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.

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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.
Elk Notes
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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
State Agency Website
Visit Colorado Parks and WildlifePhotos and Terrain Notes
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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Elk Drawing Stats (2020)
1st Choice Draw Odds
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 |
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Elk Harvest Stats (2019)
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
|
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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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- Min/Max precip and snow depth
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