Colorado GMU 36 Elk Hunting
Eagle and Grand counties, northwest Colorado · 275 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 36 is like
GMU 36 spans 275 square miles across Eagle and Grand counties in Colorado's northwest region. Elevation ranges from 6,700 feet to 13,400 feet, with typical terrain around 9,500 feet. The unit's terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 24% of the area is gentle, 51% moderate, 23% steep, and 3% rugged. This diverse topography creates varied country for hunters to navigate at different times of the season.
National Forest and BLM lands make up approximately 82 percent of the unit (roughly 225 square miles) and are generally open to public hunting. The National Forest comprises 78 percent of the unit, with BLM accounting for 4 percent. Private land covers about 17 percent of the unit, and approximately 1.2 percent is ownership unclassified. This substantial public land base offers hunters considerable ground to pursue elk, though private inholdings and land access considerations still apply.
Elk occupy summer range across 99 percent of the unit and are concentrated on about 12 percent of it during that season. Winter range covers 34 percent of the unit, with winter concentration on approximately 5 percent. CPW maps elk overall range at 100 percent, reflecting the full extent of seasonal use across the unit. As fall progresses and temperatures cool from September highs near 63°F to November highs near 38°F, with November snowfall averaging nearly 20 inches, hunters should expect elk distribution to shift toward winter ground, though timing and extent vary with weather.
The unit offers eight total seasons, seven open to public applicants. Archery runs September 2 to September 30 and is either-sex. Muzzleloader runs September 12 to September 20 and offers antlerless and bull options. Four numbered rifle seasons follow: 1st Rifle October 14 to October 18 (either-sex and antlerless), 2nd Rifle October 24 to November 1 (antlerless), 3rd Rifle November 7 to November 15 (antlerless), and 4th Rifle November 18 to November 22 (either-sex and antlerless). Late Rifle runs separately November 28 to December 6 (antlerless). A private-land-only season runs August 15 to January 15. Archery and muzzleloader occur during the primary rut and rut onset, while rifle seasons span the late rut through migration transition and early winter range periods. 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 and seasons may require more.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,700–13,400 ft, typically around 9,500 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 18.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 24% gentle · 51% moderate · 23% steep · 3% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~225 sq mi
Land & access
About 82% of GMU 36 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest78%
- BLM4%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership1%
- Private17%
“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 36 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 Range99%used in summer
- Winter Range34%used in winter
- Summer Concentration12%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Concentration5%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 | 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 63°F, lows around 38°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 51°F, lows around 28°F, about 4.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 38°F, lows around 18°F, about 19.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 36 elk hunting FAQ
Is this a realistic unit to draw as an applicant with no preference points?
Yes. For the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt codes available to adult Colorado residents, draw difficulty is easy and often requires zero points. Other weapons, seasons, and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points, so applicants should verify the specific hunt they are applying for.
How much public land can a hunter actually access and hunt here?
Approximately 82 percent of the unit is National Forest and BLM land generally open to public hunting. However, private inholdings make up 17 percent of the unit, and access depends on specific roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures. The public ownership figure does not guarantee easy entry to all that ground.
When should a hunter expect elk to concentrate or shift during the fall?
Elk are concentrated on about 12 percent of the unit during summer and on about 5 percent during winter. As temperatures drop and snowfall increases from near zero in September to almost 20 inches in November, hunters should expect elk distribution to shift toward winter-range ground, though the timing and extent of that shift depend on weather and snow accumulation.
Which season sits in the peak rut?
The muzzleloader season, September 12 to September 20, occurs during the primary rut. Archery, running September 2 to September 30, spans both rut onset and primary rut. The 1st Rifle season, October 14 to October 18, begins during late rut and early post-rut, when elk are less vocal but still active.
Is this a heavily hunted unit?
Overall hunter pressure is high. Draw difficulty is easy, meaning tags are readily available, but that does not indicate crowd level on the ground. Many applicants draw here, so hunters should expect to encounter other parties, especially during opening weeks and rifle seasons.
What does the terrain actually offer to a hunter on foot?
The unit's mixed terrain includes 24 percent gentle ground, 51 percent moderate, and 26 percent steep to rugged. Hunters can find less steep country for travel but will encounter considerable steep terrain at higher elevations or in sections not dominated by moderate slopes. Ground accessibility depends on private-land layout and seasonal access points.
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.