Colorado GMU 421 Elk Hunting
Mesa and Garfield counties, northwest Colorado · 541 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 421 is like
Game Management Unit 421 sprawls across 541 square miles of Mesa and Garfield counties in Colorado's northwest region, spanning elevations from 4,800 feet to 11,200 feet with typical hunting grounds around 8,300 feet. The terrain is rolling, with some steeper breaks: 51 percent of the unit is gentle, 40 percent moderate, 9 percent steep, and 1 percent rugged, giving a mean slope of 12 degrees across the entire area. The unit encompasses diverse country ranging from lower pinyon and juniper zones to high mountain forest and parks.
Approximately 65 percent of the unit, or 352 square miles, is generally open to public hunting on National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 35 percent is split between private land at 34 percent and unclassified ownership at 0.5 percent, with the National Forest comprising 54 percent of the total unit and BLM making up 10 percent. Access and ease of entry will depend on specific road and trailhead availability across these public holdings.
Elk seasonal ranges reflect summer and winter use patterns across the unit. Summer Range covers 69 percent of the unit, while Winter Range covers 53 percent, indicating that elk are not distributed uniformly but concentrate on specific ground. Summer Concentration occupies 29 percent of the unit, marking areas where elk cluster during the warmer months, while Winter Concentration covers 10 percent. A small Resident Population layer of 2 percent indicates limited year-round occupancy. As fall progresses and temperatures drop—from September highs near 68 degrees Fahrenheit to November highs around 43 degrees—elk gradually shift from summer toward winter ranges, though timing and extent vary with snow and weather conditions. October typically brings 1.7 inches of snowfall at mid elevation, while November averages 8.7 inches, accelerating any seasonal movement.
The unit offers seven seasons total, six of which are open to public hunters. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex elk during rut onset and primary rut. Muzzleloader follows September 12–20 for antlerless and bulls during primary rut. Four rifle seasons span fall: 1st Rifle October 14–18 for antlerless and bulls during late rut and post-rut recovery; 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1 for antlerless during post-rut recovery and migration transition; 3rd Rifle November 7–15 for antlerless during migration transition; and 4th Rifle November 18–22 for antlerless and bulls during migration transition. Hunter pressure on the unit is high. The draw for this unit is easy, often requiring zero preference points for the easiest qualifying bull or either-sex hunts available to adult Colorado residents.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,800–11,200 ft, typically around 8,300 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 12°
- Slope breakdown
- 51% gentle · 40% moderate · 9% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~352 sq mi
Land & access
About 65% of GMU 421 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest54%
- BLM10%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private34%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 421 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 Range69%used in summer
- Winter Range53%used in winter
- Summer Concentration29%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Concentration10%where elk bunch up in winter
- Resident Population2%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 | 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 1 – December 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 68°F, lows around 42°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 55°F, lows around 32°F, about 1.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 43°F, lows around 21°F, about 8.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 421 elk hunting FAQ
Can someone with zero preference points realistically draw this unit?
Yes. The unit draws at zero preference points for the easiest qualifying bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents, meaning some seasons and weapons require no points at all. Other weapons and seasons can demand substantially more points, and nonresidents face a different draw tier, but the baseline expectation for an in-state applicant chasing the most accessible hunts is that points are not required.
Is this unit better for early-season or late-season hunting?
Both have merit, but they target different elk behavior. Archery and Muzzleloader hunts in early September coincide with rut onset and primary rut, when bulls are vocal and moving. Late-season rifle hunts in November occur during migration transition as elk shift toward winter ranges, but the rut is over and temperatures are dropping—November averages 8.7 inches of snowfall at mid elevation, substantially more than October's 1.7 inches.
How much public ground can a hunter actually access and hunt?
Approximately 65 percent of the 541-square-mile unit, or roughly 352 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across National Forest (54% of the unit), BLM (10%), and State Wildlife Areas (0.6%). Actual access depends on roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures, which vary across these holdings.
Where do elk concentrate in this unit, and does that shift across the fall?
Summer Concentration covers 29 percent of the unit, while Winter Concentration covers 10 percent, indicating elk cluster in distinct areas rather than spreading evenly. As temperatures cool and snowfall increases into November, hunters should expect elk to gradually shift from summer toward winter concentration grounds, though the timing and extent depend on weather and snow depth in any given year.
Does this unit have any year-round resident elk, or do most migrate through?
A small Resident Population layer covers 2 percent of the unit, meaning CPW maps year-round use on only a tiny fraction. The bulk of the unit's elk follow seasonal patterns, with 69 percent in Summer Range and 53 percent in Winter Range, supporting the expectation that most elk shift as fall advances.
Is the terrain manageable for a hunter on foot?
Most of the unit is navigable: 51 percent is gentle and 40 percent is moderate slope, totaling 91 percent. Only 10 percent is steep or rugged terrain, so a hunter should expect rolling country with some steeper sections rather than consistently difficult ground. At elevations ranging from 4,800 to 11,200 feet, however, acclimation and fitness remain important.
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.