Elk Hunting in Colorado

Elk Hunting in Colorado is the pinnacle elk hunting experience. Also, with an estimated elk population of (280,000) the state hosts the largest elk population in North America. Interstate 25 runs down the Front Range of the Rockies & divides the state with about two-thirds in the west & one-third of the state in the east. Many hunters say that Colorado is the best place for elk hunting. And there are elk hunting opportunities in both the west and the east.

Western Colorado

So if we talk about the western part of Colorado is primarily mountainous and is mostly in the Southern Rockies & Colorado Plateau ecoregions. But it also includes part of the Wyoming Basin in the northwest and the Arizona / New Mexico Plateau in the south.

Eastern Colorado

The ecoregions found in Eastern Colorado are the High Plains “North-East” Southwestern Tablelands “south-east”. In addition, Elks primarily live in the mountainous parts of the Southern Rockies and Colorado Plateau.

So (41) of the (43 DAUs) are in the western part of the state and only 2 (DAUs) are in the east of the front range.

Elk Hunting Season in Colorado

Elk Tags Available to Non-residents in Colorado.

Season	Sex	GMU’s Public	Date
Elk Archery	Either Sex	134	Aug 31 – Sep 30
Elk Archery	Antlerless	51	Aug 31 – Sep 30
Elk Archery	Antlered	4	Aug 31 – Sep 30
2nd Rifle	Antlered	93	Oct 19 – Oct 27
3nd Rifle	Antlered	93	Nov 2 – Nov. 10
4^th Plains Rifle	Either Sex	53	Sep 1 – Jan 31

Also, dates are finalized by mid February each year.

Elk License in Colorado

Elk license/tags for non-resident include a fishing license and the cost for non-residents is $660 for Bull Elk Antlered or Either Sex Elk tags and $500 for cow/calf (Antlerless). The cost for the Non-resident Youth tag is $100. For residents the cost is only $46. But it does not include a fishing license.

Five Best Places to Go Elk Hunting in Colorado

According to John Ellenberger, a big-game manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the White River National Forest is the state’s elk mecca. “Our largest herd is the White River elk herd, found in the northern half of the White River National Forest–north of Interstate 70,” says Ellenberger.

Unit 74. This unit spreads across the counties of San Juan & La Plata.
Unit 65. This unit crosses over to Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, & Hinsdale Counties. …
Unit 13. Elk are plentiful throughout the Upper Yampa area. Licenses are also readily available.
Unit 22. Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties.
Unit 11. Moffat and Rio Blanco.

To see hunt scores by all areas visit huntscore.com.

Good Gear List for Hunting in Colorado

Hunting License & Other Id’s
Colorado Guide if Non-Resident
Camera with Batteries
Gloves
Hat or Beanie
Pants and Underwear
Rain jacket
Vest
Boots
Socks
Hunting Knife
Spotting Scope
Binoculars
Backpack Rain Cover
Trekking poles
Rifle or Bow
Sleeping bag
Cooking Stove
Water Cooler

Colorado Elk Hunting Legal Firearms

The vast majority of elk hunters opt for a scoped, bolt-action centerfire rifle.
In Colorado to legally hunt elk with a rifle, you must use a rifle that fires expanding bullets with a minimum caliber of (.24 cal). or 6mm, a minimum weight of 85 grains that deliver at least 1,000 ft. lbs. of energy at 100 yards.

Elk Hunting in Colorado