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Colorado › Hunting seasons › GMUs › GMU 26

Big game unit · 240 sq mi

Game Management Unit 26 licenses and dates

240 square miles across Routt County, Garfield County and Eagle County, with 47 hunt codes and 48 season rows that name this unit.

Codes by species2024 harvestHunting gear
240Square miles
47Hunt codes
142Elk taken 2024
3Counties

Photo: Jeffrey Beall (CC BY-SA 2.0)

GMU 26 measured up

GMU 26 measures 240 square miles on the CPW boundary layer. It is a mountain GMU in the CPW Northwest Region, centred on Routt County (67% of the unit).

GMU 26 spills over 3 county lines, which matters when you look up land records or a processor: Routt, Garfield and Eagle.

WhereSq miGMU %County %
Routt County161.067%7%
Garfield County47.920%2%
Eagle County31.113%2%

License quotas follow herd objectives, so the DAU matters: GMU 26 counts toward deer herd D-43, elk herd E-6, pronghorn herd A-37, moose herd M-6, bear herd B-10 and lion herd L-NW.

240Square miles
153,705Acres
D-43Deer DAU
E-6Elk DAU
A-37Pronghorn DAU
M-6Moose DAU
B-10Bear DAU
L-NWLion DAU

Area, county overlap and DAU codes from the CPW GMU and DAU GIS layers (overlay with Census county lines); boundary text in the 2026 Big Game brochure GMU descriptions; checked November 5, 2026.

GMU 26 unit-by-unit rules

YesElk APR
SelectedElk CWD test
3Lion group
36Lion limit
ClosedSpring turkey
ClosedFall turkey
NoLynx area
MountainTerrain
3OTC elk rows
  • Bull elk in GMU 26 fall under the antler point restriction (4+ points one side or a 5-inch brow tine).
  • Elk shot on certain rifle codes in GMU 26 must be tested for CWD; deer testing is voluntary in 2026.
  • Group 3 (18 GMUs) sets a 36-lion limit that includes GMU 26.
  • Turkey: in GMU 26 spring turkey is closed and fall turkey is closed.
  • 3 OTC elk season rows reach GMU 26.

From the elk antler point list, the 2026 mandatory elk CWD GMUs, the 2026-2027 Mountain Lion brochure, the 2026 Turkey brochure and the Small Game brochure lynx rules (CPW); checked November 5, 2026. Guides: antler point GMUs, CWD testing, lion groups, turkey units.

2026-27 seasons valid in GMU 26

Read this table for dates, then the hunt-code table for the exact license. GMU 26 has 19 elk, 13 deer, 4 pronghorn, 3 moose, 8 black bear and 1 mountain lion rows.

GameSeason groupDatesHow soldCodes
Elk
Rifle cow
private land only
Aug 15–Jan 15Private only9
Elk
Archery either sex
limited
nonresident only
Sep 2–30Limited24
Elk
Archery either sex
private land only
Sep 2–30Private only13
Elk
Archery either sex
OTC residents
Sep 2–30OTC—
Elk
Muzzleloader cow
limited
Sep 12–20Limited69
Elk
Muzzleloader either sex
limited
Sep 12–20Limited19
Elk
Rifle either sex
RFW
Oct 13–Dec 20RFW1
Elk
Rifle bull
limited
Oct 14–18Limited50
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Oct 14–18Limited48
Elk
Rifle either sex
private land only
Oct 14–18Private only19
Elk
Rifle cow
RFW
Oct 17–21RFW3
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Oct 24–Nov 1Limited89
Elk
Second rifle bull
OTC
Oct 24–Nov 1OTC—
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Nov 7–15Limited93
Elk
Third rifle bull
OTC
Nov 7–15OTC—
Elk
Rifle bull
limited
Nov 18–22Limited57
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
Nov 18–22Limited90
Elk
Rifle cow
limited
late season
Dec 1–Jan 15Limited1
Elk
Rifle cow
RFW
Dec 3–7RFW2
Deer
Archery either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited29
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
early season
Sep 5–13Limited4
Deer
Muzzleloader buck
limited
Sep 12–20Limited62
Deer
Muzzleloader doe
limited
Sep 12–20Limited34
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Oct 24–Nov 1Limited71
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
Oct 24–Nov 1Limited34
Deer
Rifle either sex
private land only
Oct 24–Nov 1Private only11
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 7–15Limited71
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
Nov 7–15Limited35
Deer
Rifle either sex
private land only
Nov 7–15Private only11
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 18–22Limited59
Deer
Rifle either sex
RFW
Nov 28–Dec 7RFW1
Deer
Rifle doe
RFW
Dec 3–7RFW1
Pronghorn
Muzzleloader buck
limited
Sep 21–29Limited35
Pronghorn
Muzzleloader doe
limited
Sep 21–29Limited24
Pronghorn
Rifle buck
limited
Oct 3–11Limited66
Pronghorn
Rifle doe
limited
Oct 3–11Limited48
Moose
Muzzleloader cow
limited
Sep 12–20Limited36
Moose
Season choice (archery/muzzleloader/rifle) bull
limited
Sep 12–Oct 14Limited19
Moose
Rifle cow
limited
Oct 1–14Limited36
Black bear
Archery either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited35
Black bear
Archery either sex
OTC
Sep 2–30OTC15
Black bear
Rifle either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited34
Black bear
Rifle either sex
private land only
Sep 2–30Private only20
Black bear
Muzzleloader either sex
limited
Sep 12–20Limited35
Black bear
Muzzleloader either sex
OTC
Sep 12–20OTC15
Black bear
Rifle either sex
private land only
Oct 1–Nov 22Private only15
Black bear
Rifle either sex
OTC
Oct 14–Nov 22OTC12
Mountain lion
Lion season
Nov 23–Mar 31Limited—

Season rows from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure (deer p. 30, elk p. 45, pronghorn p. 63, moose p. 68, bear p. 72), the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; checked November 5, 2026.

GMU 26 codes, sex and List

Every CPW code whose valid-unit list includes GMU 26 sits below, 47 of them (19 elk, 13 deer, 4 pronghorn, 3 moose and 8 black bear).

The mix in GMU 26: 6 unlimited, 41 limited, of which 7 are for private land and 5 for enrolled ranches.

Elk archery, 3

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
E-E-000-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
A
1,076 of 9,541
E-E-011-P1-AEither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–30
A
206 of 638
E-E-025-V1-AEither sexNonresident only
Sep 2–30
A
53 of 711

Elk muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
E-E-025-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
A
27 of 140
E-F-025-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
A
7 of 103

Elk rifle, 14

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
E-F-025-P5-RCowPrivate land only
Aug 15–Jan 15
B
20 of 221
E-E-025-W1-REither sexRFW (residents)
Oct 13–21
Dec 16–20
A—
E-E-011-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Oct 14–18
A
351 of 609
E-F-025-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 14–18
A
15 of 145
E-M-011-O1-RBullLimited
Oct 14–18
A
701 of 2,974
E-F-025-W1-RCowRFW (residents)
Oct 17–21
A—
E-F-025-O2-RCowLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
8 of 120
E-M-000-U2-RBullOTC
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
4,558 of 23,668
E-F-025-O3-RCowLimited
Nov 7–15
A
3 of 48
E-M-000-U3-RBullOTC
Nov 7–15
A
2,096 of 17,371
E-F-025-O4-RCowLimited
Nov 18–22
A
2 of 22
E-M-026-O4-RBullLimited
Nov 18–22
A
0 of 41
E-F-026-L1-RCowLimited, late
Dec 1–Jan 15
A
2 of 9
E-F-025-W2-RCowRFW (residents)
Dec 3–7
A—

Deer archery, 1

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
D-E-025-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
A
22 of 177

Deer muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
D-F-025-O1-MDoeLimited
Sep 12–20
B
2 of 35
D-M-025-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 12–20
A
13 of 135

Deer rifle, 10

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
D-M-012-E1-RBuckLimited, early
Sep 5–13
A
6+ pts
4 of 10
D-E-025-P2-REither sexPrivate land only
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
17 of 44
D-F-025-O2-RDoeLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
B
60 of 126
D-M-025-O2-RBuckLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
205 of 837
D-E-025-P3-REither sexPrivate land only
Nov 7–15
A
24 of 45
D-F-025-O3-RDoeLimited
Nov 7–15
B
54 of 137
D-M-025-O3-RBuckLimited
Nov 7–15
A
227 of 561
D-M-025-O4-RBuckLimited
Nov 18–22
A
53 of 111
D-E-025-W1-REither sexRFW (residents)
Nov 28–Dec 7
A—
D-F-025-W1-RDoeRFW (residents)
Dec 3–7
A—

Pronghorn muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
A-F-015-O1-MDoeLimited
Sep 21–29
A—
A-M-015-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 21–29
A—

Pronghorn rifle, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
A-F-015-O1-RDoeLimited
Oct 3–11
A
12 of 15
A-M-015-O1-RBuckLimited
Oct 3–11
A
6 of 9

Moose muzzleloader, 1

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
M-F-025-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
A
0 of 1

Moose rifle, 1

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
M-F-025-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 1–14
A
3 of 5

Moose season choice, 1

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
M-M-025-O1-XBullLimited
Sep 12–20
Sep 12–30
Oct 1–14
—
3 of 3

Black bear archery, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
B-E-012-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
7 taken
B-E-012-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
B
6 taken

Black bear muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
B-E-012-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
B
1 taken
B-E-012-U1-MEither sexOTC
Sep 12–20
B
1 taken

Black bear rifle, 4

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
B-E-012-O1-REither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
50 taken
B-E-025-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–30
C
1 taken
B-E-025-P5-REither sexPrivate land only
Oct 1–Nov 22
C
1 taken
B-E-012-U5-REither sexOTC
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
B
10 taken

The 2025 figures in the last column are statewide for that code, not only this unit.

Hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure tables (PDF pp. 29-77) and the 2026 Turkey brochure; List A/B/C rules on p. 26; 2025 code estimates from CPW harvest reports (elk, deer, pronghorn, bear, moose); checked November 5, 2026. How the draw works.

GMU 26 take, hunters and success

In 2024, 12% of GMU 26 elk hunters filled a tag: 111 bulls, 31 cows and 0 calves.

Deer hunters took 353 deer (284 bucks) with 36% success among 979 hunters.

The pronghorn table lists 9 for this unit.

5 bears came from this unit.

Herd estimate for elk (GMUs 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231): 42,470 post-hunt, ratio 19 males to 100 females.

Adding up the 2025 elk codes numbered for unit 26 gives 2 animals and 50 hunters.

30 lions came from the old group including GMU 26 in 2025-26.

How many of each came out of GMU 26 in 20240100200300400deer, all: 353353deer, allelk, all: 142142elk, allpronghorn, all: 99pronghorn, allbear, all: 55bear, all
AnimalHarvestSex and ageHuntersSuccessDays afield
Deer353284/56/1497936%4,220
Elk142111/31/01,17412%6,279
Pronghorn93/6/02635%76
Black bear53/2——20

2025 by herd unit

SpeciesDAUHarvestHuntersSuccessHerd sizeM:100F
DeerD-439323,32328%7,90021
ElkE-064,32121,81920%42,47019
PronghornA-3713350326%69071

2024 “All Manners of Take” tables by GMU: deer, elk, pronghorn, bear; 2025 DAU estimates and 2025 post-hunt populations (elk, deer, pronghorn); 2025 lion harvest (CPW). Survey estimates; checked November 5, 2026.

GMU 26 public hunting ground

8 places open to some hunting overlap GMU 26. SWAs number 0; trust land parcels 0.

A valid Colorado hunting or fishing license, or the SWA pass, is the entry ticket for any SWA or STL at age 16 and up.

Ranger districts, 3

BLM offices, 2

National forests, 2

Private Land Hunting, 1

Land records from CPW, State Land Board, USFS, BLM and other agency sources (each land page cites its own); GMU tags from those records; checked November 5, 2026. All Colorado public land.

GMU 26 neighbours

Towns for supplies: 0 inside the unit, 1 within ten miles.

Nearby GMUs that overlap the same counties as GMU 26, nearest first.

GMUShared countiesSq miElk 2024Deer 2024Codes
GMU 231
Routt
Garfield
1782112239
GMU 25
Garfield
Eagle
23222741545
GMU 12
Routt
Garfield
49375514758
GMU 13
Routt
36249610849
GMU 23
Garfield
42442315058
GMU 24
Garfield
4392655149
GMU 15
Routt
Eagle
49240750246
GMU 441
Routt
19427013157

Towns from Census places with their GMU and GMUs within 10 miles; neighbours from the CPW GMU layer county overlay; checked November 5, 2026. All town pages · all GMUs.

Shooting hours for GMU 26

The sun rises about twenty minutes later at Grand Junction than at Burlington, so use the times worked out for GMU 26.

WhenEventRiseSetBig gameSmall game
Aug 15, 2026Pronghorn archery opens6:18 a.m.8:08 p.m.5:48 a.m. to 8:38 p.m.5:48 a.m. to 8:08 p.m.
Sep 2, 2026First archery day6:35 a.m.7:41 p.m.6:05 a.m. to 8:11 p.m.6:05 a.m. to 7:41 p.m.
Sep 12, 2026Muzzleloader opens6:45 a.m.7:24 p.m.6:15 a.m. to 7:54 p.m.6:15 a.m. to 7:24 p.m.
Oct 3, 2026Duck season opens7:05 a.m.6:49 p.m.6:35 a.m. to 7:19 p.m.6:35 a.m. to 6:49 p.m.
Oct 24, 2026Second rifle opens7:27 a.m.6:17 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 6:47 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 6:17 p.m.
Nov 23, 2026Lion season opens7:03 a.m.4:46 p.m.6:33 a.m. to 5:16 p.m.6:33 a.m. to 4:46 p.m.
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:27 a.m.4:44 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 5:14 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 4:44 p.m.

Clock time: Mountain Daylight Time until Nov. 1, 2026 and from March 14, 2027.

Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.

More GMUs close to 26

Units around this one, ranked by distance, and statewide hubs.

GMU 231

Mountain unit

GMU 25

Mountain unit

GMU 12

Mountain unit

GMU 13

Mountain unit

All GMUsDraw and pointsHunting seasons
Steamboat Springs in summer with green ski slopes above town, Routt County
Steamboat Springs in summer with green ski slopes above town, Routt CountyPhoto: daveynin (CC BY 2.0)
Hay field and a flat-topped butte along U.S. 40 between Craig and Steamboat Springs
Hay field and a flat-topped butte along U.S. 40 between Craig and Steamboat SpringsPhoto: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Red alpenglow on a snowy mountain above Steamboat Springs, Routt County
Red alpenglow on a snowy mountain above Steamboat Springs, Routt CountyPhoto: Greg Younger (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Quick answers for GMU 26

How do I hunt turkeys in GMU 26?

Spring turkey is closed and fall turkey is closed; 0 turkey codes list GMU 26.

What was the 2024 elk harvest in GMU 26?

142 elk, all methods.

What public hunting ground is in GMU 26?

8 records: 0 SWAs, 0 STLs, 8 other.

What are the DAU codes for GMU 26?

Deer: D-43, Elk: E-6, Pronghorn: A-37, Moose: M-6, Bear: B-10 and Lion: L-NW.

Is there a town inside GMU 26?

No listed town is inside it.

How big is GMU 26?

240 square miles (153,705 acres) in 3 counties, led by Routt.

How many licenses can I use in GMU 26?

47 brochure codes include GMU 26 (19 elk, 13 deer, 4 pronghorn, 3 moose and 8 black bear); 41 are limited.

Do spike bulls count in GMU 26?

No, spikes are not legal here; the 4-point or 5-inch brow tine rule applies.

Do I have to test my elk from GMU 26?

Yes, if your rifle elk code is marked for testing; deer testing is voluntary.

What is the mountain lion limit for GMU 26?

Group 3 has a limit of 36 lions.

Answers drawn from the CPW sources cited on this page; checked November 5, 2026.