Colorado GMU 62 Elk Hunting
Delta, Mesa, Montrose and Ouray counties, southwest Colorado · 1,376 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 62 is like
GMU 62 spans 1,376 square miles across Delta, Mesa, Montrose and Ouray counties in southwestern Colorado. The unit is rolling, with some steeper breaks, ranging from 4,600 feet in the low valleys to 10,300 feet at the highest elevations, with typical terrain sitting around 7,200 feet. Most of the unit—67 percent—is gentle, while 24 percent is moderate and 9 percent is steep or rugged. This mix of terrain makes the unit accessible to hunters of varying fitness levels, though steep sections do exist.
Approximately 69 percent of the unit is generally open to public hunting, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 31 percent is private land. The public ownership is distributed across these three agencies, with BLM accounting for the largest share. Hunters should verify specific access points and seasonal restrictions before planning their approach, as ownership alone does not guarantee easy entry.
Elk occupy the unit's mapped range extensively, though not uniformly. Overall Range covers 82 percent of the unit, but more specific seasonal layers reveal where elk concentrate at different times. Winter Range covers 52 percent of the unit, with 14 percent marked as Winter Concentration ground where elk cluster. Summer Range covers 36 percent, with 12 percent as Summer Concentration. Migration Corridors account for 5 percent of the unit. There is no mapped Resident Population, meaning CPW records no year-round elk presence, so hunters should expect elk to shift with the seasons. As temperatures drop from September highs near 75 degrees Fahrenheit through November lows near 24 degrees, and snowfall increases from essentially zero in September to 2.3 inches average in November, elk should be expected to move toward winter ground, though timing and extent vary with actual weather conditions.
The unit offers seven seasons, including four rifle seasons. Archery runs September 2–30 with either-sex tags, overlapping the onset and primary rut. Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 during the primary rut, with antlerless and bull tags available. First Rifle runs October 14–18 with antlerless and bull tags; Second Rifle runs October 24–November 1 with antlerless tags; Third Rifle runs November 7–15 with antlerless tags; and Fourth Rifle runs November 18–22 with either-sex and antlerless tags. A private-land-only season runs October 14–November 22. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code available to adult Colorado residents is Moderate, requiring 1–2 preference points. Overall hunter pressure is Moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,600–10,300 ft, typically around 7,200 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 9.5°
- Slope breakdown
- 67% gentle · 24% moderate · 8% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~951 sq mi
Land & access
About 69% of GMU 62 is public land a hunter can count on — BLM, National Forest and State Wildlife Areas.
- BLM39%
- National Forest29%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private30%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 62 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 Range82%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Winter Range52%used in winter
- Summer Range36%used in summer
- Winter Concentration14%where elk bunch up in winter
- Summer Concentration12%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors5%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 |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| Private-land only | October 14 – November 22 | 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 75°F, lows around 45°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 63°F, lows around 34°F, about 0.7 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 49°F, lows around 24°F, about 2.3 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 62 elk hunting FAQ
How much public ground can a hunter actually hunt in GMU 62?
Approximately 69 percent of the unit, or about 951 square miles, is generally open to public hunting managed by the BLM, National Forest Service and State Wildlife Areas. The remaining 31 percent is private land. However, public ownership does not guarantee easy physical access; hunters should verify trailheads, roads and seasonal restrictions specific to their intended hunting area before committing.
Is this unit realistic for a first-time applicant with no preference points?
The easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code requires 1–2 preference points for an adult Colorado resident, so a zero-point applicant will not draw reliably. Waiting one year to build points or exploring other units with lower draw difficulty would improve prospects. The draw difficulty label applies only to the easiest qualifying hunt; other seasons, weapons and nonresident applicants face higher competition.
When should a hunter expect elk to move to winter ground?
CPW maps Winter Range covering 52 percent of the unit and Winter Concentration on 14 percent. As the season progresses from September into November, with cooling temperatures and increasing snowfall, elk should be expected to shift toward winter areas. The timing and extent of this movement depend on actual weather conditions in a given year; early heavy snow can concentrate elk faster, while mild conditions may delay the shift.
Does the archery season coincide with the rut?
Yes. Archery runs September 2–30, which spans both the Rut Onset phase (September 1–10) and the Primary Rut phase (September 11–30). This means archers should expect to find bulls responsive and vocal throughout the season, with the best rutting activity typically building into late September.
How much of the unit is steep or heavily broken terrain?
Only 9 percent of the unit is classified as steep or rugged by area, meaning most hunters can expect rolling terrain with manageable slopes. Two-thirds of the unit is gentle, making it accessible to hunters on foot without specialized fitness or mountaineering ability, though the elevation span and scattered steeper sections require typical backcountry preparation.
Why does the Winter Range figure seem small if elk move to winter ground in November?
Winter Range and Summer Range on CPW's map describe the full seasonal range elk use, not necessarily where they concentrate within each season. The Winter Concentration layer shows that 14 percent of the unit is concentrated-use winter ground. The broader 52-percent Winter Range figure includes elk that spread more thinly across lower areas; concentrated winter elk sit on that 14-percent subset. Hunters expecting late-season elk should focus on the geography of that winter concentration area.
How does draw difficulty differ from the actual hunting pressure on the ground?
Draw difficulty describes how many preference points are required to draw a tag, while hunter pressure refers to actual crowding during the season. GMU 62 has Moderate draw difficulty and Moderate hunter pressure, meaning that while the tags are not highly competitive, the ground sees a steady flow of hunters once the season begins. An easy-to-draw unit can still feel crowded, and vice versa.
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.