Colorado GMU 37 Elk Hunting
Summit and Grand counties, northwest Colorado · 528 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 37 is like
Game Management Unit 37 covers 528 square miles across Summit and Grand counties in the northwest region. The unit spans from 7,000 feet to 14,300 feet, with typical conditions around 10,300 feet. Terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with 32 percent gentle slopes, 47 percent moderate grades, and 19 percent steep terrain by area. The unit's mean slope is 16.2 degrees, placing it in the steep band overall. Elk hunting here encounters variable ground across seasonal ranges and elevation bands.
The unit is approximately 71 percent open to public hunting, comprising 374 square miles managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining land is divided among private ownership (28 percent) and unclassified ownership (1.3 percent). The Forest Service accounts for the majority of publicly huntable ground at 65 percent of the unit, with BLM contributing 5.1 percent and State Wildlife Areas 0.4 percent. Private inholdings and unclassified tracts intersperse the public land, affecting access and movement patterns across the unit.
Elk seasonal occupancy is driven by elevation and weather patterns. Summer Range covers 87 percent of the unit, with Summer Concentration comprising 58 percent, indicating significant clustering on particular grounds as temperatures remain high. Winter Range covers 40 percent of the unit, with Winter Concentration at 15 percent. Migration Corridors encompass 11 percent of the unit, and Resident Population mapping identifies 4 percent of the unit as year-round-use ground. As fall advances and weather cools from September highs near 59 degrees Fahrenheit to November highs near 35 degrees, elk shift toward winter range and lower terrain. This movement patterns increases in intensity after the primary rut ends in late September. October brings approximately 9.2 inches of snowfall to mid-elevation areas, while November averages 22.5 inches, further driving range transitions.
The unit offers seven seasons across archery, muzzleloader, and rifle. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex hunting, occurring during rut onset and primary rut. Muzzleloader hunts September 12–20 for either-sex or antlerless elk during the primary rut phase. Four rifle seasons follow: the 1st Rifle period (October 14–18) for either-sex or antlerless; the 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1) for antlerless only; the 3rd Rifle (November 7–15) for antlerless only; and the 4th Rifle (November 18–22) for either-sex or antlerless. A private-land-only season runs September 1–January 31 for either-sex or antlerless hunting. The draw for this unit carries moderate difficulty, with the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex codes available to Colorado adult residents requiring one to two preference points in the primary draw. Hunter pressure on the unit is moderate overall.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,000–14,300 ft, typically around 10,300 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 16.2°
- Slope breakdown
- 32% gentle · 47% moderate · 19% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~374 sq mi
Land & access
About 71% of GMU 37 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest65%
- BLM5%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- Unclassified ownership1%
- Private28%
“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 37 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 Range87%used in summer
- Summer Concentration58%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Range40%used in winter
- Winter Concentration15%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors11%movement between ranges, not residence
- Resident Population4%the only layer that means year-round use
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 59°F, lows around 34°F, about 0.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 47°F, lows around 25°F, about 9.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 35°F, lows around 14°F, about 22.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 37 elk hunting FAQ
How much of this unit can a public-land hunter actually access?
Approximately 71 percent of the unit (374 square miles) is open to public hunting across U.S. Forest Service land, Bureau of Land Management ground, and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 29 percent is private or unclassified ownership. However, public ownership does not guarantee easy entry — roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings all affect which parts a foot hunter can realistically reach.
Does this unit have year-round elk presence, or do they migrate out?
Year-round-use mapping shows elk resident on 4 percent of the unit, meaning that share supports year-round occupancy. The remaining 96 percent reflects seasonal range and migration corridors. As temperatures drop from fall into winter, elk shift toward lower-elevation winter grounds and away from higher summer areas, a pattern that intensifies after the primary rut ends in late September.
Is the terrain here manageable for a hunter on foot?
The unit is 32 percent gentle and 47 percent moderate by area, with 19 percent steep and 2 percent rugged terrain. Most of the unit falls into walkable grades, though steep pockets exist and the mean slope of 16.2 degrees indicates rolling to moderately steep overall conditions. A foot hunter should expect mixed terrain—some easy travel and some challenging climbs—depending on which parts of the unit are accessed.
What is the draw difficulty here, and what does it cover?
The unit carries moderate draw difficulty (1–2 preference points) based on the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunting code available to adult Colorado residents in the primary draw. This scope covers specific seasons and weapon types; other hunts, nonresident applicants, and premium tags may require substantially more points.
Which seasons fall during the rut, and which come after?
Archery (September 2–30) and Muzzleloader (September 12–20) occur during rut onset and primary rut, when bulls are most vocal and active. The 1st Rifle season (October 14–18) spans the late-rut and post-rut-recovery phase, while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rifle seasons (October 24–November 22) take place during post-rut recovery and migration transition, when elk behavior shifts toward winter-range preparation.
How much does weather change across the fall hunting seasons?
September sees highs near 59 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal snowfall (~0.7 inches). October cools to highs near 47 degrees with increased moisture (~9.2 inches of snow), and November drops to highs near 35 degrees with heavy snow (~22.5 inches). Hunters should expect progressively colder conditions and increasing snow depth as the season advances.
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.