Colorado GMU 35 Elk Hunting
Eagle County, northwest Colorado · 268 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 35 is like
GMU 35 spans 268 square miles of rolling to moderately steep country in Eagle County's northwest region, with elevations ranging from 6,100 feet to 11,300 feet and a typical elevation around 7,900 feet. The terrain is 40% gentle, 45% moderate, 14% steep, and 1% rugged, offering a mix of open and forested ground suitable for both rifle and archery hunting. The unit is large enough to absorb hunting pressure but compact enough for hunters to reach and hunt different areas within a single season.
Approximately 70% of the unit—roughly 187 square miles—is generally open to public hunting on BLM and State Wildlife Areas land. The remaining 30% is private land, creating a patchwork that requires careful route planning. Access depends on the specific approach, as roads, trailheads, and private inholdings govern where a hunter can actually start a day's hunt on the open ground available.
CPW's seasonal-range mapping shows that summer range and winter range each cover most of the unit. Summer Range comprises the full unit, and Winter Range covers 95% of it. A Summer Concentration layer marks 4% of the unit, and a Winter Concentration layer marks 5%, indicating that elk cluster on portions of those ranges rather than spreading uniformly across them. As the fall season progresses from September through November and into December, hunters should expect elk to shift toward their winter grounds, though the timing and extent of that movement vary with weather and snowfall.
The unit offers eight seasons: Archery (September 2–30, either-sex), Muzzleloader (September 12–20, antlerless or bull), four numbered rifle seasons spanning October 14 through November 22, and a separate Late Rifle season (November 28–December 6, antlerless). The four rifle seasons divide into blocks: the first runs October 14–18, the second October 24–November 1, the third November 7–15, and the fourth November 18–22. All rifle seasons except Late Rifle offer either-sex or antlerless tags. September hunting encounters the tail end of the rut, while rifle seasons fall during late rut and post-rut, transitioning into migration. The unit draws high overall hunter pressure and an easy draw—most applicants can expect to draw the easiest qualifying bull or either-sex hunts at zero to few preference points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,100–11,300 ft, typically around 7,900 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 14.4°
- Slope breakdown
- 40% gentle · 45% moderate · 14% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~187 sq mi, plus ~3 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 70% of GMU 35 is public land a hunter can count on — BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- BLM70%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private29%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 35 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 Range100%used in summer
- Winter Range95%used in winter
- Winter Concentration5%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration4%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 | Antlerless, Bull |
| 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 |
| Late Rifle | November 28 – December 6 | Antlerless |
| 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 72°F, lows around 41°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 59°F, lows around 31°F, about 1.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 44°F, lows around 20°F, about 6.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 35 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with no preference points draw a tag here?
Yes. The unit has an easy draw for the easiest qualifying bull or either-sex hunt codes available to adult Colorado residents, often at zero points. Other weapons, specific seasons, or nonresident applicants may require substantially more points, so scope matters.
Is there enough public ground to hunt without crossing private land?
Approximately 70% of the unit is generally open to public hunting on BLM and State Wildlife Areas, but private land interspersed throughout means actual access depends on trailheads, roads, and specific approach routes. Hunters should scout potential entry points in advance rather than assuming all open ground is easily reachable.
When should a hunter expect elk to move toward winter grounds?
Winter Range covers 95% of the unit, and a Winter Concentration layer marks 5% of it. From November onward, hunters should expect elk to shift toward winter areas as part of the migration transition phase, though timing and extent vary with weather and snow. Earlier seasons in September and October typically coincide with the rut and late post-rut period.
How steep is the terrain, and is it manageable for a hunter on foot?
The unit is 40% gentle and 45% moderate terrain, with 14% steep and 1% rugged. This mix of rolling and moderately steep country is generally manageable for hunters on foot, though the steeper portions will demand more effort. Elevation spans from 6,100 to 11,300 feet, so fitness and acclimatization matter.
Which season offers the best chance for a specific elk type—bull, antlerless, or either-sex?
Archery and the first rifle season (October 14–18) offer either-sex tags. Muzzleloader (September 12–20) and the fourth rifle season (November 18–22) also offer bull tags alongside antlerless. Seasons 2, 3, and Late Rifle are antlerless only. Rut timing overlaps Archery and Muzzleloader, placing those early in the season when bulls are vocal.
How much of the unit has concentrated elk use during summer and winter?
A Summer Concentration layer marks 4% of the unit, and a Winter Concentration layer marks 5%. These layers identify ground where elk cluster during their respective seasons, rather than distributing evenly. Hunters who locate these zones can focus effort efficiently, though concentrations do not reflect specific locations and vary seasonally.
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.