Dolores · Groundhog Reservoir road · Taylor Mesa / FR access off the Dolores River · trailheads on the San Juan NF north end
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant opportunityThe marquee species and the reason to draw or buy into this complex — a healthy resident herd on big public timber, hunted hard but productive (top elk harvest of the three units). Bull elk tags are over-the-counter for 2nd and 3rd rifle; 1st and 4th rifle are limited draw.
- →Hunt the dark timber pockets and north-facing spruce that elk retreat to under pressure
- →Get a mile or more off the main Forest roads before daylight
- →Work aspen-timber edges and wallows early archery, then transition to timbered escape terrain once rifle pressure builds
- →Glass high basins and burn/oak transitions at first and last light
Mule Deer
common qualityA draw-only, well-managed mule deer resource — a mix of resident deer and migratory bucks that drop off the high country as fall progresses. Fewer tags than elk means better age structure for those who pull one.
- →Glass oak brush and mountain-shrub benches on the lower half of the unit
- →Time later seasons to catch bucks migrating down out of the high timber
- →Focus on the oak-and-aspen edges where feed meets escape cover
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the extensive Gambel oak brush and berry-producing draws, especially in a good mast year. Mostly an add-on for elk and deer hunters who draw a bear tag.
- →Watch oak brush and serviceberry/chokecherry pockets during fall hyperphagia
- →Glass south-facing oak slopes morning and evening
Pronghorn
transient lowNot a pronghorn unit — the country is too high and timbered. Only a stray animal turns up on the lower open parks, reflected by the near-zero harvest.
- →Not a target species here; pursue pronghorn in the open plains and sage units to the west and north
Pro tips
- →Treat the main Forest roads as pressure funnels — hunt the terrain a mile-plus off them where pressured elk hide
- →The upper Dolores/West Dolores timber holds elk all season; learn two or three dark-timber pockets and hunt the wind
- →Save later rifle seasons for migratory mule deer sliding down out of the high country
- →Verify OTC-vs-draw and license validity in the current CPW brochure before applying — season structure can shift year to year
- →Confirm any state trust parcel is enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program before hunting it
Watch out for
- !Heavy OTC rifle crowding on the road systems
- !Private ranch inholdings in the valley bottoms — know your boundaries
- !Colorado state trust lands are closed to hunting unless PAP-enrolled
- !Early snow and cold at elevation can close high roads fast
- !Fire closures possible in dry falls
Logistics
Base out of Dolores or Cortez for groceries, fuel and lodging; dispersed camping is abundant on the San Juan NF along the Dolores River and West Dolores roads. Trailers and dispersed camps fill fast during rifle seasons, so scout access and a camp spot ahead of opening day.
Nearest towns: Dolores, Rico, Cortez, Mancos
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW — Elk, In the Field · CPW 2020 Big Game Hunting in Southwest Colorado · Hunters Domain — Colorado Unit 71
FAQ
- How big is GMU 71 in Colorado?
- GMU 71 (GMU 71 — Dolores County/Montezum County Co.) covers about 521 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 71?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Juan National Forest, private ranch, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 71?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 71 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.