At Gunnison Country Outfitters we pride ourselves on being able to offer a style of hunt for everyone. No matter your experience level or fitness level we are able to cater your hunt to you.
There are several hunting seasons in Colorado and we are fortunate to be based in an area where we can hunt elk from the very beginning of archery season in late August to the end of fourth season in mid November. Our camp is located at spot where a local herd spends most of the year and we are situated right along the migration route where as the snow starts piling up we are there to intercept them.
GMU 55 has three seasons that require hunters to enter the draw for limited tags and those are for the early archery season, and first and fourth rifle seasons, for elk. We are happy to help anyone determine the best use of their preference points as well as walk you through the application process. You can also learn more by visiting the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website (https://cpw.state.co.us/)
Archery Elk Hunts
September 2 – September 30
September in the rockies is a special time of year. The elk are bugling, the aspen’s are changing colors, and the weather is typically perfect. With the season as long as it is, you can choose whether you want to chase elk early in the year pre-rut when the bulls are in their summer range, or later in the season when the elk are in full blown rut and bugling hard! This is a hunt that does require you to be in good physical condition because we typically have to do a lot of walking to stay on the elk as they move a lot this time of year. We will typically leave from base camp on horseback in the dark and travel up the mountain to locations where we know elk to be hanging out. From there we hunt on foot and try to call bulls into range.
This is a draw hunt that needs to be applied for in March, the odds of drawing are guaranteed if you apply, contact us for help and we will make sure you get your application in time.
Muzzleloader Elk Hunts
September 11 – September 19
This hunt is right in the heat of the rut and can be a great time for you to get out and chase buglers with a smoke pole! This hunt can be very good and the bulls can be very responsive to calling. This hunt requires you be in as good physical condition as possible because we sometimes have to do a lot of walking to get in the right position and within range of that bull. We will leave out of base camp on horseback and get to a location elk have been frequenting and use calls to try and coax a bull to within range.
This is tag is given out on a draw and takes an accumulation of preference points to draw. In 2016 it took a resident 1 preference point to draw and a nonresident needed to have 4 points to draw, so if hunting with a muzzleloader is your thing start applying today!
Rifle Elk Hunts
There are four rifle seasons in Colorado that we guide during. Each one of these seasons has their unique advantages and disadvantages, no season is a bad season and we have been successful during all these seasons.
Elk First Rifle
October 10 – October 14
The first rifle season is a draw hunt that starts a few weeks after the archery season ends. During this hunt you can can sometimes get into some late rut action and a little bit of bugling, and every now and then the elk will go nuts. The weather is can be nice but you will see snow some years. This hunt can be physically demanding some years as if it is warm the elk can still be in their rut patterns and we may need to chase them. The odds of drawing this tag are very good even without any preference points, 80% success as a resident and 42% chance as a non resident with 0 points.
Elk Second Rifle
October 30 – November 7
Second season is an over-the-counter hunt, meaning that tags can be purchased anytime without applying in the draw. This is a great option for those who have been applying and accumulating points, or someone that doesn’t want to play the point game. During this season the temperature starts dropping and we start expecting snow. The rut is pretty much over, but you may hear the occasional bugle from a bull. These hunts are a lot of times an ambush hunt as the pressure from other hunters can move the animals into our area’s. We have the advantage because we utilize horses to travel, allowing us to go further, faster without using much effort.
Elk Third Rifle
November 13 – November 19
Third season is also an over-the-counter hunt. This is where we start hunting more elk as they migrate down out of the high country and out of the deep pockets as the snow has started to fall. The rut is over and bulls are starting to transition into their late season habits and make their way into the lower country. We hunt travel corridors that the elk use year after year.
Elk Fourth Rifle
November 24 – November 28
This is the last season of the year for hunting elk. This hunt is a draw hunt and is an either sex permit. Usually there is snow on the ground and the elk are making their way to the winter grounds. This can be a very successful hunt because of few amount of hunters in the field and the elk are being forced down the mountain by the snow. This tag requires 2 preference points to draw.
** ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PER THE COLORADO GAME AND FISH
