2026 Colorado season · Elk
2026 Colorado elk hunting season.
CPW season windows for the 2026 elk season, with GMU 59 limited-entry notes and how the dates map to the Elk Glade guided program.
- 2026
- Season year
- GMU 59
- Hunt unit
- Sep 2
- Archery opener
- Nov 22
- Rifle close
The 2026 Colorado elk hunting season runs from early September archery through late November fourth-rifle. Six weapon classes; most are limited entry. On GMU 59 — our home unit — the bull tags hold their value through every season. Below: every CPW window, the limited-entry status on each, and how the dates map to the Elk Glade guided program.
Elk Glade sits on GMU 59 — the south slope of Pikes Peak — and runs guided hunts in every season below. GMU 59 is limited entry for 1st and 4th rifle (draw) and over the counter for 2nd and 3rd rifle bull elk. For the draw seasons we coordinate the CPW application with you starting in early March. See the licenses + draws page for CPW’s current rules, and ask us about landowner voucher availability.
2026 CPW windows
All elk seasons, by weapon.
Dates below are statewide CPW windows. Check the CPW big-game brochure for the official current-year publication.
| Weapon class | Opens | Closes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Wed, Sep 2 | Wed, Sep 30 | Either-sex on most units. Limited entry GMU 59. |
| Muzzleloader | Sat, Sep 12 | Sun, Sep 20 | 9-day season. Limited entry. List B units may have extended end. |
| Rifle 1st (limited bull) | Wed, Oct 14 | Sun, Oct 18 | 5-day, Wednesday to Sunday. Limited entry only — no over-the-counter. GMU 59 bull hunt code E-M-059-O1-R. |
| Rifle 2nd (combined) | Sat, Oct 24 | Sun, Nov 1 | 9-day. Combined deer-and-elk. GMU 59 bull elk licenses are over the counter. |
| Rifle 3rd (combined) | Sat, Nov 7 | Sun, Nov 15 | 9-day. Combined deer-and-elk. GMU 59 bull elk licenses are over the counter. |
| Rifle 4th (limited) | Wed, Nov 18 | Sun, Nov 22 | 5-day. Limited entry on most units. |
GMU 59 specifics
How elk hunts on this unit work.
GMU 59 bull elk is limited entry in 1st and 4th rifle and over the counter in 2nd and 3rd rifle, so those two seasons need no draw. For the draw seasons, non-resident odds have run 1–2 points for archery and 1–2 for rifle 1st and 4th. Landowner vouchers occasionally available to bypass the draw — ask when you inquire. Six-day guided hunts run $9,950 with 1:2 guide ratio, lodge stay, and processing.
Read the elk hunt page →Why this country, this species
Open ponderosa, water, low pressure.
GMU 59 wraps the south face of Pikes Peak. South-facing aspect, three miles of private East Beaver Creek water, mixed conifer to aspen cover, and one of the lowest hunter densities of any draw unit on the Front Range. We’ve run hunts here for many seasons.
Species profile →Plan a 2026 hunt
Apply by March 15. Hunt with us in 2026.
Send a note with your weapon preference, point count, and target window — we’ll come back with a candidate week, walk you through the CPW application, and check landowner voucher availability if you want to bypass the draw.
