GMU 95 GMU 95 — Weld/Logan/Morgan/Washington Co.
Ranch-and-CRP pronghorn and mule deer between Sterling and Akron
Northeast Colorado — South Platte shortgrass plains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
747
sq mi
Public land
3%
approx.
Elevation
4,100–4,900
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 95 spans the rolling shortgrass prairie of eastern Weld, Logan, Morgan and Washington counties, a checkerboard of dryland wheat, CRP grass, sandhills and cattle ranches south and east of the South Platte River. This is limited-draw plains hunting: pronghorn scattered across open grassland and mule deer working draws, shelterbelts and crop edges, with only incidental elk. Success hinges almost entirely on securing private access, because open public ground is scarce.
Terrain
Gently rolling high plains cut by shallow draws, sandhills and intermittent creek bottoms; big open country with long sight lines.
Cover: Shortgrass and sagebrush-blue grama prairie, CRP grass fields, dryland wheat and corn stubble, yucca flats, and cottonwood/shelterbelt pockets along drainages and farmsteads.
Landmarks: South Platte River corridor to the north · Pawnee National Grassland (west edge of region) · Sand Hills country · dryland wheat/CRP mosaic
Access
Overwhelmingly private ag and ranch ground. Colorado State Trust Lands are NOT open to public hunting here unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so they cannot be treated as huntable public land. Realistic public opportunity is limited to CPW Walk-In Access properties and a few small BLM tracts; most hunters need landowner permission or a lease.
Managers: Private ranch/farmland, Colorado State Trust Land (not open unless enrolled), scattered BLM, CPW Walk-In / Public Access Program parcels
Access points: County road grid off US-6 and US-34 · CPW Walk-In Access signs (seasonal) · public-road pullouts adjacent to private fields
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityDraw-only plains pronghorn spread across open grassland, CRP and wheat country; herds are patchy and tied to where they can access water and feed on huntable ground.
- →Glass wide-open sections at first light and spot-and-stalk using draws and terrain rolls
- →Concentrate on CRP/wheat edges and stock ponds where you have permission
- →Line up private access or Walk-In parcels before the hunt — bucks live where you can legally follow them
Mule Deer
common opportunityLimited-draw mule deer use draws, sandhills, shelterbelts and crop edges; the strongest deer resource in the unit and the reason most tags get filled.
- →Hunt shelterbelts, CRP and draw heads at dawn and dusk as deer move between bedding and crops
- →Still-hunt cottonwood pockets and yucca-choked draws mid-day
- →Focus effort on river-adjacent private and Walk-In ground where cover concentrates deer
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails hold in the South Platte cottonwood bottoms and irrigated corridors along the northern edge of the unit, secondary to mule deer.
- →Hunt cottonwood river bottoms and irrigated-crop edges near the Platte
- →Watch travel lanes between bedding cover and grain fields at last light
- →Secure permission on riparian private ground — the bottoms are almost entirely deeded
Pro tips
- →Do your access legwork first — knocking on ranch doors or mapping Walk-In parcels matters more than any glassing strategy on these private-dominated plains
- →Treat State Trust Land as closed unless it is specifically enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- →Glass from high road cuts and section corners at first light before the country flattens out in midday heat haze
- →Deer concentrate in the sparse cover — shelterbelts, draws and river bottoms are worth far more than open grass
Watch out for
- !Vast majority of the unit is posted private ranch/farm ground
- !State Trust Lands closed to hunting unless enrolled in the Public Access Program
- !Early-season heat and lack of reliable water
- !Muddy county/two-track roads after rain or snow
Logistics
Sterling, Fort Morgan and Brush offer full services (fuel, lodging, groceries); Akron and Otis cover the interior. County-road grid gives extensive drive access, but nearly every field is posted — line up permission or Walk-In maps ahead of time. Cell coverage is decent along US-6/US-34 and spotty off the pavement.
Nearest towns: Sterling, Akron, Brush, Fort Morgan, Otis
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 (Colorado Big Game brochure) · BLM Colorado Royal Gorge Field Office / eastern plains
FAQ
- How big is GMU 95 in Colorado?
- GMU 95 (GMU 95 — Weld/Logan/Morgan/Washington Co.) covers about 747 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,100 to 4,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 95?
- Approximately 3% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch/farmland, Colorado State Trust Land (not open unless enrolled), scattered BLM, CPW Walk-In / Public Access Program parcels. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 95?
- 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 95 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.