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  3. Elk

Elk Hunting in Colorado GMU 86 - Fremont, Custer, and Chaffee Counties

Elk can be found throughout the unit during the regular fall seasons depending on the snow and weather. Elk hunting is best at higher elevations with pine, fir and meadows in the earlier seasons. Elk may move to lower elevations when heavy snows come.

GMU 86 - Fremont, Custer, and Chaffee Counties

Scores

Ease of Drawing
100
 
100
Success
13
 
13
Trophy Potential
0
N/A
Public Access
56
 
56
Ease of Terrain
0
N/A
Room to Breathe
32
 
32
Opportunity
38
 
38
Convenience
0
N/A
Ease of Effort
39
 
39
61
HuntScore

Access Notes

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Bounded on N by US Highway 50; on E by County Highway 69; on S by Huerfano-Custer County line; on W by Sangre De Cristo Divide and US Highway 285.

The access for this unit is fair to good for access for public lands. The access for this unit is fair to poor for on private lands.

County

Fremont, Custer, Chaffee

Size

449 Square Miles (287,653 Acres)

Land Ownership

44% Private, 56% Public, 43% USFS, 12% BLM, 1% State

Latitude/Longitude

38.2070, -105.6385

Wildfires

Check for current or recent wildfires in this area.

Amenities

There are 1 hospitals, 20 hotels, 14 campgrounds, and 3 grocery stores within a 20 mile radius.

Elk Notes

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  • Full screen maps
  • Toggle between terrain, satellite, and topographic views
  • Additional species-specific map layers

Elk can be found throughout the unit during the regular fall seasons depending on the snow and weather. Elk hunting is best at higher elevations with pine, fir and meadows in the earlier seasons. Elk may move to lower elevations when heavy snows come.

HuntScore Tip

Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. A unit may have 80% public land, but a particluar species may only occupy 20% on the entire area. And that 20% species distribution may lie 100% within private lands. Does that sound confusing? Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle.

Management Plan

Elk Management Plan

State Agency Website

Visit Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Other Species in Unit

Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Turkey,

Photos and Terrain Notes


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The elevation in this area ranges from 14,064 feet on Humbolt Peak to 5,667 feet near Texas Creek. The terrain is Flat to gently rolling valley bottom climbing quickly to steep, rough mountains. The vegetation consists of Grassland to Grass to pine to spruce, firs and aspens to alpine meadows.

Elk Drawing Stats (2019)

Total Quota
1,010
Licenses Drawn
839
Licenses Surplus
171
Resident Quota
721
Nonresident Quota
118
Landowner Quota
0
Youth Quota
87
96.9%
Average Draw Odds
Choose a hunt below to take a deeper dive into quotas, drawing odds, drawing trends, and harvest data.
Stats Apply For Sex Manner Season
EE086O1M
E
M
O1
EE086O1R
E
R
O1
EE086O4R
E
R
O4
EE086P1R
E
R
P1
EF086O1M
F
M
O1
EF086O2R
F
R
O2
EF086P5R
F
R
P5
HuntScore Tip: You are able to receive a refund for your license as long as the season has not started. You would have to fill out the License Refund Application or Preference Point Restoration form and return the license and carcass tag with the application to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Preference Points will be restored to the pre-draw level, and you will not receive a preference point for that year.

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  • Drawing and harvest trends across multiple years
  • Individual hunt quotas
  • 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn
  • Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants
  • Harvest by sex and manner (and season where applicable)
  • Average success odds
  • Days per hunter
  • Drawing and harvest tips

Elk Harvest Stats (2019)

Total Hunters
1,874
Total Harvest
239
Harvest Male
156
Harvest Female
70
13%
Average Success
Manner Season Hunters Harvest
M
M
123 22
R
EP
161 42
R
O4
44 7
R
O1
112 11
R
O4
10 0
R
O3
46 0
R
O2
86 12
R
O3
290 35
A
A
622 64
R
O4
54 7
R
O2
470 45
R
O1
143 20
R
P0
192 51
R
R
1129 153
ALL
ALL
1874 239
R
D
11 4
HuntScore Tip: Hunters who have GPS units are encouraged to mark the location of their harvest in the field. This is especially important for hunters who harvest a bear or moose. During mandatory inspections, hunters will be asked to give a location of their harvest. Having GPS coordinates makes reporting simple and precise.

Gear Recommendations for Elk Hunting From logo

Camping

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm MAX 4-Season Sleeping Pad-Silver-Regular

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm MAX 4-Season Sleeping Pad-Silver-Regular

The Thermarest NeoAir XTherm MAX 4-Season Sleeping Pad has all of the same great features as the standard Xtherm but with more warmth per gram than any other air mattress in the world with even greater coverage and in a rectangle shape. By utilizing a softer, textured no-slip fabric, you will have a better nights sleep while at the same time getting more next-to-skin comfort and a quieter rest. By using multiple ThermCapture reflective layers, the XTherm gives you the 4 season warmth without the bulk that you usually get in a more winter-worthy mattress.Comes with Stuff Sack and Repair Kit!Unmatched Warmth-to-Weight: Patent-pending, reflective ThermaCapture(TM) technology traps radiant heat while Triangular Core Matrix(TM) construction minimizes convective heat loss-all without the bulk, weight or durability issues of down and synthetic fills.Excellent Comfort: 2.5" (6 cm)-thickness, new, soft-touch fabrics and baffled internal structure provide unrivaled stability and support.Highly Packable: Free of bulky, conventional insulating materials, the XTherm(TM) mattress packs to the size of a one-liter water bottle.Ultralight: Advanced materials and a tapered design reduce weight without compromising warmth.XTherm MAX: All the performance of the original XTherm with added coverage for extreme temps and larger torsos.Video -NeoAir Xtherm

Clothing

Sitka Equinox Midi Pant-Optifade Elevated II-Large

Sitka Equinox Midi Pant-Optifade Elevated II-Large

The Equinox Midi pant is the perfect season extender as a mid-layer when worn under your outerwear and doubles as a ultra-quiet stand alone pant during cool mid-season hunts.

Food

PROBAR Base Mint Chocolate Protein Bar - 12-Pack-Case/ 12 Pack

PROBAR Base Mint Chocolate Protein Bar - 12-Pack-Case/ 12 Pack

Chocolate with a hint of mint is a tasty way to build lean muscle. With a real plant protein, chai, and flax seeds to keep you going strong, the PROBAR Base Mint Chocolate Protein Bar will get you to the next level and help peak your performance.Use it as a meal replacement or as a snack for on the go, no matte the reason, your body will love the healthy and organic ingredients.

Footwear

Salomon X Ultra Mid 3 Aero Hiking Shoes-Peat-9

Salomon X Ultra Mid 3 Aero Hiking Shoes-Peat-9

The best selling X ULTRA 3 MID AERO continues to evolve into an even better hiker. With the new Descent Control Technology, you'll have more confidence on technical trails and for charging downhill. And its breathable, mid-height is ready for any warm weather endeavor. FeaturesContagrip TD: For maximum traction on mixed terrain and extended durability, Contagrip(R) TD combines a deep, aggressive lug pattern with our most durable compound.Advanced Chassis: Placed between the outsole and midsole, this lightweight chassis helps optimize motion control, energy management and protection for an efficient, stable yet responsive ride.SensiFit: SensiFit(TM) cradles the foot from the midsole to the lacing system, providing a secure, snug, and virtually customized fit all around the foot.Chevron Lugs: Lug design with deep penetration and multi-directional grip, improving traction on soft surfaces like mud or loose dirt.EnergyCell: A high performance EVA foam that provides shock attenuation.3D Mesh: 3D open Mesh provides maximum breathability.PU Coated Leather: A polyurethane coated leather that protects it and makes it stronger to last longer.Mesh and Textile Lining: A soft, breathable lining for extreme comfort.Gusseted Tongue: The tongue is connected to the upper on both sides, preventing debris from entering the shoe, and keeping the tongue centered.Protective Toecap: A protective piece of rubber, leather or synthetic material over the toe area.Protective Mudguard: A wrap of leather, synthetic or rubber around the base of the foot that protects the lateral and medial sides of the foot.Molded OrthoLite: Molded to match the contours of your foot, this OrthoLite(R) insole provides superior cushioning, as well as breathability and durability, to upgrade the comfort and performance of our footwear.Regular Laces: Traditional lacing system with eyelets

Optics

Vortex Razor HD 10x50 Binoculars

Vortex Razor HD 10x50 Binoculars

These Vortex Binoculars 10x50 are made for extreme terrain. Unimaginable conditions. Both test your mettle-and your optics. With a well-earned reputation for pushing the limits of optical performance, the Razor HDs step up and out on other binoculars in their class. Small, light, bright, strong, and packed with the best quality, hand-selected prisms and premium HD extra-low dispersion glass available today. Nothing else comes close to these Vortex Razor binoculars.Video Descriptions

Packs

Stone Glacier Minamilist + Xcurve Frame Backpack-Foliage-Small

Stone Glacier Minamilist + Xcurve Frame Backpack-Foliage-Small

Built for light and fast travel when every ounce counts, the Minimalist weighs in at only 2.95lbs on a medium Xcurve, with a load rating of 130 pounds. The Minimalist is an ultralight combination of the Xcurve , detachable Load Shelf, and SG Load Cell dry bag. Designed for early season scouting trips and long through hikes, you can keep the weight at a minimum while maintaining the load carrying capacity of the KRuX frame. Remove the SG Load Cell dry bag to use the load shelf to pack quarters or other large loads. The modular design allows for the addition of the Access bag or Spotting scope pocket. With a swap of two buckles, you are back to the standard Xcurve frame ready to accept any of thier Stone Glacier accessory bags.Features:130+ pound load rating (check Design page for load rating info)2500+ cubic inch with SG Load Cell dry bagExpandable load shelfBelt attachmentsCordura 500 and Xpac fabricHeavy duty, 1" Duraflex military approved buckles and webbingVideo -Stone Glacier Avail 2200 BackpackVideo -How to attach to Xcurve Frame