Colorado GMU 28 Elk Hunting
Grand County, northwest Colorado · 664 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 28 is like
Game Management Unit 28 encompasses 664 square miles of northwestern Colorado in Grand County, spanning elevations from 7,300 feet to 13,500 feet with a typical mid-elevation around 9,300 feet. The terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with 32 percent gentle slopes, 49 percent moderate slopes, 18 percent steep slopes, and 1 percent rugged terrain. The unit includes both lower-elevation rangelands and higher-elevation mountain country capable of supporting substantial elk populations.
Roughly 67 percent of the unit—approximately 445 square miles—is generally open to public hunting on National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area lands. The remaining acreage consists of private land (31 percent), unclassified ownership (1.7 percent), and a small share of State Trust Land. Access to public ground depends on road conditions, trailheads, and seasonal restrictions that vary across the National Forest and BLM holdings; hunters should verify current conditions before planning.
The unit's elk seasonal-range mapping shows Summer Range covering 89 percent and Winter Range covering 25 percent of the unit, indicating that elk occupy substantially more ground during the warm months than the cold months. Summer Concentration covers 19 percent of the unit, where elk cluster during summer. Winter Concentration accounts for 12 percent and shows where elk concentrate on winter ground. The contraction from broad summer range to much narrower winter range means hunters should expect elk distribution to shift toward winter ground as the season advances, though the timing and extent of that shift vary with weather and snow. Migration Corridors cover 8 percent of the unit.
The unit offers six archery and rifle seasons open to public applicants, plus a private-land-only season. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex hunting during rut onset and the primary rut. Muzzleloader hunts occur September 12–20 for either-sex or antlerless elk during the primary rut. Four rifle seasons follow: First Rifle October 14–18 (either-sex or antlerless, late rut and post-rut recovery); Second Rifle October 24–November 1 (antlerless, post-rut recovery and migration transition); Third Rifle November 7–15 (antlerless, migration transition); and Fourth Rifle November 18–22 (either-sex or antlerless, migration transition). Early-season hunts occur in mild conditions with September highs near 63°F, while late seasons bring significant cooling and snow, with November highs around 38°F and average snowfall near 15 inches. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code is moderate, requiring 1–2 preference points for adult Colorado residents. Hunter pressure on the unit is moderate overall.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,300–13,500 ft, typically around 9,300 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 15.9°
- Slope breakdown
- 32% gentle · 49% moderate · 18% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~445 sq mi, plus ~3 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 67% of GMU 28 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest60%
- BLM7%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership2%
- Private31%
“Ownership unclassified” means the source dataset does not record an owner for that acreage. It is not known to be public or private.
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 28 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 Range89%used in summer
- Winter Range25%used in winter
- Summer Concentration19%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Concentration12%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors8%movement between ranges, not residence
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 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Antlerless |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| Private-land only | September 1 – January 31 | 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 63°F, lows around 35°F, about 0.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 51°F, lows around 25°F, about 4.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 38°F, lows around 15°F, about 14.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 28 elk hunting FAQ
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually access in this unit?
Approximately 445 square miles—roughly 67 percent of the unit—is generally open to public hunting across National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area lands. Access depends on roads, trailheads, and seasonal restrictions that vary by agency and location; hunters should verify current conditions and approach routes before hunting.
When should a hunter expect elk to concentrate during the fall?
Summer Concentration covers 19 percent of the unit where elk cluster during warm months. Winter Concentration marks 12 percent where elk cluster in cold months. As the season advances and conditions cool from September through November, elk should be expected to shift toward winter-concentration ground, though weather and snow timing will affect the pace and extent of that movement.
Is this unit realistic for a hunter with no preference points?
The easiest qualifying unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code requires 1–2 preference points. A zero-point applicant should not expect to draw this unit, though private-land-only hunts exist outside the primary draw.
Which season offers the best chance at a bull during the rut?
Archery and Muzzleloader both occur during rut onset and primary rut (September 2–30 and September 12–20, respectively). Archery offers a full month of hunting during peak rut activity, while Muzzleloader is a nine-day window also within the rut period.
How much snowfall should a late-season hunter expect?
October typically brings 4.7 inches of snowfall at mid-elevation, while November averages 14.9 inches. Late-season hunts (November 7–22) should be planned with expectation of significant snow, challenging travel, and rapidly cooling temperatures from early-month highs near 38°F.
Does the unit have year-round resident elk populations, or do most elk migrate out?
Winter Range covers only 25 percent of the unit, compared to Summer Range at 89 percent, which indicates elk are far less widely distributed in winter. CPW has mapped no resident-population layer for this unit, meaning no acreage is documented as year-round use; hunters should expect seasonal shifts in distribution tied to elevation, snow, and feed availability rather than permanent occupancy across the full unit.
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.