Colorado GMU 231 Elk Hunting
Routt, Rio Blanco and Garfield counties, northwest Colorado · 178 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 231 is like
Unit 231 sprawls across 178 square miles of northwestern Colorado, running from elevations of 6,900 feet to 12,100 feet with typical ground around 8,900 feet. The terrain is predominantly rolling, with some steeper breaks; 52 percent of the unit is gentle, 41 percent moderate, 6 percent steep, and 1 percent rugged. The unit lies in Routt, Rio Blanco and Garfield counties and encompasses high plateau country, canyon systems, and transitional forest typical of the Colorado western slope.
Public hunting access covers about 63 percent of the unit on National Forest and BLM ground. An additional 1.1 percent is Colorado State Trust Land, huntable only on parcels enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. The remaining 36 percent is private. The split between public and private inholdings, combined with the unit's size, means a hunter must plan access carefully and confirm current conditions on the ground.
Elk are mapped across the full unit for summer use and overall range, with 71 percent of the unit classified as summer concentration ground where elk cluster. Winter range covers 48 percent of the unit, with winter concentration on 21 percent. A resident population layer indicates year-round use on 23 percent of the unit. As the fall progresses and temperatures drop from September highs around 64 degrees Fahrenheit to November highs around 39 degrees, elk move predictably toward winter ground. October brings average snowfall of about 4.9 inches, and November typically receives 19.4 inches, reinforcing the seasonal shift in elk location and distribution.
The unit offers seven seasons total: archery from September 2 to September 30 (either-sex), muzzleloader from September 12 to September 20 (either-sex or antlerless), and four rifle seasons spanning October 14 through November 22 (1st Rifle October 14–18 for antlerless or bull; 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1 for antlerless; 3rd Rifle November 7–15 for antlerless; 4th Rifle November 18–22 for antlerless or bull). Archery season falls during rut onset and primary rut, while muzzleloader hunts during primary rut. Rifle seasons encounter the transition from late rut and post-rut recovery into migration and early winter range settlement. Draw difficulty is rated easy, often 0 points, for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt available to adult Colorado residents. The unit experiences extreme overall hunter pressure.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,900–12,100 ft, typically around 8,900 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 11.3°
- Slope breakdown
- 52% gentle · 41% moderate · 6% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~112 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 63% of GMU 231 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM. A further 1% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest61%
- BLM2%
- State Trust Land1%
- Private36%
Colorado State Trust Land is open to public hunting only where it is enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Check current enrollment before planning around it.
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 231 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%.
- Summer Range100%used in summer
- Overall Range100%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Summer Concentration71%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Range48%used in winter
- Resident Population23%the only layer that means year-round use
- Winter Concentration21%where elk bunch up in winter
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 | August 15 – January 15 | 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 64°F, lows around 38°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 52°F, lows around 28°F, about 4.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 39°F, lows around 17°F, about 19.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 231 elk hunting FAQ
Can someone with zero preference points realistically draw this unit?
Yes. The unit draws at 0 points for the easiest qualifying unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents in the primary draw. Other weapons, seasons, and nonresident applicants require substantially more points. The tag is accessible to first-time applicants, but extreme hunter pressure means the field will be crowded once the season opens.
When is elk movement most active here, and which seasons catch it?
Movement accelerates in November as temperatures drop and snow increases, pushing elk from summer and transitional ground toward winter range. The 3rd and 4th rifle seasons (November 7–22) align with migration transition and early winter range settlement, so hunters in late fall should expect elk to be actively repositioning. Earlier seasons encounter rut activity (archery and muzzleloader in September) and post-rut recovery (1st rifle in October), with different mobility and vulnerability patterns.
How much public ground can a hunter actually access and hunt on foot?
About 63 percent of the unit is open National Forest and BLM, plus a small amount of State Trust Land if enrolled in the Public Access Program. Roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings all govern whether a hunter can reach any particular public acre; ownership alone does not guarantee entry. Confirming current access and planning routes in advance is essential on this unit.
Does the unit stay good for public hunters through November?
Elk shift toward winter range (which covers 48 percent of the unit) as fall progresses and snow accumulates, particularly after early November. Late-season public hunters must locate where winter ground lies and adjust accordingly. The unit continues to hold elk through late November, but their distribution changes significantly from September and October.
Are there seasons better suited to archery or rifle hunting on this unit?
Archery (September 2–30) runs during rut onset and primary rut, when bulls are vocal and active. Muzzleloader (September 12–20) also hunts primary rut but with a narrower window. Rifle seasons (October and November) encounter post-rut recovery and early migration, when elk are less concentrated and more dispersed, which can make them harder to locate but extends opportunity through cold weather and snow.
Is extreme hunter pressure a real problem for actually finding elk on this unit?
Extreme pressure means many hunters will be afield, but it describes applicant volume and draw difficulty, not the amount of elk or whether hunts succeed. A crowded unit and a productive unit are not opposites. Success depends on scouting, fitness, terrain familiarity, and timing within the season. Many hunters will not venture far from roads or apply discipline to their approach, leaving opportunity for prepared individuals.
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.