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Hunting in

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GMU 21 - Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties

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 421 - Mesa and Garfield Counties

You will need to get away from the roads. There are lots of legal bulls as the area is managed for quantity of bulls rather than trophy status. Hence, trophy bulls are present but relatively rare.

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.

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 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 60 - Mesa and Montrose Counties

The elk population is healthy, but success is dependent on the weather in Utah. Harvest success is better in the later seasons and away from roads, with animals being found near Carpenter Ridge, Buckeye Reservoir, and John Brown Canyon.

GMU 481 - Chaffee County

Look for elk throughout the unit primarily in the 8,000 to 10,000-foot elevation range. Elk are generally at or above above timberline in the areas around Frenchman Creek, east face of Mt. Princeton and the Heckendorf State Wildlife Area.

GMU 36 - Eagle County

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

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 13 - Moffat and Routt Counties

Elk are plentiful throughout the Upper Yampa area. Licenses are also readily available, but hunters should not rely on leftover license availability as these herds approach population objective.

GMU 161 - 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.

GMU 171 - Jackson County

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

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 65 - Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, and Ouray Counties

Hunting prospects are generally very good. Because of the extent of wilderness area in these units, elk find plenty of lush meadows for summer grazing. The elk will stay high until hunting pressure or weather force them down.

GMU 26 - Garfield, Eagle, and Routt Counties

Successful hunters avoid the main roads and hunt the dark timber and deeper canyons.

GMU 211 - Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties

There is a large elk herd in this unit, and it 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.

GMU 12 - Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Garfield Counties

Generally, this unit is considered very good elk hunting. They are generally at higher elevations in the eastern portions of the unit during early seasons, and move west to lower elevations (and private lands) as hunting pressure and snow depth increase.

GMU 42 - Mesa and Garfield 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 64 - Delta and Montrose Counties

Hunting prospects are good. Because of the extent of wilderness area in these units, elk find plenty of lush meadows for summer grazing. The elk will stay high until hunting pressure or weather force them down.