Colorado GMU 42 Elk Hunting
Mesa and Garfield counties, northwest Colorado · 605 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 42 is like
Game Management Unit 42 spans 605 square miles across Mesa and Garfield counties in northwest Colorado. Elevation ranges from 4,800 feet at the low end to 11,100 feet at the high end, with typical hunting occurring around 7,100 feet. The terrain is rolling to moderately steep: 39 percent of the unit is gentle, 45 percent moderate, and 16 percent steep or rugged combined. This mix of slopes makes much of the unit accessible to hunters on foot, though some portions will demand more technical travel.
Approximately 55 percent of the unit—roughly 334 square miles—is open to public hunting. This ground is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 45 percent is private land. Public ownership does not guarantee straightforward access; road networks, trailheads, and private inholdings all affect where a hunter can actually reach the ground.
Elk distribution across the unit reflects strong seasonal movement. Winter Range covers 70 percent of the unit, with 37 percent of that ground designated as Winter Concentration where elk cluster. Summer Range covers 51 percent of the unit, with 24 percent marked as Summer Concentration. A small Resident Population layer—just 4 percent of the unit—indicates year-round use in a limited area, though elk are not uniformly spread even within their mapped ranges. As fall advances and weather cools from September highs near 75°F to November highs near 47°F, hunters should expect elk to shift toward winter ground, though the timing and extent of that movement vary with snow and temperature.
The unit offers seven seasons total, six open to public applicants. Archery runs September 2–30 on either-sex; Muzzleloader operates September 12–20 on antlerless or bull; four rifle seasons follow—October 14–18 (antlerless or bull), October 24–November 1 (antlerless), November 7–15 (antlerless), and November 18–22 (antlerless or bull). The Archery and Muzzleloader seasons bracket the primary rut, while the rifle seasons track the transition into late rut and early migration. Hunter pressure on this unit is high, but tags for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code draw at zero preference points for adult Colorado residents, making it accessible to new applicants. Nonresident applicants, other weapon types, and antlerless-only hunts may require substantially more points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,800–11,100 ft, typically around 7,100 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 14.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 39% gentle · 45% moderate · 15% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~334 sq mi
Land & access
About 55% of GMU 42 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest30%
- BLM22%
- State Wildlife Area3%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private45%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 42 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
- Winter Range70%used in winter
- Summer Range51%used in summer
- Winter Concentration37%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration24%where elk bunch up in summer
- Resident Population4%the only layer that means year-round use
- Migration Corridors1%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 | Antlerless, Bull |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Antlerless |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Antlerless, Bull |
| Private-land only | September 2 – 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 75°F, lows around 44°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 61°F, lows around 34°F, about 0.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 47°F, lows around 23°F, about 2.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 42 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with zero preference points draw an elk tag here?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code for adult Colorado residents draws at zero preference points. Other hunt codes—antlerless-only seasons, nonresident applications, and alternative weapon seasons—may require more points, but the general pattern is accessible to first-time applicants.
How much public ground can a hunter actually count on?
Approximately 334 square miles, or 55 percent of the unit, is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and State Wildlife Areas. That is the only ground a public applicant can reliably plan to hunt; the remaining 45 percent is private. Access varies by location, so scouting or local information about specific trailheads and entry points remains essential.
Is this unit better for early-season or late-season hunts?
Archery and Muzzleloader occur during the primary rut in early September, when bulls are vocally active and responsive. The four rifle seasons run from mid-October through November, tracking the post-rut and migration phases when elk behavior shifts. Early-season hunters can expect more rut activity; late-season hunters should anticipate cooler weather, potential snow, and elk movement toward winter range.
What does the Resident Population layer mean for where elk are in fall?
Resident Population (4 percent of the unit) identifies ground where CPW maps year-round elk use—not a clustering zone or a guarantee of predictable location. Winter Concentration (37 percent) and Summer Concentration (24 percent) are the layers that show where elk actually cluster by season. Most elk in this unit exhibit seasonal movement, and hunters should use the larger Winter Range (70 percent) and Summer Range (51 percent) shares to frame where to expect animals through the fall.
Does the terrain here favor a specific type of hunter?
With 39 percent gentle terrain and 45 percent moderate slopes, much of the unit is accessible to foot hunters without technical climbing experience. The 16 percent steep or rugged share will challenge some hunters but is manageable for those willing to climb. Overall, the mix makes this unit realistic for a range of fitness levels.
How does weather shape the hunting window here?
September temperatures average highs near 75°F and lows near 44°F with virtually no snow, making early archery and muzzleloader seasons warm and dry. By November, highs drop to 47°F and lows to 23°F, with average monthly snowfall around 2.6 inches. Late-season rifle hunters should prepare for cold conditions and potential snow that could affect both travel and elk location.
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.