Colorado GMU 31 Elk Hunting
Mesa, Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, northwest Colorado · 702 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 31 is like
Colorado GMU 31 spans 702 square miles across Mesa, Garfield and Rio Blanco counties in the state's northwestern region. The unit ranges from 4,700 feet to 9,100 feet in elevation, with typical hunting occurring around 6,900 feet. Terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 28% of the unit is gentle, 38% moderate, 29% steep, and 5% rugged. Hunters should expect a range of slopes and elevations rather than uniformly easy or difficult walking country.
Public hunting ground comprises approximately 57% of the unit (roughly 402 square miles), managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 43% is private land. BLM ground is the dominant public holding on this unit. Public access depends on roads, trailheads and private inholdings; the ownership share does not guarantee straightforward entry to all public acres.
Elk occupy the unit across seasonal ranges. Overall mapped range covers the entire unit, but resident-use ground covers only 16% of it, meaning substantial portions support seasonal rather than year-round elk activity. Winter Range covers 64% of the unit, with Winter Concentration covering 19%, indicating that elk cluster in concentrated areas during the winter season. Summer Range covers 48%, with Summer Concentration covering 7%, so summer elk also concentrate rather than spread evenly. Migration Corridors account for 5% of the unit. As fall progresses and temperatures cool from September highs near 75°F to November highs near 47°F, hunters should expect elk to shift toward winter-range ground, though the timing and extent of that movement vary with snow and weather conditions.
The unit offers eight elk seasons, seven open to public application. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex and antlerless; Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 for either-sex and antlerless; four numbered rifle seasons run October 14–November 22 (1st Rifle October 14–18, 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1, 3rd Rifle November 7–15, 4th Rifle November 18–22), each offering various legal codes; Late Rifle runs December 15–January 15 for antlerless only. A private-land-only season runs September 2–December 31. Archery and Muzzleloader occur during the primary rut phase, while the rifle seasons span the late rut, post-rut recovery, migration transition, and early winter phases. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents is Easy, often requiring zero preference points, though other weapons, seasons and nonresident applicants may face more competition. Hunter pressure on the unit is moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,700–9,100 ft, typically around 6,900 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 19.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 28% gentle · 38% moderate · 29% steep · 5% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~402 sq mi
Land & access
About 57% of GMU 31 is public land a hunter can count on — BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- BLM57%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private43%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 31 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
- Winter Range64%used in winter
- Summer Range48%used in summer
- Winter Concentration19%where elk bunch up in winter
- Resident Population16%the only layer that means year-round use
- Summer Concentration7%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors5%movement between ranges, not residence
Elk seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| Muzzleloader | September 12 – September 20 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| 1st Rifle | October 14 – October 18 | Either-sex, Antlerless, Bull |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Antlerless |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Either-sex, Antlerless, Bull |
| Late Rifle | December 15 – January 15 | Antlerless |
| Private-land only | September 2 – December 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 75°F, lows around 47°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 61°F, lows around 35°F, about 0.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 47°F, lows around 25°F, about 2.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 31 elk hunting FAQ
How much public ground can a hunter actually count on?
Approximately 57% of the unit—roughly 402 square miles—is generally open to public hunting through BLM and Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 43% is private. That public acreage does not guarantee easy entry, since roads, trailheads, private inholdings and seasonal restrictions all still apply.
Is this unit realistic for a first-time applicant with no preference points?
Yes. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents is rated Easy, often drawing at zero points. This scope applies to specific seasons and weapons; other codes may require more preference points.
When does the rut occur here, and which seasons overlap it?
The rut begins around September 1 and peaks from September 11–30. Archery (September 2–30) and Muzzleloader (September 12–20) both run during the rut, with Archery spanning from rut onset through peak activity. The 1st Rifle season (October 14–18) begins as the rut winds down into recovery and post-rut behavior.
Do elk stay in the unit year-round or migrate seasonally?
Resident-use mapping shows that roughly 16% of the unit supports year-round elk occupancy. Winter Range covers 64% of the unit, suggesting substantial seasonal shift toward lower-elevation or sheltered ground as fall advances and snow accumulates. The timing and extent of that shift vary with weather, and migration is not absolute—some elk may remain, while others move.
Where do elk concentrate during winter and summer?
Winter Concentration comprises 19% of the unit and Summer Concentration comprises 7%, but the mapping does not specify where those concentrated areas lie within the unit—only that they exist and occupy those shares. Hunters should plan to scout concentrated areas during their intended season rather than assuming elk are evenly distributed across the broader winter or summer ranges.
What is the terrain like for a hunter on foot?
The unit is mixed, with 28% gentle, 38% moderate, 29% steep and 5% rugged terrain. Hunters should plan for a range of slopes and elevations; some areas will be walkable rolling country, while others require steep climbing or route-finding through broken ground.
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.