GMU 86 GMU 86 — Fremont/Custer/Chaffee Co.
Big-country unit from valley pronghorn flats to 14,000-foot Sangre de Cristo peaks, with OTC-archery elk and hard-private valley floor
South-central Colorado — Wet Mountain Valley under the Sangre de Cristos · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
497
sq mi
Public land
56%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–14,197
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 86 takes in the Wet Mountain Valley and the towering east face of the Sangre de Cristo Range around Westcliffe, spanning parts of Custer, Fremont, and Chaffee counties. The western boundary rides the Sangre de Cristo crest — a wall of 14ers and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness — while the valley floor and lower foothills below are largely private ranchland. Elk lead the unit in harvest but success is low: the herd is heavily pressured, spread across public high country and private valley ground, and the animals move between the two. Archery bull elk is available over-the-counter here, while rifle elk and all deer and pronghorn are limited-draw. Roughly half the unit is public, but the public half is the steep, high stuff.
Terrain
Broad Wet Mountain Valley floor climbing abruptly up the east face of the Sangre de Cristo Range to a crest of 14,000-foot peaks, with foothill benches and timbered canyons between.
Cover: Sagebrush and grassland parks on the valley floor, oak brush and piñon-juniper on the foothills, aspen and mixed conifer on the mid- and upper slopes, and alpine tundra above timberline along the crest.
Landmarks: Sangre de Cristo Wilderness · Crestone-area 14ers along the crest · Wet Mountain Valley / Westcliffe · Sangre de Cristo crest · canyons draining the east face
Access
About half the unit is public, but nearly all of it is the steep Sangre de Cristo high country — San Isabel National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness on the west side. The Wet Mountain Valley floor and the lower foothill benches where elk winter and feed are mostly deeded ranchland, so the public/private line runs right through the best low-elevation habitat. State Trust sections are generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Expect to hunt hard, high public timber or work for private access down low.
Managers: San Isabel National Forest (USFS), Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, private ranch (valley floor and foothills), BLM (scattered parcels), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: CO-69 and CO-96 through the Wet Mountain Valley / Westcliffe · San Isabel NF trailheads on the east face of the Sangres · forest and county roads into the foothill canyons · Wilderness boundary trailheads (foot/horse only above)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe top-harvested species and the unit's main draw. Elk summer in the high Sangre de Cristo timber and basins and shift to the foothills and private valley edges with weather and pressure. Archery bull is over-the-counter; rifle is limited-draw. Low success reflects heavy pressure and elk splitting time between steep public ground and inaccessible private range.
- →Hunt aspen benches, timbered pockets, and basin edges high on the east face
- →Glass parks and grassy openings at first and last light
- →During the archery rut, work timbered canyon heads with calling
- →Watch weather — snow and pressure push elk toward the private valley edges, so hunt the transition
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the oak brush, piñon-juniper foothills, and sage benches, with bucks moving into higher timber. Limited-draw. Moderate success reflects a spread-out population and the private/public split rather than poor habitat.
- →Glass oak brush and juniper edges on the foothills at dawn and dusk
- →Bucks hold in canyon-head cover and shaded rims through midday
- →Hunt the sage-to-brush transition where deer move to feed
- →Focus on accessible forest foothills with good glassing vantage
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn work the open sage and grassland of the Wet Mountain Valley floor. Limited-draw. The valley is largely private, so tag odds and access both shape the hunt.
- →Glass the open valley sage and grassland for feeding bands
- →Use terrain folds and arroyos to close on a stalk
- →Hunt near water in dry early-season conditions
- →Locate huntable public or accessible tracts on the valley floor first
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common through the oak brush, aspen, and timber of the foothills and mid-slopes, keying on mast and berry crops in early fall.
- →Focus on oak-brush and berry pockets when the mast is on
- →Work aspen and drainage edges morning and evening
- →Glass south-facing scrub-oak slopes in early fall
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Sangre de Cristo Range holds bighorn along its high crags and basins. Any sheep hunting here is a rare, coveted limited draw — mentioned as a high-country presence rather than a general opportunity.
- →Glass high crags, avalanche chutes, and alpine basins along the crest
- →Treat as a once-in-a-lifetime tag requiring years of points
- →Scout the high country thoroughly if drawn
Pro tips
- →The public half of the unit is the steep, high half — be ready to hunt hard, high timber
- →Archery elk is OTC here (with units 85/681/691), so it draws crowds; get deep or hunt weekdays
- →Snow and pressure push elk toward private valley edges — hunt that transition line
- →State Trust sections are generally closed; verify any parcel is truly open before hunting
- →The Wet Mountain Valley pronghorn are mostly on private ground — secure access before counting on them
Watch out for
- !Public/private split runs through the best low elevation habitat — much of the valley is deeded ranch
- !State Trust Land generally closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program
- !OTC archery elk means real crowding on accessible public ground
- !Steep Sangre de Cristo terrain with avalanche and exposure hazard; Wilderness is foot/horse only
- !Early snow can close forest roads and strand vehicles
Logistics
Westcliffe and Silver Cliff serve the valley for fuel, lodging, and basics, with Cañon City and Salida the larger hubs for groceries, processing, and gear. Access to the high country is on forest roads that get rough and snowy early; the Wilderness is foot or horse only above the boundary. Weather on the east face of the Sangres can turn fast — plan for cold and snow at elevation. Cell coverage is spotty off the valley highways.
Nearest towns: Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Cañon City, Salida
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting Statistics · CPW GMU boundary descriptions · USFS San Isabel National Forest / Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
FAQ
- How big is GMU 86 in Colorado?
- GMU 86 (GMU 86 — Fremont/Custer/Chaffee Co.) covers about 497 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 14,197 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 86?
- Approximately 56% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: San Isabel National Forest (USFS), Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, private ranch (valley floor and foothills), BLM (scattered parcels), 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 86?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 86 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.