GMU 861 GMU 861 — Huerfano Co.
Small foothills-to-14ers unit with limited-draw elk, mule deer on oak-brush ridges, and access that's fair up high, poor down low
South-central Colorado — southwest Huerfano County under the Sangre de Cristos · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
207
sq mi
Public land
30%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–13,800
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
GMU 861 occupies the southwestern corner of Huerfano County, running from grassland and sagebrush foothills up through oak brush, juniper, and aspen-ponderosa ridges to the high avalanche chutes and 14,000-foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Range. Elk are the leading big game but success is low: the unit is about 70% private, road access to the public high country is limited, and the best early elk hunting is tucked SW of Bradford and on the northern slopes of Slide Mountain. All big game here is limited-draw — not over-the-counter — so a tag and a way onto huntable ground both matter.
Terrain
Grassland and sagebrush at the low end rising through rolling oak-brush and piñon-juniper foothills to aspen and ponderosa ridges and steep avalanche chutes off the high Sangre de Cristo peaks.
Cover: Grassland on the flats, big sagebrush, Gambel oak, juniper and piñon on the foothills, aspen and ponderosa on the higher ridges, mixed conifer and alpine chutes near the peaks.
Landmarks: Sangre de Cristo crest · Slide Mountain · Bradford area · avalanche chutes off the high peaks · Huerfano foothill breaks
Access
The unit is roughly 70% private and only about 30% public, and the public ground is mostly the steep San Isabel National Forest high country along the Sangre de Cristo crest. Road access to that public land is limited — in places no roads connect state trust land to the national forest — so getting in takes map work and boot leather. Access is rated fair-to-good on public land and fair-to-poor on the private ranch ground that dominates the foothills and valleys. State Trust sections are generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: private ranch, San Isabel National Forest (USFS), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program), BLM (scattered parcels)
Access points: CO-69 / US-160 corridor and county roads out of Gardner and La Veta · San Isabel NF trailheads on the east face of the Sangres · foothill county roads toward Bradford and Slide Mountain · forest access points into the high drainages
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe unit's top-harvested big game. Elk hold in the aspen and timber of the Sangre de Cristo slopes and drop to oak-brush foothills and parks to feed, with the best early hunting SW of Bradford and on the north slopes of Slide Mountain. Limited-draw only — no OTC. Low success reflects limited road access and elk splitting time between steep public timber and private foothill range.
- →Hunt aspen-ponderosa ridges and timbered draws where elk bed high
- →Glass oak-brush breaks and parks at first and last light
- →Target the Bradford / Slide Mountain slopes in the early seasons
- →Be ready to hike in — road access to the public high country is limited
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the oak brush, juniper, and sage foothills, with bucks moving into higher timber and rims. Limited-draw. Moderate success reflects a spread-out population and heavy private ownership more than habitat quality.
- →Glass oak brush and juniper edges at dawn and dusk
- →Bucks hold in canyon-head thickets and shaded rims through midday
- →Hunt the sage-to-brush transition where deer feed
- →Focus on accessible forest foothills with good glassing
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA few pronghorn use the open grassland and sage on the lower, eastern edge of the unit. Harvest is very small — this is a foothills-and-mountain unit with only marginal antelope range.
- →Glass the open lower grassland and sage benches for scattered bands
- →Hunt near water in dry early-season conditions
- →Confirm huntable ground first — most open flats are private
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common through the oak brush, aspen, and timber, feeding on mast and berries in the foothill breaks through 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 early season
Pro tips
- →Best early elk hunting is SW of Bradford and the north slopes of Slide Mountain
- →This is limited-draw, not OTC — build points and plan the draw
- →Road access to public ground is limited — expect to hike in from the forest boundary
- →State Trust sections are generally closed; verify any parcel is truly open before hunting
- →About 70% private — line up ranch access or focus squarely on the public high country
Watch out for
- !Roughly 70% private with limited road access to the public national forest
- !State Trust Land generally closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program
- !Steep Sangre de Cristo high country with avalanche and exposure hazard
- !Early snow can close forest roads and strand vehicles
- !Wildfire risk and possible closures in dry oak-brush and timber country
Logistics
Walsenburg on I-25 and La Veta are the practical hubs for fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing, with Gardner the closest small settlement to the foothills. Backcountry travel is on county and forest roads that turn slick when wet and hold early snow at elevation; getting to public land often means limited routes and a hike. Cell coverage is spotty away from the highway corridors.
Nearest towns: Gardner, La Veta, Walsenburg, Westcliffe
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
FAQ
- How big is GMU 861 in Colorado?
- GMU 861 (GMU 861 — Huerfano Co.) covers about 207 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 13,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 861?
- Approximately 30% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, San Isabel National Forest (USFS), Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program), BLM (scattered parcels). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 861?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 861 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.