Colorado · Rocky Mountain Elk
Rocky Mountain Elk on the south slope of Pikes Peak.
Colorado holds the largest wild elk herd in North America — over 280,000 animals — and the south-slope canyon system at Elk Glade holds them through the rut and well into rifle 2.
About Rocky Mountain Elk
Cervus canadensis nelsoni — Rocky Mountain elk. Colorado holds the largest wild elk herd in North America — over 280,000 animals — and the south-slope canyon system at Elk Glade holds them through the rut and well into rifle 2.
Habitat & behavior
9,000–11,500 ft summer; 7,000–9,500 ft fall rut; below 7,000 ft winter migration
Rut / peak activity: September 10–25 (peak).
Calling techniques that work in this country:
- location bugle
- challenge bugle
- cow chirp/mew
Seasons in Colorado
- Archery: Late Aug – late Sept
- Muzzleloader: Mid-September
- Rifle 1: Early-mid October
- Rifle 2: Late Oct – early Nov
- Rifle 3: Early November
- Rifle 4: Mid-November
- Late season: Late Nov – Jan
Trophy potential
5-6 yr bulls common at Elk Glade; 7+ yr available
Hunting Rocky Mountain Elk with Elk Glade
We run guided rocky mountain elk hunts in GMU 59 (South Cheyenne Canyon · East Beaver Valley) every season. The combination of canyon terrain, low outside-hunting pressure, and a herd the ranch has watched for decades produces opportunity rates well above the Colorado state average.
Other species at Elk Glade
