GMU 90 GMU 90 — Logan/Sedgwick Co.
A private-ground plains unit for pronghorn and mule deer, whitetail along the river bottoms
Northeastern Colorado plains — Nebraska-line farm country (Logan & Sedgwick counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
374
sq mi
Public land
5%
approx.
Elevation
3,500–4,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 90 covers about 374 square miles of far northeastern Colorado plains in Logan and Sedgwick counties, tucked against the Nebraska line. US Highway 138 forms the southern boundary along the South Platte corridor, Colorado 113 the west edge, and the Nebraska state line the north. It is a working landscape of shortgrass and mid-grass prairie, dryland and irrigated crop fields, and sandy draws, with cottonwood river bottoms just off the southern edge. Pronghorn and mule deer are the mainstays, whitetail hold in the bottoms, and there is no elk here — but access is the defining challenge: apart from a couple of small state wildlife areas, the unit is almost entirely private.
Terrain
Gently rolling High Plains — shortgrass and sandsage prairie broken by crop circles, sandy draws, and shallow drainages, dropping toward the South Platte river bottom along the southern edge.
Cover: Shortgrass and mid-grass prairie, sandsage, dryland wheat and irrigated corn/row crops, and sparse cottonwood-and-willow riparian along the braided South Platte just off the south boundary.
Landmarks: South Platte River corridor (US 138) · Nebraska state line (north boundary) · Colorado Highway 113 (west boundary) · Red Lion State Wildlife Area · Julesburg / Sedgwick farm country
Access
Except for a couple of small state wildlife areas and some scattered state sections surrounded by private ground, this unit along the Nebraska border is essentially all private. Red Lion State Wildlife Area (about 1,200 acres off County Road 95) allows deer hunting and is the main public foothold; otherwise plan on landowner permission, a trespass arrangement, or an outfitter. Colorado State Trust lands here are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Managers: private ranch and farm, CPW State Wildlife Areas (Red Lion and small parcels), State Trust Land (closed)
Access points: Red Lion State Wildlife Area (County Road 95) · US Highway 138 corridor · Colorado Highway 113 · county section roads throughout the farm country
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe signature plains tag here, with pronghorn scattered across the open prairie and dryland ag and solid success (recently around three in five). Tags are limited-draw. Nearly all of the good ground is deeded, so private-land access drives the hunt more than the draw odds.
- →Glass the open prairie and dryland-ag edges from county roads at first and last light.
- →Line up landowner permission or a trespass fee before the season — the best antelope ground is private.
- →Use crop circles, draws, and rolling ground to break your outline and close the distance.
Mule Deer
common opportunityA steady plains mule deer opportunity with middling buck success (recently under half). Bucks use the sandsage, shelterbelts, sandy draws, and crop edges away from the river. As on the rest of the unit, most of them live on private land.
- →Work the sandsage flats, shelterbelts, and sandy draws at the edges of ag ground.
- →Hunt field edges and cover transitions at first and last light.
- →Secure private access early; public ground is limited to a few small SWAs.
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail hold in the cottonwood-and-willow river bottoms along the South Platte on the southern edge of the unit and in the wooded ag draws, the classic eastern-plains riparian whitetail pattern. A river-bottom hunt rather than an open-prairie one, and the bottoms are tightly held private ground.
- →Focus the South Platte cottonwood bottoms and wooded draws along the southern edge.
- →Hunt the rut, which on the eastern plains can run from late October into December.
- →Access is the limiter — the river bottoms are private; nail down permission or hunt the Red Lion SWA.
Pro tips
- →Access is the whole ballgame — the unit is almost entirely private, so arrange permission, a trespass fee, or an outfitter before you apply.
- →Red Lion State Wildlife Area (~1,200 acres off CR 95) is the main public foothold and allows deer hunting.
- →Pronghorn is the strongest tag on the open prairie; whitetail are a river-bottom hunt along the South Platte.
- →There is no elk in GMU 90 — plan for pronghorn and deer only.
- →State Trust sections are closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
Watch out for
- !Almost entirely private — very limited public access outside a few small SWAs.
- !State Trust sections are closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !River-bottom whitetail ground is tightly held private land.
- !Dense private/section-line boundaries are easy to cross unintentionally — map carefully.
- !Dry, exposed prairie and fire risk during warm early seasons.
Logistics
Julesburg is the closest town with fuel, food, and basic lodging in Colorado's far northeast corner, with Sterling the larger service hub to the southwest. US 138 and Colorado 113 are the paved arteries and a dense grid of county roads reaches the farm ground, but nearly all of it is private, so pre-arranged access and gate courtesy are essential. Cell coverage is generally decent across this ag country.
Nearest towns: Julesburg, CO, Sedgwick, CO, Ovid, CO, Sterling, 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 · HuntScore — GMU 90 (Logan & Sedgwick Counties) · GoHunt — Colorado Unit 90 Profile
FAQ
- How big is GMU 90 in Colorado?
- GMU 90 (GMU 90 — Logan/Sedgwick Co.) covers about 374 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,500 to 4,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 90?
- Approximately 5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch and farm, CPW State Wildlife Areas (Red Lion and small parcels), State Trust Land (closed). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 90?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 90 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.