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Elk Hunting in Colorado GMU 37 - Summit and Grand Counties

Elk are well distributed in all Middle Park units. Bull to cow ratios are good because the area is fairly steep and heavily timbered. Generally, trophy bulls are rare (a few are taken every year) because bulls are managed for hunter opportunity.

GMU 37 - Summit and Grand Counties

Scores

Ease of Drawing
0
 
N/A
Success
0
N/A
Trophy Potential
0
 
N/A
Public Access
73
 
73
Ease of Terrain
20
 
20
Room to Breathe
0
 
N/A
Opportunity
0
 
N/A
Convenience
90
 
90
Ease of Effort
0
N/A
66
HuntScore

Access Notes

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Bounded on N by Colorado River; on E by Barger Gulch, Williams Fork River-Blue River divide, Williams Fork River-Straight Creek divide and Continental Divide; on S by Continental Divide; on W by Eagle River-TeNew Mexicoile Creek divide, I-70, Blue River, Cataract Creek and Gore Range Divide.

County

Summit, Grand

Size

528 Square Miles (337,981 Acres)

Land Ownership

27% Private, 73% Public, 65% USFS, 5% BLM, 1% State

Latitude/Longitude

39.7045, -106.1323

Wildfires

Check for current or recent wildfires in this area.

Amenities

There are 20 hospitals, 20 hotels, 20 campgrounds, and 20 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 are well distributed in all Middle Park units. Bull to cow ratios are good because the area is fairly steep and heavily timbered. Generally, trophy bulls are rare (a few are taken every year) because bulls are managed for hunter opportunity. With hunting pressure and snow, elk head for the inaccessible timber and private property.

Hunt the rough terrain and heavy cover away from roads and trails to increase your success.

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, Shiras Moose, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Turkey, Pronghorn,

Photos and Terrain Notes

GMU 37 - Summit and Grand Counties
GMU 37 - Summit and Grand Counties
GMU 37 - Summit and Grand Counties
GMU 37 - Summit and Grand Counties
+ 2

The Continental Divide and the Gore Range Divide encircle Middle Park. Most of this terrain is steep to very steep. Sagebrush/shrubs are common on southern exposures at lower elevations. The past decadefts mountain pine beetle killed an estimated 80 percent of mature lodgepole pine trees in Grand County, creating numerous hazards along public roadways as these trees begin to fall.

Elk Harvest Stats (2018)

Total Hunters
1,350
Total Harvest
392
Harvest Male
55
Harvest Female
278
31.1%
Average Success
Manner Season Hunters Harvest
R
L0
137 79
R
P0
41 18
R
O1
181 22
M
M
169 36
R
O1
60 6
R
O2
101 21
R
O4
284 75
R
O1
104 10
R
O4
124 40
R
EP
12 6
R
L0
137 79
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.