Unit 1, Colorado

Rugged, remote, high-desert canyon country — widely described as the most rugged and remote of Colorado's four northwest trophy units. Elevation spans from approximately 5,355 ft along the Green River bottoms to 9,700 ft at Diamond Mountain. Terrain is predominantly rocky with moderately steep to very steep slopes, long ridgelines, and cliff faces overlooking the Green River corridor. The Diamond Breaks Wilderness Study Area (WSA) in the northern portion adds additional primitive character; no motorized vehicles are permitted within the WSA.

The unit is accessed almost entirely via BLM and federal refuge roads. Primary highway access is Colorado State Highway 318, which runs 60.7 miles from US 40 at Maybell west into Browns Park, passing the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, and terminating near the Utah state line (Brown's Park Road / CR 1364). From Utah, hunters can access Diamond Mountain mesa from the west via BLM roads. Most BLM two-tracks require high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Key campgrounds within or adjacent to the unit include Indian Crossing, Bridge Hollow, Gates of Lodore, and Echo Park (the latter within Dinosaur National Monument). The Diamond Breaks WSA in the northern part prohibits motorized vehicles — foot or horseback travel only. Approximately 4,000 acres of private land lie between Diamond Mountain, Wild Mountain, and Troy Mountain areas and require advance landowner permission. Hunting is permitted on Browns Park NWR; hunting is prohibited within Dinosaur National Monument, though armed hunters may transit it in vehicles. No designated wilderness areas exist within the GMU; the Diamond Breaks is a WSA only. Closest CPW regional office: Meeker, (970) 878-6090.

Lower elevations (5,000–7,000 ft) are classic high-desert: sagebrush, sage-grassland, greasewood, and scattered cottonwoods, willows, and salt cedar along the Green River riparian corridor. From roughly 7,000–8,500 ft, pinyon-juniper woodland dominates most slopes. Above that, ponderosa pine appears on steep rocky slopes; grasses and sagebrush cover gentler benches. Oak brush is present in drainages and on mid-elevation north-facing slopes. Riparian wetlands and wet meadows occur within the Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge (13,450 acres total; approximately 1,430 acres of actively managed marsh units fed by pumping from the Green River and water diverted from Beaver and Vermillion Creeks).

Elk are the flagship species; trophy-class bulls (300"+ B&C score) are documented regularly, making this one of the state's premier trophy elk units. Elk use Diamond Mountain and the upper mesa during summer and early fall, then move lower as weather drives them. A key behavioral pattern: elk from adjacent Dinosaur National Monument (an unhunted refuge) regularly cross into GMU 1, particularly in dry years seeking forage — hunters should be alert to boundary lines. Hoy Draw and Chokecherry Draw are noted elk concentration areas. Mule deer inhabit the unit year-round, concentrated at the south and north ends of Browns Park refuge; trophy-class bucks are possible given low hunting pressure. Pronghorn antelope occupy the open sagebrush flats. Shiras moose are seasonally present in the riparian corridors and wet meadows of Browns Park (Green River wetlands); a dedicated GMU 1 moose hunt code could not be confirmed from public sources — verify with CPW. Black bear and mountain lion are resident predators throughout the rocky terrain. Greater sage-grouse and other upland birds use the sagebrush steppe. Turkey is listed as a huntable species in the unit (HuntScore).

1) Elk tag_quota of 11 and draw point figures (16 resident / 24 NR) sourced from cohunter.com quoting recent early either-sex rifle season data — verify against current CPW 2026 Big Game Brochure. 2) HuntScore 2022 aggregate success rate of 36.3% (97 total hunters, 51 harvested) covers ALL species/hunts in GMU 1 combined, not elk-only. 3) Public land pct: HuntScore reports 89% (61% BLM); GoHunt cited 90.9% — both approximate. HuntScore's '64% Wilderness' figure appears erroneous as no designated wilderness exists in GMU 1 (only Diamond Breaks WSA). 4) Shiras moose tag availability for GMU 1 specifically not confirmed from public data — moose are physically present per USFWS refuge records. 5) 2026 season dates confirmed via HuntWise CPW-framework data. 6) No OTC hunts confirmed for elk or deer; HuntScore lists one OTC hunt (likely turkey). 7) Mule deer, pronghorn, bear, and mountain lion tag quotas and draw odds not available in non-paywalled sources.