Colorado GMU 56 Elk Hunting
Chaffee County, central Colorado · 238 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 56 is like
GMU 56 spans 238 square miles across central Colorado in Chaffee County, climbing from 7,000 feet to 14,300 feet with a typical elevation near 9,600 feet. The terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground: 36 percent gentle, 34 percent moderate, 26 percent steep, and 3 percent rugged by area. The unit occupies a transition zone between lower-elevation foothills and high alpine country, offering diverse elk habitat across multiple seasonal ranges and elevations.
Roughly 67 percent of the unit—about 159 square miles—lies on National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area lands open to public hunting. An additional 2.6 percent is Colorado State Trust Land, accessible only where CPW has enrolled parcels in its Public Access Program; hunters should verify current enrollment before planning. The remaining 30 percent is private land. National Forest comprises the largest public holding, followed by BLM and smaller State Wildlife Area tracts, giving public hunters the primary foundation for access across much of the unit.
Elk occupy the unit across extensive seasonal ranges. Summer Range covers 98 percent of the unit, while Winter Range extends across 52 percent. Summer Concentration—ground where elk cluster during warm months—comprises 29 percent, while Winter Concentration covers 43 percent of the unit. Migration Corridors account for 1 percent. As the hunting seasons progress from early fall to late November, hunters should expect elk to shift from diffuse use toward winter ground, with the timing and extent of movement influenced by weather and snow. Early-season archery and muzzleloader hunts occur when elk are still dispersed across summer range, while the four rifle seasons track the progression toward winter range and eventual concentration on winter ground.
The unit offers seven seasons: Archery (September 2–September 30, either-sex), Muzzleloader (September 12–September 20, antlerless or bull), 1st Rifle (October 14–October 18, bull), 2nd Rifle (October 24–November 1, antlerless or bull), 3rd Rifle (November 7–November 15, antlerless or bull), 4th Rifle (November 18–November 22, antlerless or bull), and a private-land-only season (September 1–January 31, antlerless). Public applicants have access to six seasons. Early seasons align with the primary rut (mid-September through mid-October); later rifle hunts occur during migration transition as elk move toward winter range. September brings highs near 69°F and minimal snowfall; October cools to highs around 57°F with about 2 inches of monthly snowfall; November drops to highs around 45°F with substantial snowfall averaging 5.5 inches. The draw for this unit is easy, often requiring zero preference points for the most accessible bull or either-sex hunts available to adult Colorado residents. Hunter pressure is moderate overall.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,000–14,300 ft, typically around 9,600 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 17.2°
- Slope breakdown
- 36% gentle · 34% moderate · 26% steep · 3% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~159 sq mi, plus ~6 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 67% of GMU 56 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. A further 3% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest61%
- BLM6%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land3%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private30%
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 56 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 Range99%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Summer Range98%used in summer
- Winter Range52%used in winter
- Winter Concentration43%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration29%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors1%movement between ranges, not residence
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 |
| 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 69°F, lows around 37°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 57°F, lows around 27°F, about 2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 45°F, lows around 17°F, about 5.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 56 elk hunting FAQ
Can someone with zero preference points draw here?
Yes. The easiest qualifying bull or either-sex hunts for adult Colorado residents often draw at zero points, making this unit accessible to first-time applicants. Other weapon types, nonresident applicants, and specific season codes can require substantially more points.
Which seasons fall during the rut?
Archery (September 2–September 30) overlaps rut onset in early September and the primary rut through late September. Muzzleloader (September 12–September 20) occurs during the primary rut when bulls are most vocal and active. The 1st Rifle season (October 14–October 18) falls in late rut and early post-rut, after peak activity has subsided.
How much ground can a public-land hunter actually hunt?
Roughly 67 percent of the unit—about 159 square miles—is National Forest, BLM, or State Wildlife Area open to public hunting. An additional 2.6 percent is State Trust Land, but only enrolled parcels are accessible; verify current enrollment with CPW before planning. Roads, trailheads, and private inholdings still govern what can actually be reached.
Is this unit realistic for someone planning a rifle hunt without prior points?
Yes. The unit draws at zero points for the easiest bull and either-sex rifle hunts, making it accessible to applicants new to the draw. Applicants should note that specific season codes—particularly either-sex hunts early in the rifle string—represent the most competitive opportunities.
When should a hunter expect elk to concentrate on winter ground?
Elk occupy summer range widely through early fall, with significant clustering on winter concentration ground (43 percent of the unit) by late fall and early winter. Timing varies with weather and snow, but the 3rd and 4th Rifle seasons (November 7–November 22) fall during migration transition, when elk shift toward winter range in response to seasonal conditions.
Does terrain limit access for a hunter on foot?
The unit is 36 percent gentle and 34 percent moderate, offering manageable terrain in roughly seven of ten acres. However, 26 percent is steep and 3 percent rugged, so some productive elk areas will require climbing and route-finding. Seasonal snow in November can increase difficulty substantially.
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.