Colorado GMU 50 Elk Hunting
Park County, central Colorado · 500 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 50 is like
Colorado GMU 50 covers 500 square miles of Park County terrain in the central region, ranging from 7,900 feet to 11,500 feet in elevation with a typical elevation near 9,300 feet. The unit is gentle and rolling overall, with 77 percent of its area in gentle terrain, 20 percent moderate, and 3 percent steep. The terrain is traversable on foot and does not present extreme difficulty for hunters working public ground.
Land ownership here is mixed and fragmented. National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas comprise roughly 39 percent of the unit and are generally open to public hunting. Colorado State Trust Land covers approximately 4.8 percent, accessible only where CPW has enrolled it in the Public Access Program; hunters cannot assume this ground is available. Another 4.1 percent is unclassified in the ownership records. Private land makes up the remaining 52 percent of the unit. Public hunters must plan approaches carefully and confirm access on the ground.
Elk occupy the unit across a broad seasonal range, with Overall Range covering 100 percent of the mapped area. Winter Range covers 80 percent of the unit, and within that, winter elk concentrate on 41 percent of the total area. Summer Range also covers 100 percent, with summer concentration on 29 percent of the unit. Only 2 percent supports a mapped resident population capable of year-round use. Hunters should expect elk to shift toward concentration zones as fall progresses, though the extent and timing of that movement varies with snow and weather. Migration corridors account for 8 percent of the unit.
The unit offers eight seasons across six distinct hunt codes. Archery runs September 2 through September 30 and is either-sex. Muzzleloader runs September 12 through September 20 and offers both antlerless and bull opportunities. Four numbered rifle seasons follow: 1st Rifle October 14 through October 18 (bull only); 2nd Rifle October 24 through November 1 (either-sex); 3rd Rifle November 7 through November 15 (either-sex); and 4th Rifle November 18 through November 22 (either-sex). Late Rifle runs separately from December 26 through January 3 and is antlerless only. A private-land-only season spans September 1 through January 31. Draw difficulty for the unit is moderate, requiring 1–2 preference points for the easiest adult-resident bull or either-sex hunt code in the primary draw. Overall hunter pressure is moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,900–11,500 ft, typically around 9,300 ft
- Steepness
- Gentle — mean slope 6.7°
- Slope breakdown
- 77% gentle · 20% moderate · 3% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~196 sq mi, plus ~24 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 39% of GMU 50 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. A further 5% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest23%
- BLM10%
- State Wildlife Area6%
- State Trust Land5%
- Unclassified ownership4%
- Private52%
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.
“Ownership unclassified” means the source dataset does not record an owner for that acreage. It is not known to be public or private.
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 50 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%.
- Summer Range100%used in summer
- 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
- Winter Range80%used in winter
- Winter Concentration41%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration29%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors8%movement between ranges, not residence
- Resident Population2%the only layer that means year-round use
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 | Bull |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24 – November 1 | Antlerless, Bull |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless, Bull |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Antlerless, Bull |
| Late Rifle | December 26 – January 3 | Antlerless |
| Private-land only | September 1 – January 31 | 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.
GMU 50 elk hunting FAQ
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually hunt here?
Roughly 39 percent of the unit—approximately 196 square miles—is National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas that are generally open to public hunting. An additional 4.8 percent is Colorado State Trust Land, but only parcels enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program may be hunted; enrollment varies and hunters cannot assume this ground is available without confirmation. The remaining 56.1 percent is private or unclassified ownership.
Is this unit realistic for someone with no preference points?
Yes. The unit draws at moderate difficulty, meaning the easiest adult-resident bull or either-sex hunt code typically drew with 1–2 preference points in the 2026 primary draw. A hunter with zero points will need to check the specific hunt code they apply for, as other seasons, weapons and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points.
When during the fall do elk concentrate on predictable ground?
Winter concentration occurs on 41 percent of the unit, and summer concentration on 29 percent. As fall progresses into the migration and winter periods—particularly from November onward—hunters should expect elk to shift toward the winter concentration zones, though the timing and extent of that movement depend on snow and weather conditions rather than a fixed calendar date.
Does this unit suit early-season or late-season hunts better?
Archery and Muzzleloader both overlap the primary rut—Archery spans rut onset and peak, while Muzzleloader falls in the primary rut itself—and offer either-sex or bull options during peak elk activity. Late-season hunts (December 26 through January 3) are antlerless only and target elk already shifted to winter ground and concentration zones. Neither season is a poor choice; the decision depends on weapon preference and rut versus winter-range hunting.
How accessible is this terrain for a hunter on foot?
The unit is predominantly gentle and rolling, with 77 percent gentle terrain and only 3 percent steep, making it generally manageable for footbound hunters. However, public ground is fragmented among National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas, and private inholdings affect how far a hunter can travel without turning back, so route planning and awareness of boundaries are essential.
What does 'Resident Population 2%' mean for year-round elk presence?
It means CPW maps year-round elk use across only 2 percent of the unit; the vast majority of elk here are seasonal migrants. Winter Range at 80 percent indicates elk are present in winter across much of the unit, but the small resident-population share suggests most elk follow a migratory pattern rather than staying throughout the year.
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.