This is Western Colorado elk and deer hunting at both ends of the spectrum, run by one hard-hunting guide team out of the canyon country along the Utah border. On one end sits GMU 40 — one of Colorado’s true trophy units, where bulls bugle across BLM mesas above the Dolores River and mule deer carry the heavy, wide genetics the unit is famous for. On the other sits Unit 421, a low-point country of private ag fields, apple orchards, and oak-brush ridges where the deer hunting is about as close to a sure thing as the West offers.
Between the two units you can hunt trophy elk, trophy mule deer, over-the-counter bulls, private-land combos, and budget-friendly drop camps — all with guides who live in this country year-round and hold the BLM permits that keep the best public ground to themselves. Whether you’re sitting on a pile of preference points or none at all, there’s a hunt here that fits.
Unit 40 — Trophy Elk & Mule Deer
Unit 40 is a draw unit with serious preference-point requirements for non-residents — and it hunts like it. The unit is built like a pyramid: a small crown of national forest up top, a wide band of private in the middle, and thousands of acres of huntable BLM from 7,500 feet down to the river canyons at 4,500. The elk live on that BLM year-round, and by the back half of archery season they’re bugling and screaming across the mesas — glassable, callable, acting the way elk are supposed to act. Hunts run 1×1 with truck-and-boot access, and for the right spots the guides will pitch a spike camp to get you above elk that never see pressure.
Realistic trophy expectations here are honest ones: work hard and you’re hunting 300–320-class bulls with a real chance at better, and mule deer in the 160–170 class with 190–200-inch bucks taken by hunters willing to drop into the nasty canyons after them. Rifle and archery seasons are both excellent. Before you burn decades of points, talk to us — our consultants will verify your points and draw odds for free so you book the season that actually matches your situation.
Unit 421 — Private Land Elk & Deer
The private program in Unit 421 covers close to 2,000 acres of irrigated ag fields, apple orchards, and river-bottom ground, bordering another 3,000 acres of landlocked BLM that only this outfit holds permits to hunt. Deer tags here take little to no point investment, and the deer hunting is exceptional — mature bucks feeding in the orchards and alfalfa with success rates that run at or near 100%. Elk hunts on the same ground produce solid 4×4 and 5×5 bulls with the occasional 300-class surprise, and deer/elk combo hunts let you carry both tags on the same week — the best value in the program.
You’ll stay in a comfortable private lodge on the property with real beds and home cooking. Terrain is gentle by Colorado standards: this is a hunt for anyone, including hunters who can’t pound the high country anymore.
Drop Camps & Guided Public-Land Hunts
For the do-it-yourself hunter, the same outfit runs a drop-camp program on 250 private acres backed by 15,000 acres of national forest in an over-the-counter unit. Cabins have generator power, Starlink, indoor plumbing, and real beds — and a camp attendant stays on site to keep morale up, answer questions, and make sure you’re never truly on your own. Hunt it fully self-guided or step up to a 2×1 guided hunt on the same ground. These over-the-counter elk hunts are honest Western hunts — be in shape and ready to work for your bull.
Pricing
Rates are confirmed for your season when you book.
- Unit 40 trophy elk, 1×1 guided: $9,500 USD
- Unit 40 trophy mule deer, 1×1 guided: $7,500 USD
- Unit 421 private-land mule deer: $6,500 USD
- Unit 421 private-land elk: $7,500 USD
- Unit 421 deer/elk combo: $9,500 USD
- Guided over-the-counter public-land elk: $5,500 USD
- Drop camp (self-guided, cabin camp): $3,500 USD
What’s Included
- Guided hunts run 1×1 (Unit 40) or 2×1 (public-land and private-land hunts)
- Lodging — private lodge, cabin camp, or wall-tent spike camp depending on your hunt
- Meals and camp cook on guided hunts; meal add-ons available for drop camps
- All on-the-ground transportation during your hunt
- Field care of your trophy — caping, quartering, and pack-out
What’s Not Included
- Colorado hunting licenses and tags (draw or over-the-counter through CPW — we’ll walk you through it)
- Travel to and from Western Colorado
- Meat processing and taxidermy
- Guide gratuities
No points and don’t want to wait? The same guide team runs a guaranteed-tag trophy elk hunt where the tag comes with the hunt. You can also compare seasons and units across our other Colorado elk hunts, including Buena Vista wilderness elk hunts.
WO Trip Protection
For 5% of your trip cost, we guarantee your hunt. If the outfitter cancels, goes out of business, or a wildfire shuts down the area — we rebook you on a comparable hunt at no extra cost.
Ask your consultant about adding trip protection when you book.
Talk to a Consultant
