Colorado GMU 44 Elk Hunting
Eagle County, northwest Colorado · 377 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 44 is like
GMU 44 is a 377-square-mile unit in Eagle County in the northwest region, spanning from 6,100 feet to 13,400 feet with typical elevations around 8,700 feet. The terrain is rolling to moderately steep, composed of 27 percent gentle slopes, 49 percent moderate slopes, 22 percent steep terrain, and 3 percent rugged ground. The unit sits mostly on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, with some private acreage and smaller State Wildlife Areas mixed in.
Approximately 78 percent of the unit—roughly 295 square miles—is generally open to public hunting on National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining acreage is private land or unclassified ownership. This distribution of public access gives a substantial foundation for a hunter working public ground, though roads, trailheads, and private inholdings will still govern what is actually reachable on foot or by vehicle.
Elk occupy the unit across summer and winter seasonal ranges. Summer Range covers the entire unit, while Winter Range covers 48 percent of the area. This seasonal split means elk are widely distributed through fall but concentrate on winter ground as the season progresses and conditions change. A Winter Concentration layer marks 11 percent of the unit where elk cluster during winter months, indicating that late-season elk do not spread uniformly across the winter range. Migration Corridors are mapped across 2 percent of the unit. As temperatures cool and snow accumulates through November, hunters should expect elk to shift toward winter ground, though the timing and extent of that movement varies with weather and snow accumulation.
The unit offers six seasons: Archery from September 2 to September 30 (either-sex); Muzzleloader from September 12 to September 20 (antlerless or bull); four rifle seasons spanning October 14 through November 22 (1st Rifle October 14–18 and 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1 both antlerless or bull; 3rd Rifle November 7–15 antlerless only; 4th Rifle November 18–22 antlerless or bull). The archery season overlaps the rut's onset and primary phase, while muzzleloader hunts the primary rut. Early rifle seasons fall in the late rut and post-rut period; later rifles coincide with migration transition. Draw difficulty is easy, often requiring zero preference points for the most accessible bull or either-sex hunts available to adult Colorado residents. Hunter pressure on the unit is moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,100–13,400 ft, typically around 8,700 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 17.7°
- Slope breakdown
- 27% gentle · 49% moderate · 22% steep · 3% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~295 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 78% of GMU 44 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest55%
- BLM23%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private20%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 44 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 Range100%used in summer
- Winter Range48%used in winter
- Winter Concentration11%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors2%movement between ranges, not residence
- Summer Concentration<1%where elk bunch up in summer
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 |
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 40°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 55°F, lows around 30°F, about 2.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 42°F, lows around 19°F, about 12.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 44 elk hunting FAQ
How much public land can a hunter actually count on hunting in GMU 44?
Approximately 78 percent of the unit—about 295 square miles—is generally open to public hunting across National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. The remainder consists of private land or unclassified ownership. Actual access still depends on roads, trailheads, and whether private inholdings block entry to otherwise public ground.
Is GMU 44 realistic for someone with no preference points?
Yes. Draw difficulty is easy, and the easiest bull or either-sex hunts available to adult Colorado residents in the primary draw often require zero preference points. Other weapons, seasons, and nonresident applicants may require substantially more points.
When should a hunter expect the main rut in GMU 44?
The primary rut runs from September 11 to September 30. The archery season (September 2–30) spans both the rut's onset and its peak, while the muzzleloader season (September 12–20) falls entirely within the primary rut. Early rifle seasons occur as the rut winds down into early October.
How does elk distribution shift through the fall in GMU 44?
Summer Range covers the entire unit, meaning elk are widely spread early in the season. Winter Range covers 48 percent of the unit, and an 11 percent Winter Concentration layer indicates where elk cluster on winter ground. As November progresses and conditions cool, hunters should expect elk to shift onto winter range and concentrate more heavily, though the timing varies with weather and snow.
What does the terrain in GMU 44 actually look like for a hunter on foot?
The unit is rolling to moderately steep, with just under half the ground (49 percent) in moderate slopes and about a quarter (27 percent) in gentle terrain. Steep and rugged ground comprises 25 percent combined, so while elevation and exposure will vary, much of the unit remains manageable for walking hunters.
Is GMU 44 better suited to early or late-season hunting?
Early season (archery and muzzleloader in September) coincides with the primary rut, when bulls are actively bugling. Late seasons (October through November) hunt bulls in post-rut recovery and the migration transition, when elk are less vocal but moving toward winter ground. The choice depends on whether a hunter prefers rut hunting or pursuing elk as they shift seasonal ranges.
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.