Elk season in Colorado runs Aug 15 – Oct 18 across 54 GMUs.
| GMU | Type | Dates | Harvest | Pressure | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | 5th Private Land Rifle | Aug 15 — Jan 15 | — | 0.08/mi² | 89% |
| Unit 1 | 1st Late Rifle | Dec 1 — Dec 31 | — | 0.08/mi² | 89% |
| Unit 1 | 1st Early Rifle | Oct 1 — Oct 11 | 0% | 0.09/mi² | 89% |
| GMU 1 | 1st Rifle | Oct 14 — Oct 18 | — | — | — |
| Unit 1 | 1st Rifle | Oct 14 — Oct 18 | 0% | 0.08/mi² | 89% |
| Unit 1 | 2nd Rifle | Oct 24 — Nov 1 | 57% | 0.20/mi² | 89% |
| GMU 1 | 2nd Rifle | Oct 24 — Nov 1 | — | — | — |
| Unit 1 | 3rd Rifle | Nov 7 — Nov 15 | 62% | 0.16/mi² | 89% |
| GMU 1 | 3rd Rifle | Nov 7 — Nov 15 | — | — | — |
| Unit 1 | 4th Rifle | Nov 18 — Nov 22 | 17% | 0.20/mi² | 89% |
| GMU 1 | 4th Rifle | Nov 18 — Nov 22 | — | — | — |
| Unit 10 | 5th Private Land Rifle | Aug 15 — Jan 15 | — | 0.12/mi² | 76% |
| Unit 10 | 1st Rifle | Sep 2 — Nov 30 | — | 0.00/mi² | 76% |
| Unit 10 | 1st RFW Rifle | Sep 27 — Oct 1 | — | 0.00/mi² | 76% |
| Unit 10 | 1st RFW Rifle | Oct 4 — Oct 8 | — | 0.02/mi² | 76% |
| Unit 10 | 1st Late Rifle | Dec 1 — Dec 31 | — | 0.01/mi² | 76% |
| Unit 10 | 1st Early Rifle | Oct 1 — Oct 11 | 52% | 0.04/mi² | 76% |
| Unit 10 | 1st Rifle | Oct 14 — Oct 18 | 52% | 0.09/mi² | 76% |
| GMU 10 | 1st Rifle | Oct 14 — Oct 18 | — | — | — |
| Unit 10 | 2nd Rifle | Oct 24 — Nov 1 | 55% | 0.06/mi² | 76% |
| GMU 10 | 2nd Rifle | Oct 24 — Nov 1 | — | — | — |
| GMU 10 | 3rd Rifle | Nov 7 — Nov 15 | — | — | — |
| Unit 10 | 3rd Rifle | Nov 7 — Nov 15 | 32% | 0.06/mi² | 76% |
| GMU 10 | 4th Rifle | Nov 18 — Nov 22 | — | — | — |
| Unit 10 | 4th Rifle | Nov 18 — Nov 22 | 56% | 0.11/mi² | 76% |
+ 318 more
| GMU | Type | Dates | Harvest | Pressure | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 1 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| Unit 1 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 0% | 0.04/mi² | 89% |
| Unit 1 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 0% | 0.03/mi² | 89% |
| GMU 10 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| Unit 10 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 100% | 0.01/mi² | 76% |
| Unit 10 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 100% | 0.01/mi² | 76% |
| GMU 100 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 101 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 102 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 103 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 104 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| Unit 104 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 33% | 0.02/mi² | 4% |
| Unit 104 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 33% | 0.03/mi² | 4% |
| GMU 105 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 106 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 107 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 109 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 11 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| Unit 11 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 0% | 0.16/mi² | 68% |
| Unit 11 | 1st Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | 0% | 0.16/mi² | 68% |
| GMU 110 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 111 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 112 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 113 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
| GMU 114 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12 — Sep 20 | — | — | — |
+ 62 more
| GMU | Type | Dates | Harvest | Pressure | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 1 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| Unit 1 | 1st Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | 0% | 0.02/mi² | 89% |
| GMU 10 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| Unit 10 | 1st Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | 47% | 0.02/mi² | 76% |
| GMU 100 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 101 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 102 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 103 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| Unit 104 | 1st Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | 39% | 0.02/mi² | 4% |
| GMU 104 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 105 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 106 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 107 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 109 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| Unit 11 | 1st Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | 1.23/mi² | 68% |
| Unit 11 | 1st Private Land Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | 1.64/mi² | 68% |
| GMU 11 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 110 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 111 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 112 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 113 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 114 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 115 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 116 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
| GMU 117 | Archery | Sep 2 — Sep 30 | — | — | — |
+ 45 more
Elk season in Colorado currently runs Aug 15 to Oct 18, across 500 season rows and 54 GMUs, split by weapon (Rifle, Archery, Muzzleloader).
The best GMUs for elk in Colorado depend on harvest success and public-land access, both shown per GMU above. Compare units before you apply for a tag or plan your hunt.
View GMU boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas on our interactive map.
Also see Colorado seasons, public land, and license.