Colorado GMU 57 Elk Hunting
Chaffee, Park and Fremont counties, central Colorado · 273 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 57 is like
GMU 57 covers 273 square miles across Chaffee, Park and Fremont counties and spans from 6,700 feet to 11,000 feet in elevation. The terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with 40 percent gentle slopes, 46 percent moderate slopes, 14 percent steep slopes, and 1 percent rugged terrain. This elevation and terrain profile supports elk across multiple seasonal ranges throughout the fall and early winter.
Approximately 72 percent of the unit—about 196 square miles—is National Forest and BLM land that is generally open to public hunting. An additional 4.3 percent is Colorado State Trust Land, huntable only where CPW has enrolled parcels in the Public Access Program; access to this ground varies by parcel. Private land comprises roughly 24 percent of the unit. The large public-land share provides hunters substantial ground to work, though private inholdings and terrain will still govern where a hunter can actually reach.
Elk occupy the unit across broad seasonal ranges. Winter Range and Summer Range each cover 98 percent and 89 percent of the unit respectively, indicating that elk use occurs across most of the terrain through both seasons. Within those ranges, elk concentrate on specific ground: Winter Concentration covers 29 percent of the unit and Summer Concentration covers 27 percent. Migration Corridors account for 10 percent of the unit, and a small Resident Population layer of 1 percent indicates limited year-round use. As temperatures cool from September through November and snow accumulates with fall weather, elk movement toward winter ground accelerates, with hunters expecting a general shift in distribution as the season advances.
The unit offers six public archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons. Archery runs September 2–30 for either-sex hunting. Muzzleloader hunts occur September 12–20 for antlerless or bull elk. Four rifle seasons follow: the 1st Rifle October 14–18, 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1, 3rd Rifle November 7–15, and 4th Rifle November 18–22, all for antlerless or bull elk. Archery overlaps the rut onset and primary rut phases. Muzzleloader coincides with the primary rut. Early rifle seasons span the late rut into post-rut recovery, while later rifle seasons progress into the migration transition period. The unit draws at moderate difficulty, meaning the easiest unit-wide either-sex or bull code for an adult Colorado resident typically requires 1–2 preference points.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,700–11,000 ft, typically around 9,100 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 14°
- Slope breakdown
- 40% gentle · 46% moderate · 14% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~196 sq mi, plus ~12 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 72% of GMU 57 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM. A further 4% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest55%
- BLM17%
- State Trust Land4%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private24%
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 57 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 Range98%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Winter Range98%used in winter
- Summer Range89%used in summer
- Winter Concentration29%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration27%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors10%movement between ranges, not residence
- Resident Population<1%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 | Antlerless, 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 67°F, lows around 37°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 56°F, lows around 27°F, about 2.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 44°F, lows around 16°F, about 4.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 57 elk hunting FAQ
Is this a realistic draw for a hunter with no preference points?
The easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code for an adult resident typically draws at 1–2 points, so an applicant with zero points faces a wait. However, draw difficulty varies by weapon and season—private applicants and those targeting specific codes not listed in the moderate-difficulty band may face different competition. Checking the specific hunt codes in the current draw statistics for this unit is necessary to assess entry for a zero-point applicant.
Is this unit better for archery or rifle?
Archery (September 2–30) runs through the rut onset and primary rut phases, when bulls are most vocal and responsive to calling. Rifle seasons span October through mid-November, starting in the late rut and post-rut recovery, then progressing into the migration transition as weather and snow increase. Archery offers the rut advantage; rifle seasons offer multiple chances across a longer timeframe and the possibility of finding elk responding to winter-range movement.
How much public land can a public-land hunter actually hunt?
Approximately 72 percent of the unit—196 square miles—is National Forest and BLM land generally open to public hunting. An additional 4.3 percent is State Trust Land, but access is contingent on CPW enrollment in the Public Access Program, and not all parcels may be enrolled. Terrain and private inholdings will still constrain where access is practical, so the usable public acreage depends on trailhead location, road access, and the specific parcels enrolled.
What does the moderate-draw-difficulty label actually cover?
The moderate rating describes the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code available to adult Colorado residents in the primary draw; that hunt typically requires 1–2 preference points to draw reliably. Private-land-only hunts, ranching-for-wildlife opportunities, other weapons, other season tiers, and nonresident applicants can all carry substantially different point requirements and are not covered by this label.
What kind of terrain should a foot hunter expect?
The unit is rolling to moderately steep across most of its area, with 40 percent gentle and 46 percent moderate slopes. However, 14 percent of the unit is steep and 1 percent is rugged, so terrain difficulty varies significantly depending on the drainage or ridge system a hunter chooses. Elevation spans 6,700 to 11,000 feet, and concentration layers mark where elk cluster; a hunter on foot should expect to navigate variable slopes and be prepared for the elevation range.
When does the rut occur in this unit?
The primary rut runs September 11–30, and archery season (September 2–30) encompasses both rut onset and the primary rut peak. Muzzleloader season (September 12–20) falls entirely within the primary rut. By the time 1st Rifle opens on October 14, the unit is in the late rut to early post-rut phase, and rut activity has peaked and is declining through the remaining rifle seasons into November.
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.