GMU 951 GMU 951 — Weld/Morgan Co.
Strong plains pronghorn and mule deer across the Weld–Morgan farm country
Northeast Colorado — lower South Platte plains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
904
sq mi
Public land
4%
approx.
Elevation
4,300–5,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 951 covers the broad agricultural plains of eastern Weld and Morgan counties, straddling the South Platte River corridor around Wiggins and Fort Morgan. It is a productive limited-draw plains unit: pronghorn thrive on the shortgrass and CRP between irrigated valleys, mule deer work the draws and crop edges, and whitetails hold in the river bottoms. Elk are effectively absent. Pronghorn success here runs notably higher than neighboring units, but nearly all of it happens on private ground.
Terrain
Rolling high plains and river-valley farmland dissected by the South Platte and its tributary draws; open grassland gives way to irrigated bottoms.
Cover: Shortgrass and sage-grama prairie, CRP grass, irrigated corn/alfalfa and dryland wheat, sandhills, and cottonwood galleries along the South Platte and creek bottoms.
Landmarks: South Platte River · Fort Morgan / Wiggins farm belt · Jackson Lake area (to the north) · sandhills southeast of the river
Access
Dominantly private irrigated and dryland ag with ranch grass. State Trust Lands are closed to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program and should not be counted as open public land. Public opportunity is largely limited to CPW Walk-In Access properties and a handful of state wildlife/river-access areas; most hunting requires landowner permission.
Managers: Private ranch/farmland, Colorado State Trust Land (not open unless enrolled), CPW Walk-In / Public Access Program parcels, scattered state wildlife areas
Access points: I-76 corridor and US-34 access to the county-road grid · CPW Walk-In Access parcels (seasonal signage) · public river/reservoir access points near the South Platte
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe unit's standout draw species — pronghorn are well distributed across grassland and CRP between the irrigated valleys, and buck success runs strong for a plains unit when access is secured.
- →Glass big open sections at dawn, then spot-and-stalk using draws, fence lines and terrain rolls
- →Key on CRP and wheat-stubble edges near stock ponds and pivot corners
- →Nail down private permission or Walk-In parcels early — the best pronghorn ground is deeded
Mule Deer
common opportunityLimited-draw mule deer use sandhills, draws, shelterbelts and irrigated crop edges; a reliable secondary opportunity throughout the farm country.
- →Hunt crop edges, CRP and draw heads at first and last light
- →Still-hunt sandhill pockets and shelterbelts during midday
- →Concentrate on ground where cover meets irrigated feed and you hold access
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails inhabit the South Platte cottonwood bottoms and irrigated corridors through Fort Morgan and Wiggins, a river-bottom niche alongside the mule deer.
- →Set up on travel lanes between cottonwood bedding and grain fields
- →Hunt the Platte bottoms and ditch corridors at dawn and dusk
- →Secure riparian private access — the productive bottoms are almost entirely private
Pro tips
- →This unit's pronghorn numbers reward hunters who lock down private or Walk-In access before the season — access is the whole game
- →Do not plan hunts around State Trust Land unless the parcel is enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program
- →Glass irrigated-valley fringes where grassland meets pivots — pronghorn and deer both stage there
- →Work the South Platte cottonwood bottoms specifically for whitetails, separate from your open-country pronghorn plan
Watch out for
- !Heavily private ag and ranch land throughout
- !State Trust Lands closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program
- !Early-season heat and water dependence
- !Soft/muddy county and two-track roads after weather
Logistics
Fort Morgan and Brush along I-76/US-34 provide full services; Wiggins covers the western end and Greeley (west) is a larger hub. The dense county-road grid gives easy vehicle access, but almost all fields are posted — build a permission and Walk-In plan in advance. Cell coverage is good near the interstate and towns, weaker off-grid.
Nearest towns: Fort Morgan, Wiggins, Brush, Greeley, Hillrose
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) · CPW State Wildlife Areas — South Platte region
FAQ
- How big is GMU 951 in Colorado?
- GMU 951 (GMU 951 — Weld/Morgan Co.) covers about 904 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,300 to 5,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 951?
- Approximately 4% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Private ranch/farmland, Colorado State Trust Land (not open unless enrolled), CPW Walk-In / Public Access Program parcels, scattered state wildlife areas. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 951?
- 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 951 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.