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Elk Hunting in Colorado GMU 11 - Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties

The large elk herd occupies all available habitat. The later seasons are usually better, especially on public land, due to snow and hunting pressure pushing the elk out of the adjacent units. The success rate is very good on late cow elk hunts.

GMU 11 - Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties

Scores

Ease of Drawing
92
 
92
Success
25
 
25
Trophy Potential
45
 
45
Public Access
69
 
69
Ease of Terrain
81
 
81
Room to Breathe
1
 
1
Opportunity
63
 
63
Convenience
0
 
N/A
Ease of Effort
59
 
59
67
HuntScore

Access Notes

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Bounded on N by County Highway 318 and US Highway 40; on E by Deception Creek-Strawberry Creek Road; on S by White River; on W by Wolf Creek, Coal Creek, Winter Valley Gulch to Drill Hole to Elk Springs Ridge to mile marker 38.3 on US Highway 40, Twelvemile Gulch Road, Yampa River and Little Snake River.

Overall access is easy and 4WD is not necessary in most areas. Hunting pressure is heavy.

County

Moffat, Rio Blanco

Size

567 Square Miles (362,818 Acres)

Land Ownership

32% Private, 69% Public, 62% BLM, 7% State

Latitude/Longitude

40.3012, -108.2265

Wildfires

Check for current or recent wildfires in this area.

Amenities

There are 0 hospitals, 0 hotels, 0 campgrounds, and 0 grocery stores within a 20 mile radius.

Elk Notes

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  • Additional species-specific map layers

The large elk herd occupies all available habitat. The later seasons are usually better, especially on public land, due to snow and hunting pressure pushing the elk out of the adjacent units. The success rate is very good on late cow elk hunts. Axial Basin CRM is a hot spot for hunting, but crowding is significant.

The best bull hunting will be on private lands.

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


Add a Photo

The lower elevations of 6,000ft consist of sage and sage steepe. piñon and juniper cover the upper elevations up to 8,500ft. Expect zero to light snow cover in 1st and 2nd seasons. The later seasons may bring moderate snow and a potential for near zero temperatures.

If the weather is mild, deer and elk will not be present in high numbers until the later seasons.

Elk Over The Counter Hunts (2021)

There are 4 OTC hunts in this unit. Go Pro to view the details!

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    • Residency Requirements
    • Season and Manner of Take Restrictions
    • Season Dates

Elk Drawing Stats (2020)

Total Quota
12,805
Licenses Drawn
7,293
Licenses Surplus
5,512
Resident Quota
4,422
Nonresident Quota
2,871
Landowner Quota
1,095
Youth Quota
1,095
94.2%
Overall Unit
1st Choice 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 Type Draw Odds HuntScore
EF011P5R
F
R
P5
LL
100%
83
EF011O1M
F
M
O1
LL
100%
78
EF011O1R
F
R
O1
LL
100%
75
EF011O2R
F
R
O2
LL
100%
82
EF011O3R
F
R
O3
LL
100%
83
EF011O4R
F
R
O4
LL
100%
83
EF011W6R
F
R
W6
LL
18.3%
62
EF011W1R
F
R
W1
LL
25.6%
58
EF011W2R
F
R
W2
LL
32.3%
64
EF011W3R
F
R
W3
LL
23.4%
59
EF011W4R
F
R
W4
LL
100%
65
EM011O1R
M
R
O1
LL
100%
72
EM011O4R
M
R
O4
LL
100%
82
EF011L1R
F
R
L1
LL
81.3%
73
HuntScore Tip: Ninety to ninety-five percent of Colorado's GMUs require no preference points - or just a single preference point - in order to draw a limited license in those units.

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  • 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)

Total Hunters
5,311
Total Harvest
1,393
Harvest Male
617
Harvest Female
730
26%
Average Success
Manner Season Type Sex Hunters Harvest Male Female Youth
A
A
N/A 277 53
47
6
0
ALL
ALL
N/A 5311 1393
617
730
0
M
M
N/A 67 12
12
0
0
R
O4
LL
F
796 67
0
67
0
R
O4
LL
M
310 84
84
0
0
R
O4
N/A 1106 151
84
67
0
R
O3
N/A 1155 282
106
165
0
R
O3
LL
F
592 176
0
165
0
R
O2
LL
F
290 40
0
40
0
R
O1
LL
F
393 124
0
124
0
R
O2
N/A 636 70
30
40
0
R
O1
N/A 1444 405
259
146
0
R
O1
LL
M
886 161
161
0
0
R
L0
N/A 245 154
0
146
0
R
EP
PLO
N/A 154 75
0
59
0
R
D
R
N/A 1 1
1
0
0
R
ALL
N/A 245 154
0
146
0
R
P0
N/A 319 195
98
81
0
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.

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.

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  • Snow depth by month
  • Min/Max precip and snow depth
  • Average # of days between precip or snow event

Gear Recommendations for Elk Hunting From logo

Camping

Katadyn Gravity BeFree Microfilter 3.0L

Katadyn Gravity BeFree Microfilter 3.0L

Let gravity do the work when you need clean drinking water. With the Katadyn Gravity BeFree 3.0L microfilter, you can drink directly from the reservoir or easily fill a bottle or another reservoir.Features0.1 micron microfilter is tested to protect against harmful organisms; it removes 99.99% of protozoa and 99.9999% of bacteria to EPA standardsCompared to the standard BeFree 3L filter, this filter includes a convenient output hose that lets you quickly fill water bottles and hydration systemsOutput hose has quick-connect, hydration-pack adapters for hands-free filling of hydration bladdersQuick-release cap with auto shutoff for easy filling without hoses and fast output hose attachmentEasily hang the durable and collapsible 3-liter HydraPak reservoir with the integrated bail handle and carry loop/hang strap with clipsFilters up to 2 liters per minute42mm, wide-mouth opening makes for easy filling from a lake, stream or faucetSimply shake or swish the EZ-Clean membrane to remove debrisTested up to 1,000 liters; individual results will depend on water qualityAlso included is a carry bag and separate bag for the outlet hose to keep it clean and avoid cross-contaminationMade with BPA-free materials

Clothing

Elk101.com Euro T-Shirt

Elk101.com Euro T-Shirt

Are you a dedicated elk hunter? Show you're passion with this new big and bold skull elk design from Elk101.com.Available in M-2XL sizes in black. These shirts are printed on super soft and comfortable Next Level 6200 Poly/Cotton blend shirts. Get yours today!

Food

MTN OPS Biotics - Probiotics & Enzymes

MTN OPS Biotics - Probiotics & Enzymes

BIOTICS is an advanced Pre and Probiotic blend specifically formulated to increase healthy gut bacteria, while decreasing the bad gut bacteria at the same time. Properly balancing these bacterias aids in improved digestive health, stronger gut lining and combating symptoms such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and irregular stool frequency. Improve your gut health, comfort and overall well-being with BIOTICS.USAGE: For best results take 1 serving (2 capsules) 20-30 min before any meal. Take on a daily consistent basis for best results. 80% of your immune system is stored right in your gut and that is why MTN OPS BIOTICS(TM) is so important for your daily health and wellness.

Footwear

Irish Setter Ravine 2884 Hunting Boot

Irish Setter Ravine 2884 Hunting Boot

Irish Setter Ravine boots offer comfort while hunting or hitting the trail. The Ravine 2884 feature EnerG technology underfoot. The EnerG material provides comfort and sustained support through an energy-returning core sandwiched between midsole and outsole. The Anti-Torsion Chassis offers great underfoot support on uneven or rocky ground. A rubber outsole with multi-tiered lugs provides superior traction on uneven terrain and self-cleaning lugs shed debris with every step.A contoured last mirrors foot shape for excellent fit. Lace-to-toe eyelets help customize the fit. The uppers provide other comfort and performance features like quick dry linings which wick away foot moisture, UltraDry waterproofing for long-lasting protection, a memory foam collar for instant comfort, a Cushin Comfort Tongue that provides comfort in the shin area and ScentBan(TM) scent control that eliminates odors within the boot. Armatec technology adds durability and abrasion resistance in high wear areas of the heel and toe.Features:Full grain, waterproof USA made leather and abrasion resistant nylonRemovable memory foam EVA with ScentBanLace to toe eyelets provide a better fitEnerG technology provides energy return, comfort, and supportTorsion chassis provides great underfoot support for uneven and rocky terrainIrish Setter Ravine

Optics

Muddy Outdoors 850X Laser Rangefinder

Muddy Outdoors 850X Laser Rangefinder

The Muddy LR850X Laser Range Finder is about to be your new favorite range finder. With a 850 yard range, this range finder works for most hunting applications. The ABS housing and durable rubber trim protect the unit to IP54 water protection specifications. Switch between yard and meters quickly and easily.

Packs

Horn Hunter Main Beam Backpack

Horn Hunter Main Beam Backpack

For hefty loads of gear needed to get you to and from your hunt, the Main Beam comes with 8 gear compartments, weapon carrying capability, and a hydration pouch that can be used with most hydration bladders. Take all the gear you need into the wilderness, leaving behind any worries.2800 Cubic InchesMesh pockets for face masks and glovesUnique pack design allows you to access pockets while carrying bow or rifleInternal frame and molded foam contours to your backDesigned to be used with most hydration bladdersLimited contact with back and hips - provides increased ventilationSIDE WING POCKETS; specifically designed to be easily accessible - 4 separate compartments on each side5 GEAR GRIPPER PADS, protects and secures your bow, rifle, scope or tripod ear buckles allow you to add your own accessories - knife, flashlight, saw, radio, etc.Our "Gear Grippers" allow you to attach the bow by the handle, not around the string"Air Flow" belt, allows for maximum air circulation8 internal compartments to organize your gearTripod and spotting scope pouch with padded "Gear Gripper" straps

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