Colorado GMU 741 Elk Hunting
La Plata County, southwest Colorado · 484 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 741 is like
Unit 741 spans 484 square miles across La Plata County in southwestern Colorado, rising from 5,900 feet to 9,100 feet with a typical elevation near 6,900 feet. The terrain is predominantly rolling, with some steeper breaks: 69% of the unit falls into the gentle slope category, 24% is moderate, and 7% is steep. The landscape supports year-round elk use across 56% of the unit as mapped by CPW's Resident Population layer, meaning a substantial portion of this country holds elk through all seasons.
Public hunting access is severely limited. Only about 3.1% of the unit—roughly 15 square miles—is generally open to public hunting, comprising BLM and State Wildlife Area lands. An additional 2.9% is Colorado State Trust Land, huntable only on parcels enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program; which specific tracts are enrolled is not publicly documented here. The remaining 94% is private land, making legal access the dominant constraint on where a hunter can actually hunt, regardless of how walkable the terrain may be.
Elk distribution through the fall is driven by the unit's substantial year-round-use area. Winter Range covers 100% of the unit and Winter Concentration covers 9%, indicating that elk cluster on smaller areas as cooler weather arrives but do not leave the unit. The lack of Summer Range coverage reflects the unit's elevation and position in the region's winter range ecosystem. Migration Corridors account for only 2% of the unit, suggesting limited seasonal transit through this country. A hunter should expect to find elk present through the fall season, with increasing concentration on winter grounds as November progresses.
The unit offers seven seasons across four rifle hunts and two archery/muzzleloader options. Archery runs September 2–30 for antlerless or bull; Muzzleloader runs September 12–20 for antlerless or bull; 1st Rifle runs October 14–18 for antlerless or bull; 2nd Rifle runs October 24–November 1 for antlerless only; 3rd Rifle runs November 7–15 for antlerless only; 4th Rifle runs November 18–22 for antlerless or bull; and a private-land-only season runs September 1–January 15. The September archery and muzzleloader seasons coincide with the Primary Rut, while 1st Rifle spans the transition from Late Rut into Post-Rut Recovery. Temperatures cool steadily from September highs around 76°F to November highs near 50°F. The unit draws at the Easy tier—often zero points—for the easiest qualifying adult resident bull or either-sex code, but other weapons, seasons, and nonresident applicants may require substantially more preference points. Hunter pressure on the unit is extreme.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,900–9,100 ft, typically around 6,900 ft
- Steepness
- Gentle — mean slope 8.7°
- Slope breakdown
- 69% gentle · 24% moderate · 7% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~15 sq mi, plus ~14 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Land & access
About 3% of GMU 741 is public land a hunter can count on — BLM and State Wildlife Areas. A further 3% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- BLM2%
- State Wildlife Area<1%
- State Trust Land3%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private94%
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 741 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%.
- Winter Range100%used in winter
- 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
- Resident Population56%the only layer that means year-round use
- Winter Concentration9%where elk bunch up in winter
- Migration Corridors2%movement between ranges, not residence
- Summer Range<1%used in summer
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 – January 15 | 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 76°F, lows around 49°F (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 63°F, lows around 37°F, about 0.2 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 50°F, lows around 27°F, about 0.9 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 741 elk hunting FAQ
Is this unit realistic for a hunter with no preference points?
The easiest unit-wide adult resident bull or either-sex hunt code draws at zero points, making at least one tag-type accessible without points. However, nonresident applicants and those targeting specific weapons or seasons may face much higher point requirements. Check the draw statistics for your specific hunt code before applying.
How much public ground can a hunter actually access here?
Only about 3.1% of the unit—roughly 15 square miles—is reliably open to public hunting via BLM and State Wildlife Areas. An additional 2.9% is State Trust Land, huntable only on CPW-enrolled parcels whose locations are not documented here. Private land comprises 94% of the unit, so legal access, not terrain difficulty, is the limiting factor.
What season suits the rut best?
The September archery season (September 2–30) overlaps the Primary Rut from September 11–30, making it the best option for hunters targeting vocal bulls. The Muzzleloader season (September 12–20) also sits entirely within the Primary Rut. The 1st Rifle season (October 14–18) begins in Late Rut but transitions into Post-Rut Recovery, after peak calling activity.
Do elk leave the unit as winter approaches?
No. CPW maps year-round resident elk across 56% of the unit, meaning a substantial elk population stays through all seasons. Winter Range covers 100% of the unit and Winter Concentration covers 9%, indicating elk cluster on smaller areas but remain present. The unit does not function as a migration corridor; only 2% is mapped as Migration Corridor.
How does draw difficulty relate to actual hunting experience here?
An easy draw (zero points for the simplest code) does not reflect crowding—this unit experiences extreme hunter pressure despite its accessibility to new applicants. The term "easy" describes only how many preference points the draw requires, not how many hunters are in the field.
What weather should a hunter expect across the fall season?
September brings highs around 76°F and lows near 49°F with negligible snowfall. October cools to highs around 63°F and lows near 37°F with trace snowfall. November drops further to highs around 50°F and lows near 27°F, with average snowfall rising to 0.9 inches. Preparation for a long cooling trend and potential late-season snow is necessary for November hunts.
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.