Colorado GMU 561
Elk
15.9%
Deer
22.7%
Pronghorn
No rate published
For planning only. Seasons, license rules, and boundaries change, and this site can contain errors. Before you apply, buy a license, or hunt, confirm everything in the official CPW 2026 big game brochure. Published state regulations always control. Terms of use
Elk
Licenses
Limited elk license
Availability: Residents Limited (draw) · Nonresidents Limited (draw)
Not included Bull elk is not available on an over-the-counter rifle license here. See the license notes for archery and draw options.
No unlimited over-the-counter rifle elk license is valid in this GMU in 2026.
See CPW's elk hunt code tables for any limited licenses in this GMU.
Residents: The 2026 brochure lists no over-the-counter archery elk license for residents in this GMU.
Nonresidents: The 2026 brochure lists no over-the-counter archery elk license for nonresidents in this GMU.
Source: CPW regulations (2026)
CPW's hunter and harvest numbers are estimates from its annual big game harvest survey.
Success rate history
| Year | Hunters | All | Bulls | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | ||
| 2024 | 283 | 45 | 15.9% | 22 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 260 | 48 | 18.5% | 32 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 258 | 59 | 22.9% | 35 | 13.6% |
| 2021 | 271 | 58 | 21.4% | 29 | 10.7% |
| 2020 | 270 | 41 | 15.2% | 20 | 7.4% |
| 2019 | 285 | 33 | 11.6% | 17 | 6.0% |
Source: CPW harvest reports, 2024.
Deer
Licenses
Limited deer license
Availability: Residents Limited (draw) · Nonresidents Limited (draw)
CPW says most deer licenses are limited and available only through the draw(s).
See CPW's deer hunt code tables for any limited licenses in this GMU.
An unlimited over-the-counter either-sex license for white-tailed deer only is also valid here (hunt code D-E-048-U6-R, Dec. 1–31, List B).
CPW says whitetails are at low density in these GMUs and mostly on private land.
Source: CPW regulations (2026)
Colorado's deer figures count mule deer and white-tailed deer together, as CPW's harvest report does. CPW's hunter and harvest numbers are estimates from its annual big game harvest survey.
Success rate history
| Year | Hunters | All deer | Bucks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Rate | Harvest | Rate | ||
| 2024 | 176 | 40 | 22.7% | 40 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 183 | 48 | 26.2% | 48 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 151 | 69 | 45.7% | 68 | 45.0% |
| 2021 | 143 | 50 | 35.0% | 50 | 35.0% |
| 2020 | 193 | 60 | 31.1% | 60 | 31.1% |
| 2019 | 203 | 70 | 34.5% | 64 | 31.5% |
Source: CPW harvest reports, 2024.
Pronghorn
Licenses
Limited pronghorn license
Availability: Residents Limited (draw) · Nonresidents Limited (draw)
Not valid here An over-the-counter archery pronghorn license is not valid in this GMU.
CPW says all muzzleloader and rifle pronghorn licenses are limited, available through the draw only.
See CPW's pronghorn hunt code tables for any limited licenses in this GMU.
Source: CPW regulations (2026)
CPW's hunter and harvest numbers are estimates from its annual big game harvest survey.
Success rate history
Not published by CPW for this unit.
Source: CPW harvest reports.