Colorado GMU 5 Elk Hunting
Moffat and Routt counties, northwest Colorado · 299 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 5 is like
GMU 5 spans 299 square miles of rolling to moderately steep terrain in Moffat and Routt counties in Colorado's northwest region. The unit's elevation ranges from 6,500 feet to 10,800 feet, with typical elevations around 8,200 feet. Terrain is predominantly gentle to moderate, with 47 percent of the unit in gentle slopes, 46 percent moderate, and 7 percent steep terrain. The country supports elk across its full mapped extent, with a substantial summer concentration where elk cluster through the warmer months.
National Forest and BLM lands comprise approximately 59 percent of the unit and are generally open to public hunting. Colorado State Trust Land accounts for approximately 1.1 percent of the unit; access to enrolled parcels depends on CPW's Public Access Program. Private lands comprise roughly 40 percent of the unit. The remaining publicly-owned ground presents the standard mix of roads, trailheads, private inholdings, and access conditions that hunters will need to evaluate before committing to an application.
Elk occupy summer range across the full unit and concentrate on approximately 57 percent of the total area during summer months. Winter range covers approximately 21 percent of the unit, with winter concentration on about 7 percent. Migration corridors traverse 24 percent. This distribution means elk are widely available through summer and early fall but become more limited in geographic scope as the season advances and snow accumulates. A hunter should expect elk distribution to shift toward winter-range ground as November progresses, though the timing and extent of that shift vary with weather and snow conditions.
The unit offers eight seasons across the fall and early winter, including six available to public applicants. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex elk during rut onset and the primary rut. Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 for either-sex or antlerless during the primary rut. Four rifle seasons follow: 1st Rifle October 14–18 (either-sex, antlerless, or bull) during late rut and early post-rut; 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1 (antlerless) during post-rut recovery and migration transition; 3rd Rifle November 7–15 (antlerless) during migration transition; and 4th Rifle November 18–22 (either-sex, antlerless, or bull) during migration transition. September temperatures average highs near 65°F and lows near 40°F with negligible snow. October highs average 51°F and lows 30°F with approximately 3.7 inches of snow. November cools substantially, with highs near 38°F and lows near 20°F, and receives approximately 18.4 inches of snow. The draw for this unit carries moderate difficulty, and moderate overall hunter pressure characterizes the unit.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,500–10,800 ft, typically around 8,200 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 12.1°
- Slope breakdown
- 47% gentle · 46% moderate · 7% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~175 sq mi, plus ~3 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 59% of GMU 5 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM. A further 1% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest47%
- BLM12%
- State Trust Land1%
- Private40%
Colorado State Trust Land is open to public hunting only where it is enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Check current enrollment before planning around it.
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 5 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
- Summer Concentration57%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors24%movement between ranges, not residence
- Winter Range21%used in winter
- Winter Concentration7%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 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| 1st Rifle | October 14 – October 18 | Either-sex, Antlerless, Bull |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Antlerless |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Either-sex, Antlerless, Bull |
| Private-land only | September 2 – December 31 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| Ranching for Wildlife | September 2 – December 16 | 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 65°F, lows around 40°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 51°F, lows around 30°F, about 3.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 38°F, lows around 20°F, about 18.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 5 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with zero preference points draw a public tag here?
An applicant with zero points can draw the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code for an adult resident, which sits in the moderate-difficulty band of 1–2 points. Other seasons, weapons, and codes require substantially more points, so hunters with no preference should research the specific hunt they are targeting before applying.
Is this unit better for archery or rifle?
Archery and muzzleloader both overlap the primary rut in mid-September when bulls are vocal and active, making them potentially productive. Rifle seasons run from mid-October through late November, spanning the tail end of the rut and the transition to migration, but they open after peak bugling. The choice depends on weapon preference and tolerance for cooler, snowier conditions in November.
How much public ground can a hunter actually access?
Approximately 59 percent of the unit is National Forest and BLM open to public hunting, roughly 175 square miles. State Trust Land adds approximately 1.1 percent but is accessible only where CPW has enrolled it in the Public Access Program. Access depends on roads, trailheads, private inholdings, and seasonal conditions, which vary across the unit.
When does snow start affecting the hunt here?
September sees little to no snow, and October averages about 3.7 inches. November changes dramatically, averaging 18.4 inches of snowfall, and temperatures drop to highs near 38°F and lows near 20°F. Hunters planning late-season rifle hunts should expect significant snow and cold.
Where do elk concentrate in this unit?
Summer concentration covers approximately 57 percent of the unit, with elk clustering substantially during the warmer months. Winter concentration drops to about 7 percent, meaning winter-range elk are far more localized. The concentration layers do not specify locations by elevation or aspect—hunters will need to scout and understand the unit's specific topography.
Do elk leave the unit as winter approaches?
Winter range covers approximately 21 percent of the unit year-round, and migration corridors traverse 24 percent, indicating that some elk transition to specific portions of the unit as the season advances. However, CPW maps no substantial resident population layer for this unit, meaning elk distribution and movement patterns respond primarily to weather and snow—some migrate out while others may remain. A hunter should expect a shift toward lower, more open winter range as November progresses, but the extent varies with conditions.
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.