Colorado GMU 64 Elk Hunting
Delta and Montrose counties, southwest Colorado · 269 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 64 is like
GMU 64 spans 269 square miles across the low-elevation country of Delta and Montrose counties in southwestern Colorado. Elevations range from 4,900 feet to 9,700 feet, with typical hunting around 5,900 feet. The terrain is rolling, with some steeper breaks—62% of the unit is gentle, 25% moderate, 10% steep, and 4% rugged. This is fundamentally lower-elevation elk country, open and accessible compared to high mountain zones.
Public ground is limited. Approximately 37% of the unit, roughly 100 square miles, is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is generally open to public hunting. National Park Service land covers about 8% of the unit and is closed to hunting. Private land makes up the remaining 55%. Hunters planning to apply should understand that BLM is the only public-hunting option here, and access depends on roads, trailheads, and private inholdings that checkerboard the landscape.
Elk use extends across 46% of the unit as mapped year-round Overall Range, but resident use is minimal—only 4% of the unit supports year-round occupation. Winter Range covers 46% of the unit, and a Winter Concentration layer marks 12% where elk cluster seasonally. Summer Range is limited to 19% of the unit, and Migration Corridors occupy 3%. As the season advances from September through November, weather and snow should drive expectations of movement toward concentrated winter grounds, though the timing and extent of such shifts vary by conditions.
The unit offers seven seasons total: Archery (September 2–30, either-sex), Muzzleloader (September 12–20, antlerless or bull), four rifle seasons (1st Rifle October 14–18, either-sex or antlerless; 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1, antlerless; 3rd Rifle November 7–15, antlerless; 4th Rifle November 18–22, either-sex or antlerless), and a private-land-only season. The archery season spans the rut onset and primary rut phases, while the muzzleloader hunt occurs during the primary rut. Early rifle seasons fall in the late rut and post-rut phases; later rifle seasons occur during migration transition. Draw difficulty is easy—often at zero preference points—for the lowest-tier bull or either-sex hunt codes available to adult residents. Hunter pressure is high.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,900–9,700 ft, typically around 5,900 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 11.2°
- Slope breakdown
- 62% gentle · 25% moderate · 10% steep · 4% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~100 sq mi
Land & access
About 37% of GMU 64 is public land a hunter can count on — BLM. Another 8% is public but closed to hunting — National Park Service.
- BLM37%
- National Forest<1%
- National Park Service8%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private55%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 64 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 Range46%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Winter Range46%used in winter
- Summer Range19%used in summer
- Winter Concentration12%where elk bunch up in winter
- Resident Population4%the only layer that means year-round use
- Migration Corridors3%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 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| 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 – December 31 | 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 80°F, lows around 48°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 66°F, lows around 36°F, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 52°F, lows around 26°F, about 0.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 64 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter without preference points draw here?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code for adult Colorado residents typically draws at zero preference points. That applies to specific weapons and seasons in the primary draw; other seasons, tags, and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points.
Is the archery season early in the rut or late?
Archery (September 2–30) covers the rut onset and primary rut phases, meaning bulls are responsive throughout the season. The muzzleloader hunt (September 12–20) also falls in the primary rut.
What is the actual huntable public ground here?
The unit is 37% BLM, roughly 100 square miles, which is the only generally open public-hunting land. National Park Service land (8%) is closed to hunting, and private holdings cover 55%. A hunter's actual access depends on roads, trailheads, and the pattern of private inholdings.
Is this unit reasonable for a low-point applicant near a city?
The draw is easy—often zero points—but the unit sits in lower-elevation country near populated areas, so hunter pressure is high. An applicant with few points can draw here, but should expect crowded conditions during all seasons.
Does the terrain suit foot travel?
The unit is 62% gentle and 25% moderate slope, so most of it is walkable. The 10% steep and 4% rugged ground is broken into patches rather than dominating the unit.
When does the season get cold and snowy here?
September averages highs around 80°F and virtually no snow. October stays mild, with highs around 66°F and minimal snow. November cools significantly, with highs around 52°F and an average of 0.5 inches of snowfall, so later-season hunters should prepare for colder, wetter conditions.
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.