Colorado GMU 361 Elk Hunting
Eagle and Grand counties, northwest Colorado · 83 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 361 is like
Colorado GMU 361 spans 83 square miles across Eagle and Grand counties in the northwest region, ranging from 6,800 feet to 11,600 feet with a typical elevation near 8,600 feet. The terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with 31% gentle slopes, 53% moderate slopes, 15% steep slopes, and 1% rugged ground. The unit offers mixed conifer and aspen forest typical of the mid-elevation Colorado Rockies, with sufficient cover and forage to support a resident elk population across much of the year.
Public land comprises roughly 74% of the unit, including National Forest (43%), BLM (24%), and State Wildlife Areas (6.4%), all open to public hunting. Private ground makes up the remaining 26%. The public acreage is accessible but scattered among private holdings, requiring hunters to identify specific entry points and respect adjacent ownership boundaries.
Elk occupy the unit through the fall across summer and winter ranges. Summer Range covers 77% of the unit, with Summer Concentration marking 56% where elk cluster during the warm months. Winter Range covers 68%, with Winter Concentration on 18%. As temperatures drop and snow accumulates through November and early December, elk shift from summer ground toward winter range, though timing and extent vary with weather and snow conditions. No mapped migration corridors indicate movement through the unit, suggesting seasonal shifts occur within it.
The unit offers seven seasons open to public applicants: Archery (September 2–30), Muzzleloader (September 12–20), and five rifle seasons. The rifle seasons include four consecutive hunts—1st Rifle (October 14–18), 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1), 3rd Rifle (November 7–15), and 4th Rifle (November 18–22)—followed by Late Rifle (November 28–December 9). Archery and either-sex rifle tags are available early in the season, while antlerless tags dominate the later rifle hunts. The draw is easy, often requiring zero preference points for the easiest qualifying unit-wide bull or either-sex code available to adult residents. Hunter pressure remains high.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,800–11,600 ft, typically around 8,600 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 15.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 31% gentle · 53% moderate · 15% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~61 sq mi
Land & access
About 74% of GMU 361 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest43%
- BLM24%
- State Wildlife Area6%
- Private26%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 361 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 Range77%used in summer
- Winter Range68%used in winter
- Summer Concentration56%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Concentration18%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors<1%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 | 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 9 | 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 67°F, lows around 35°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 54°F, lows around 26°F, about 2.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 40°F, lows around 15°F, about 9.8 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 361 elk hunting FAQ
Can someone with zero points draw a hunt here?
Yes. The draw is easy for the easiest qualifying unit-wide bull or either-sex code available to adult Colorado residents, often requiring zero preference points. Other seasons, weapons, and applicant categories may require substantially more points, and nonresidents typically face a different draw structure. Applicants should check the current draw results for the specific hunt code they are pursuing.
How much public land can a hunter actually access?
Roughly 61 square miles of the unit's 83 total are generally open to public hunting through the National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. This 74% open figure is the amount a hunter can count on, though private inholdings and ownership boundaries mean ground must be scouted and access points identified before the season. Not every square mile of open land is equally accessible or equally productive.
Is this unit better for archery or rifle?
The unit offers both archery and five rifle seasons, each with different tag types. Archery runs September 2–30 during Rut Onset and Primary Rut, often considered the most active period for bull elk. The four-week block of numbered rifle hunts spans October 14–November 22, transitioning from Post-Rut Recovery through Migration Transition as elk shift toward winter ground. Late Rifle (November 28–December 9) falls during the Migration Transition and early Winter Range phases. Hunter choice depends on preferred hunting style and season timing.
When should a hunter expect elk to move toward winter range?
Winter Range covers 68% of the unit and becomes increasingly important as temperatures drop and snow accumulates. The Migration Transition period runs through November, and a hunter should expect elk to shift toward lower-elevation, snow-sheltered ground as the fall advances. Temperature typically falls from September highs around 67°F to November highs around 40°F, with November averaging nearly 10 inches of snowfall. The exact timing and extent of movement varies with weather and snow conditions in any given year.
Where do elk concentrate in this unit?
Summer Concentration covers 56% of the unit where elk cluster during warm months, and Winter Concentration marks 18% during the cold season. These percentages describe how much of the unit contains concentrated-use ground but do not specify where that ground is located within the unit—a hunter must scout the specific drainages and slopes. The unit's rolling to moderately steep terrain supports elk use across a broad elevation range rather than in a single predictable location.
Does this unit experience heavy hunter pressure?
Yes, overall hunter pressure is high. The easy draw and close proximity to Front Range population centers mean the unit attracts significant numbers of hunters. Despite high pressure, the unit is large enough and offers multiple seasons across three months that a hunter willing to scout thoroughly and potentially venture onto steeper terrain can find opportunity. Public-land accessibility and moderate terrain make this a popular choice for applicants new to the unit or lacking specific knowledge of current conditions.
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.