GMU 88 GMU 88 — Weld Co.
Big public prairie, big antelope, near-zero elk
Northeast Colorado plains — heart of the Pawnee Grassland · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
686
sq mi
Public land
25%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–5,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 88 sits in the center of Weld County and takes in a large share of the Pawnee National Grassland — nearly 200,000 acres of mostly open shortgrass prairie. It's one of the more accessible plains antelope units in Colorado, blending public grassland with private ag. Pronghorn are the headline draw and the grassland regularly kicks out heavy bucks; limited-draw mule deer haunt the creek breaks and buttes. Elk are effectively absent — recent harvest here is zero.
Terrain
Expansive rolling shortgrass plains cut by shallow drainages, with scattered sage-topped mesas and the distinctive Pawnee Buttes rising above the prairie in the northeast.
Cover: Blue grama and buffalograss shortgrass, sagebrush on higher mesas and breaks, dryland wheat and CRP, and cottonwood/willow along Crow and Pawnee creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Pawnee National Grassland · Pawnee Buttes · Crow Valley Recreation Area · Crow Creek drainage
Access
This unit holds the largest block of publicly huntable ground in the area — the Pawnee National Grassland — but it is a true checkerboard of public sections interlocked with private and leased state land. A grassland ownership map plus a GPS boundary layer is mandatory to hunt legally. Ample public acreage means DIY hunters can do well, though the biggest bucks often live on private ag; secure ranch permission early. State Trust Lands here are generally leased and NOT open to public hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: USFS Pawnee National Grassland, private ranch and farm, Colorado State Trust Land (mostly leased, closed)
Access points: Crow Valley Recreation Area / Briggsdale · Pawnee Buttes trailhead and grassland roads · Grover and Keota county-road access · Designated grassland two-tracks off CR-77 / CR-390
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant trophyColorado's classic public-land plains pronghorn hunt — strong numbers on the grassland and a track record of record-book bucks. Draw odds are the main gate.
- →Glass from mesa rims and the Buttes-country high points
- →Spot-and-stalk through terrain folds; decoy the September rut
- →Sit water tanks and windmills midday in the heat
- →Drive grassland roads to locate, then hunt on foot to close
Mule Deer
common qualityLimited-draw plains muleys use the creek breaks, buttes, and cottonwood bottoms; modest tag numbers but honest bucks for those who draw.
- →Hunt Crow and Pawnee creek bottoms at first and last light
- →Glass sage mesas and CRP-to-ag edges
- →Still-hunt willow and cottonwood cover
Pro tips
- →This is the area's best DIY public unit — but carry a Pawnee ownership map and never assume a section is open
- →Scout the Pawnee Buttes and mesa country for glassing vantage
- →Hunt water and green fields during warm afternoons
- →Apply with realistic preference-point expectations for the pronghorn draw
- →Confirm every state-trust section — most are leased and closed
Watch out for
- !Checkerboard public/private/leased-state boundaries — high trespass risk
- !Colorado State Trust Land generally closed to public hunting unless in the Public Access Program
- !Little water and no shade on open prairie
- !Crowding on the most accessible grassland tracts during pronghorn seasons
- !Wildfire and lightning risk in dry, windy conditions
Logistics
Greeley and Fort Morgan supply full services and lodging; Briggsdale and Grover offer fuel and basics right at the grassland's edge. Crow Valley Recreation Area near Briggsdale has developed camping — a good base. Water is scarce on the grassland, so pack plenty. Cell service is patchy once you're off the main county roads.
Nearest towns: Briggsdale, Grover, Ault, Greeley, Fort Morgan
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 · USFS Pawnee National Grassland · GOHUNT Colorado Unit 88 Profile
FAQ
- How big is GMU 88 in Colorado?
- GMU 88 (GMU 88 — Weld Co.) covers about 686 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 5,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 88?
- Approximately 25% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Pawnee National Grassland, private ranch and farm, Colorado State Trust Land (mostly leased, closed). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 88?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 88 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.