Colorado elk unit · GMU 13
Williams Fork Mountains
Williams Fork — eye-popping success on paper, but it lives on private ground; the OTC tag needs access to pay off.
About GMU 13
Colorado Game Management Unit 13 sits in the Northwest Colorado (Yampa), spanning Moffat, Routt counties near Craig, Hayden, Hamilton. The terrain runs from 6,300 – 8,000 ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer.
The Williams Fork Mountains between the Yampa and Williams Fork rivers — steep, rocky, dry gulches on the south face; aspen, oakbrush, and rolling lowlands to the north. Low-to-mid elevation, no Wilderness.
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 | 29% |
| 1st rifle | 28% |
| 2nd rifle | 39% |
| 3rd rifle | 56% |
| 4th rifle | 42% |
| All seasons | 41% |
Tags & draw odds
Tag type: OTC bull (2nd & 3rd rifle) — back to OTC for 2026.
2nd/3rd-rifle bull returned to OTC for 2026 (public-land antlered was limited in 2024–25). But with ~77% of the unit private, the OTC tag pays off mainly with private-land access. Nonresident archery draw-only; muzzleloader limited. Verify with CPW.
Access & crowding
A BLM band parallels the Williams Fork River, but most of the unit is private — public-land opportunity is limited and access-dependent.
Light public pressure (there's little public), with most hunting on private ranches and Ranching-for-Wildlife.
Who GMU 13 is for
The headline 41% all-manner success (56% in 3rd rifle) is real but private-concentrated — it reflects quality bulls on ranch ground, not easy public hunting. With access, excellent; without it, very limited.
In a line: The hunter with private or RFW access to the Williams Fork ranches — that's where the high success comes from.
Recent changes: 2026: 2nd/3rd rifle bull returned to OTC (limited 2024–25 post-winterkill).
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 13draw, 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.
