Colorado GMU 86 elk: terrain, access and seasons
Unit 86's terrain, access, seasons and CPW elk figures, with Conditions rebuilt nightly.
Decide
The season's licenses, draw results and harvest figures.
At a glance
Late rifle (private land only) runs Sep 1–Jan 31, 2026.
Archery runs Sep 2–30, 2026; CPW's 2024 harvest survey put success at 8% for 646 hunters.
Muzzleloader runs Sep 12–20, 2026; CPW's 2024 harvest survey put success at 12% for 127 hunters.
First rifle runs Oct 14–18, 2026; CPW's 2024 harvest survey put success at 16% for 112 hunters.
First rifle (private land only) runs Oct 14–18, 2026; CPW's 2024 harvest survey, which covers the whole first rifle season, put success at 16% for 112 hunters.
Second rifle runs Oct 24–Nov 1, 2026; CPW's 2024 harvest survey put success at 12% for 461 hunters.
Third rifle runs Nov 7–15, 2026; CPW's 2024 harvest survey put success at 8% for 216 hunters.
Fourth rifle runs Nov 18–22, 2026; CPW's 2024 harvest survey put success at 10% for 97 hunters.
- Size
- 496 sq mi
- CPW unit boundary, 2025
- Counties
- Fremont, Custer, Chaffee
- Elevation
- 6,170–14,260 ft
- USGS 3DEP, 2026-10-19
- Huntable public land
- 56%
- COMaP, 2026-10-12
- Late rifle, private land only license, 2026
- Draw cow
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
The Habitat Score grades huntable public ground, so a private-land-only license has none here.
- Archery license, 2026
- OTC either sex, cow (residents only) · Draw either sex, cow
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Success
- 8%
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunters
- 646
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunter-days per sq mi
- 9.3
- CPW, 2024
- Road miles, any vehicle
- 251 mi
- MVUM + CDOT, open on the Sep 2 opener
- Median Habitat Score
- 2.2 of 5
- Ranks 37th of 177 for archery. Glassline, v20, 2026-10-19
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
- Muzzleloader license, 2026
- Draw either sex, cow
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Success
- 12%
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunters
- 127
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunter-days per sq mi
- 1.3
- CPW, 2024
- Road miles, any vehicle
- 251 mi
- MVUM + CDOT, open on the Sep 12 opener
- Median Habitat Score
- 2.3 of 5
- Ranks 27th of 131 for muzzleloader. Glassline, v20, 2026-10-19
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
- First rifle license, 2026
- Draw either sex
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Success
- 16%
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunters
- 112
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunter-days per sq mi
- 0.8
- CPW, 2024
- Road miles, any vehicle
- 251 mi
- MVUM + CDOT, open on the Oct 14 opener
- Median Habitat Score
- 2.8 of 5
- Ranks 12th of 123 for first rifle. Glassline, v20, 2026-10-19
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
- First rifle, private land only license, 2026
- Draw either sex
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Success
- 16%
- CPW harvest survey, 2024, whole first rifle season
- Hunters
- 112
- CPW harvest survey, 2024, whole first rifle season
- Hunter-days per sq mi
- 0.8
- CPW, 2024, whole first rifle season
- Road miles, any vehicle
- 251 mi
- MVUM + CDOT, open on the Oct 14 opener
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
The Habitat Score grades huntable public ground, so a private-land-only license has none here.
- Second rifle license, 2026
- OTC bull · Draw cow
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Success
- 12%
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunters
- 461
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunter-days per sq mi
- 4.4
- CPW, 2024
- Road miles, any vehicle
- 251 mi
- MVUM + CDOT, open on the Oct 24 opener
- Median Habitat Score
- 2.8 of 5
- Ranks 12th of 128 for second rifle. Glassline, v20, 2026-10-19
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
- Third rifle license, 2026
- OTC bull · Draw cow
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Success
- 8%
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunters
- 216
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunter-days per sq mi
- 1.4
- CPW, 2024
- Road miles, any vehicle
- 251 mi
- MVUM + CDOT, open on the Nov 7 opener
- Median Habitat Score
- 1.7 of 5
- Ranks 80th of 128 for third rifle. Glassline, v20, 2026-10-19
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
- Fourth rifle license, 2026
- Draw either sex, cow
- CPW 2026 big game brochure
- Success
- 10%
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunters
- 97
- CPW harvest survey, 2024
- Hunter-days per sq mi
- 0.6
- CPW, 2024
- Road miles, any vehicle
- 251 mi
- MVUM + CDOT, open on the Nov 18 opener
- Median Habitat Score
- 1.6 of 5
- Ranks 82nd of 127 for fourth rifle. Glassline, v20, 2026-10-19
- Snow now
- 1 in
- Deepest at Medano Pass SNOTEL, 2026-10-20
In short
A mid-elevation, half-open OTC unit with more far-from-road ground than most units. Most of Unit 86 sits between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with more conifer than anything else and grass and meadow next. Just under three-fifths of the unit is huntable public land, and just under two-fifths of that ground is more than an hour and a half on foot from a drivable road. CPW's survey counted 1,934 hunters across all seasons in 2024. Archery sells over-the-counter either-sex and cow licenses to residents only; second and third rifle sell over-the-counter bull licenses; the other seasons are draw only.
In short
A mid-elevation, half-open OTC unit with more far-from-road ground than most units. Most of Unit 86 sits between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with more conifer than anything else and grass and meadow next. Just under three-fifths of the unit is huntable public land, just under two-fifths of it over 90 minutes' walk from a road. CPW's survey counted 1,934 hunters across all seasons in 2024, while archery success rose from 7% to 8%. Archery sells over-the-counter either-sex and cow licenses to residents only; second and third rifle sell over-the-counter bull licenses; the other seasons are draw only.
In short
A mid-elevation, half-open OTC unit with more far-from-road ground than most units. Most of Unit 86 sits between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with more conifer than anything else and grass and meadow next. Just under three-fifths of the unit is huntable public land, just under two-fifths of it over 90 minutes' walk from a road. CPW's survey counted 1,934 hunters across all seasons in 2024, while muzzleloader success rose from 8% to 12%. Archery sells over-the-counter either-sex and cow licenses to residents only; second and third rifle sell over-the-counter bull licenses; the other seasons are draw only.
In short
A mid-elevation, half-open OTC unit with more far-from-road ground than most units. Most of Unit 86 sits between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with more conifer than anything else and grass and meadow next. Just under three-fifths of the unit is huntable public land, just under two-fifths of it over 90 minutes' walk from a road. CPW's survey counted 1,934 hunters across all seasons in 2024, while first rifle success fell from 19% to 16%. Archery sells over-the-counter either-sex and cow licenses to residents only; second and third rifle sell over-the-counter bull licenses; the other seasons are draw only.
In short
A mid-elevation, half-open OTC unit with more far-from-road ground than most units. Most of Unit 86 sits between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with more conifer than anything else and grass and meadow next. Just under three-fifths of the unit is huntable public land, just under two-fifths of it over 90 minutes' walk from a road. CPW's survey counted 1,934 hunters across all seasons in 2024, while second rifle success held at 12%. Archery sells over-the-counter either-sex and cow licenses to residents only; second and third rifle sell over-the-counter bull licenses; the other seasons are draw only.
In short
A mid-elevation, half-open OTC unit with more far-from-road ground than most units. Most of Unit 86 sits between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with more conifer than anything else and grass and meadow next. Just under three-fifths of the unit is huntable public land, just under two-fifths of it over 90 minutes' walk from a road. CPW's survey counted 1,934 hunters across all seasons in 2024, while third rifle success rose from 3% to 8%. Archery sells over-the-counter either-sex and cow licenses to residents only; second and third rifle sell over-the-counter bull licenses; the other seasons are draw only.
In short
A mid-elevation, half-open OTC unit with more far-from-road ground than most units. Most of Unit 86 sits between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with more conifer than anything else and grass and meadow next. Just under three-fifths of the unit is huntable public land, just under two-fifths of it over 90 minutes' walk from a road. CPW's survey counted 1,934 hunters across all seasons in 2024, while fourth rifle success fell from 15% to 10%. Archery sells over-the-counter either-sex and cow licenses to residents only; second and third rifle sell over-the-counter bull licenses; the other seasons are draw only.
Licenses and draw
Late rifle, private land only in Unit 86, 2026: a draw cow license (E-F-086-P5-R).
- E-F-086-P5-R cow, draw 2026 draw: licenses left over for residents and nonresidents
Archery in Unit 86, 2026: an over-the-counter either sex license (E-E-000-U1-A), an over-the-counter cow license (E-F-000-U1-A), a draw either sex license (E-E-086-V1-A) and a draw cow license (E-F-086-V1-A).
- E-E-000-U1-A either sex, over the counter
- E-F-000-U1-A cow, over the counter
- E-E-086-V1-A either sex, draw 2026 draw: licenses left over for residents and nonresidents
- E-F-086-V1-A cow, draw 2026 draw: licenses left over for residents and nonresidents
Muzzleloader in Unit 86, 2026: a draw either sex license (E-E-086-O1-M) and a draw cow license (E-F-086-O1-M).
- E-E-086-O1-M either sex, draw 2026 draw: drawn out at 0 points for residents and nonresidents
- E-F-086-O1-M cow, draw 2026 draw: licenses left over for residents and nonresidents
First rifle in Unit 86, 2026: a draw either sex license (E-E-086-O1-R).
- E-E-086-O1-R either sex, draw 2026 draw: drawn out at 0 points for residents and nonresidents
First rifle, private land only in Unit 86, 2026: a draw either sex license (E-E-086-P1-R).
- E-E-086-P1-R either sex, draw 2026 draw: licenses left over for residents and nonresidents
Second rifle in Unit 86, 2026: an over-the-counter bull license (E-M-000-U2-R) and a draw cow license (E-F-086-O2-R).
- E-M-000-U2-R bull, over the counter
- E-F-086-O2-R cow, draw 2026 draw: drawn on choice 2 for residents and nonresidents
Third rifle in Unit 86, 2026: an over-the-counter bull license (E-M-000-U3-R) and a draw cow license (E-F-086-O3-R).
- E-M-000-U3-R bull, over the counter
- E-F-086-O3-R cow, draw 2026 draw: drawn on choice 2 for residents and nonresidents
Fourth rifle in Unit 86, 2026: a draw either sex license (E-E-086-O4-R) and a draw cow license (E-F-086-O4-R).
- E-E-086-O4-R either sex, draw 2026 draw: residents drawn on choice 3; nonresidents drawn on choice 2
- E-F-086-O4-R cow, draw 2026 draw: licenses left over for residents and nonresidents
CPW 2026 big game brochure; CPW primary-draw recap and drawn-out-at reports, 2024–2026, adult licenses. Every year of draw results is under Hunt codes and draw results.
Plan
The map, Conditions, access, hunt codes and draw results for the season, and what the research says.
Map
Huntable public land (56% of the unit) by manager, with roads drawn as open on the late rifle opener, Sep 1; CPW's mapped ranges switch on from the layer chips.
Huntable public land (56% of the unit) by manager, with roads drawn as open on the archery opener, Sep 2; CPW's mapped ranges switch on from the layer chips.
Huntable public land (56% of the unit) by manager, with roads drawn as open on the muzzleloader opener, Sep 12; CPW's mapped ranges switch on from the layer chips.
Huntable public land (56% of the unit) by manager, with roads drawn as open on the first rifle opener, Oct 14; CPW's mapped ranges switch on from the layer chips.
Huntable public land (56% of the unit) by manager, with roads drawn as open on the second rifle opener, Oct 24; CPW's mapped ranges switch on from the layer chips.
Huntable public land (56% of the unit) by manager, with roads drawn as open on the third rifle opener, Nov 7; CPW's mapped ranges switch on from the layer chips.
Huntable public land (56% of the unit) by manager, with roads drawn as open on the fourth rifle opener, Nov 18; CPW's mapped ranges switch on from the layer chips.
The interactive map (public land by manager, roads by vehicle class, burns, trailheads, SNOTEL stations, terrain and CPW's mapped ranges) needs JavaScript. The outline shows where Unit 86 sits among its neighbors.
Click or tap the map to zoom and pan
Layers
Public land
Roads, open on the second rifle opener
Burns and stations
Terrain
CPW ranges
CPW Species Activity Mapping, 2025. These are the ranges CPW has mapped for elk, not animal locations.
Public data only. The plan lives in the app. Map sources
Conditions
As of Oct 21: 1 in of snow at Medano Pass SNOTEL, the deepest reading near the unit; extreme drought (D3) on the US Drought Monitor over 79.1% of the unit.
Rebuilt nightly; sources at the end of the page.
| Item | Value | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Snow (SNOTEL) | South Colony (10,790 ft): 0 in deep, SWE 0.4 inHayden Pass (10,700 ft): 0 in deep, SWE 0 inMedano Pass (9,650 ft, 2.7 mi out): 1 in deep, SWE 0 in 2026-10-20 | 2026-10-20 |
| Drought | D3, Extreme droughtShare of the unit: D0 or worse 100% · D1 or worse 100% · D2 or worse 100% · D3 or worse 79.1% USDM 2026-10-13 | USDM 2026-10-13 |
| Greenness vs normal, Sep 14–29 | 104% of the September normal (2014–2023), MODIS 16-day composite 2026-09-29 | 2026-09-29 |
7-day forecast
NWS 7-day gridpoint forecast for 8,000–9,000 ft and 10,000–11,000 ft, issued Oct 21; late rifle is under way, and the front is shaded.
| Wed 10/21 | Thu 10/22 | Fri 10/23 | Sat 10/24 Front | Sun 10/25 | Mon 10/26 | Tue 10/27 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low | 58° 38° | 55° 44° | 54° 40° | 47° 38° | 44° 37° | 46° 35° | 48° 34° |
| Precip | 0 in | 0.2 in | 0.1 in | 0.4 in | 0.3 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Snow | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Gusts | 12 mph | 28 mph | 37 mph | 21 mph | 10 mph | 8 mph | 12 mph |
| Wed 10/21 | Thu 10/22 | Fri 10/23 | Sat 10/24 Front | Sun 10/25 | Mon 10/26 | Tue 10/27 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low | 52° 37° | 50° 43° | 48° 38° | 41° 36° | 39° 34° | 40° 33° | 43° 32° |
| Precip | 0 in | 0.2 in | 0.1 in | 0.4 in | 0.4 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Snow | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0.6 in | 1.3 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Gusts | 14 mph | 30 mph | 45 mph | 22 mph | 12 mph | 8 mph | 13 mph |
The 2026 archery season ended Sep 30; no forecast is shown for it.
The 2026 muzzleloader season ended Sep 20; no forecast is shown for it.
The 2026 first rifle season ended Oct 18; no forecast is shown for it.
NWS 7-day gridpoint forecast for 8,000–9,000 ft and 10,000–11,000 ft, issued Oct 21; the second rifle opener, Oct 24, is marked, and the front is shaded.
| Wed 10/21 | Thu 10/22 | Fri 10/23 | Sat 10/24 Front Opener | Sun 10/25 | Mon 10/26 | Tue 10/27 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low | 58° 38° | 55° 44° | 54° 40° | 47° 38° | 44° 37° | 46° 35° | 48° 34° |
| Precip | 0 in | 0.2 in | 0.1 in | 0.4 in | 0.3 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Snow | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Gusts | 12 mph | 28 mph | 37 mph | 21 mph | 10 mph | 8 mph | 12 mph |
| Wed 10/21 | Thu 10/22 | Fri 10/23 | Sat 10/24 Front Opener | Sun 10/25 | Mon 10/26 | Tue 10/27 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low | 52° 37° | 50° 43° | 48° 38° | 41° 36° | 39° 34° | 40° 33° | 43° 32° |
| Precip | 0 in | 0.2 in | 0.1 in | 0.4 in | 0.4 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Snow | 0 in | 0 in | 0 in | 0.6 in | 1.3 in | 0 in | 0 in |
| Gusts | 14 mph | 30 mph | 45 mph | 22 mph | 12 mph | 8 mph | 13 mph |
The 7-day forecast for the third rifle opener, Nov 7, appears here from Nov 1.
The 7-day forecast for the fourth rifle opener, Nov 18, appears here from Nov 12.
Access
Unit 86 has 19 trailheads. About a quarter of the huntable public ground is within a 30-minute walk of a drivable road, and just under two-fifths is more than an hour and a half away. Road miles are counted on the main seasons' openers, so none show for this license's dates.
Unit 86 has 19 trailheads and about 251 miles of road any vehicle may drive on the archery opener, plus 49 more that need high clearance. About a quarter of the huntable public ground is within a 30-minute walk of a drivable road, and just under two-fifths is more than an hour and a half away.
Unit 86 has 19 trailheads and about 251 miles of road any vehicle may drive on the muzzleloader opener, plus 49 more that need high clearance. About a quarter of the huntable public ground is within a 30-minute walk of a drivable road, and just under two-fifths is more than an hour and a half away.
Unit 86 has 19 trailheads and about 251 miles of road any vehicle may drive on the first rifle opener, plus 49 more that need high clearance. About a quarter of the huntable public ground is within a 30-minute walk of a drivable road, and just under two-fifths is more than an hour and a half away.
Unit 86 has 19 trailheads and about 251 miles of road any vehicle may drive on the second rifle opener, plus 49 more that need high clearance. About a quarter of the huntable public ground is within a 30-minute walk of a drivable road, and just under two-fifths is more than an hour and a half away.
Unit 86 has 19 trailheads and about 251 miles of road any vehicle may drive on the third rifle opener, plus 49 more that need high clearance. About a quarter of the huntable public ground is within a 30-minute walk of a drivable road, and just under two-fifths is more than an hour and a half away.
Unit 86 has 19 trailheads and about 251 miles of road any vehicle may drive on the fourth rifle opener, plus 49 more that need high clearance. About a quarter of the huntable public ground is within a 30-minute walk of a drivable road, and just under two-fifths is more than an hour and a half away.
- Trailheads
- 19
- COTREX, computed 2026-10-19
Hunt codes and draw results
1 hunt code for late rifle, private land only, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2024–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-F-086-P5-R cow | 2024 | 500 | 101 | 216 | Leftover | 8 | 11 | Leftover |
| 2025 | 600 | 90 | 199 | Leftover | 6 | 8 | Leftover | |
| 2026 | 750 | 82 | 165 | Leftover | 5 | 7 | Leftover | |
4 hunt codes for archery, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2025–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-E-000-U1-A either sex | Over the counter: no draw | |||||||
| E-F-000-U1-A cow | Over the counter: no draw | |||||||
| E-E-086-V1-A either sex | 2025 | 330 | 0 | 0 | Leftover | 123 | 205 | Leftover |
| 2026 | 330 | 0 | 0 | Leftover | 88 | 170 | Leftover | |
| E-F-086-V1-A cow | 2025 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Leftover | 0 | 0 | Leftover |
| 2026 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Leftover | 1 | 2 | Leftover | |
2 hunt codes for muzzleloader, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2024–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-E-086-O1-M either sex | 2024 | 115 | 81 | 79 | 0 points | 42 | 28 | 0 points |
| 2025 | 115 | 71 | 71 | 0 points | 56 | 34 | 0 points | |
| 2026 | 115 | 71 | 71 | 0 points | 54 | 37 | 0 points | |
| E-F-086-O1-M cow | 2024 | 80 | 4 | 37 | Leftover | 1 | 6 | Leftover |
| 2025 | 80 | 15 | 54 | Leftover | 1 | 5 | Leftover | |
| 2026 | 80 | 11 | 30 | Leftover | 0 | 2 | Leftover | |
1 hunt code for first rifle, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2024–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-E-086-O1-R either sex | 2024 | 170 | 154 | 113 | 0 points | 92 | 42 | 0 points |
| 2025 | 170 | 173 | 114 | 0 points | 60 | 41 | 0 points | |
| 2026 | 170 | 116 | 110 | 0 points | 68 | 41 | 0 points | |
1 hunt code for first rifle, private land only, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2024–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-E-086-P1-R either sex | 2024 | 55 | 15 | 26 | Leftover | 6 | 10 | Leftover |
| 2025 | 55 | 13 | 24 | Leftover | 9 | 14 | Leftover | |
| 2026 | 55 | 10 | 18 | Leftover | 14 | 17 | Leftover | |
2 hunt codes for second rifle, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2024–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-M-000-U2-R bull | Over the counter: no draw | |||||||
| E-F-086-O2-R cow | 2024 | 85 | 82 | 72 | 0 points | 8 | 5 | 0 points |
| 2025 | 85 | 63 | 65 | Choice 2 | 12 | 13 | Choice 2 | |
| 2026 | 85 | 52 | 63 | Choice 2 | 11 | 13 | Choice 2 | |
2 hunt codes for third rifle, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2024–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-M-000-U3-R bull | Over the counter: no draw | |||||||
| E-F-086-O3-R cow | 2024 | 75 | 27 | 65 | Choice 2 | 3 | 7 | Choice 2 |
| 2025 | 75 | 30 | 58 | Choice 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 points | |
| 2026 | 75 | 29 | 64 | Choice 2 | 7 | 8 | Choice 2 | |
2 hunt codes for fourth rifle, 2026, with CPW's primary-draw results for 2024–2026.
| Hunt code | Year | Licenses | Residents | Nonresidents | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | 1st-choice applicants | Drawn | Drawn out at | |||
| E-E-086-O4-R either sex | 2024 | 90 | 39 | 74 | Choice 3 | 6 | 8 | Choice 3 |
| 2025 | 90 | 38 | 73 | Choice 3 | 6 | 9 | Choice 2 | |
| 2026 | 90 | 45 | 71 | Choice 3 | 6 | 10 | Choice 2 | |
| E-F-086-O4-R cow | 2024 | 65 | 2 | 28 | Leftover | 0 | 1 | Leftover |
| 2025 | 65 | 4 | 16 | Leftover | 0 | 2 | Leftover | |
| 2026 | 65 | 5 | 31 | Leftover | 0 | 2 | Leftover | |
Hunt codes from the CPW 2026 big game brochure. A code valid in several units counts every hunter in all of them.
Draw results are CPW's primary-draw recap and drawn-out-at reports, 2024–2026, adult licenses. "Drawn out at" is the lowest preference-point level that drew a license; "Leftover" means licenses remained after the draw. A code valid in several units counts every applicant for all of them. Source: CPW draw reports, 2024–2026.
What the research says for this season
Findings from published studies and agency work, as tendencies. They describe how elk have behaved where they were studied, not where they are in Unit 86.
-
In an Oregon experiment with mature bulls in the herd, about half of all conceptions fell in the single week of September 15–21; breeding dates follow day length, not weather.
Noyes et al., 1996 Established finding
-
In Montana GPS work, archery-season elk tended to hold about 1.7 miles or more from open motorized routes, and needed little canopy once they were that far out.
Ranglack et al., 2017 Established finding
-
In Montana GPS work, rifle-season elk tended to hold about a mile or more from open motorized routes, in blocks of 5,000 acres or more.
Ranglack et al., 2017 Established finding
-
At Oregon's Starkey Experimental Forest, bulls chose more canopy and kept away from open roads by day during hunts, and the shift was stronger in rifle seasons than in archery.
Smith et al., 2022 Single study
-
In Montana GPS work, rifle-season elk tended to hold about a mile or more from open motorized routes, in blocks of 5,000 acres or more.
Ranglack et al., 2017 Established finding
-
At Oregon's Starkey Experimental Forest, bulls chose more canopy and kept away from open roads by day during hunts, and the shift was stronger in rifle seasons than in archery.
Smith et al., 2022 Single study
-
In Montana, collared elk shifted onto ground closed to public hunting once rifle seasons opened, ahead of security cover on public land.
Proffitt et al., 2013 Established finding
-
At Oregon's Starkey Experimental Forest, bulls chose more canopy and kept away from open roads by day during hunts, and the shift was stronger in rifle seasons than in archery.
Smith et al., 2022 Single study
-
In Montana, collared elk shifted onto ground closed to public hunting once rifle seasons opened, ahead of security cover on public land.
Proffitt et al., 2013 Established finding
-
In the Greater Yellowstone, collared elk timed their fall moves toward winter range with snow and hunting pressure rather than the calendar; arrival dates shifted by weeks between years.
Rickbeil et al., 2019 Single study
Read next: How to e-scout a Colorado elk unit
Read next: Colorado second rifle elk, 2026 · How to e-scout a Colorado elk unit
Build a plan for Unit 86, free.
Start freePOIs are terrain candidates — places worth checking, not animal locations.
Reference
Terrain, the multi-year numbers, neighbors and sources. Each opens in place.
Terrain and habitat
6,170–14,260 ft; conifer 33.5% and grass & meadow 19.9%; no mapped burns since 2020.
Unit-wide figures, computed 2026-10-19.
Table view
| Band | Acres |
|---|---|
| 6,000–7,000 ft | 19,380 ac |
| 7,000–8,000 ft | 76,480 ac |
| 8,000–9,000 ft | 99,300 ac |
| 9,000–10,000 ft | 43,230 ac |
| 10,000–11,000 ft | 31,110 ac |
| 11,000–12,000 ft | 27,510 ac |
| 12,000–13,000 ft | 17,150 ac |
| 13,000–14,000 ft | 1,810 ac |
Table view
| Slope class | Share |
|---|---|
| Flat (under 5°) | 29.8% |
| Gentle (5–15°) | 25.6% |
| Moderate (15–25°) | 22% |
| Steep (25–35°) | 16.5% |
| Very steep (35° and up) | 6.1% |
Table view
| Aspect | Share |
|---|---|
| North | 18.5% |
| Northeast | 19.9% |
| East | 20.8% |
| Southeast | 14.3% |
| South | 4.8% |
| Southwest | 2.6% |
| West | 5.5% |
| Northwest | 13.6% |
Table view
| Vegetation group | Share |
|---|---|
| Conifer | 33.5% |
| Grass & meadow | 19.9% |
| Pinyon-juniper | 14.5% |
| Shrubland | 8.3% |
| Aspen | 6% |
| Farmland | 5.9% |
| Rock & scree | 4.8% |
| Alpine grass | 2.6% |
| Riparian & wetland | 2.5% |
| Developed | 1.8% |
| Item | Value | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Burns | No burned acres in the unit since 2020 NIFC | NIFC |
| Openings in timber | 212 openings of 1–40 ac, from lidar covering 8.9% of the unit 2026-10-19 | 2026-10-19 |
The Habitat Score grades huntable public ground, so a private-land-only license has no distribution here.
Table view
| Score | Share of scored ground |
|---|---|
| 0–0.5 | 6.6% |
| 0.5–1 | 9% |
| 1–1.5 | 8% |
| 1.5–2 | 17.4% |
| 2–2.5 | 23% |
| 2.5–3 | 19.8% |
| 3–3.5 | 13.4% |
| 3.5–4 | 2.8% |
| 4–4.5 | 0% |
| 4.5–5 | 0% |
Glassline's Habitat Score grades terrain and habitat for the season on food, water, breeding and shelter. Shown here as one distribution for the whole unit, never a map: it grades ground, not animal locations.
Table view
| Score | Share of scored ground |
|---|---|
| 0–0.5 | 6.6% |
| 0.5–1 | 8.2% |
| 1–1.5 | 8.3% |
| 1.5–2 | 14.5% |
| 2–2.5 | 21.3% |
| 2.5–3 | 22.3% |
| 3–3.5 | 15.9% |
| 3.5–4 | 3% |
| 4–4.5 | 0% |
| 4.5–5 | 0% |
Glassline's Habitat Score grades terrain and habitat for the season on food, water, breeding and shelter. Shown here as one distribution for the whole unit, never a map: it grades ground, not animal locations.
Table view
| Score | Share of scored ground |
|---|---|
| 0–0.5 | 2.7% |
| 0.5–1 | 7.2% |
| 1–1.5 | 10% |
| 1.5–2 | 14.4% |
| 2–2.5 | 7.1% |
| 2.5–3 | 17.2% |
| 3–3.5 | 28.8% |
| 3.5–4 | 12.4% |
| 4–4.5 | 0.3% |
| 4.5–5 | 0% |
Glassline's Habitat Score grades terrain and habitat for the season on food, water, breeding and shelter. Shown here as one distribution for the whole unit, never a map: it grades ground, not animal locations.
Table view
| Score | Share of scored ground |
|---|---|
| 0–0.5 | 2.7% |
| 0.5–1 | 7.2% |
| 1–1.5 | 10% |
| 1.5–2 | 14.4% |
| 2–2.5 | 7.1% |
| 2.5–3 | 17.2% |
| 3–3.5 | 28.8% |
| 3.5–4 | 12.4% |
| 4–4.5 | 0.3% |
| 4.5–5 | 0% |
Glassline's Habitat Score grades terrain and habitat for the season on food, water, breeding and shelter. Shown here as one distribution for the whole unit, never a map: it grades ground, not animal locations.
Table view
| Score | Share of scored ground |
|---|---|
| 0–0.5 | 6.3% |
| 0.5–1 | 10.2% |
| 1–1.5 | 17% |
| 1.5–2 | 36% |
| 2–2.5 | 9.4% |
| 2.5–3 | 15.2% |
| 3–3.5 | 5.4% |
| 3.5–4 | 0.5% |
| 4–4.5 | 0% |
| 4.5–5 | 0% |
Glassline's Habitat Score grades terrain and habitat for the season on food, water, breeding and shelter. Shown here as one distribution for the whole unit, never a map: it grades ground, not animal locations.
Table view
| Score | Share of scored ground |
|---|---|
| 0–0.5 | 6.2% |
| 0.5–1 | 10.5% |
| 1–1.5 | 24.1% |
| 1.5–2 | 32.5% |
| 2–2.5 | 9.5% |
| 2.5–3 | 12.8% |
| 3–3.5 | 4.1% |
| 3.5–4 | 0.2% |
| 4–4.5 | 0% |
| 4.5–5 | 0% |
Glassline's Habitat Score grades terrain and habitat for the season on food, water, breeding and shelter. Shown here as one distribution for the whole unit, never a map: it grades ground, not animal locations.
The numbers
CPW harvest estimates 2022–2024 for the chosen season and all seasons, the Sangre de Cristo herd (E-27) estimate for 2025 and hunter density, 2024.
CPW reports no late rifle harvest figures for the unit. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
Archery success rose from 7% to 8% between 2022 and 2024, while the season's hunters fell by about a tenth. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
Muzzleloader success rose from 8% to 12% between 2022 and 2024, while the season's hunters held about steady. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
First rifle success fell from 19% to 16% between 2022 and 2024, while the season's hunters fell by about a quarter. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
First rifle success fell from 19% to 16% between 2022 and 2024 (CPW's figure for the whole season, all land), while the season's hunters fell by about a quarter. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
Second rifle success held at 12% between 2022 and 2024, while the season's hunters held about steady. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
Third rifle success rose from 3% to 8% between 2022 and 2024, while the season's hunters held about steady. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
Fourth rifle success fell from 15% to 10% between 2022 and 2024, while the season's hunters rose by just over two-thirds. Across all seasons, hunters held about steady between 2022 and 2024. Unit 86 is one of 3 units in CPW's Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), estimated at about 3,200 elk after the 2025 hunt, with 22 bulls per 100 cows.
| Season | Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All seasons | 2022 | 1,964 | 241 | 12% |
| 2023 | 2,141 | 261 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 1,934 | 292 | 15% |
CPW elk harvest reports, 2022–2024. A dash: not reported.
| Season | Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 2022 | 723 | 48 | 7% |
| 2023 | 790 | 63 | 8% | |
| 2024 | 646 | 49 | 8% | |
| All seasons | 2022 | 1,964 | 241 | 12% |
| 2023 | 2,141 | 261 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 1,934 | 292 | 15% |
CPW elk harvest reports, 2022–2024. A dash: not reported.
| Season | Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzleloader | 2022 | 125 | 10 | 8% |
| 2023 | 115 | 19 | 17% | |
| 2024 | 127 | 16 | 12% | |
| All seasons | 2022 | 1,964 | 241 | 12% |
| 2023 | 2,141 | 261 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 1,934 | 292 | 15% |
CPW elk harvest reports, 2022–2024. A dash: not reported.
| Season | Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First rifle | 2022 | 145 | 28 | 19% |
| 2023 | 167 | 44 | 26% | |
| 2024 | 112 | 18 | 16% | |
| All seasons | 2022 | 1,964 | 241 | 12% |
| 2023 | 2,141 | 261 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 1,934 | 292 | 15% |
CPW elk harvest reports, 2022–2024. A dash: not reported.
| Season | Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second rifle | 2022 | 481 | 56 | 12% |
| 2023 | 441 | 54 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 461 | 55 | 12% | |
| All seasons | 2022 | 1,964 | 241 | 12% |
| 2023 | 2,141 | 261 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 1,934 | 292 | 15% |
CPW elk harvest reports, 2022–2024. A dash: not reported.
| Season | Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third rifle | 2022 | 213 | 7 | 3% |
| 2023 | 241 | 17 | 7% | |
| 2024 | 216 | 18 | 8% | |
| All seasons | 2022 | 1,964 | 241 | 12% |
| 2023 | 2,141 | 261 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 1,934 | 292 | 15% |
CPW elk harvest reports, 2022–2024. A dash: not reported.
| Season | Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth rifle | 2022 | 57 | 8 | 15% |
| 2023 | 101 | 6 | 6% | |
| 2024 | 97 | 10 | 10% | |
| All seasons | 2022 | 1,964 | 241 | 12% |
| 2023 | 2,141 | 261 | 12% | |
| 2024 | 1,934 | 292 | 15% |
CPW elk harvest reports, 2022–2024. A dash: not reported.
| Item | Value | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter density | 25 hunter-days per sq mi, all seasons CPW 2024 | CPW 2024 |
| Herd estimate (Sangre de Cristo, E-27) | 3,150 post-hunt · 2,190 in 2019 CPW 2025 | CPW 2025 |
| Bull:cow ratio | 22 bulls per 100 cows CPW 2025 | CPW 2025 |
CPW harvest figures are survey estimates, not counts, and they cover the whole unit, private land included. Source: CPW harvest reports, 2022–2024.
Herd numbers cover the whole Sangre de Cristo herd unit (E-27), which also takes in Units 691 and 861: CPW manages herds, not units. Source: CPW post-hunt population estimate, 2025.
Neighbors
Units 691, 69, 82, 682 and 681, nearest first.
- Unit 691 → All seasons success 16% (2024)46% huntable public landOTC archery, second rifle and third rifle
- Unit 69 → All seasons success 26% (2024)35% huntable public landDraw only
- Unit 82 → All seasons success 23% (2024)36% huntable public landOTC archery, second rifle and third rifle
- Unit 682 → All seasons success 63% (2023)10% huntable public landOTC archery
- Unit 681 → All seasons success 10% (2024)88% huntable public landOTC archery, second rifle and third rifle
From each unit's own page; dates there.
What this page can't tell you
Closures, private ground, this year's pressure and animal locations.
- Closures. Forest, fire and road closure orders change through the season and aren't checked here. The managing agency's current order governs.
- Private ground. Land with no public hunting access is hunted only with the owner's permission, and the public-land share above leaves it out.
- This year's pressure. CPW's hunter numbers run a year or more behind the season you're planning.
- Animal locations. These are terrain, access, harvest and herd figures, and CPW's mapped ranges are range lines; none of them places an animal. Finding elk is still your job.
Sources
23 datasets and studies, dated where the source dates them.
- Elk statistics: population estimates and harvest reports — Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Colorado big game hunting: brochure, seasons and hunt codes — Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Game Management Unit boundaries (Hunting Atlas) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife On the map: unit boundaries, 2025.
- COMaP: Colorado Ownership, Management and Protection — Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 2026-10-12 On the map: public land by manager, mapped 2026-07-29.
- 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), 1/3 arc-second — U.S. Geological Survey On the map: shaded relief from 5 m and 10 m lidar elevation, mapped 2026-10-04; elevation bands and slope, mapped 2026-10-04.
- LANDFIRE Existing Vegetation Type (LF 2024) — U.S. Geological Survey / USDA Forest Service, LF2024
- 3DEP lidar point clouds (canopy height model) — U.S. Geological Survey
- COTREX: Colorado Trail Explorer — Colorado Parks and Wildlife On the map: trailheads, 2024.
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) — USDA Forest Service On the map: roads by vehicle class, drawn as open on the selected season's opener, mapped 2026-08-22.
- Highways and major roads — Colorado Department of Transportation On the map: highways, mapped 2026-07-31.
- SNOTEL network: daily snow depth and snow water equivalent — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2026-10-20 On the map: SNOTEL stations.
- U.S. Drought Monitor — National Drought Mitigation Center, 2026-10-13
- MOD13Q1 vegetation indices (NDVI), 250 m 16-day — NASA LP DAAC, 2026-09-29
- National Weather Service 7-day gridpoint forecast — National Weather Service, 2026-10-21
- National Weather Service Area Forecast Discussion (BOU, GJT, PUB) — National Weather Service, 2026-10-21
- Effects of bull age on conception dates and pregnancy rates of cow elk — Noyes, Johnson, Bryant, Findholt and Thomas, Journal of Wildlife Management 60(3), 1996
- Security areas for elk during archery and rifle hunting seasons — Ranglack, Proffitt, Canfield, Gude, Rotella and Garrott, Journal of Wildlife Management 81(5), 2017
- Behavioral responses of male elk to hunting risk — Smith, Spitz, Brown, Wisdom, Rowland, Forrester, Johnson and Clark, Journal of Wildlife Management 86, 2022
- Effects of hunter access and habitat security on elk habitat selection in landscapes with a public and private land matrix — Proffitt, Gude, Hamlin and Messer, Journal of Wildlife Management 77(3), 2013
- Plasticity in elk migration timing is a response to changing environmental conditions — Rickbeil, Merkle, Anderson, Atwood, Beckmann, Cole, Courtemanch, Dewey, Gustine, Kauffman, McWhirter, Mong, Proffitt, White and Middleton, Global Change Biology 25, 2019
- Wildland Fire Interagency Geospatial Services (WFIGS) fire perimeters — National Interagency Fire Center On the map: burns over 100 acres since 2020, mapped 2026-06-29.
- Gazetteer files, places — U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 On the map: towns, 2024.
- Species Activity Mapping: elk seasonal ranges — Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2025 On the map: CPW mapped ranges, 2025.
Build a plan for Unit 86, free.
Start freePOIs are terrain candidates — places worth checking, not animal locations.