Colorado GMU 511 Elk Hunting
Teller, El Paso and Park counties, central Colorado · 362 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 511 is like
GMU 511 spans 362 square miles across Teller, El Paso and Park counties in the central region. The unit is rolling to moderately steep, with 39% gentle terrain, 48% moderate slopes and 12% steep ground. Elevations range from 5,900 feet at the low end to 9,700 feet at the high end, with typical terrain sitting around 8,600 feet. This landscape supports elk hunting across multiple seasons from September into November, across public National Forest and BLM ground mixed with private land.
About 61% of the unit, roughly 223 square miles, is National Forest and BLM land open to public hunting. The remainder is private land (37%) and unclassified ownership (1.3%). Hunters should verify current access on the ground, as public ownership does not guarantee roads, trailheads or seasonal entry across all open acreage.
CPW maps elk across most of the unit through the fall. Overall Range covers 92% of the area, indicating the broad scope of mapped elk habitat. Summer Range extends across 86% of the unit, with 13% mapped as Summer Concentration ground where elk cluster during that season. Winter Range covers 62% of the unit, with 8% mapped as Winter Concentration. A Resident Population layer covers 17% of the unit, reflecting year-round elk use in that share. As temperatures drop from September highs near 66°F to November highs near 44°F, and as October and November bring average snowfall of 5.3 and 8.6 inches respectively, hunters should expect elk distribution to shift toward winter-range ground, though the timing and extent vary with weather and snow conditions.
The unit offers seven seasons total: Archery (September 2–30, either-sex/antlerless), Muzzleloader (September 12–20, antlerless/bull), four rifle seasons spanning October 14 through November 22 in different date windows with various codes, and a private-land-only season. Archery and Muzzleloader seasons coincide with the primary rut. The draw for resident applicants is easy, often at zero preference points for the most accessible unit-wide bull or either-sex hunts. Hunter pressure on this unit is high.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,900–9,700 ft, typically around 8,600 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 13.9°
- Slope breakdown
- 39% gentle · 48% moderate · 12% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~223 sq mi
Land & access
About 61% of GMU 511 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest61%
- BLM<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership1%
- Private37%
“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 511 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 Range92%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Summer Range86%used in summer
- Winter Range62%used in winter
- Resident Population17%the only layer that means year-round use
- Summer Concentration13%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Concentration8%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors2%movement between ranges, not residence
Elk seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| 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 | 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.
Fall weather
- September — highs around 66°F, lows around 39°F, about 0.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 55°F, lows around 29°F, about 5.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 44°F, lows around 20°F, about 8.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 511 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with zero preference points draw a tag here?
Yes. Draw difficulty on this unit is easy, meaning the most accessible unit-wide bull or either-sex hunts for adult Colorado residents often draw at zero preference points. Nonresidents, applicants seeking specific season codes, and hunters applying for other weapon types or hunts may require additional points.
Is the rut active during the early seasons?
Yes. Archery runs September 2–30, falling entirely within Rut Onset and Primary Rut phases. Muzzleloader (September 12–20) spans the Primary Rut. Both seasons coincide with peak elk vocalization and movement.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually count on?
About 61% of the unit, roughly 223 square miles, is National Forest and BLM land open to public hunting. The remaining 39% is private or unclassified ownership. However, public ownership alone does not ensure access; hunters must verify roads, trailheads and seasonal openings on the ground before committing to an application.
Does this unit have year-round elk presence?
A Resident Population layer covers 17% of the unit, indicating CPW-mapped year-round elk use in that share. The majority of the unit experiences seasonal use, with Summer Range covering 86% and Winter Range 62%, so most elk do not remain uniformly distributed across the full unit throughout the year.
When does the weather turn harsh here?
September temperatures average highs near 66°F with minimal snowfall. By November, highs drop to around 44°F with average snowfall of 8.6 inches per month. October sits in between, with highs around 55°F and 5.3 inches average snowfall, creating variable conditions that influence elk movement and hunter success.
Is this unit crowded even though it draws easily?
Yes. Draw difficulty and hunter pressure are separate measures. GMU 511 has an easy draw but experiences high overall hunter pressure, meaning many hunters pursue relatively accessible tags. Crowding on the ground and draw competitiveness are not the same thing.
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.