Elk Hunting in Colorado GMU 16 - Jackson County
Elk are distributed evenly throughout these units. During the day, the bulls will be in dark timberÑglass in the early morning and evening. The herd tends to stay in the coniferous timbered areas until late in the season.

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Access Notes
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Bounded on N by Lone Pine Creek, County Roads 16 and 12W; on E by County Highway 14; on W by Continental Divide.
Over 2/3 of North Park is public land.
Elk Notes
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Elk are distributed evenly throughout these units. During the day, the bulls will be in dark timberÑglass in the early morning and evening. The herd tends to stay in the coniferous timbered areas until late in the season, moving to lower elevations with snow and hunting pressure.
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
State Agency Website
Visit Colorado Parks and WildlifePhotos and Terrain Notes
Elevations in North Park range from 7,800 feet at Northgate to 12,951 feet at Clarkfts Peak. The average elevation of the open, sagebrush-grassland park is 8,000 feet. North Park is a relatively flat, sagebrush grassland with numerous wetlands interspersed with wide, willow dominated drainages. The mountains that surround the park rise rapidly to the alpine zone above timberline.
The montane zone is dominated by lodgepole pine stands and to a lesser extent aspen and spruce-fir stands. Vegetation varies throughout the Park with sagebrush lining the valley floor, a variety of willow species along stream courses, and mountain shrub, lodgepole pine, aspen, and spruce-fir at higher elevations. The dominant vegetation types present are coniferous forest, sagebrush mix, and irrigated grass hay fields The valley floor at 7,880ft supports ag lands and sage. Extensive willow stands line the streams - a favorite moose habitat, so be sure of your target.
The forest surrounding the basin varies from aspen/lodgepole to spruce/fir. The area is generally windy and colder than places in western Colorado. Prepare for snow during your hunt. 4WD is helpful, as are chains.
Elk Drawing Stats (2020)
1st Choice Draw Odds
Stats | Apply For | Sex | Manner | Season | Type | Draw Odds | HuntScore |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF016P4R |
F
|
R
|
P4
|
LL
|
100%
|
69 | |
EF016P3R |
F
|
R
|
P3
|
LL
|
100%
|
69 | |
EF016O4R |
F
|
R
|
O4
|
LL
|
100%
|
75 | |
EF016O3R |
F
|
R
|
O3
|
LL
|
100%
|
77 | |
EE016O4R |
E
|
R
|
O4
|
LL
|
100%
|
75 |
Go Pro and get:
- Drawing trends across multiple years
- Individual hunt quotas
- 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn
- Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants
- Minimum preference points to draw
- Point creep plots
Elk Harvest Stats (2019)
Manner | Season | Type | Sex | Hunters | Harvest | Male | Female | Youth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALL
|
ALL
|
N/A
|
N/A | 2027 | 331 |
149
|
174
|
0
|
M
|
M
|
N/A
|
N/A | 51 | 13 |
13
|
0
|
0
|
R
|
EP
|
PLO
|
N/A | 59 | 33 |
0
|
31
|
0
|
R
|
O1
|
LL
|
E
|
143 | 25 |
16
|
9
|
0
|
R
|
O1
|
LL
|
F
|
130 | 35 |
0
|
35
|
0
|
R
|
O2
|
LL
|
F
|
246 | 27 |
0
|
21
|
0
|
R
|
O2
|
N/A
|
N/A | 519 | 54 |
23
|
25
|
0
|
R
|
O3
|
LL
|
F
|
151 | 43 |
0
|
43
|
0
|
R
|
O3
|
N/A
|
N/A | 300 | 72 |
29
|
43
|
0
|
R
|
O4
|
LL
|
E
|
66 | 23 |
9
|
14
|
0
|
R
|
O4
|
LL
|
F
|
52 | 0 |
0
|
0
|
0
|
R
|
O4
|
N/A
|
N/A | 118 | 23 |
9
|
14
|
0
|
R
|
P0
|
N/A
|
N/A | 92 | 45 |
5
|
38
|
0
|
R
|
R
|
N/A
|
N/A | 1285 | 250 |
82
|
160
|
0
|
Go Pro and get:
- Harvest trends across multiple years
- Harvest stats by hunt_code, manner, season, sex, type
- Average harvest rates
- Average days per hunter
- Overall harvest trends
Weather Insights
Weather can vary by elevation. See how weather varies by elevation within a unit by selecting an elevation range. Elevation ranges are based on weather stations in or near the unit. Not all weather elements are available within the unit.
Average Temps
Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. Large swings indicate a good layering system should be used. Be sure to make note of the extreme temperatures as these often pose the greatest risk to hunters. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5° for every 1000' in elevation gain.