GMU 76 GMU 76 — Hinsdale/Mineral/Rio Grande Co.
Limited-draw quality bulls at the top of the Rio Grande, with moose and bighorn
South-central Colorado — Upper Rio Grande & Creede high country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
973
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
8,800–13,895
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 76 wraps the headwaters of the Rio Grande above Creede, spanning Hinsdale, Mineral, and Rio Grande Counties across some of Colorado's highest, wildest public land. It is almost entirely federal — San Juan, Gunnison (GMUG), and Rio Grande National Forests, including chunks of the Weminuche and La Garita Wilderness — with terrain running from 10,000 feet to peaks well over 13,000. Elk are the marquee species and a limited-draw tag, which is exactly why the unit produces mature bulls and above-average success; mule deer are a smaller limited-draw opportunity, and the high basins also hold a healthy Upper Rio Grande moose herd and bighorn sheep.
Terrain
Rugged, very high San Juan / La Garita terrain — glacial river valleys and spruce-fir slopes rising into willow-filled alpine basins and 13,000-foot peaks along the Continental Divide.
Cover: Spruce-fir dark timber and aspen through the mid-elevations, extensive willow-choked riparian basins and parks, and alpine tundra and rock above timberline; sagebrush and grass parks in the lower Rio Grande valley.
Landmarks: Upper Rio Grande headwaters · Weminuche Wilderness (north edge) · La Garita Wilderness · Rio Grande Reservoir · Continental Divide / high 13ers above Creede
Access
One of Colorado's most public units — almost entirely national forest with two large wilderness areas, so access is outstanding but earned at altitude and often on foot or horseback in the wilderness core. Roaded forest access follows the Rio Grande valley and its tributaries above Creede. Private ground is limited to the valley bottom and Creede fringe. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS Rio Grande National Forest, USFS San Juan National Forest, USFS GMUG (Gunnison) National Forest, Weminuche & La Garita Wilderness, private (Rio Grande valley / Creede fringe)
Access points: Rio Grande Reservoir Road (FR 520) and upper Rio Grande trailheads · Creede-area forest roads up the tributary drainages · Weminuche and La Garita wilderness trailheads · Continental Divide Trail accesses along the high divide
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe marquee species and the backbone of the harvest. Unlike the surrounding San Juan OTC units, GMU 76 is limited-draw, which keeps bull age structure high and drives well-above-average success on mature bulls. Elk summer in the high willow basins and dark timber and move down and out as snow builds — bulls even spill into neighboring OTC units when weather hits.
- →Hunt the spruce-fir dark timber and willow basins where bulls hold at altitude
- →Glass alpine parks and timbered edges at dawn and dusk
- →Archery / early seasons: work the high willow basins and wallows during the rut
- →Later rifle: intercept elk migrating down the Rio Grande drainages with the first heavy snows
- →Draw the tag and hunt hard — this is a quality unit, not a numbers grind
Mule Deer
common qualityA smaller but quality limited-draw deer opportunity — modest harvest with high success reflects tight tag numbers and good buck quality rather than scarce deer. Deer use the aspen benches, willow edges, and mid-elevation timber, migrating down as the high country locks up.
- →Glass aspen benches and willow/park edges at first and last light
- →Bucks hold in aspen stringers and timber pockets through midday
- →Early high-country seasons find bucks in the alpine before they drop
- →Snow pushes deer down the Rio Grande valley — hunt the migration transitions
Moose
limited qualityThe Upper Rio Grande supports a healthy, well-established moose herd — one of southern Colorado's best. A rare limited-draw tag; moose use the extensive willow-choked riparian basins and beaver-pond drainages of the headwaters.
- →Glass willow-filled creek bottoms, beaver complexes, and alpine riparian basins
- →Hunt early and late in the day when moose feed in the open willows
- →Move quietly along drainages and be patient — moose hold tight to wet willow habitat
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityRocky Mountain bighorn use the high alpine cliffs, basins, and tundra of the Weminuche and La Garita high country — a rare, tightly limited-draw sheep hunt in prime wilderness.
- →Glass alpine basins, cliff bands, and high ridgelines above timberline
- →Locate rams early and commit to a careful high-altitude stalk
- →Plan for demanding backcountry effort at extreme elevation
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the aspen and mountain-shrub belts and berry basins in early fall — typical high San Juan bear country, generally an add-on tag alongside an elk or deer hunt.
- →Hunt aspen edges and berry-heavy basins in early fall
- →Glass feeding bears on shrubby slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Often taken incidentally during archery elk hunts
Pro tips
- →This is a build-points quality unit — the limited-draw structure is what produces the mature bulls
- →Target the willow basins and beaver drainages for moose and the dark timber for bulls
- →When the first big storm hits, elk pour down the Rio Grande drainages — be positioned on the migration
- →Creede is small and books up in season — line up lodging or a base camp early
- →Come prepared for genuine high-altitude winter weather and long wilderness approaches
Watch out for
- !Wilderness cores require long foot or horseback approaches — no motorized access
- !Very high elevation with early, heavy snow and avalanche terrain
- !Limited services out of small Creede — resupply down-valley
- !State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Private ground on the Rio Grande valley bottom and Creede fringe
Logistics
Creede is the closest hub with lodging, cabins, and limited services at the foot of the unit; South Fork and Del Norte down the Rio Grande valley offer more supplies and gas. Expect very high elevation, early and heavy snow, and long approaches into the wilderness core. Roaded forest access follows the upper Rio Grande, but the best hunting often requires horseback or backpack trips.
Nearest towns: Creede, South Fork, Lake City, Del Norte
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Colorado Unit 76 Profile · CPW E-34 Upper Rio Grande Elk Herd Management Plan (GMUs 76 & 79) · CPW Big Game Hunting
FAQ
- How big is GMU 76 in Colorado?
- GMU 76 (GMU 76 — Hinsdale/Mineral/Rio Grande Co.) covers about 973 square miles, ranging from roughly 8,800 to 13,895 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 76?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Rio Grande National Forest, USFS San Juan National Forest, USFS GMUG (Gunnison) National Forest, Weminuche & La Garita Wilderness, private (Rio Grande valley / Creede fringe). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 76?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, 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 76 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.