Colorado hunting statistics

This page will allow you to explore the state from the comfort of your desk and will provide you with the necessary information to make an informed decision about which part of Colorado and which Game Management Unit (GMU) best suits your style of hunting. The map to the left shows the CPW Data Analysis Units (DAU) and the CPW Game Management Units. DAUs represent a relatively discrete herd of elk that tend to migrate between ranges within the boundaries of one of the 47 areas. The data below will focus on the regions west of I-25.

One of the top considerations that most people take into account when deciding on which area to hunt is the likelihood for a successful hunt. Other considerations may include the density of hunters, the road density, the amount of wilderness, or the amount of public land within each GMU. All of this information and more is available below in tabular and/or graphic format.

More detailed ElkTracker™ maps are available to purchase for your GMU. These maps depict the security habitat that is present in the area you will be hunting. Security habitat can be described as areas that elk escape to and bed down in when they feel pressured. If you make an effort and get into one of these areas, chances are that you will find success with a little perseverance and some walking.

To compliment the security habitat, on U.S. National Forest lands, ElkTracker™ maps also show areas containing high quality elk forage habitat and the elk hunting “Hot Spots”. If you make it into one of these “Hot Spots”, you will be hunting in an area that offers elk the three things they need to survive–Forage, Cover, and Water.