Colorado GMU 68 Elk Hunting
Saguache County, southwest Colorado · 603 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 68 is like
Unit 68 is a 603-square-mile elk unit in Saguache County in Colorado's southwest region, spanning elevations from 7,600 feet to 13,900 feet with typical hunting altitude around 9,600 feet. The terrain is rolling to moderately steep, with 49 percent gentle slopes, 43 percent moderate grades, and 8 percent steep terrain. The country offers a mix of open forest and meadow across a broad elevation band.
Public land dominates the unit. About 79 percent of the unit, roughly 477 square miles, is generally open to hunting and consists of National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Area. An additional 8 percent, approximately 48 square miles, is Colorado State Trust Land; access to these parcels depends on enrollment in CPW's Public Access Program and cannot be assumed. The remaining 12 percent is private. Public ownership is not the same as easy entry—roads, trailheads, seasonal closures, and private inholdings still govern whether a hunter can reach the ground.
CPW maps Summer Range across 70 percent of the unit and Winter Range across 56 percent. Summer Concentration covers 12 percent of the unit, and Winter Concentration covers 11 percent, meaning elk cluster on specific ground in each season rather than spreading evenly. Migration Corridors occupy 7 percent. This distribution suggests that as the season advances from fall into winter, hunters should expect elk distribution to shift toward winter range, though timing and extent vary with weather and snow. The unit has no Resident Population layer mapped, meaning CPW does not identify a year-round use area here.
The unit offers seven seasons total, of which six are open to public applicants. Archery runs 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); 3rd Rifle November 7–November 15 (Antlerless); and 4th Rifle November 18–November 22 (Antlerless/Bull). Archery and Muzzleloader occur during rut onset and primary rut, while the four rifle seasons span from late rut through migration transition. September highs average 67 degrees Fahrenheit and cool steadily to November highs near 43 degrees. October brings roughly 1.4 inches of snow on average, and November jumps to 6.5 inches. The draw for this unit is easy—often available at zero points—based on the lowest preference-point tier for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code available to adult Colorado residents. Hunter pressure is moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,600–13,900 ft, typically around 9,600 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 11.6°
- Slope breakdown
- 49% gentle · 43% moderate · 8% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~477 sq mi, plus ~48 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 79% of GMU 68 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas. A further 8% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest63%
- BLM16%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land8%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private12%
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 68 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 Range100%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Summer Range70%used in summer
- Winter Range56%used in winter
- Summer Concentration12%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Concentration11%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors7%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 |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7 – November 15 | Antlerless |
| 4th Rifle | November 18 – November 22 | Antlerless, Bull |
| Private-land only | September 1 – December 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 (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 56°F, lows around 27°F, about 1.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 43°F, lows around 16°F, about 6.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 68 elk hunting FAQ
Can someone with no preference points draw here?
Yes. The unit draws at zero points for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents. Other seasons, weapons, nonresident applicants, and specialty hunts may require substantially more points.
Is there a realistic amount of public land to hunt?
About 79 percent of the unit, roughly 477 square miles, is National Forest, BLM, or State Wildlife Area open to public hunting. An additional 8 percent (48 square miles) is State Trust Land accessible only if enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program. Private land comprises 12 percent. Public ownership does not guarantee access—roads, trailheads, and seasonal closures still apply.
Does this unit favor early or late season?
Archery and Muzzleloader occur during rut onset and primary rut in early September, while the four rifle seasons span late rut through migration transition from mid-October into November. The choice depends on weapon and hunting style rather than any clear advantage to one time period.
Where should hunters expect elk as the fall progresses?
Summer Range covers 70 percent of the unit, while Winter Range covers 56 percent, suggesting elk shift toward winter ground as conditions cool. Summer and Winter Concentration layers (12 and 11 percent, respectively) show elk cluster on specific ground in each season rather than spreading evenly. Timing and extent of any shift vary with weather and snow.
Is the terrain manageable for foot hunters?
The unit is 49 percent gentle and 43 percent moderate slope, with only 8 percent steep terrain, making most of it accessible on foot. Elevation spans from 7,600 to 13,900 feet, so terrain difficulty increases with altitude.
What is the difference between the easy draw and the hunter pressure here?
The unit draws easily at zero points for some hunts, but moderate hunter pressure means tags are not wasted—the ground will see other applicants. An easy draw does not mean the unit is empty or uncrowded, only that preference points are not required to enter the lottery.
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.