Colorado elk unit · GMU 57
Upper Arkansas · Browns Canyon
Where South Park drops to the Arkansas — a drawable either-sex tag good across Units 57 and 58.
About GMU 57
Colorado Game Management Unit 57 sits in the Upper Arkansas Valley, spanning Chaffee, Park, Fremont counties near Salida, Buena Vista, Johnson Village, Hartsel. The terrain runs from 6,900 – 11,000 ft, with the primary big game being Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer.
Flat-to-rolling South Park grazing land tips over the rim and drops toward the Arkansas, climbing through piñon-juniper, ponderosa, oakbrush, and aspen, cut by gulches, rimrock, and the deep canyons above the river.
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 | 28% |
| Muzzleloader | 19% |
| 1st rifle | 26% |
| 2nd rifle | 34% |
| 3rd rifle | 40% |
| 4th rifle | 32% |
| All seasons | 34% |
Tags & draw odds
Tag type: Limited draw (either-sex tag valid in Units 57 & 58).
Limited draw, not OTC. CPW manages 57 and 58 together — the either-sex elk tag is valid in both units — and it has historically drawn at roughly 0–2 nonresident points in several seasons. Verify current-year odds with CPW.
Access & crowding
Good road access off US 24, US 285, and US 50 with Forest Service and BLM roads throughout; the monument and canyon rims add foot-access country.
Moderate — a drawable tag this close to Salida and Buena Vista draws steady but not OTC-level pressure.
Who GMU 57 is for
A solid, well-rounded opportunity unit — 34% all-manner success with the best odds in the later rifle seasons, on a tag you can realistically draw. Bulls are honest, not trophy-managed.
In a line: The hunter who wants a drawable, high-success either-sex tag in the Upper Arkansas with town amenities close by.
Recent changes: Long-standing limited unit, managed jointly with 58. Nonresident OTC archery ended statewide in 2025 (57 was already draw).
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 57draw, 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.
