Washington County Hunting Guide

GMU map of Washington County

The county overlaps 10 GMUs. GMU 100 accounts for around 37% of its ground. Every GMU here spills across the county line, so a license for one of them is not a Washington County-only hunt. 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. All units are on the plains side of the state, so the plains elk and pronghorn rows are the ones to read.

None of the county's units appears on the antler point restriction list. Hunters here may submit heads voluntarily, but nothing in these units triggers the mandatory elk test. Lions are managed by harvest-limit group, and Washington County falls in group 19 (limit 5); check the CPW limit report after 5 p.m. the day before a hunt. A spring OTC turkey license covers GMUs 100, 97, 98, 99, 106.

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.

Washington County acres by owner

Public land adds up to some 13,125 acres (0.8% of the county) once overlaps are removed, mostly STL open to hunters. The starred State Land Board row includes closed parcels; hunters use only the CPW-leased trust lands. 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 Washington County

Beyond Washington County, nearest first

• Brush Prairie Ponds SWA29 miles, state wildlife area, Morgan County
• Cottonwood SWA32 miles, state wildlife area, Morgan County
• Elliott SWA32 miles, state wildlife area, Morgan County
• Brush SWA32 miles, state wildlife area, Morgan County
• Jean K Tool SWA33 miles, state wildlife area, Morgan County
• Brammer STL35 miles, state trust land parcel, Morgan 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. Hunters in Washington County can use Walk-In Access parcels with a small game license and Habitat Stamp, on foot.

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.

Phone list for Washington County hunts

For Washington County, the area wildlife manager is Todd Cozad (Area 3); 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.

Washington County towns with their own guides

Census also maps these places in Washington County:

• Otis507
• Cope

Our directory lists 1 game processor inside Washington County, and no taxidermists, gun and outdoor stores and outfitters and guides; 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, Washington County

Washington County mount makers

Ammo and gear near Washington County

Guides near Washington 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.

Washington County hours on key season dates

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

Furbearer night rules are in the CPW small game brochure.

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.

Washington County and its nearest neighbours

Four counties nearby and three statewide references.

Washington County checks before the truck leaves

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.