Colorado elk unit · GMU 201
Cold Springs Mountain
The hardest northwest trophy tag to draw — maximum patience for maximum solitude.
About GMU 201
Colorado Game Management Unit 201 sits in the Far Northwest Colorado, spanning Moffat county near Maybell, Craig. The terrain runs from 5,400 – 9,600 ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer.
High plateau with steep stream-cut canyons — sage and grass low, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa and lodgepole higher, rough and rocky up top.
Elk success rates (CPW 2024)
Published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in the CPW Elk Harvest Estimates (2023: 51%, 2022: 44%) 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 |
|---|---|
| All seasons | 53% |
Tags & draw odds
Tag type: Limited draw (trophy unit).
Widely cited as the hardest of the northwest trophy units to draw — nonresident requirements in the high 20s and rising. A 20+ year wait. Verify current-year odds with CPW.
Access & crowding
Primitive 4WD roads and ATV trails; includes a wilderness study area closed to vehicles. More remote-feeling than Unit 2.
Among the lowest pressure in the state — very few tags issued.
Who GMU 201 is for
A trophy unit where bulls reliably reach maturity; quality on par with the other northwest trophy units (qualitative).
In a line: The hunter willing to wait the longest for the lowest-pressure, most-remote northwest Colorado trophy bull.
Recent changes: Long-standing limited-entry / draw-only.
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 201draw, 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.
