Saguache County Hunting Guide

GMU map of Saguache County

The county overlaps 10 GMUs. GMU 82 accounts for around 22% of its ground. Every acre of GMUs 68, 681, 682 falls within Saguache County. The shares below come from overlaying the CPW unit layer on Census county lines; legal unit edges are the roads and streams listed in the brochure.

Bull elk taken in GMUs 68, 67, 681, 551, 79, 66 must meet the point rule: four points on either antler, or a brow tine of five inches. Hunters here may submit heads voluntarily, but nothing in these units triggers the mandatory elk test. Lions are managed by harvest-limit group, and Saguache County falls in group 8 (limit 30), group 10 (limit 20) and group 14 (limit 16); check the CPW limit report after 5 p.m. the day before a hunt. GMUs 68, 67, 681, 551, 79, 66 carries the lynx recovery restrictions. Public lands west of I-25 are off limits for shed gathering January 1 to April 30. A spring OTC turkey license covers GMUs 82, 68, 67, 681, 551, 79, 682, 791 and 2 more.

GMU shares from the CPW GMU boundary layer over Census county lines; boundaries in the 2026 Big Game brochure GMU descriptions; point rule from brochure p. 36; CWD units from brochure p. 41; lion groups from the 2026-2027 Mountain Lion brochure; turkey lists from the 2026 Turkey brochure; shed closure from brochure p. 12. Checked November 5, 2026.

Saguache County public land map

Public land adds up to some 1,409,096 acres (69.5% of the county) once overlaps are removed, mostly USFS land. The public total skips starred kinds, which are mostly closed to hunting. Polygon measures are approximate; official acreage is on each land page.

Open ground inside Saguache County

Further areas: Baca NWR, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, Burro Springs STL, Cochetopa SWA, Russell Lakes SWA, Saguache Creek STL, Mishak Lakes STL, Russell Creek STL, Villa Grove STL, Daley Gulch STL, Jacks Creek STL, Laughlin Gulch STL, Little La Garita Creek STL, Middle Creek STL, Mineral Hot Springs STL, Mirage STL, Old Woman Creek STL, Rock Creek STL, Spring Gulch STL, Steel Canyon STL, Werner Arroyo STL, Stonehouse Gulch STL, Dome Lakes SWA, Kerber Creek STL, Los Creek STL.

Outside Saguache County but close

• Agua Ramon STL28 miles, state trust land parcel, Rio Grande County
• Shaw Creek STL30 miles, state trust land parcel, Rio Grande County
• Little Cochetopa Creek STL30 miles, state trust land parcel, Chaffee County
• Gerrard STL32 miles, state trust land parcel, Rio Grande County
• Shriver-Wright SWA32 miles, state wildlife area, Rio Grande County
• Quakey Mountain STL33 miles, state trust land parcel, Gunnison County

Access to SWAs and CPW trust parcels is tied to a valid license or State Wildlife Area Pass for anyone 16 and over. Open dates differ by parcel, so read the land page before planning a trip.

Acres from the CPW managed properties layer (SWA and STL), USGS PAD-US 4.1 (Forest Service, BLM, refuges, parks, military) and the BLM field office layer; places from the CPW SWA finder, the STL finder and each land page; access rules from the CPW property pages. Checked November 5, 2026.

Saguache County wildlife officers, towns and outfitters

For Saguache County, the area wildlife manager is Rick Basagoitia (Area 17); the area office phone is on the card below. Through the Turn In Poachers program, a report that leads to charges for illegal big game or turkey take can earn licenses or preference points.

Towns of Saguache County

Census also maps these places in Saguache County:

• Center1,889
• Moffat106
• Bonanza

Our directory lists 1 taxidermist and 3 outfitters and guides inside Saguache County, and no game processors and gun and outdoor stores; neighbouring counties fill the gaps below. Outfitters come from the state DORA registration list, which gives only a mailing town; shops, processors and taxidermists come from store locators and Yellow Pages, so call ahead.

Elk and deer processing, Saguache County

Saguache County mount makers

Ammo and gear near Saguache County

Guides near Saguache County

Offices and area wildlife managers from the CPW Contact Us page and the CPW area layer; towns and places from the 2024 Census gazetteer; outfitters from the DORA licence data; other services from store locators and Yellow Pages listings. Checked November 5, 2026.

Saguache County hours on key season dates

Big game light near Saguache County starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; turkeys, small game and ducks end at sunset.

The light goose conservation order runs to half an hour after sunset.

Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.

Counties near Saguache County

County centres closest to this one, with three Colorado-wide guides.

Saguache County before opening day

Dates here are for 2026-27; CPW publishes new brochures every year.

Sources: 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, CPW hunting, Census and the sources in each section. Checked November 5, 2026.