Colorado GMU 45 Elk Hunting
Eagle and Pitkin counties, central Colorado · 336 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 45 is like
Colorado GMU 45 spans 336 square miles across Eagle and Pitkin counties in the central region, ranging from 7,100 feet to 14,000 feet with a typical elevation around 10,500 feet. The terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 19% of the unit is gentle, 52% moderate, 25% steep, and 4% rugged. This spread means hunters will encounter variable terrain across the unit, though steep and rugged ground combined account for less than 30% of the area.
National Forest land comprises roughly 89% of the unit and is generally open to public hunting. Private land makes up about 10%, with small shares of state trust land and unclassified ownership. The public ownership is concentrated on National Forest, giving hunters substantial accessible ground, though roads, trailheads, and private inholdings will still shape which areas a hunter can practically reach.
Elk distribution shifts through the fall as the season progresses. Summer range covers 99% of the unit, but winter range is mapped on only 18% of the unit, indicating substantial seasonal movement as conditions change. A winter concentration layer covers 9% of the unit, marking where elk cluster on winter ground. A summer concentration layer covers 5% of the unit. As the season advances from September into November, expect elk distribution to shift in response to weather and snow, with increasing concentration on winter ranges as fall progresses.
The unit offers six seasons: Archery (September 2–September 30, either-sex), Muzzleloader (September 12–September 20, antlerless or bull), and four rifle seasons—1st Rifle (October 14–October 18, antlerless or bull), 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1, antlerless), 3rd Rifle (November 7–November 15, antlerless), and 4th Rifle (November 18–November 22, antlerless or bull). Archery runs during the primary rut, muzzleloader during the primary rut, and early rifle seasons through the post-rut period and into migration transition. The draw is easy, often requiring zero preference points for the most accessible unit-wide bull or either-sex hunts available to adult Colorado residents. Hunter pressure is moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,100–14,000 ft, typically around 10,500 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 19.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 19% gentle · 52% moderate · 25% steep · 4% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~299 sq mi, plus ~2 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 89% of GMU 45 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest.
- National Forest89%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private10%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 45 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
- Winter Range18%used in winter
- Winter Concentration9%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration5%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 60°F, lows around 34°F, about 0.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 49°F, lows around 25°F, about 5.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 37°F, lows around 14°F, about 18.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 45 elk hunting FAQ
How much of this unit is actually huntable for a nonresident or someone with no preference points?
The draw difficulty of easy applies specifically to the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents; nonresidents and applicants without preference points should verify the current draw statistics for their specific weapon and season choice, as requirements vary substantially by hunt code and weapon type.
Is this a good unit for an early-season or late-season hunt?
Archery and muzzleloader seasons run through the primary rut in September, when bulls are actively calling and moving. Rifle seasons span October into late November, with the latest rifle hunts (November 18–22) falling during migration transition as elk respond to snow and cooling temperatures. Early seasons offer rut hunting; late seasons align with seasonal movement patterns.
Can a foot hunter actually cover enough ground here to find elk?
With roughly 89% of the unit on National Forest and generally open to public hunting, foot hunters have substantial ground to work. However, the terrain is mixed with notable steep sections, and access will depend on specific roads and trailheads; a hunter should verify the approach to their intended area before committing.
Where do most elk end up by late November?
Winter range covers only 18% of the unit, indicating most elk shift to that ground as the season advances. The winter concentration layer marks 9% of the unit where elk cluster during winter; temperature and snowfall patterns drive the timing and extent of this movement, and conditions vary annually.
What is the temperature and snow trend through the hunting season?
September highs average around 60°F, October highs around 49°F, and November highs around 37°F, with an average snowfall near zero in September, about 6 inches in October, and nearly 19 inches in November. The fall cools steadily, and significant snow typically accumulates in November.
How much of the unit is steep terrain, and what does that mean for scouting?
About 25% of the unit is steep and 4% is rugged. While substantial portions are gentler or moderate, steep terrain does cover a significant share and will affect route-finding and physical demands. Scouting should account for the variable terrain across different areas of the unit.
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.