At Gunnison Country Outfitters we pride ourselves on being able to offer a style of hunt for everyone. No matter your experience or fitness level, we are able to cater a hunt for you.
There are several hunting seasons in Colorado and we are fortunate we are in an area where we can hunt elk effectively from Early September through 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 (Unit 55)
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 and the tag must be applied for in March. Non-residents will need 2 points to draw this tag. Residents will need 0-1 points.
Muzzleloader Elk Hunts (Unit 55)
September 14 – September 22
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 a draw hunt and the tag must be applied for in March. Non-residents will need at least 6 points to draw this tag. Residents will need 2 points.
Rifle Elk Hunts (Unit 55)
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.
1st Rifle Elk Hunts
October 12 – October 16
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. Non-residents will need 2 points to successfully draw this tag. Residents will need 1 point.
2nd Rifle Elk Hunts (OTC)
October 26 – October 30
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.
3rd Rifle Elk Hunts (OTC)
November 9 – November 13
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.
4th Rifle Elk Hunts
November 20 – November 24
This is the last season of the year for elk hunting, and bulls will often be in bachelor groups as they make their way to their wintering grounds. This can be a very successful hunt because there are very few hunters in the field. This is a draw hunt and tags can often be obtained with 0-1 points for both non-residents and residents.
** ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PER THE COLORADO GAME AND FISH
