Colorado GMU 681 Elk Hunting
Saguache County, southwest Colorado · 444 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 681 is like
Colorado GMU 681 covers 444 square miles of rolling to moderately steep terrain in Saguache County, ranging from 7,700 feet to 13,300 feet in elevation. The unit spans 37% gentle slopes, 51% moderate slopes, and 11% steep slopes by area. Elk hunting here occurs across a mix of lower-elevation private land and higher National Forest and BLM terrain that characterizes much of the surrounding region.
Approximately 87% of the unit (389 square miles) is generally open to public hunting, consisting of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management ground. Private land makes up about 12% of the unit. The remaining fraction is State Trust Land. This ownership pattern means hunters have access to substantial public acreage, though the distribution of public and private parcels will shape the practical approach to different areas.
Elk occupy the unit across seasonal ranges that shift through fall. Summer Range covers 78% of the unit, while Winter Range covers 71%, indicating substantial year-round use across much of the landscape. Summer Concentration ground comprises 16% of the unit, and Winter Concentration comprises 12%, showing that elk cluster on specific areas during each season rather than spreading evenly across available range. Migration Corridors account for 4% of the unit. As the season progresses from September through November, hunters can expect elk to gradually shift from higher summer range toward lower winter ground, though the timing and extent of this movement vary with weather and snow conditions.
Six seasons are offered for archery and rifle: Archery from September 2–30 (either-sex), Muzzleloader September 12–20 (antlerless/bull), 1st Rifle October 14–18 (bull), 2nd Rifle October 24–November 1 (antlerless), 3rd Rifle November 7–15 (antlerless), and 4th Rifle November 18–22 (antlerless/bull). Early-season hunts coincide with the primary rut (September 11–30), while later rifle seasons occur during migration transition (November 1–30). Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt is easy, with many draws requiring zero preference points, though other hunts and nonresident applicants face different competition levels.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 7,700–13,300 ft, typically around 9,300 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 13.9°
- Slope breakdown
- 37% gentle · 51% moderate · 11% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~389 sq mi, plus ~4 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 87% of GMU 681 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM.
- National Forest50%
- BLM37%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Private12%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 681 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 Range78%used in summer
- Winter Range71%used in winter
- Summer Concentration16%where elk bunch up in summer
- Winter Concentration12%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors4%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 |
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 68°F, lows around 37°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 56°F, lows around 27°F, about 1.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 43°F, lows around 17°F, about 6.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 681 elk hunting FAQ
Is this unit realistic for a hunter with no preference points?
Yes. The easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex code for adult Colorado residents draws at the easy difficulty level, which often requires zero preference points. Other seasons and weapons can demand more points, and nonresidents face different terms, but at least one option is accessible immediately.
When should a hunter apply for early season versus late season here?
Archery (September 2–30) and Muzzleloader (September 12–20) coincide with the primary rut, when bulls are responsive. Early Rifle (October 14–18) occurs during late rut and early post-rut recovery. Later rifle seasons (October 24 onward) fall during migration transition as elk shift from summer to winter range. Early seasons offer rut conditions; later seasons offer the chance to intercept migrating elk moving to lower ground, particularly as snowfall increases from 1.5 inches in October to 6.6 inches in November.
How much public land can a hunter actually access in this unit?
Approximately 87% of the unit (389 square miles) is generally open to public hunting through U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management ground. However, ownership distribution and private inholdings will affect the practical ability to reach different areas; checking specific road access and trailheads before planning a hunt is essential.
How does elk distribution change as fall progresses?
Elk shift from higher Summer Range (78% of the unit) toward lower Winter Range (71%) as temperatures drop and snow accumulates. This transition is gradual and weather-dependent: mild conditions can delay the shift, while early snow can accelerate it. Hunters can expect greater overlap on transitional ground in October as the migration begins in earnest during November (Migration Transition phase).
Is the terrain manageable for a foot hunter?
The unit is 37% gentle and 51% moderate slope, making most of it walkable, though 11% is steep. September highs average 68°F and cool to 43°F by November, with minimal September snow but 6.6 inches typical in November. Early-season foot hunters will enjoy easier conditions; late-season hunters should expect increasingly difficult terrain navigation and snow cover at higher elevations.
Where do elk concentrate on this unit?
Summer Concentration ground covers 16% of the unit and Winter Concentration covers 12%, meaning elk cluster on specific areas during each season rather than spreading evenly. The unit mapping does not specify where these concentrations sit by elevation or aspect, so consulting detailed maps and talking with local hunters or land managers will help identify productive areas within the broader seasonal ranges.
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.