Colorado GMU 371 Elk Hunting
Summit County, northwest Colorado · 172 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 371 is like
GMU 371 spans 172 square miles in Summit County's north-western region, covering terrain that rises from 7,900 feet to 13,600 feet with a typical elevation around 10,200 feet. The country is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 31% of the unit is gentle, 41% moderate, 21% steep, and 7% rugged by area. Hunting here ranges across high-elevation forest and meadow country with a significant component of demanding terrain that requires steady foot traffic and navigation skills.
Roughly 85% of the unit, or 147 square miles, is National Forest land that is generally open to public hunting. Private ground makes up about 14% of the unit. This public-land share gives a hunter substantial acreage to work with, though the terrain and elevation mean that access points, roads, and trailheads still control where hunting actually happens on the ground.
CPW's seasonal-range mapping shows that summer range covers 99% of the unit, with 70% concentrated in summer-concentration zones where elk cluster. Winter range covers only 29% of the unit, with 8% marked as winter concentration. A resident population layer covers 11% of the unit, indicating some year-round use, but the small winter-range share against the large summer share suggests that as fall progresses, elk should be expected to shift toward winter ground as temperatures drop and snow accumulates. The timing and extent of this movement vary with weather and snow, and elk distribution may differ markedly from early to late season.
The unit offers six seasons available to public applicants: archery from September 2 to September 30 (either-sex); muzzleloader from September 12 to September 20 (either-sex or antlerless); first rifle October 14 to October 18 (either-sex or antlerless); second rifle October 24 to November 1 (antlerless); third rifle November 7 to November 15 (antlerless); and fourth rifle November 18 to November 22 (either-sex or antlerless). September highs average near 61 degrees Fahrenheit with negligible snowfall. October cools to highs near 49 degrees with about 5.9 inches of average snowfall, and November drops to highs around 37 degrees with heavy snowfall averaging 19.8 inches. Archery season overlaps the rut onset and primary rut phases, muzzleloader falls during primary rut, and the early-rifle seasons move through post-rut recovery and migration-transition phases. The draw for this unit is rated easy, often drawing at zero preference points for the most accessible resident-eligible bull or either-sex codes.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,900–13,600 ft, typically around 10,200 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 18.8°
- Slope breakdown
- 31% gentle · 41% moderate · 21% steep · 7% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~147 sq mi
Land & access
About 85% of GMU 371 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest.
- National Forest85%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private14%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 371 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
- Summer Concentration70%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Range29%used in winter
- Resident Population11%the only layer that means year-round use
- Winter Concentration8%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 | 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 61°F, lows around 36°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 49°F, lows around 26°F, about 5.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 37°F, lows around 16°F, about 19.8 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 371 elk hunting FAQ
Is this unit realistic for an applicant with no preference points?
Yes. The draw for GMU 371 is rated easy, and the easiest qualifying bull or either-sex hunt codes for adult Colorado residents typically draw at zero preference points. New applicants should check the specific code they are targeting, as other weapons, seasons, and nonresident applicants can require more points.
When is the rut, and which season catches it best?
Rut onset begins September 1 and the primary rut runs through September 30. Archery season (September 2–30) overlaps both phases and offers the best window for rut hunting. Muzzleloader (September 12–20) falls entirely during primary rut but covers only the middle third of the season.
Does elk distribution change from early to late season?
Yes. Summer range covers 99% of the unit against only 29% winter range, which suggests elk should be expected to shift toward winter ground as temperatures drop and snow accumulates through fall. The timing and extent of this movement vary with weather and snow conditions.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually hunt?
About 85% of the unit (147 square miles) is National Forest land generally open to public hunting. Access still depends on roads, trailheads, and private inholdings, which control where a hunter can actually reach the ground.
Is the terrain manageable for a hunter on foot?
The unit is mixed terrain with substantial steep ground: 31% gentle, 41% moderate, 21% steep, and 7% rugged by area. Hunters should expect a mix of moderate and demanding country and plan accordingly for the elevation (7,900 to 13,600 feet).
How many rifle seasons are there, and what is their sequence?
Four rifle seasons span October through November: first rifle October 14–18, second rifle October 24–November 1, third rifle November 7–15, and fourth rifle November 18–22. Early seasons are mostly either-sex or antlerless; the final rifle season (November 18–22) opens either-sex tags again.
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.