GMU 80 GMU 80 — Alamosa/Conejos/Mineral/Rio Grande Co.
OTC bull elk from the valley sage up into the eastern San Juans above the Conejos
South-central Colorado — western San Luis Valley / Conejos country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
889
sq mi
Public land
59%
approx.
Elevation
7,500–13,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 80 climbs off the flat western edge of the San Luis Valley near La Jara and the Rio Grande west and south into the eastern San Juan Mountains and the Conejos Peak country of the Rio Grande National Forest, rising from roughly 7,500 feet on the valley floor to peaks around 13,000 feet. Elk is the workhorse here (recent bull success only about 15%, the signature of a high-pressure over-the-counter unit), backed by a limited-draw mule deer hunt and a small pronghorn allotment on the open valley sage. Big timber and high basins give elk room to hide from heavy public-land pressure.
Terrain
Large vertical relief. The east side is flat San Luis Valley floor — sage flats, hayfields, and river bottom near La Jara and the Rio Grande — rising west and south through pinyon-juniper and oak-brush benches into the spruce-fir timber and alpine basins of the eastern San Juans on the Conejos Peak Ranger District.
Cover: Big sagebrush and grassland on the valley floor, pinyon-juniper and Gambel oak on the mid benches, then aspen and dense spruce-fir climbing to scattered alpine tundra on the high peaks. Aspen-conifer edges and willow drainages are the key elk cover.
Landmarks: Rio Grande · La Jara Creek · Conejos Peak country · Rio Grande National Forest · Alamosa River · eastern San Juan Mountains
Access
About 59% public / 41% private. The public ground is the mountain west and south — Rio Grande National Forest and scattered BLM. The private concentrates on the productive valley floor and foothill ranches around La Jara and the Rio Grande, which double as winter range, so verify boundaries before crossing. Colorado State Trust lands scattered on the valley floor are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS Rio Grande National Forest (Conejos Peak RD), BLM San Luis Valley Field Office, private ranch
Access points: La Jara / US 285 corridor · Alamosa River road (FSR 250 area) · Terrace Reservoir access · Rio Grande NF roads off the valley's west edge · county roads west of the Rio Grande
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe unit's marquee hunt and a true over-the-counter opportunity — OTC bull tags in archery and the 2nd/3rd rifle seasons (muzzleloader is limited-draw). Recent bull success ran only about 15%, reflecting heavy pressure and pushed-around elk. Elk are here in numbers; the challenge is finding undisturbed pockets.
- →Get well back from the valley-edge trailheads into the Conejos Peak timber where bulls escape the road pressure.
- →Glass aspen-conifer edges and high parks at first and last light; still-hunt the dark timber midday.
- →Early archery can catch the rut in the high basins and timber pockets.
- →Later rifle hunts improve as snow up high nudges elk toward the mid-elevation benches.
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-draw mule deer hunt with moderate success (recently around 44% of tags filled). Bucks work the sage, oak-brush, and pinyon-juniper benches on the valley-to-mountain transition and the aspen edges higher up.
- →Grid-glass the pinyon-juniper and oak-brush benches on the mid-elevation shoulders morning and evening.
- →Hunt aspen and mountain-shrub edges in the transition zone.
- →Later hunts concentrate deer as they drift toward lower winter range near the valley floor.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA small limited-draw pronghorn opportunity on the open sage and grassland of the valley floor — a modest tag count and a small annual harvest, but recent success has been solid (around two-thirds). Incidental to the unit's elk and deer.
- →Focus on the open sage-grassland flats and hayfield fringes on the eastern valley floor.
- →Glass long from two-tracks and use folds in the flat terrain to close the distance.
- →Sort out private-vs-public before the hunt — much of the valley floor is ranch ground.
Pro tips
- →Elk is OTC (bull) for archery and 2nd/3rd rifle — great access, but plan for pressure and get deep.
- →The valley floor is largely private ranch and winter range; the reliable public hunting is the mountain west/south on the Rio Grande NF.
- →Use the elevation range — hunt high early, follow snow and elk down as seasons progress.
- →State Trust parcels on the valley floor are not open unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- →Scout Terrace Reservoir and the Alamosa River drainage as entry points into the forest.
Watch out for
- !Private ranches and hayfields blanket the valley floor and foothills — know the boundaries before crossing.
- !Colorado State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !OTC elk means crowding on the easy-access public ground — pressure pushes elk into the timber.
- !High-country early snow can close forest roads and strand vehicles.
- !Scattered private inholdings within the forest require permission to cross.
Logistics
Alamosa is the regional hub — full fuel, groceries, lodging, gear, and repair — about 15 miles from the valley-floor edge of the unit, with La Jara and Monte Vista closer for basics. The mountain west and south are remote Rio Grande NF; plan to camp and be self-sufficient, and high-clearance 4WD helps on the forest roads. Cell service dies quickly off the valley — carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: La Jara, CO, Alamosa, CO, Monte Vista, CO, Antonito, CO
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting · USFS — Rio Grande National Forest · HuntScore — Colorado GMU 80 land ownership / access (secondary cross-check) · Rokslide — Archery changes to Colorado GMUs 80/81 (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 80 in Colorado?
- GMU 80 (GMU 80 — Alamosa/Conejos/Mineral/Rio Grande Co.) covers about 889 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,500 to 13,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 80?
- Approximately 59% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Rio Grande National Forest (Conejos Peak RD), BLM San Luis Valley Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 80?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 80 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.