Colorado GMU 23 Elk Hunting
Rio Blanco and Garfield counties, northwest Colorado · 423 sq mi
Based on the EASIEST unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents in the 2026 primary draw — the lowest preference-point tier that drew reliably. Private-land-only and Ranching for Wildlife hunts are excluded because neither is a unit-wide public-land opportunity — NOT because the public cannot draw them. A private-land-only license requires the hunter's own permission to hunt private ground; a Ranching for Wildlife license is valid on the participating ranches enrolled in that program. They are separate systems. Other weapons, seasons and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points. The band is a floor, not a target: even the easiest qualifying hunt here sits in that range.
What hunting GMU 23 is like
Colorado GMU 23 spans 423 square miles across Rio Blanco and Garfield counties in the northwest region, rolling from 6,100 feet at its low point to 10,100 feet at its high point, with typical terrain around 7,800 feet. The country is rolling to moderately steep, with 47 percent gentle slopes, 38 percent moderate, and 15 percent steep terrain. The unit receives heavy hunter pressure.
Approximately 45 percent of the unit, roughly 189 square miles, is public land generally open to hunting. This consists of National Forest, BLM land, and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 55 percent is private. Private inholdings within the publicly-owned portions and access routes will influence a hunter's ability to reach and hunt specific areas.
Elk use the unit across its full extent mapped in the Overall Range, with Summer Range covering 85 percent and Winter Range covering 79 percent. Summer Concentration ground comprises 44 percent of the unit, while Winter Concentration comprises 27 percent, indicating that elk cluster seasonally rather than spreading evenly. Resident Population mapping covers only 1 percent of the unit, meaning CPW maps minimal year-round occupancy. As fall progresses from September into November, hunters should expect elk distribution to shift toward winter range as temperatures drop and snow accumulates, though the timing and extent of any such shift vary with weather and snow.
Eight seasons are offered in 2026, six of which are open to public applicants: Archery from September 2 to September 30 for either-sex elk; Muzzleloader from September 12 to September 20 for either-sex or antlerless; First Rifle from October 14 to October 18 for antlerless or bull; Second Rifle from October 24 to November 1 for antlerless; Third Rifle from November 7 to November 15 for antlerless; and Fourth Rifle from November 18 to November 22 for antlerless or bull. Two additional seasons—Private-land only and Ranching for Wildlife—require private-land access. The unit draws easily for the most accessible either-sex and antlerless hunts, often at zero preference points, though premium bull seasons require substantially more points. The draw difficulty band describes the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code available to adult Colorado residents; other weapons, seasons and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,100–10,100 ft, typically around 7,800 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 13.3°
- Slope breakdown
- 47% gentle · 38% moderate · 15% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~189 sq mi
Land & access
About 45% of GMU 23 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest32%
- BLM8%
- State Wildlife Area5%
- Private55%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 23 each range covers — the single best clue to whether elk are here in September, in November, or only passing through. The layers overlap, so they do not add to 100%.
- Overall Range99%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Summer Range85%used in summer
- Winter Range79%used in winter
- Summer Concentration44%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors40%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Concentration27%where elk bunch up in winter
- Resident Population1%the only layer that means year-round use
Elk seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Either-sex |
| Muzzleloader | September 12 – September 20 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| 1st Rifle | October 14 – October 18 | Antlerless, Bull |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Antlerless |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Antlerless, Bull |
| Private-land only | September 2 – December 31 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| Ranching for Wildlife | October 9 – December 2 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
Dates span every hunt code of that type in this unit and can differ by code. Confirm the current brochure with Colorado Parks & Wildlife before applying.
Fall weather
- September — highs around 72°F, lows around 43°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 59°F, lows around 32°F, about 1.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 45°F, lows around 22°F, about 6.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 23 elk hunting FAQ
How much public land can a public-land hunter actually count on?
Approximately 45 percent of the unit, or roughly 189 square miles, is National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area land generally open to hunting. The remaining 55 percent is private. Access to specific areas depends on roads, trailheads and private inholdings within the public ground.
Is this unit realistic for someone with no preference points?
Yes, the easiest either-sex and antlerless hunts draw at or near zero preference points for adult Colorado residents. However, premium bull seasons on this unit take substantially more points, and the zero-point statement applies only to those accessible public hunts, not to all weapons or nonresident applicants.
What is the rut timing for early-season hunts?
Archery runs September 2–30 and covers rut onset through the primary rut period. Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 and falls entirely in the primary rut. Both offer active rut hunting, whereas rifle seasons begin in the late rut and post-rut phases.
Do elk stay in the unit year-round or migrate through it?
CPW maps year-round occupancy (Resident Population) on only 1 percent of the unit, indicating that most elk do not remain in place all season. With summer range at 85 percent and winter range at 79 percent coverage, and with 44 percent summer concentration and 27 percent winter concentration, hunters should expect elk to cluster seasonally and shift toward winter range as fall progresses and snow accumulates.
What terrain should a foot hunter expect?
The unit is rolling to moderately steep overall, with 47 percent gentle slopes and 38 percent moderate slopes, meaning much of the ground is walkable. Fifteen percent of the unit is steep, and the typical elevation of 7,800 feet is moderate for Colorado elk country, making the terrain manageable for a hunter on foot, though snow in November can affect access and travel.
When does weather become a significant factor in the season?
September averages highs near 72°F with no measurable snowfall, making early-season hunting warm and dry. October cools to highs near 59°F with only about 1.2 inches of snow on average. November becomes much colder with highs near 45°F and roughly 6.2 inches of average snowfall, substantially altering hunting conditions and elk movement.
Data sources & methodology
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Big Game hunting — seasons, weapons, hunt codes and license types
- CPW — Primary Draw rules — how preference points and the hybrid draw work
- CPW — Elk statistics, draw recap and Drawn Out At reports — the point levels behind the draw-difficulty bands
- CPW — Secondary Draw — licenses remaining after the primary draw
- CPW — Maps and GIS (Species Activity Mapping) — elk seasonal range
- CPW — State Trust Land Finder — which State Trust acreage is enrolled and open to public hunting
- Federal and state land-ownership datasets — land ownership and access
- NOAA climate normals — fall weather
Draw difficulty is a qualitative band, not published odds — the note under the summary above states exactly which hunt code it describes. Land shares are separate, non-overlapping categories: publicly owned is not the same as open to hunting, and State Trust Land is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it. Unit data last updated August 28, 2026.