Colorado elk unit · GMU 500
West South Park · Kenosha Pass
Steep Continental Divide country above South Park — public-land-rich and physical, on a low-to-mid-point draw.
About GMU 500
Colorado Game Management Unit 500 sits in the South Park, spanning Park county near Fairplay, Jefferson, Bailey, Alma. The terrain runs from 9,000 – 13,000+ ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope.
South Park flats north of US 285 give way fast to steep, timbered ridges and alpine peaks on the Continental Divide above Kenosha and Georgia passes. Physical 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 | 28% |
| Muzzleloader | 36% |
| 1st rifle | 56% |
| 2nd rifle | 26% |
| 3rd rifle | 23% |
| All seasons | 30% |
Tags & draw odds
Tag type: Limited draw (all seasons).
Limited draw, not OTC. Bull and either-sex codes have run at roughly low-to-mid nonresident points; the strong first-rifle number reflects elk still high before they scatter. Verify current-year odds with CPW.
Access & crowding
Paved access to the trailheads off US 285, then steep Forest Service roads and foot or horse travel into the high basins. The public land is genuine backcountry once you leave the park.
Lighter than the OTC west-slope units thanks to the draw, but the early seasons see real effort from hunters chasing elk before they drop and scatter.
Who GMU 500 is for
A high, steep, public-land-rich unit where success rides on hunting elk early and high — the 56% first-rifle figure is among the better early-season numbers in central Colorado, though samples thin out late.
In a line: The fit DIY hunter who wants a high-public-land South Park tag and will hunt elk early and high on the Divide.
Recent changes: Long-standing limited-entry unit (Kenosha Pass herd, DAU E-18); unaffected by the OTC changes.
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 500draw, 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.
