Colorado GMU 47 Elk Hunting
Eagle and Pitkin counties, northwest Colorado · 294 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 47 is like
Game Management Unit 47 spans Eagle and Pitkin counties in the northwestern mountains and covers 294 square miles. Elevation ranges from 6,600 feet to 14,200 feet, with typical hunting ground near 10,300 feet. Terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 19 percent of the unit is gentle, 45 percent moderate, 33 percent steep, and 4 percent rugged. The unit's overall character supports both early-season movement at higher elevations and mid-to-late-season hunting across variable terrain.
National Forest comprises 89 percent of the unit and is generally open to hunting. BLM contributes 2.1 percent of open ground, and State Wildlife Areas add 0.2 percent. Private land makes up roughly 8 percent of the unit. Together, approximately 91 percent of the unit is generally open to public hunting. Hunters should verify current access conditions and seasonal closures on their approach routes before entering.
Elk occupy 99 percent of the unit during summer and the full extent of Overall Range year-round. Winter Range covers 21 percent of the unit, with 2 percent marked as Winter Concentration where elk cluster. As the archery and muzzleloader seasons occur during the Primary Rut phase, bulls are vocal and responsive. The rifle seasons progress from the Late Rut through Post-Rut Recovery and into the Migration Transition phase in November. By late fall, timing and extent of elk movement toward winter ground vary with snowfall and weather; the unit's three November rifle seasons occur as snow accumulation increases from 21.6 inches on average in early November.
The unit offers six seasons across archery, muzzleloader, and rifle weapons. Archery runs September 2–30 on either-sex basis. Muzzleloader hunts take place September 12–20 and are available for bulls and antlerless elk. Four rifle seasons follow: 1st Rifle (October 14–18, bulls and antlerless), 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1, antlerless), 3rd Rifle (November 7–15, antlerless), and 4th Rifle (November 18–22, bulls and antlerless). The draw for this unit is easy, with the most accessible resident-applicant bull and either-sex codes often drawing at zero preference points. Hunter pressure is low overall.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,600–14,200 ft, typically around 10,300 ft
- Steepness
- Rugged — mean slope 21°
- Slope breakdown
- 19% gentle · 45% moderate · 33% steep · 4% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~269 sq mi
Land & access
About 91% of GMU 47 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest89%
- BLM2%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private8%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 47 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 Range21%used in winter
- Winter Concentration2%where elk bunch up in winter
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 62°F, lows around 35°F, about 0.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 50°F, lows around 26°F, about 6.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 39°F, lows around 14°F, about 21.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 47 elk hunting FAQ
How much public land can a hunter actually plan to hunt?
Approximately 91 percent of the unit is generally open to public hunting, managed by the US Forest Service, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas. Access still depends on specific roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures, which vary; hunters should verify conditions on their approach.
Is this unit realistic for a hunter with few or no preference points?
Yes. The draw is easy, and the most accessible bull and either-sex codes for adult Colorado residents often draw at zero preference points, making this unit reachable for applicants with minimal draw history.
When are bulls most vocal and responsive?
Archery and muzzleloader seasons occur during the Primary Rut phase in early to mid-September, when bulls are active and vocally responsive. The October rifle seasons overlap the Late Rut and Post-Rut Recovery phases, with declining rut activity as the season progresses.
What should a hunter expect regarding elk movement in November?
November is the Migration Transition phase, when elk shift toward winter ground. Winter Range covers 21 percent of the unit, and a 2 percent Winter Concentration layer marks where elk cluster. The timing and extent of this movement vary with weather; November snowfall averages 21.6 inches and increases through the month, driving migration.
Is the terrain steep enough to challenge a hunter on foot?
Yes. Steep terrain comprises 33 percent of the unit and rugged ground an additional 4 percent. Combined with elevations reaching 14,200 feet and typical hunting near 10,300 feet, the unit demands solid fitness and route-finding ability.
Which season offers the best chance at a bull with minimal points?
Archery and muzzleloader both draw with zero points for the easiest qualifying codes. Archery (September 2–30) occurs during the Primary Rut when bulls are most responsive; muzzleloader (September 12–20) overlaps the same rut phase but over a shorter window.
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.