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BLM Tres Rios Field Office hunting, unit by unit
BLM field office in San Miguel County and 6 more counties, about 600,000 acres.
Photo: Michael Kwok (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to BLM Tres Rios Field Office
BLM Tres Rios Field Office: licenses, dates and restrictions
The BLM rule of thumb: public land is open to hunting unless a closure says otherwise. Private land between the road and BLM ground is not a free pass; ask first.
In BLM's words: “The BLM Tres Rios Field Office (TRFO) is responsible for the management and stewardship of more than 600,000 acres of public land and over”
From the agency source; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around BLM Tres Rios Field Office
Facts on file for BLM Tres Rios Field Office
Measured by the BLM field office page, BLM Tres Rios Field Office runs to 600,000 acres. Sorted by acreage, BLM Tres Rios Field Office sits at number 7 of the 10 BLM field offices in this guide. Counting BLM Tres Rios Field Office, San Miguel County has 2 BLM field offices.
BLM Tres Rios Field Office has no published species list; the season tables on this page fill that gap.
From the agency page (Bureau of Land Management, Southwest District Office); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
2026-27 seasons in the units of BLM Tres Rios Field Office
For BLM Tres Rios Field Office the season list holds 40 lines across its GMUs. OTC here means black bear, elk and wild turkey; everything else is by limited license. Rows that need private land (23) stay off this table. The spring turkey rows are the 2026 season; CPW has not yet published spring 2027 dates.
| Game | Weapon | Sex | Type | First day | Last day | GMUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Archery | bull | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Elk | Archery | cow | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 71, 72, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 71, 72, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Second rifle | bull | OTC | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 71, 72, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Third rifle | bull | OTC | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 71, 72, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 71, 72, 75, 77 + |
| Deer | Archery | buck | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 75, 77, 78, 741 + |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, early | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 74 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 75, 77, 78, 741 + |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 70, 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 77, 78, 771 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 77, 78, 771 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 77, 78, 771 |
| Moose | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited, split | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 77, 751 |
| Moose | Season choice | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 74, 75 |
| Moose | Season choice | bull | Limited, split | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 77, 751 |
| Moose | Rifle | cow | Limited, split | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 77, 751 |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | OTC | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | OTC | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | OTC | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Mountain lion | All methods | – | Group harvest limit | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 70 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | OTC | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | OTC | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 70, 71, 72, 73 + |
Season rows and hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; property access dates still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
GMU rules that reach BLM Tres Rios Field Office
GMU overlay for BLM Tres Rios Field Office (12 units): GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 72, GMU 73, GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77, GMU 78, GMU 711, GMU 741, GMU 751, GMU 771.
GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 72, GMU 73, GMU 74, GMU 75 and 6 more carry the elk antler point restriction. Elk CWD testing GMUs here: GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 72, GMU 73 and GMU 711 (selected rifle hunt codes). Groups 12, 16 and 17 set the lion harvest limit here. Lynx rules for traps and lures apply in GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77, GMU 78 and 2 more.
| Unit | Counties | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| GMU 70 | San Miguel, Montrose, Dolores | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 12 |
| GMU 71 | Dolores, Montezuma | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 16 |
| GMU 72 | Montezuma, Dolores | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 16 |
| GMU 73 | Montezuma | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 16 |
| GMU 74 | La Plata, San Juan | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 75 | La Plata, San Juan | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 77 | Archuleta, Hinsdale, Mineral | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 78 | Archuleta, Mineral, Conejos | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 711 | Dolores, Montezuma, San Miguel | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 16 |
| GMU 741 | La Plata | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 751 | La Plata, Hinsdale, Archuleta | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 771 | Archuleta, La Plata | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
GMU totals from 2024 give a sense of the game: GMU 70 produced 1,275 elk.
| Unit | Animal | Harvest | Hunters | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 70 | Elk | 1,275 | 3,448 | 37% |
| GMU 70 | Deer | 859 | 1,249 | 69% |
| GMU 70 | Black bear | 58 | – | – |
| GMU 71 | Elk | 467 | 2,529 | 18% |
| GMU 71 | Deer | 222 | 506 | 44% |
| GMU 71 | Pronghorn | 2 | 4 | 55% |
| GMU 71 | Black bear | 34 | – | – |
| GMU 72 | Elk | 83 | 467 | 18% |
| GMU 72 | Deer | 578 | 876 | 66% |
| GMU 72 | Black bear | 2 | – | – |
| GMU 73 | Elk | 105 | 639 | 16% |
| GMU 73 | Deer | 302 | 622 | 49% |
| GMU 73 | Black bear | 19 | – | – |
| GMU 74 | Elk | 329 | 1,537 | 21% |
| GMU 74 | Deer | 130 | 304 | 43% |
| GMU 74 | Black bear | 24 | – | – |
| GMU 75 | Elk | 308 | 1,337 | 23% |
| GMU 75 | Deer | 617 | 1,131 | 55% |
| GMU 75 | Black bear | 26 | – | – |
| GMU 77 | Elk | 683 | 3,299 | 21% |
| GMU 77 | Deer | 612 | 1,356 | 45% |
| GMU 77 | Black bear | 32 | – | – |
| GMU 78 | Elk | 731 | 2,754 | 27% |
| GMU 78 | Deer | 567 | 1,138 | 50% |
GMU overlay from the CPW Big Game GMU layer; unit rules from the 2026 Big Game brochure; 2024 elk harvest by GMU, 2024 deer harvest by GMU, 2024 pronghorn harvest by GMU, 2024 bear harvest by GMU; checked November 5, 2026.
Directions and maps for BLM Tres Rios Field Office
Coordinates used on this page: 38.0176, -108.7843.
point from CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) BLM polygons inside the BLM administrative unit boundary (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 5, 2026.
Supply towns and CPW help near BLM Tres Rios Field Office
The handiest town is Dove Creek, 19 miles off in a straight line. A bigger stop is Cortez: population 9,151 in 2024. CPW Montrose Office is the closest CPW office, about 58 miles.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dove Creek | Dolores | 663 | 19 miles | south |
| Redvale | Montrose | – | 23 miles | northeast |
| Norwood | San Miguel | 523 | 28 miles | east |
| Dolores | Montezuma | 937 | 41 miles | southeast |
| Cortez | Montezuma | 9,151 | 48 miles | south |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); CPW offices from the CPW Contact Us page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 5, 2026.
BLM Tres Rios Field Office and the land around it
If BLM Tres Rios Field Office is busy, Klondike Basin STL lies 8 miles to the east. Close by you will find 5 trust land parcels and 1 SWA.
| Name | Kind | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klondike Basin STL | State trust land | 640 | San Miguel | 8 miles | east |
| Dry Creek Basin STL | State trust land | 640 | San Miguel | 11 miles | east |
| Disappointment Valley STL | State trust land | 320 | San Miguel | 11 miles | southeast |
| Spring Creek Basin STL | State trust land | 640 | San Miguel | 12 miles | southeast |
| Poison Spyder STL | State trust land | 640 | San Miguel | 13 miles | northeast |
| Dry Creek Basin SWA | SWA | 12,775 | San Miguel | 13 miles | east |
Point: CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) BLM polygons inside the BLM administrative unit boundary (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
Game and terrain near BLM Tres Rios Field Office
Clock times for hunting BLM Tres Rios Field Office
Walk-In Access properties open an hour before sunrise and close an hour after sunset, two hours for waterfowl, deer, elk and pronghorn hunters.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Rifle hours | Shotgun hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:44 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:52 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:10 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:30 a.m. | 6:26 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 6:26 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 7:03 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:26 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
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.
Range stops on the way to BLM Tres Rios Field Office
Bayfield Lions Club Shooting Range (free) is 80 miles from BLM Tres Rios Field Office.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Questions about BLM Tres Rios Field Office, answered
What legal shooting hours apply on BLM Tres Rios Field Office in November?
Big game: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. On November 7, 2026 that works out to 6:15 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. in San Miguel County (NOAA solar formula).
Is there an official website for BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
Yes, run by Bureau of Land Management, Southwest District Office: the official page.
Is there an entry fee or permit for BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
A CPW license valid in the unit. Federal land managers do not issue hunting permits here.
Roughly how much country does BLM Tres Rios Field Office take in?
About 600,000 acres in all.
What part of Colorado holds BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
Look in San Miguel County, Montezuma County, Dolores County, Montrose County, La Plata County, Archuleta County and 1 more.
Which game management units cover BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
The CPW GMU layer gives GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 72, GMU 73, GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77, GMU 78 and 4 more.
Which game is allowed on BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
Species are not limited by the manager beyond state seasons.
Is there OTC elk on BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
Not entirely; 2 OTC rows apply, such as second rifle (OTC), and the rest need the draw.
Is CWD testing required for elk from BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 72, GMU 73 and GMU 711: mandatory CWD sampling for listed rifle elk hunt codes. Antler point rule: GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 72, GMU 73, GMU 74 and 7 more.
Which community sits nearest to BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
Dove Creek (19 miles).
Which CPW contact handles BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
CPW Montrose Office in Montrose, (970) 252-6000 (58 miles away). Poaching tips can go to CPW Turn In Poachers.
Orange or pink on BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
Solid orange or pink, at least 500 square inches above the waist, and a hat, for firearm deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bear.
What does the bait law mean on BLM Tres Rios Field Office?
You may not hunt big game over salt, minerals, grain, animal parts or other food, whether or not you placed it.
Plan the BLM Tres Rios Field Office trip
Confirm your hunt code, GMU and the open dates for BLM Tres Rios Field Office before you load the truck.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).