Colorado GMU 711 Elk Hunting
Dolores, Montezuma and San Miguel counties, southwest Colorado · 819 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 711 is like
GMU 711 spreads across southwestern Colorado in Dolores, Montezuma, and San Miguel counties, covering 819 square miles of elevation from 5,400 feet to 9,700 feet, with a typical elevation around 7,400 feet. The terrain is predominantly gentle and rolling, with 72 percent of the unit falling in the gentle category, 18 percent moderate, 9 percent steep, and 1 percent rugged. Hunters work a landscape of mixed elevation bands rather than a single distinct ecosystem.
National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas together make up approximately 59 percent of the unit, or about 484 square miles of ground generally open to public hunting. Private land accounts for approximately 38 percent, and approximately 2.3 percent is unclassified in ownership. The public ground is sufficient for an extended fall hunt, though the intermixed private land and private inholdings mean advance scouting and map work matter to avoid trespassing and to identify accessible entry points.
CPW maps show that a Resident Population layer covers 9 percent of the unit, indicating year-round use over that share. Winter Range extends across 70 percent of the unit, while Winter Concentration occupies 38 percent, meaning elk cluster notably on the winter range rather than dispersing evenly. Summer Range covers 49 percent with a Summer Concentration of 7 percent. As fall progresses from September through November, hunters should expect elk to trend toward the winter range, though the timing and extent of that shift vary with weather and snow. Migration Corridors occupy 3 percent of the unit.
The unit offers seven seasons in 2026: Archery from September 2 to September 30, Muzzleloader from September 12 to September 20, a 1st Rifle season from October 14 to October 18, a 2nd Rifle season from October 24 to November 1, a 3rd Rifle season from November 7 to November 15, and a 4th Rifle season from November 18 to November 22. All of these except the private-land-only season are open to public applicants and offer either-sex and antlerless or bull options depending on the specific hunt. The draw is easy for the lowest-point qualifying bull or either-sex hunt code available to resident adults, often drawing at zero points. Hunter pressure is moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,400–9,700 ft, typically around 7,400 ft
- Steepness
- Moderate — mean slope 9.1°
- Slope breakdown
- 72% gentle · 18% moderate · 9% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~484 sq mi, plus ~6 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 59% of GMU 711 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest, BLM and State Wildlife Areas.
- National Forest36%
- BLM23%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land<1%
- Unclassified ownership2%
- Private38%
“Ownership unclassified” means the source dataset does not record an owner for that acreage. It is not known to be public or private.
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 711 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
- Winter Range70%used in winter
- Summer Range49%used in summer
- Winter Concentration38%where elk bunch up in winter
- Resident Population9%the only layer that means year-round use
- Summer Concentration7%where elk bunch up in summer
- Migration Corridors3%movement between ranges, not residence
Elk seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Antlerless, Bull |
| 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 | Antlerless, Bull |
| Private-land only | September 1 – November 22 | Either-sex, 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 73°F, lows around 44°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 61°F, lows around 34°F, about 0.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 49°F, lows around 24°F, about 2.6 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 711 elk hunting FAQ
How much public ground can a hunter actually hunt here?
Approximately 59 percent of the unit—about 484 square miles—is National Forest, BLM, and State Wildlife Areas, generally open to public hunting. The remaining ground is private (38 percent) or unclassified (2.3 percent), so checking maps and ownership boundaries before heading out is essential to avoid posting.
Is this unit realistic for someone with no preference points?
Yes. The draw is easy for the lowest-point qualifying bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents, with applicants often drawing at zero preference points. Other weapons, seasons, and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points, so the scope matters.
When should a hunter expect to find most elk as the season progresses?
Winter Range covers 70 percent of the unit, and Winter Concentration accounts for 38 percent, indicating that elk cluster significantly on winter ground. As fall advances from September through November and snow increases, hunters should expect elk to trend toward the winter range, though weather and timing vary year to year.
Which seasons offer the best rut hunting?
Archery (September 2–30) spans both Rut Onset and Primary Rut, and Muzzleloader (September 12–20) occurs entirely during Primary Rut. These early seasons offer the most reliable bugling conditions and vocal activity for hunters targeting calling.
What are the weather trends across the fall hunt?
September starts mild with highs near 73°F and little to no snow. October cools to highs around 61°F with trace snowfall. By November, temperatures drop to highs near 49°F with an average of 2.6 inches of snowfall, making later rifle seasons more physically demanding.
Is the terrain manageable for a hunter on foot?
Yes. The unit is 72 percent gentle terrain, so most of the ground is accessible to hunters in reasonable condition. Steeper sections (9 percent) and rugged areas (1 percent) exist but are not the dominant character, and elevation tops out at 9,700 feet rather than extreme high-country terrain.
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.