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Colorado › Hunting seasons › GMUs › GMU 75

CPW Southwest Region GMU

Hunting seasons and hunt codes in GMU 75

A unit in the mountains of 646 square miles in La Plata County and San Juan County; 40 brochure hunt codes list it as valid.

License listSuccess ratesHunting gear
646Square miles
40Hunt codes
308Elk taken 2024
2Counties

Photo: daveynin (CC BY 2.0)

Where GMU 75 lies

GMU 75 is a unit in the mountains of 646 square miles (413,557 acres) in the CPW Southwest Region. Most of it lies in La Plata County, which holds 85% of the unit.

Unit boundaries follow roads, ridges and rivers rather than county lines, so GMU 75 takes pieces of 2 counties.

CountySq mi in GMUShare of GMUShare of county
La Plata County547.485%32%
San Juan County98.115%25%

GMU 75 belongs to these herd units: D-30 (Deer), E-31 (Elk), M-4 (Moose), B-18 (Bear) and L-SW (Lion). No pronghorn DAU is assigned to GMU 75.

646Square miles
413,557Acres
D-30Deer DAU
E-31Elk DAU
M-4Moose DAU
B-18Bear DAU
L-SWLion DAU

Area, county overlap and DAU codes from the CPW GMU and DAU GIS layers (overlay with Census county lines); boundary text in the 2026 Big Game brochure GMU descriptions; checked November 5, 2026.

GMU 75 restrictions and status

YesElk APR
VoluntaryElk CWD test
17Lion group
23Lion limit
OTCSpring turkey
OTCFall turkey
YesLynx area
MountainTerrain
2OTC elk rows
  • The antler point rule covers GMU 75, including Ranching for Wildlife ranches inside it.
  • No hunt code valid in GMU 75 carries a mandatory CWD test this year.
  • Mountain lion: GMU 75 is in harvest-limit group 17 (GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77, GMU 78, GMU 741, GMU 751 and GMU 771), limit 23 lions.
  • For GMU 75 turkey hunters, spring turkey is OTC, while fall turkey is OTC.
  • Furbearer hunters in GMU 75 work under lynx-area trap and lure limits.
  • Unlimited elk licenses cover GMU 75 for second rifle bull and third rifle bull.

From the elk antler point list, the 2026 mandatory elk CWD GMUs, the 2026-2027 Mountain Lion brochure, the 2026 Turkey brochure and the Small Game brochure lynx rules (CPW); checked November 5, 2026. Guides: antler point GMUs, CWD testing, lion groups, turkey units.

GMU 75 windows by species

CPW groups its hunt codes into season rows; 40 rows include GMU 75 (15 elk, 14 deer, 1 moose, 7 black bear, 1 mountain lion and 2 wild turkey).

SpeciesSeasonDatesLicenseCodes statewide
Elk
Archery bull
limited
Sep 2–30Limited6
Elk
Archery cow
limited
Sep 2–30Limited6
Elk
Archery either sex
private land only
Sep 2–30Private only13
Elk
Muzzleloader bull
limited
Sep 12–20Limited50
Elk
Muzzleloader cow
limited
Sep 12–20Limited69
Elk
Rifle bull
limited
Oct 14–18Limited50
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Oct 14–18Limited48
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Oct 24–Nov 1Limited89
Elk
Second rifle bull
OTC
Oct 24–Nov 1OTC—
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Nov 7–15Limited93
Elk
Third rifle bull
OTC
Nov 7–15OTC—
Elk
Rifle bull
limited
Nov 18–22Limited57
Elk
Rifle bull
private land only
Nov 18–22Private only4
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Nov 18–22Limited90
Elk
Rifle cow
private land only
Nov 18–22Private only6
Deer
Archery either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited29
Deer
Muzzleloader buck
limited
Sep 12–20Limited62
Deer
Muzzleloader doe
limited
Sep 12–20Limited34
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Oct 14–18Limited13
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
Oct 24–Nov 1Limited34
Deer
Rifle doe
private land only
Oct 24–Nov 1Private only12
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 7–15Limited71
Deer
Rifle buck
private land only
Nov 7–15Private only17
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
Nov 7–15Limited35
Deer
Rifle doe
private land only
Nov 7–15Private only12
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 18–22Limited59
Deer
Rifle buck
private land only
Nov 18–22Private only6
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
Nov 18–22Limited6
Deer
Rifle doe
private land only
Nov 18–22Private only4
Moose
Season choice (archery/muzzleloader/rifle) bull
limited
Sep 12–Oct 14Limited19
Black bear
Archery either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited35
Black bear
Archery either sex
OTC
Sep 2–30OTC15
Black bear
Rifle either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited34
Black bear
Rifle either sex
private land only
Sep 2–30Private only20
Black bear
Muzzleloader either sex
limited
Sep 12–20Limited35
Black bear
Muzzleloader either sex
OTC
Sep 12–20OTC15
Black bear
Rifle either sex
OTC
Oct 14–Nov 22OTC12
Mountain lion
Lion season
Nov 23–Mar 31Limited—
Wild turkey
Spring
OTC (2026)
Apr 11–May 31OTC—
Wild turkey
Fall
OTC
Sep 1–Oct 4OTC—

Season rows from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure (deer p. 30, elk p. 45, pronghorn p. 63, moose p. 68, bear p. 72), the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; checked November 5, 2026.

Hunt codes valid in GMU 75

40 hunt codes list GMU 75 as a valid unit (15 elk, 17 deer, 1 moose and 7 black bear); each reads species, sex, unit, season and method.

0 codes here took six or more points to draw; 11 require landowner access and 0 are RFW.

Elk archery, 3

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
E-E-075-P1-AEither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–30
A
5 of 38
E-F-075-O1-ACowLimited
Sep 2–30
A
5 of 50
E-M-075-O1-ABullLimited
Sep 2–30
A
68 of 339

Elk muzzleloader, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
E-F-075-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
A
0 of 11
E-M-075-O1-MBullLimited
Sep 12–20
A
32 of 120

Elk rifle, 10

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
E-F-075-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 14–18
A
7 of 20
E-M-075-O1-RBullLimited
Oct 14–18
A
90 of 284
E-F-075-O2-RCowLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
17 of 44
E-M-000-U2-RBullOTC
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
4,558 of 23,668
E-F-075-O3-RCowLimited
Nov 7–15
A
2 of 28
E-M-000-U3-RBullOTC
Nov 7–15
A
2,096 of 17,371
E-F-075-O4-RCowLimited
Nov 18–22
A
1 of 13
E-F-075-P4-RCowPrivate land only
Nov 18–22
B
0 of 9
E-M-075-O4-RBullLimited
Nov 18–22
A
6 of 78
E-M-075-P4-RBullPrivate land only
Nov 18–22
A
4 of 24

Deer archery, 1

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
D-E-075-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
A
68 of 218

Deer muzzleloader, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
D-F-075-O1-MDoeLimited
Sep 12–20
A
7 of 35
D-M-075-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 12–20
A
96 of 247

Deer rifle, 14

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
D-M-075-O1-RBuckLimited
Oct 14–18
A—
D-M-075-O2-RBuckLimited
Oct 14–18
A
229 of 527
D-F-075-O2-RDoeLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
22 of 49
D-F-075-P2-RDoePrivate land only
Oct 24–Nov 1
B
18 of 44
D-F-075-O3-RDoeLimited
Nov 7–15
A
30 of 42
D-F-075-P3-RDoePrivate land only
Nov 7–15
B
40 of 53
D-M-075-O3-RBuckLimited
Nov 7–15
A
238 of 465
D-M-075-P3-RBuckPrivate land only
Nov 7–15
A
57 of 82
D-F-075-O4-RDoeLimited
Nov 18–22
A
20 of 44
D-F-075-P4-RDoePrivate land only
Nov 18–22
B
30 of 47
D-M-075-O4-RBuckLimited
Nov 18–22
A
38 of 67
D-M-075-P2-RBuckPrivate land only
Nov 18–22
A
53 of 79
D-M-075-P4-RBuckPrivate land only
Nov 18–22
A
33 of 67
D-F-075-P5-RDoePrivate land only—B
121 of 157

Moose season choice, 1

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
M-M-074-O1-XBullLimited
Sep 12–20
Sep 12–30
Oct 1–14
A
1 of 1

Black bear archery, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
B-E-075-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
7 taken
B-E-075-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
B
19 taken

Black bear muzzleloader, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
B-E-075-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
B
4 taken
B-E-075-U1-MEither sexOTC
Sep 12–20
B
12 taken

Black bear rifle, 3

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
B-E-075-O1-REither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
63 taken
B-E-075-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–30
C
12 taken
B-E-075-U5-REither sexOTC
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
B
20 taken

Where a 2025 estimate exists it shows harvest of hunters for the code across all its units.

Hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure tables (PDF pp. 29-77) and the 2026 Turkey brochure; List A/B/C rules on p. 26; 2025 code estimates from CPW harvest reports (elk, deer, pronghorn, bear, moose); checked November 5, 2026. How the draw works.

Harvest results for GMU 75

GMU 75 gave up 308 elk in 2024, with success at 23%.

For deer the 2024 figure is 617 from 1,131 hunters (55%).

Bears: 26 (14 boars, 12 sows).

The DAU holding GMU 75 counted 32,320 elk after hunting season 2025.

In 2025 the 13 elk codes carrying unit number 75 accounted for 237 elk.

Lion harvest in the 2025-26 group for GMU 75: 13 males and 7 females.

GMU 75 harvest, 2024, all methods0175350525700Deer: 617617DeerElk: 308308ElkBear: 2626Bear
SpeciesTakeMale/female/youngHuntersSuccessDays
Deer617444/171/31,13155%5,243
Elk308238/70/01,33723%6,718
Black bear2614/12——133

Herd totals, 2025

AnimalHerd unitTakeHuntersSuccessEstimateBucks/bulls per 100
DeerD-302,7225,54249%25,29031
ElkE-311,8689,64919%32,32013

2024 “All Manners of Take” tables by GMU: deer, elk, pronghorn, bear; 2025 DAU estimates and 2025 post-hunt populations (elk, deer, pronghorn); 2025 lion harvest (CPW). Survey estimates; checked November 5, 2026.

Open ground to hunt inside GMU 75

Our land records place 5 public areas in or across GMU 75 (1 SWAs, 0 trust parcels).

Trust land is usually open September 1 to the end of February, but the parcel page wins if it says otherwise.

BLM offices, 2

National forests, 1

Ranger districts, 1

State wildlife areas, 1

Land records from CPW, State Land Board, USFS, BLM and other agency sources (each land page cites its own); GMU tags from those records; checked November 5, 2026. All Colorado public land.

Around GMU 75: towns and GMUs

4 towns with hunting pages are in or near GMU 75.

Units that share a county with GMU 75, closest first. Compare their 2024 elk and deer harvest before you apply.

UnitCounties sharedSizeElk takenDeer takenHunt codes
GMU 741
La Plata
4849619637
GMU 751
La Plata
San Juan
46323443129
GMU 74
La Plata
San Juan
59532913032
GMU 771
La Plata
3669335431
GMU 76
San Juan
9715184626

Towns from Census places with their GMU and GMUs within 10 miles; neighbours from the CPW GMU layer county overlay; checked November 5, 2026. All town pages · all GMUs.

GMU 75 legal shooting light

Big game light near GMU 75 starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; turkeys, small game and ducks end at sunset.

DateOpenerSunriseSunsetElk windowDuck window
Sep 2, 2026Archery opener6:42 a.m.7:41 p.m.6:12 a.m. to 8:11 p.m.6:12 a.m. to 7:41 p.m.
Sep 12, 2026Muzzleloader opens6:50 a.m.7:26 p.m.6:20 a.m. to 7:56 p.m.6:20 a.m. to 7:26 p.m.
Oct 3, 2026Duck season opens7:07 a.m.6:53 p.m.6:37 a.m. to 7:23 p.m.6:37 a.m. to 6:53 p.m.
Oct 24, 2026Second rifle opens7:27 a.m.6:24 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 6:54 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 6:24 p.m.
Nov 23, 2026Lion season opens6:59 a.m.4:58 p.m.6:29 a.m. to 5:28 p.m.6:29 a.m. to 4:58 p.m.
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:21 a.m.4:57 p.m.6:51 a.m. to 5:27 p.m.6:51 a.m. to 4:57 p.m.

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.

Keep looking around GMU 75

Nearby GMUs and some broader guides.

GMU 741

APR, lion 17

GMU 751

APR, lion 17

GMU 74

Mountain unit

GMU 771

APR, lion 17

All GMUsTurkey unitsElk
Red sunset sky behind tall pines in Durango, La Plata County
Red sunset sky behind tall pines in Durango, La Plata CountyPhoto: Alan Levine (CC BY 2.0)
Animas River running over rocks past a footbridge in Durango, La Plata County
Animas River running over rocks past a footbridge in Durango, La Plata CountyPhoto: daveynin (CC BY 2.0)
Snow-covered Rocky Mountain peaks rising above a line of pines in Colorado
Snow-covered Rocky Mountain peaks rising above a line of pines in ColoradoPhoto: Bob Denaro (CC BY 2.0)

GMU 75 in brief

What is the turkey status of GMU 75?

Spring: OTC; fall: OTC. Spring 2027 dates are not out yet.

Which lion group is GMU 75 in?

Group 17, shared by 7 GMUs, limit 23.

Can GMU 75 be hunted on public ground?

5 land records list GMU 75, including 1 SWAs and 0 STL parcels.

How crowded is GMU 75 for elk?

1,337 hunters logged 6,718 days in 2024.

Where do I buy supplies near GMU 75?

Durango, Bayfield and Ouray.

Which elk herd covers GMU 75?

E-31, estimated at 32,320 elk after 2025.

What hunt codes include GMU 75?

15 elk, 17 deer, 1 moose and 7 black bear, 40 in total, listed in the table above.

Which county holds most of GMU 75?

La Plata County, with 85% of the 646 square miles.

Does GMU 75 require CWD samples?

Not in 2026.

What is the elk antler rule in GMU 75?

APR: 4+ points on one antler or a brow tine of 5 inches.

Answers drawn from the CPW sources cited on this page; checked November 5, 2026.