Colorado · Muzzleloader elk
Muzzleloader (mid-September, 9 days). Tail end of the rut. Bulls still bugling, hunter density at its season-low. The shoulder window that rewards patience.
The hunt
Muzzleloader on GMU 59 is the quiet shoulder of the elk season. Nine days mid-September, after the archery week ends, before rifle 1st starts. The country has had two weeks of pressure off it; the bulls are tired from the rut peak but still vocal.
The shots come at intermediate range — 100–200 yards is the sweet spot for our setups. We hunt the same East Beaver bench and south meadow we hunt for archery, but the encounter distances open up.
Colorado muzzleloader season is iron-sights only — no telescopic sights, no in-line ignition-system restrictions in 2026 (check current CPW rules in your year). Most of our muzzleloader hunters take their bull at 125–175 yards.
How we hunt it
Identify a bull working cows mid-morning, set up on the bench at 150 yards, wait for the thermal to flip in your favor. The shot windows are longer than archery because the bull can't hear you closing.
Cow calls still work. We use them more sparingly — a sequence every 20 minutes from a bench-edge setup, rather than aggressive bugle work. The bulls that respond at this point are the worn-out herd bulls that didn't get bred.
By rifle 1st the bulls are nocturnal. In the muzzleloader window they're still on the meadow at first light. The Bear Trap meadow and the upper bench both produce reliable first-light glass-ups.
Muzzleloader-specific gear
Full gear list lives on the hunting page. Below are the additions that matter specifically for muzzleloader.
No. Colorado muzzleloader regulations are iron-sights only. Some states allow scopes; Colorado does not.
.50 caliber is the standard; .54 also works. We see clean kills on bull elk at 175 yards with either, with a 250–300 grain saboted bullet and 100–120 grains of powder.
Cooler than archery week. Mornings 28–38°F, afternoons 55–68°F at the bench. First snow of the season possible above 9,500 ft. The cooler weather pushes bulls down off the high country, which helps us.
Compare the seasons
Book a muzzleloader season
CPW draw applications open in early March. We coordinate the application, check landowner voucher availability for hunters wanting to bypass the draw, and hold the date once your tag is in hand.
From the journal
The Hunt · September 30, 2026
The list, with reasons. The brochure version on most outfitter sites lists what you need; this is what we've seen guys show up without and regret. Andre walks the gear shelf piece by piece.
Andre · 7 min read
The Hunt · September 22, 2026
The CPW elk draw deadline, the preference point math, the OTC vs. draw decision, and the landowner voucher window. Pre-application notes from a guide on the south slope of Pikes Peak.
Andre · 7 min read
The Hunt · September 22, 2026
Bulls get the photos. But ask anyone who hunts to eat which animal they'd rather have on the grill, and the answer is usually a cow.
Jim Johnson · 3 min read
