Colorado elk unit · GMU 22
Piceance Breaks · SW of Meeker
The Piceance breaks southwest of Meeker — a big, public-dominant OTC unit that stayed open through the winterkill years.
About GMU 22
Colorado Game Management Unit 22 sits in the Northwest Colorado (White River), spanning Rio Blanco, Garfield counties near Meeker, Rifle, Rangely. The terrain runs from 6,000 – 8,500 ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer.
Big pinyon-juniper country — mesas and breaks blanketed in PJ at lower elevations, rising to sagebrush with aspen stands and pockets of dark timber on the highest benches. Roughly 632,000 acres, 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 | 22% |
| Muzzleloader | 23% |
| 1st rifle | 31% |
| 2nd rifle | 25% |
| 3rd rifle | 23% |
| 4th rifle | 40% |
| All seasons | 29% |
Tags & draw odds
Tag type: OTC bull (2nd & 3rd rifle).
OTC bull for 2nd & 3rd rifle (no points). Unlike most White River units, 22 was NOT pulled into the 2024–25 public-land limited split — it stayed OTC throughout. Its 1st and 4th rifle moved to either-sex. Nonresident archery draw-only; muzzleloader limited. Verify with CPW.
Access & crowding
Good public access on the large BLM blocks via the Piceance Creek and county roads — one of the more straightforward White River units to hunt on public land.
A big, public, OTC unit, so it draws hunters — but the sheer size and the PJ cover spread them out.
Who GMU 22 is for
A productive, public-dominant opportunity unit — abundant elk in the Piceance country, honest high-20s success, and one of the easier White River units to hunt without private access.
In a line: The DIY rifle hunter who wants a big, public, OTC White River unit and will learn to hunt the pinyon-juniper breaks.
Recent changes: 1st and 4th rifle moved to either-sex (with units 21, 30, 31, 32). 22 stayed OTC for 2nd/3rd rifle through the winterkill years.
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 22draw, 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.
