Colorado GMU 25 Elk Hunting
Garfield and Eagle counties, northwest Colorado · 232 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 25 is like
GMU 25 spans 232 square miles across rolling to moderately steep terrain in Garfield and Eagle counties in the northwest region. Elevation ranges from 6,200 feet to 12,200 feet, with typical hunting ground near 9,200 feet. The unit's terrain is mixed: 37% gentle, 43% moderate, 18% steep, and 2% rugged by area. Summer Concentration covers 11% of the unit, while Winter Concentration covers 35%, marking the principal areas where elk cluster seasonally.
Approximately 83% of the unit is National Forest and BLM land open to public hunting, totaling roughly 193 square miles. The remaining 17% is private ground. National Forest comprises 59% of the unit and BLM comprises 25%, both generally open to hunting. Access depends on the specific road and trailhead conditions where hunters enter; public ownership alone does not guarantee unrestricted entry.
Summer Range covers 74% of the unit and Winter Range covers 70%, indicating that elk occupy substantial portions through both seasons. A hunter should expect elk to be present across much of the unit fall-wide, with clustering intensifying on Winter Concentration ground as the season progresses and snow accumulates. The specific timing and magnitude of any shift toward concentrated areas varies with weather and snow, particularly as November advances. CPW maps no Resident Population layer for this unit, meaning no area is mapped as year-round occupancy.
The unit offers six seasons open to the public: Archery from September 2–30 (either-sex), Muzzleloader from September 12–20 (either-sex or antlerless), 1st Rifle from October 14–18 (antlerless or bull), 2nd Rifle from October 24–November 1 (antlerless), 3rd Rifle from November 7–15 (antlerless), and 4th Rifle from November 18–22 (antlerless or bull). Archery and Muzzleloader seasons coincide with the primary rut, while 1st Rifle spans the late rut and early post-rut phases. Subsequent rifle seasons fall during migration transition and early winter. Draw difficulty is easy, often at zero preference points for the easiest unit-wide either-sex or bull hunts available to adult Colorado residents.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,200–12,200 ft, typically around 9,200 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 15.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 37% gentle · 43% moderate · 18% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~193 sq mi
Land & access
About 83% of GMU 25 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest59%
- BLM25%
- Private17%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 25 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 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 Range74%used in summer
- Winter Range70%used in winter
- Winter Concentration35%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration11%where elk bunch up in summer
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 |
| Ranching for Wildlife | October 13 – December 7 | 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 4.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 39°F, lows around 17°F, about 16.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 25 elk hunting FAQ
How much public ground can a hunter actually rely on for this unit?
Roughly 83% of the unit, or about 193 square miles, is National Forest and BLM land generally open to public hunting. The remaining 17% is private. Public ownership does not guarantee access: roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings still apply, so hunters should check the specific approach before committing to the unit.
Is this a realistic unit to draw with no preference points?
Yes, for the easiest qualifying unit-wide either-sex or bull hunts available to adult Colorado residents. Draw difficulty is easy and often at zero points for these hunts. Other weapons, seasons, and nonresident applicants may require substantially more points.
When is the rut happening during the hunting seasons here?
Archery (September 2–30) spans the rut onset and primary rut phases, making it the prime rut hunt. Muzzleloader (September 12–20) falls entirely in the primary rut. Both 1st Rifle (October 14–18) and 4th Rifle (November 18–22) straddle late-rut and post-rut periods, but 2nd and 3rd Rifle seasons occur during migration transition and are outside the rut proper.
Where should a hunter expect to find concentrated elk as fall progresses?
Winter Concentration comprises 35% of the unit, marking where elk cluster during the cold season. Summer Concentration is 11%. However, the mapping does not indicate the elevation, aspect, or location of these concentration areas—a hunter must assess the specific approach and terrain to locate them. Clustering intensifies as November advances and snow accumulates, with timing and extent varying by weather conditions.
What are the temperature and snow conditions like as the season advances?
September averages highs near 64°F and lows near 38°F with minimal snowfall. October cools to highs near 52°F and lows near 28°F with average monthly snowfall around 4.7 inches. November temperatures drop further to highs around 39°F and lows around 17°F, with average monthly snowfall of 16.7 inches. The unit experiences significant cooling and snowfall from September through November.
How does this unit handle extreme hunter pressure?
Overall hunter pressure on GMU 25 is extreme. Although the unit draws easily—often at zero points for the easiest hunts—that easy draw does not mean the ground is uncrowded. An easy-to-draw unit near population centers can still attract many hunters. Success depends on knowing the terrain, finding elk quickly, and being prepared to hunt thoroughly across the 193 square miles of public ground available.
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.