Colorado elk unit · GMU 11
Danforth Hills · West of Meeker
Low, rolling White River country west of Meeker — an OTC tag again for 2026, if you can solve the access puzzle.
About GMU 11
Colorado Game Management Unit 11 sits in the Northwest Colorado (White River), spanning Rio Blanco, Moffat counties near Meeker, Maybell, Craig, Rangely. The terrain runs from 5,900 – 8,000 ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope.
Low, dry, rolling ridges and mesas west of Meeker — sage and grass flats, pinyon-juniper, and oakbrush, with denser cover in the drainages. Not high alpine country.
Elk success rates (CPW 2024)
Published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in the CPW 2024 Elk Harvest Estimates for the 2024 season — the percentage of hunters who harvested an elk. Success swings with weather and pressure year to year; this is the most recent published data.
| Season | Success |
|---|---|
| Archery | 19% |
| Muzzleloader | 0% |
| 1st rifle | 33% |
| 2nd rifle | 18% |
| 3rd rifle | 17% |
| 4th rifle | 29% |
| All seasons | 25% |
Tags & draw odds
Tag type: OTC bull (2nd & 3rd rifle) — back to OTC for 2026.
Part of the White River herd: the 2nd/3rd-rifle bull tag returned to over-the-counter for 2026 after the 2024–25 public-land limited split (a winterkill response); 1st/4th rifle are limited. Nonresident archery draw-only; muzzleloader limited (and historically very low harvest here). Verify current-year status with CPW.
Access & crowding
Good road access on the public pieces, but landlocked BLM and a private checkerboard funnel hunters — a land-status app is essential here.
An accessible lower-elevation OTC unit, so the reachable public ground gets hit; the WSAs and landlocked parcels hold the quieter elk.
Who GMU 11 is for
Classic White River opportunity country — abundant elk on a returned OTC tag, with honest mid-20s success. The herd is rebuilding from the hard 2022–23 winter.
In a line: The DIY rifle hunter who wants an accessible OTC White River tag and will solve the land-status access puzzle.
Recent changes: 2026: 2nd/3rd rifle bull returned to OTC (public-land antlered was limited in 2024–25 after the winterkill). The White River herd dropped below objective after the 2022–23 winter.
Where Elk Glade fits in
Elk Glade Outfitters runs primarily in GMU 59, not this unit — but we know the surrounding country and the regional draw landscape. If you have a tag here or you’re building points toward one, get in touch and we’ll talk through the strategy. If you don’t draw, we may have a 59 slot.
Data sources: elk success rates from CPW Colorado Elk Harvest Estimates (year labeled above). Public-land percentages are approximate. Draw point requirements shift every year and are described as ranges only — always verify the current-year figures in the CPW big game brochure and draw recap before applying.
Plan a hunt
Need help with the 11draw, or want a 59 slot if it doesn’t come through?
Send us a note with what tag you’re applying for and your dates — we’ll walk through the draw strategy and let you know what’s open at Elk Glade.
