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Hunting in

Wyoming Arizona Idaho Colorado Montana

GMU 22 - Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties

Good cow hunting opportunities exist in this unit. The best hunting is in remote areas, mostly at high elevations, where the elk tend to hold up in pockets of green timber and aspen. Check out the Texas Mountain area and Rat Hole Ridge.

GMU 17 - Jackson County

Elk are distributed evenly throughout these units. During the day, the bulls will be in dark timber - glass in the early morning and evening.

GMU 751 - Archuleta, Hinsdale, La Plata, and San Juan Counties

Hunters must be prepared to walk into remote and forested areas. Do not expect to see elk from roads or areas open to OHVs. In early seasons, stick to cool areas on north-facing slopes in the spruce/fir and aspen forests.

GMU 82 - Alamosa and Saguache Counties

Elk hunting is good but requires hunters to pursue animals in challenging terrain. Overall, success rates for elk hunters in unlimited units in the San Luis Valley are generally lower than the statewide average. Weather is a dominant factor for hunters.

GMU 53 - Delta and Gunnison Counties

If there is no snow, elk will likely be scattered throughout the high elevation landscape. Hunters will be most successful by walking along transition areas up high.

GMU 54 - Gunnison County

Hunters are advised to be in good shape and to hunt well away from roads. Elk will move to difficult terrain when hunting pressure starts; so be prepared to hunt canyons or thick timber.

GMU 30 - Garfield and Mesa Counties

GMU 561 - Chaffee and Saguache Counties

Elk can be found throughout the unit, especially in the western two-thirds of the area up to timberline.

GMU 181 - Grand County

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 43 - Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, and Gunnison Counties

With increased hunting pressure and snow, herds tend to move to remote areas or private lands - away from roads and hunters. The wilderness areas are a good bet for success but hunters must hike or horseback as motorized travel is prohibited.

GMU 31 - Mesa, Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties

Good cow hunting opportunities. The best hunting is in remote areas, mostly at high elevations, where the elk tend to hold up in pockets of green timber and aspen. Check out the Texas Mountain area and Rat Hole Ridge.

GMU 361 - Eagle and Grand Counties

Elk are scattered from about 7,000ft to above timberline. As hunting pressure increases, they seek the deeper canyons and dark timber areas way from roads.

GMU 411 - Mesa and Delta Counties

Most elk will be at higher elevations during the early seasons above 8,500 feet in thick timber and oak brush. Distribution changes in relation to weather and hunting pressure; so hunters should be prepared to adapt to conditions.

GMU 55 - Gunnison County

Hunters are advised to be in good shape and to hunt well away from roads. Elk will move to difficult terrain when hunting pressure starts; so be prepared to hunt canyons or thick timber.

GMU 41 - Mesa and Delta Counties

The elk herd is well distributed with good hunting success expected. Elk are scattered throughout the forest and on private lands. Most elk stay at higher elevations (8500- 10,000ft) in thick timber and oakbrush.

GMU 32 - Garfield County

Good cow hunting opportunities. The best hunting is in remote areas, mostly at high elevations, where the elk tend to hold up in pockets of green timber and aspen.

GMU 36 - Eagle County

Large blocks of private land in GMUs 35 and 36 provide refuge areas and can make hunting difficult.

GMU 62 - Delta, Mesa, Montrose, and Ouray Counties

The highest success rate for bull hunters occurs during first season, but expect hunting pressure there. Animals usually move to lower elevation private lands as hunting pressure increases.

GMU 123 - El Paso and Pueblo Counties

The elevation in this area ranges from 5,151 to 4,528 feet. The terrain is Level to gently rolling. The vegetation consists of Shortgrass prairie with some farmland and cottonwood/willow riparian.

GMU 6 - Jackson County

The herd tends to stay in the coniferous timbered areas until late in the season, moving to lower elevations with snow and hunting pressure.