Elk Hunting in Colorado GMU 15 - Routt, Grand, and Eagle Counties

Bounded on N by US Highway 40; on E by Muddy Creek-Yampa River divide (Gore Range Divide) and Canyon Creek; on S by Colorado River; on W by County Highway 131.

Most of the land outside of the national forest is private land. Hunting pressure is heavy. Hunters will have better success and enjoy more solitude by walking into remote areas. Sarvis Creek Wilderness Areas access is restricted to non-vehicle methods.

Elk are plentiful throughout the Upper Yampa area. Licenses are also readily available, but hunters should not rely on leftover license availability as these herds approach population objective. CPW has been working to minimize crop damage and significantly reduce the number of elk in these units. There are good numbers of bull elk, however, do not expect to see many large adult males.

Large elk numbers occur on the Routt National Forest. The basic movement is from the higher to lower elevation in response to hunting pressure and weather. Hunt the timber and hunt the Routt National Forest early. Private lands access is primarily available on a fee hunting basis.

Domestic sheep grazing typically occurs on parts of the Routt National Forest through the months of August and September. Elk will typically avoid areas actively used by sheep but often are not far away. Hunters can use this knowledge to their advantage. To learn more about sheep management and actively grazed areas, archery and muzzleloader hunters are encouraged to contact the Hahns Peak-Bears Ranger District in Steamboat Springs

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.