Colorado GMU 444 Elk Hunting
Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties, northwest Colorado · 371 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 444 is like
Unit 444 spans 371 square miles across Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties in the northwest region of Colorado. The country rises from 5,700 feet to 13,100 feet, with a typical elevation around 8,600 feet. Terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with 35% gentle slopes, 44% moderate slopes, 19% steep slopes and 2% rugged area. This mix supports both open meadow and timbered terrain suitable for early-season and later-season hunting.
The unit is roughly 66% open to public hunting—approximately 243 square miles managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 34% is private land. National Forest comprises the largest share at 55% of the unit, followed by private land at 34%, BLM at 8.9%, and State Wildlife Areas at 2%. Public ownership and public-hunting opportunity are not identical; road access, trailheads, seasonal restrictions and private inholdings will govern where a hunter can actually reach the ground.
Summer range covers 87% of the unit, while winter range covers 50%. This seasonal-range split suggests that elk occupy substantial ground in fall and early winter, with a concentration pattern to expect as conditions change. Summer concentration ground comprises 4% of the unit and winter concentration ground 8%, indicating that elk cluster on specific areas during their respective seasons rather than spreading uniformly across the broader seasonal ranges. Migration corridors cover 3% of the unit. The archery season (September 2–30) falls during rut onset and primary rut. The muzzleloader season (September 12–20) occurs during primary rut, coinciding with peak calling opportunity. The 1st rifle season (October 14–18) spans late rut and early post-rut, while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th rifle seasons (October 24–November 1, November 7–15 and November 18–22 respectively) fall in post-rut recovery and migration transition phases. A private-land-only season runs August 15–January 15. September highs average 71°F and lows 42°F with negligible snowfall. October brings highs of 58°F and lows of 32°F, with about 1.6 inches of snowfall. November highs drop to 44°F with lows of 21°F and average snowfall of 7.3 inches. The unit draws moderate hunter pressure overall and carries an easy draw difficulty—the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code often fills at zero preference points for adult Colorado residents.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,700–13,100 ft, typically around 8,600 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 16.3°
- Slope breakdown
- 35% gentle · 44% moderate · 19% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~243 sq mi
Land & access
About 66% of GMU 444 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest55%
- BLM9%
- State Wildlife Area2%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private34%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 444 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
- Winter Range50%used in winter
- Winter Concentration8%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration4%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors3%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 | August 15 – January 15 | 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 71°F, lows around 42°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 58°F, lows around 32°F, about 1.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 44°F, lows around 21°F, about 7.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 444 elk hunting FAQ
Is this unit realistic for someone applying with zero preference points?
Yes, for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunts. The unit's draw difficulty is rated Easy, and the lowest preference-point tier often fills at zero points for adult Colorado residents. Other weapon types, season codes and nonresident applicants may require substantially more points, so the specific hunt matters.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually expect to hunt?
About 66% of the unit, roughly 243 square miles, is open to public hunting through the Forest Service, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. Private land comprises 34% of the unit and will restrict access on those portions. Road networks, trailheads and seasonal closures will determine practical entry points on the ground.
Is early season (archery and muzzleloader) better suited to this unit than rifle?
Early season coincides with rut onset and primary rut (archery) and primary rut (muzzleloader), when bulls are vocal and active. Rifle seasons run from mid-October through late November, crossing post-rut recovery and migration transition phases. Both periods offer different hunting dynamics; the choice depends on the applicant's preference for rut behavior versus post-rut conditions and weather.
What does the 8% winter concentration tell a late-season hunter?
Winter concentration marks 8% of the unit where elk cluster during the winter season, not a specific location or elevation. This ground is separate from the broader 50% winter range. As November progresses into late season, hunters should expect elk to concentrate increasingly on those winter-concentration areas rather than spreading evenly across all winter range.
How steeply does terrain vary across this unit?
The unit is predominantly gentle to moderate, with 35% gentle slopes and 44% moderate slopes. Steep and rugged terrain comprise 21% combined, so a foot hunter will encounter rolling and moderate country more often than extreme terrain. The mean slope band is 16.3 degrees, classified as steep in the statewide scale.
Should a late-season hunter plan for winter conditions?
November brings significant cooling and snowfall compared to fall. Highs drop from 71°F in September to 44°F in November, and average snowfall jumps to 7.3 inches in November after negligible accumulation in September and 1.6 inches in October. Conditions progress steadily toward winter, especially after November 7.
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.