Colorado GMU 57 Pronghorn Hunting
Chaffee, Park and Fremont counties, central Colorado · 273 sq mi
Based on the EASIEST unit-wide buck 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 57 is like
GMU 57 spans 273 square miles across Chaffee, Park and Fremont counties in the central high country. Elevation ranges from 6,700 feet to 11,000 feet, with terrain that is rolling to moderately steep. The unit breaks down into 40 percent gentle, 46 percent moderate and 14 percent steep to rugged terrain by area, giving hunters access to varied country from lower-elevation parks to steeper higher slopes. The landscape reflects the transition zone between lower valleys and the high country, offering the mixed terrain typical of this region.
National Forest and BLM lands make up approximately 72 percent of the unit (roughly 196 square miles) and are generally open to public hunting. Colorado State Trust Land comprises about 4.3 percent (roughly 12 square miles), though hunting on those parcels depends on enrollment in CPW's Public Access Program—not all are available. Private land accounts for the remaining 24 percent. Access to public ground is governed by roads, trailheads and seasonal closures on the managed lands themselves.
Pronghorn occupy a limited portion of the unit. Overall Range covers 19 percent, reflecting the mapped extent of where pronghorn occur, while Winter Range covers 7 percent. A Winter Concentration layer marks 5 percent of the unit, indicating where pronghorn cluster during winter months. These layers show that pronghorn use is focused rather than spread evenly across the landscape, with the heaviest use concentrated on winter ground.
The unit offers three seasons for pronghorn: an archery season from August 15 to September 20, a muzzleloader season from September 21 to September 29, and a rifle season from October 3 to October 11. All three seasons are either-sex or doe/buck options. Archery season spans the pre-rut and primary rut phases, muzzleloader covers the primary rut and early post-rut period, and rifle falls in the late post-rut phase. Temperature drops steadily through the fall, from September highs around 67 degrees Fahrenheit to November highs near 44 degrees, while October can bring snowfall averaging 2.4 inches. Draw difficulty for the easiest unit-wide buck or either-sex hunt codes runs 3–5 preference points. Overall hunter pressure on the unit is moderate.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 6,700–11,000 ft, typically around 9,100 ft
- Steepness
- Steep — mean slope 14°
- Slope breakdown
- 40% gentle · 46% moderate · 14% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~196 sq mi, plus ~12 sq mi of State Trust Land where access depends on enrollment
Habitat & cover
What actually grows here, by elevation. Each band adds to 100% on its own — these are shares of that band, not of GMU 57.
Lower elevations
- Conifer51%
- Sagebrush35%
- Other cover8%
- Grass and meadow5%
- Riparian1%
Mid elevations
- Conifer47%
- Sagebrush34%
- Grass and meadow17%
- Riparian1%
Higher elevations
- Conifer40%
- Sagebrush30%
- Grass and meadow18%
- Aspen10%
- Riparian2%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database, split into elevation bands. “Other cover” is the remainder of the classification — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land — and is left unnamed rather than guessed at.
Land & access
About 72% of GMU 57 is public land a hunter can count on — National Forest and BLM. A further 4% is State Trust Land, which is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it.
- National Forest55%
- BLM17%
- State Trust Land4%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private24%
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 pronghorn live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps pronghorn seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 57 each range covers — the single best clue to whether pronghorn are here in September, in November, or only passing through. The layers overlap, so they do not add to 100%.
- Overall Range19%the full extent of range CPW maps for pronghorn — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when pronghorn are present
- Winter Range7%used in winter
- Winter Concentration5%where pronghorn bunch up in winter
Pronghorn seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | August 15 – September 20 | Doe, Buck |
| Muzzleloader | September 21 – September 29 | Doe, Buck |
| Rifle | October 3 – October 11 | Doe, Buck |
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, about 0.1 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- October — highs around 56°F, lows around 27°F, about 2.4 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
- November — highs around 44°F, lows around 16°F, about 4.5 in of snow (mid-elevation normals)
GMU 57 pronghorn hunting FAQ
How much ground can a public-land pronghorn hunter actually hunt in this unit?
National Forest and BLM land—approximately 72 percent of the unit—is generally open to public hunting. Colorado State Trust Land makes up an additional 4.3 percent, but it is huntable only on parcels enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, so the full acreage cannot be assumed available. Access to all public ground remains subject to roads, trailheads, seasonal closures and private inholdings.
Does this unit require preference points to draw?
The easiest unit-wide pronghorn hunt codes reliably draw with 3–5 preference points in the primary draw. Applicants with fewer points sometimes draw as well, and the secondary draw and leftover list offer additional pathways outside the primary system that do not require points.
Where should a hunter expect to find pronghorn in fall?
Winter Range covers 7 percent of the unit, with a Winter Concentration layer marking 5 percent where pronghorn cluster. Pronghorn use is focused on concentrated ground rather than spread evenly, so hunters should prioritize areas within the mapped range, particularly concentration zones, as conditions shift toward late fall.
Which season offers the best hunting windows for rut activity?
The archery season (August 15–September 20) spans the pre-rut and primary rut phases, when pronghorn are establishing territories and beginning rutting behavior. The muzzleloader season (September 21–29) falls entirely in the rut and early post-rut recovery phase. The rifle season (October 3–11) occurs in the late post-rut recovery phase, after peak rut intensity.
What weather should a hunter prepare for in each season?
Archery (mid-August to late September) sees highs around 67°F and minimal snowfall. Muzzleloader (late September) experiences cooling into the 50s with little precipitation. Rifle (early October) brings highs near 56°F and increasing snow risk, averaging 2.4 inches that month. Temperatures cool steadily through the fall, and hunters should be equipped for rapid cooling, especially as the seasons progress.
Is this unit realistic for an applicant with no preference points?
Primary-draw hunts here require points, but zero-point applicants can access tags through the secondary draw (a separate June draw, random selection, no points) or the leftover list (first-come, first-served after the primary draw closes). Neither pathway guarantees a license, but both remain open to hunters with no points.
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 — Pronghorn 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
- USGS / MRLC — National Land Cover Database — habitat and cover classes by elevation band
- CPW — Maps and GIS (Species Activity Mapping) — pronghorn seasonal range
- CPW — State Trust Land Finder — which State Trust acreage is enrolled and open to public hunting
- USGS PAD-US — Protected Areas Database of the United States — land ownership and access
- Daymet daily climate, 1991–2020 (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) — 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 September 24, 2026.