Colorado elk unit · GMU 58
Arkansas Hills
The Arkansas Hills — November migration country on a shared 57/58 either-sex tag.
About GMU 58
Colorado Game Management Unit 58 sits in the Upper Arkansas Valley, spanning Fremont, Park counties near Salida, Cañon City, Fairplay, Hartsel. The terrain runs from 5,800 – 11,700 ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope.
Grass and sage rise through hogback ridges, piñon-juniper, oakbrush, and ponderosa into spruce-fir on the higher ground between Salida, Fairplay, and Cañon City. Elk numbers build through November as animals migrate in.
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 | 31% |
| Muzzleloader | 33% |
| 1st rifle | 28% |
| 2nd rifle | 24% |
| 3rd rifle | 33% |
| 4th rifle | 33% |
| All seasons | 32% |
Tags & draw odds
Tag type: Limited draw (either-sex tag valid in Units 57 & 58).
Limited draw, not OTC. Shares the either-sex tag pool with Unit 57; historically attainable at low nonresident points in several seasons. Verify current-year odds with CPW.
Access & crowding
Well-roaded via US 24, US 50, and county roads, with mixed public ownership — the State Trust and BLM pieces need a land-status check before you hunt them.
Moderate; the shared 57/58 tag and the proximity to the Front Range keep steady company in the accessible spots.
Who GMU 58 is for
A balanced migration unit with even success across the rifle seasons and a strong muzzleloader showing — opportunity hunting, with the better bulls leaning toward private.
In a line: The hunter who wants a low-point central-Colorado tag and will scout the public pieces of a mixed-ownership unit.
Recent changes: Long-standing limited unit, managed jointly with 57. 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 58draw, 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.
