GMU 9 GMU 9 — Larimer/Weld Co.
A private-ranch pronghorn and mule deer unit in the Fort Collins foothills, elk a limited bonus
Northern Front Range foothills & plains — Laramie Foothills (Larimer & Weld counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
387
sq mi
Public land
15%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–8,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 9 spans roughly 387 square miles of the Laramie Foothills and adjoining plains north of Fort Collins, framed by US 287 on the west, Interstate 25 on the east, and the Wyoming line on the north. It is a rolling mosaic of sagebrush foothills, rimrock canyons, creek bottoms, and flat dryland and irrigated ag — pronghorn country first and foremost, with a strong mule deer population and a smaller resident elk element off the Laramie Foothills herd. The catch is access: this is predominantly private ranchland, and public opportunity is thin and concentrated on a few county open spaces and the far-western national forest fringe.
Terrain
Rolling shortgrass and sage plains on the south and east climbing into the Laramie Foothills on the north and west — foothills etched with deep canyons, long creek bottoms, dry gullies, and vermillion rimrock ridges running from north of Livermore to the Wyoming line.
Cover: Sagebrush steppe, shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie, and dryland/irrigated cropland across the flats, with mountain-mahogany, ponderosa pine, and juniper on the rocky foothill slopes and cottonwood-lined creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Laramie Foothills · Soapstone Prairie Natural Area · Red Mountain Open Space · Livermore area · Owl Canyon · US 287 (west boundary) · Interstate 25 (east boundary)
Access
Predominantly private ranchland — most hunting here happens by landowner permission, trespass fee, or through outfitters who lease and manage for quality. The main public options are Larimer County's Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Red Mountain Open Space, which run limited draw/managed hunts rather than open access, plus a thin band of Roosevelt National Forest on the far west edge. Colorado State Trust lands scattered through the unit are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: private ranch, Larimer County Open Space (Soapstone Prairie / Red Mountain), USFS Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest (west fringe), State Trust Land (closed)
Access points: Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (managed hunts) · Red Mountain Open Space (managed hunts) · US 287 corridor / Livermore · County roads north of Wellington · Interstate 25 frontage (east)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe top producer in GMU 9 and the reason most hunters draw it — pronghorn are spread across the open sage and grass flats and dryland ag, with strong success (recently around two in three). Tags are limited-draw. Nearly all of the good speed-goat ground is private, so a plan for permission or an outfitter matters more than the odds.
- →Glass the open sage and grass flats and dryland ag edges from high two-tracks at first and last light.
- →Lock down private-land permission or a trespass arrangement before the season — the best pronghorn ground is deeded ranch.
- →Use rimrock and rolling terrain to break the skyline and close the distance in wide-open country.
Mule Deer
common qualityA solid limited-draw mule deer unit with decent buck success (recently better than half). Bucks work the rimrock canyons, brushy draws, and mahogany-covered foothill slopes, dropping to the creek bottoms and ag edges in cold weather. Like the pronghorn, most of the deer live on private ground.
- →Hunt the canyon rims, mahogany benches, and brushy draws in the foothills at first and last light.
- →Later hunts improve as bucks slide down to creek bottoms and ag edges with weather.
- →Secure private access early — the best mule deer country is deeded ranch, not open public land.
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA smaller resident elk element off the Laramie Foothills herd, using the northern and western foothills and rimrock country near the Wyoming line. Success runs modest (recently around four in ten) and tags are limited-draw — no over-the-counter elk here. A secondary opportunity rather than the reason to draw the unit.
- →Focus the timbered and rimrock foothills in the north and west near the Wyoming line where elk hold.
- →Watch cross-boundary movement — this herd drifts between Colorado and Wyoming, and access is the limiter.
- →Work landowner permission early; most of the elk ground is private ranch.
Pro tips
- →Access is the whole game — most of GMU 9 is private ranch, so arrange permission, a trespass fee, or an outfitter before you draw.
- →Pronghorn is the strongest, most consistent tag here; frame mule deer and elk as secondary.
- →The Larimer County open spaces (Soapstone Prairie, Red Mountain) run managed/draw hunts, not open walk-in access — apply through their programs.
- →All elk here is limited-draw — no over-the-counter option.
- →Colorado State Trust lands scattered through the unit are closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Watch out for
- !Predominantly private ranchland — very limited open public access.
- !State Trust sections are closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !County open-space hunts are managed/draw-limited, not open access.
- !Ranch boundaries and inholdings are easy to cross unintentionally in open foothill country — map carefully.
- !Dry, exposed terrain and fire risk during warm early seasons.
Logistics
Fort Collins sits right on the southeast edge of the unit with full services — fuel, groceries, lodging, and gear — and Wellington is closer still to the plains ground. Interstate 25 and US 287 frame the unit and county roads thread the ranch country, but nearly all of it crosses private land, so gate courtesy and pre-arranged access are essential. Cell coverage is good near the Front Range corridor and thins in the foothills to the northwest.
Nearest towns: Fort Collins, CO, Wellington, CO, Livermore, CO, Laramie, WY
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting · Larimer County — Hunting at Red Mountain Open Space · HuntScore — GMU 9 (Larimer & Weld Counties)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 9 in Colorado?
- GMU 9 (GMU 9 — Larimer/Weld Co.) covers about 387 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 9?
- Approximately 15% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch, Larimer County Open Space (Soapstone Prairie / Red Mountain), USFS Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest (west fringe), State Trust Land (closed). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 9?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 9 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.