Colorado elk unit · GMU 211
Danforth Hills · Axial Basin
The Danforth Hills and Axial Basin — a returned OTC tag on classic White River winter range, access permitting.
About GMU 211
Colorado Game Management Unit 211 sits in the Northwest Colorado (White River), spanning Rio Blanco, Moffat counties near Meeker, Maybell, Craig. The terrain runs from 6,000 – 8,700 ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope.
Rolling sagebrush hills, mesas, and valleys in the Danforth Hills and Axial Basin between Meeker and Maybell — sparse and open to the north, more pinyon-juniper and underbrush to the south. Easy walking, 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 | 27% |
| Muzzleloader | 55% |
| 1st rifle | 21% |
| 2nd rifle | 21% |
| 3rd rifle | 22% |
| 4th rifle | 17% |
| All seasons | 25% |
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 after the winterkill); 1st/4th rifle limited. Nonresident archery draw-only; muzzleloader limited (a small but unusually successful draw here). Verify current-year status with CPW.
Access & crowding
The checkerboard and landlocked BLM funnel hunters onto the reachable public (Axial Basin especially) — a land-status app is essential.
Moderate; the accessible public tracts get pressure, especially with the OTC tag back, while landlocked ground holds quieter elk.
Who GMU 211 is for
A White River transition / winter-range unit with honest mid-20s success and a notably strong muzzleloader showing — opportunity hunting on a recovering herd, with access the main puzzle.
In a line: The DIY hunter who wants an accessible OTC White River tag and will work the Axial Basin public ground.
Recent changes: 2026: 2nd/3rd rifle bull returned to OTC (public-land antlered limited in 2024–25 after the 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 211draw, 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.
