GMU 75 GMU 75 — La Plata County/San Juan County Co.
OTC backcountry elk and genuinely strong mule deer in rugged San Juan high country
Southwest Colorado — San Juan Mountains north of Durango · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
647
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–13,292
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 75 sits in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, running north from the New Mexico line up toward Silverton and taking in the high country east and west of Durango in La Plata and San Juan Counties. It is a rugged, high-relief unit — the northern half is public San Juan National Forest climbing to 13,000-foot peaks, while much of the southern end is private ranch and Southern Ute tribal land that is not open to public hunting. Mule deer are the standout here, carrying the harvest with strong success and real mature-buck potential, while elk are an over-the-counter opportunity that draws heavy pressure and produces lower success in classic OTC fashion.
Terrain
Steep, high-relief San Juan terrain — deep river canyons and oakbrush foothills rising into aspen benches, dark timber, and alpine peaks above 13,000 feet in the northern half.
Cover: Pinyon-juniper and Gambel oakbrush on the lower breaks, aspen and mixed conifer (spruce-fir) through the mid and upper elevations, with alpine tundra and rock on the high peaks and willow-lined creek bottoms.
Landmarks: La Plata Mountains · La Plata Canyon / Kennebec Pass · Animas River corridor (US 550, Durango–Silverton) · Hermosa Creek country · San Juan National Forest high peaks
Access
A split-personality access unit. The northern half is solid public San Juan National Forest with backcountry trailheads and genuine walk-in and horseback country. The southern portion is largely private ranch and Southern Ute tribal land that is closed to public hunting — do not plan on hunting the low south end without private permission. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Boundary work is essential to stay on national forest and off tribal and private ground.
Managers: USFS San Juan National Forest, private ranch, Southern Ute Indian Reservation (tribal, not open to public hunting), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: La Plata Canyon Road (CR 124) trailheads into the La Plata Mountains · Hermosa Creek / Bosin trailheads off US 550 · San Juan NF roads and trailheads north of Durango · US 550 (Durango–Silverton) corridor accesses
Species notes
Mule Deer
abundant qualityThe premier draw of GMU 75 and the backbone of the harvest — strong deer numbers with high success and a real chance at mature branch-antlered bucks. Fully limited-draw, which protects age structure. Deer use the oakbrush, aspen edges, and mid-elevation benches and migrate down as snow builds.
- →Glass oakbrush and aspen edges at first and last light for feeding bucks
- →Big bucks hold in oakbrush pockets and aspen stringers through midday
- →Later-season snow pushes deer down migration routes toward winter range — intercept the transitions
- →Stay on public San Juan NF ground and well clear of tribal and private boundaries
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk are an over-the-counter opportunity in the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons and either-sex archery, which means unlimited tags, heavy pressure, and the lower success typical of OTC units. High harvest volume with modest success reflects a lot of hunters chasing a real but pressured herd. Bulls stream out of neighboring limited units when snow flies.
- →Get well off the road into the timbered high country the OTC crowd won't walk to
- →Hunt dark-timber pockets and aspen-conifer transitions where pressured bulls hide
- →Archery: work timbered draws, benches, and wallows during the rut
- →Late rifle: watch for bulls migrating down out of the high country as storms hit
- →Physical conditioning and deep backpack hunting separate you from road hunters
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the oakbrush and aspen country hard in early fall when acorns and berries are on — classic San Juan mountain-shrub bear habitat, usually an add-on tag while deer or elk hunting.
- →Hunt oakbrush thickets and berry patches in early fall
- →Glass shrubby south-facing slopes at dawn and dusk for feeding bears
- →Often taken incidentally during archery elk or deer hunts
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityThe high San Juan peaks in the northern part of the unit hold Rocky Mountain bighorn, a rare tightly limited draw rather than a general opportunity. Sheep use the alpine basins, cliffs, and rock above timberline.
- →Glass alpine basins, cliff bands, and rocky ridgelines above timberline
- →Locate bands early and plan a careful high-country stalk
- →Expect committed backcountry effort at high elevation
Pro tips
- →This is a deer-first unit — if mule deer is your priority, GMU 75's success and buck quality justify the points to draw it
- →For OTC elk, plan to hike far past the trailhead crowds into timbered high country
- →Know exactly where San Juan NF ends and Southern Ute tribal / private ranch begins — the southern half is largely closed
- →Late-season snow is your friend for both migrating deer and elk pushed down from the peaks
- →Get in shape — the high-relief San Juan terrain punishes the unprepared
Watch out for
- !Southern Ute tribal land and private ranches close much of the southern half to public hunting
- !State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Heavy OTC elk pressure and recreational hikers in the backcountry
- !Early, heavy snow and avalanche-prone high country
- !Steep, remote terrain with real physical and navigation demands
Logistics
Durango is the full-service hub with lodging, gas, groceries, and outfitters; Silverton anchors the north end. Expect steep San Juan terrain, early snow at elevation, and heavy recreational and OTC-hunter traffic on the US 550 corridor. Backcountry hunts often mean long hikes or horseback access from national-forest trailheads.
Nearest towns: Durango, Silverton, Hesperus, Mancos
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Colorado Unit 75 Profile · Horn and Fin — Colorado DIY GMU 75 & 751 · CPW Big Game Hunting
FAQ
- How big is GMU 75 in Colorado?
- GMU 75 (GMU 75 — La Plata County/San Juan County Co.) covers about 647 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 13,292 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 75?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Juan National Forest, private ranch, Southern Ute Indian Reservation (tribal, not open to public hunting), 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 75?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 75 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.