GMU 84 GMU 84 — Custer/Fremont/Huerfano/Pueblo Co.
Limited-draw Wet Mountains elk and a big plains-edge deer and pronghorn unit southwest of Pueblo
South-central Colorado — the Wet Mountains & Greenhorn · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,283
sq mi
Public land
30%
approx.
Elevation
4,600–12,347
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 84 covers the Wet Mountains and Greenhorn Mountain and the foothills and flats that spill east toward Pueblo, spanning parts of Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, and Pueblo counties. Nearly a quarter-million acres of San Isabel National Forest — including the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness under 12,347-foot Greenhorn Peak — anchor the public high country, while the lower country is a patchwork of ranch and farm ground. Elk is fully limited-draw here (no OTC), with recent success near 40%; the unit also produces a large mule deer harvest (over 500 recently) and a healthy pronghorn hunt on the eastern grasslands.
Terrain
A long west-to-east drop of nearly 8,000 feet. The forested Wet Mountains and Greenhorn crest above timberline in the west and south, then step down through oak-brush foothills to rolling grassland, dryland farm, and cottonwood draws near the Arkansas River and Pueblo on the east.
Cover: Spruce-fir and aspen high in the Wet Mountains, ponderosa and Gambel oak on the mid-slopes, pinyon-juniper and mountain shrub on the foothills, and shortgrass prairie with cottonwood bottoms out east.
Landmarks: Greenhorn Peak · Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness · Wet Mountains · Lake Isabel · St. Charles River · Arkansas River · San Isabel National Forest
Access
Roughly 30% public — a big, connected block of San Isabel National Forest (nearly 250,000 acres) across the Wet Mountains and Greenhorn, laced with forest roads and trailheads, including the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness (non-motorized). The eastern half toward Pueblo is largely private ranch and farm ground where deer and pronghorn concentrate. Colorado State Trust lands are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Expect heavy traffic on the forest dirt roads, which pushes elk into dense cover and onto private.
Managers: USFS San Isabel National Forest, private ranch, BLM Royal Gorge Field Office
Access points: Lake Isabel / CO 165 (Frontier Pathways) · Bishops Castle / Wet Mountains forest roads · Colorado City / Rye access · Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness trailheads · US 50 corridor near Pueblo for the east end
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA limited-draw Wet Mountains elk unit — draw or leftover licenses only, no OTC. Recent success runs near 40%. It holds some big bulls, but hunting pressure on the accessible forest quickly pushes elk into dense timber and onto adjoining private, so the best animals reward hunters who get away from the roads.
- →Hunt hard away from the busy CO 165 and forest-road corridors — get into the Greenhorn Wilderness and the steep dark timber where pressured bulls hole up.
- →Work the aspen-conifer edges and oak-brush pockets at first and last light.
- →Later rifle seasons and snow nudge elk down the Wet Mountain slopes toward the foothills.
- →Scout the private-forest boundaries; elk shuttle onto ranch ground once shooting starts.
Mule Deer
common qualityThe unit's volume species — a large limited-draw mule deer harvest (over 500 recently) with success near 46%. Deer spread from the oak-brush and pinyon-juniper foothills out onto the private ranch and farm edges east toward Pueblo.
- →Glass the oak-brush and pinyon-juniper foothill benches on the Wet Mountains' east front.
- →Hunt the transition where forest meets private ag — deer feed the edges morning and evening.
- →Whitetails turn up incidentally in the eastern cottonwood river bottoms; mule deer dominate the foothills.
Pronghorn
common opportunityA solid pronghorn hunt on the eastern grasslands and foothill flats toward Pueblo — a good number of tags and recent success near 47%. Mostly a private-land, glass-and-stalk plains hunt.
- →Glass the open shortgrass prairie and rolling foothill flats east of the mountains.
- →Use terrain folds, fence lines, and stock ponds to close on wary bucks.
- →Secure private permission early — most of the antelope ground is ranch land.
Pro tips
- →GMU 84 elk is limited-draw only — no OTC — so build points and plan the draw.
- →The road network is dense and busy; the payoff is getting off it into the Greenhorn Wilderness and dark timber.
- →The east half toward Pueblo is where the big mule deer and pronghorn numbers live — and it's mostly private, so line up permission.
- →State Trust land is closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- →Watch the forest-private boundaries; pressured elk cross onto ranch ground fast.
Watch out for
- !Heavy pressure and traffic on the Wet Mountains forest roads push elk into cover and onto private.
- !The eastern deer/pronghorn country is largely private ranch and farm ground — get permission.
- !State Trust lands are not open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness is non-motorized — plan the pack-out.
- !Early high-country snow can close upper forest roads.
Logistics
Pueblo (east) and Cañon City (north) are the full-service hubs — fuel, groceries, lodging, gear, and hospitals — while Colorado City, Rye, and Westcliffe offer closer basic supplies. The Wet Mountains forest is well-roaded and campground-served (Lake Isabel), so DIY public camping is workable; high-clearance helps on the rougher forest roads. Cell service is fair along the highways and near Pueblo but fades in the high timber.
Nearest towns: Pueblo, CO, Colorado City, CO, Rye, CO, Westcliffe, CO, Cañon City, 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 — Colorado GMU 84 recreation page · GOHUNT — Colorado Unit 84 profile (public %, elevation, terrain; secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 84 in Colorado?
- GMU 84 (GMU 84 — Custer/Fremont/Huerfano/Pueblo Co.) covers about 1,283 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,600 to 12,347 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 84?
- Approximately 30% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Isabel National Forest, private ranch, BLM Royal Gorge Field Office. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 84?
- 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 84 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.