64 Counties · 748 Public Areas · 124 Towns · 113 RangesColorado hunting records
States
AlabamaArizonaArkansasColoradoGeorgiaKentuckyLouisianaMichiganMinnesotaMissouriNew YorkNorth CarolinaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaTennesseeTexasWisconsin
ColoradoState Hunting Spots

Colorado › Hunting seasons › GMUs › GMU 521

CPW Southwest Region GMU

Hunting seasons and hunt codes in GMU 521

A unit in the mountains of 508 square miles in Gunnison County and Delta County; 33 brochure hunt codes list it as valid.

License listSuccess ratesHunting gear
508Square miles
33Hunt codes
407Elk taken 2024
2Counties

Photo: Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0)

Where GMU 521 lies

GMU 521 is a unit in the mountains of 508 square miles (325,036 acres) in the CPW Southwest Region. Most of it lies in Gunnison County, which holds 60% of the unit.

Unit boundaries follow roads, ridges and rivers rather than county lines, so GMU 521 takes pieces of 2 counties.

CountySq mi in GMUShare of GMUShare of county
Gunnison County303.860%9%
Delta County203.340%18%

GMU 521 belongs to these herd units: D-51 (Deer), E-14 (Elk), M-5 (Moose), B-17 (Bear) and L-SW (Lion). No pronghorn DAU is assigned to GMU 521.

508Square miles
325,036Acres
D-51Deer DAU
E-14Elk DAU
M-5Moose DAU
B-17Bear DAU
L-SWLion 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 521 restrictions and status

YesElk APR
SelectedElk CWD test
9Lion group
31Lion limit
OTCSpring turkey
OTCFall turkey
NoLynx area
MountainTerrain
2OTC elk rows
  • The antler point rule covers GMU 521, including Ranching for Wildlife ranches inside it.
  • GMU 521 is on the 2026 mandatory elk CWD list (selected rifle codes only, free).
  • Mountain lion: GMU 521 is in harvest-limit group 9 (GMU 52, GMU 53, GMU 63, GMU 411 and GMU 521), limit 31 lions.
  • For GMU 521 turkey hunters, spring turkey is OTC, while fall turkey is OTC.
  • Unlimited elk licenses cover GMU 521 for second rifle bull and third rifle bull.

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.

GMU 521 windows by species

CPW groups its hunt codes into season rows; 36 rows include GMU 521 (14 elk, 8 deer, 3 moose, 8 black bear, 1 mountain lion and 2 wild turkey).

SpeciesSeasonDatesLicenseCodes statewide
Elk
Archery either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited40
Elk
Archery either sex
private land only
Sep 2–30Private only13
Elk
Muzzleloader bull
limited
Sep 12–20Limited50
Elk
Muzzleloader cow
limited
Sep 12–20Limited69
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
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 either sex
private land only
Nov 18–22Private only13
Deer
Rifle either sex
private land only
Aug 15–25Private only3
Deer
Archery buck
limited
Sep 2–30Limited33
Deer
Muzzleloader buck
limited
Sep 12–20Limited62
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Oct 24–Nov 1Limited71
Deer
Rifle buck
private land only
Oct 24–Nov 1Private only17
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 7–15Limited71
Deer
Rifle buck
private land only
Nov 7–15Private only17
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 18–22Limited59
Moose
Muzzleloader cow
limited
Sep 12–20Limited36
Moose
Rifle cow
limited
Oct 1–14Limited36
Moose
Rifle cow
limited
late season
Oct 14–Nov 22Limited10
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—
Wild turkey
Spring
OTC (2026)
Apr 11–May 31OTC—
Wild turkey
Fall
OTC
Sep 1–Oct 4OTC—

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.

Hunt codes valid in GMU 521

33 hunt codes list GMU 521 as a valid unit (14 elk, 8 deer, 3 moose and 8 black bear); each reads species, sex, unit, season and method.

0 codes here took six or more points to draw; 8 require landowner access and 0 are RFW.

Elk archery, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
E-E-052-P1-AEither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–30
A
15 of 64
E-E-521-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
A
159 of 707

Elk muzzleloader, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
E-F-521-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
A
3 of 15
E-M-041-O1-MBullLimited
Sep 12–20
A
117 of 499

Elk rifle, 10

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
E-E-041-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Oct 14–18
A
87 of 158
E-F-521-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 14–18
A
5 of 32
E-M-041-O1-RBullLimited
Oct 14–18
A
258 of 923
E-F-521-O2-RCowLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
5 of 20
E-M-000-U2-RBullOTC
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
4,558 of 23,668
E-F-521-O3-RCowLimited
Nov 7–15
A
10 of 20
E-M-000-U3-RBullOTC
Nov 7–15
A
2,096 of 17,371
E-E-041-P4-REither sexPrivate land only
Nov 18–22
A
48 of 117
E-F-521-O4-RCowLimited
Nov 18–22
A
6 of 9
E-M-041-O4-RBullLimited
Nov 18–22
A
31 of 250

Deer archery, 1

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
D-M-052-O1-ABuckLimited
Sep 2–30
A
35 of 165

Deer muzzleloader, 1

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
D-M-052-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 12–20
A
26 of 124

Deer rifle, 6

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
D-E-052-P6-REither sexPrivate land only
Aug 15–25
A
42 of 86
D-M-052-O2-RBuckLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
258 of 603
D-M-052-P2-RBuckPrivate land only
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
53 of 210
D-M-052-O3-RBuckLimited
Nov 7–15
A
147 of 317
D-M-052-P3-RBuckPrivate land only
Nov 7–15
A
107 of 228
D-M-052-O4-RBuckLimited
Nov 18–22
A
17 of 46

Moose muzzleloader, 1

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
M-F-052-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
A
0 taken

Moose rifle, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
M-F-052-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 1–14
A
0 of 3
M-F-052-L1-RCowLimited, late
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
A
3 of 4

Black bear archery, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
B-E-041-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
13 taken
B-E-041-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
B
14 taken

Black bear muzzleloader, 2

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
B-E-041-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
B
1 taken
B-E-041-U1-MEither sexOTC
Sep 12–20
B
3 taken

Black bear rifle, 4

Hunt codeSexTypeDatesList2025 / note
B-E-041-O1-REither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
109 taken
B-E-041-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–30
C
8 taken
B-E-041-P5-REither sexPrivate land only
Oct 1–Nov 22
C
4 taken
B-E-041-U5-REither sexOTC
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
B
10 taken

Where a 2025 estimate exists it shows harvest of hunters for the code across all its units.

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.

Harvest results for GMU 521

GMU 521 gave up 407 elk in 2024, with success at 19%.

For deer the 2024 figure is 213 from 463 hunters (46%).

Bears: 58 (32 boars, 26 sows).

The DAU holding GMU 521 counted 14,840 elk after hunting season 2025.

In 2025 the 6 elk codes carrying unit number 521 accounted for 188 elk.

Lion harvest in the 2025-26 group for GMU 521: 11 males and 3 females.

GMU 521 harvest, 2024, all methods0125250375500Deer: 213213DeerElk: 407407ElkBear: 5858Bear
SpeciesTakeMale/female/youngHuntersSuccessDays
Deer213208/6/046346%2,265
Elk407303/88/162,19719%13,050
Black bear5832/26——225

Herd totals, 2025

AnimalHerd unitTakeHuntersSuccessEstimateBucks/bulls per 100
DeerD-519332,21942%9,25034
ElkE-142,08611,74518%14,84020

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.

Open ground to hunt inside GMU 521

Our land records place 5 public areas in or across GMU 521 (0 SWAs, 0 trust parcels).

Trust land is usually open September 1 to the end of February, but the parcel page wins if it says otherwise.

Ranger districts, 2

BLM offices, 1

National forests, 1

State parks, 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.

Around GMU 521: towns and GMUs

1 towns with hunting pages are in or near GMU 521.

Units that share a county with GMU 521, closest first. Compare their 2024 elk and deer harvest before you apply.

UnitCounties sharedSizeElk takenDeer takenHunt codes
GMU 53
Gunnison
Delta
39632628030
GMU 63
Delta
Gunnison
36929225733
GMU 54
Gunnison
58449837128
GMU 55
Gunnison
88639745935
GMU 52
Delta
26525254936
GMU 411
Delta
23013319635
GMU 64
Delta
Gunnison
26918914943
GMU 43
Gunnison
52647727841

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.

GMU 521 legal shooting light

Big game light near GMU 521 starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; turkeys, small game and ducks end at sunset.

DateOpenerSunriseSunsetElk windowDuck window
Aug 15, 2026Pronghorn archery opens6:22 a.m.8:05 p.m.5:52 a.m. to 8:35 p.m.5:52 a.m. to 8:05 p.m.
Sep 2, 2026Archery opener6:37 a.m.7:39 p.m.6:07 a.m. to 8:09 p.m.6:07 a.m. to 7:39 p.m.
Sep 12, 2026Muzzleloader opens6:46 a.m.7:23 p.m.6:16 a.m. to 7:53 p.m.6:16 a.m. to 7:23 p.m.
Oct 3, 2026Duck season opens7:05 a.m.6:50 p.m.6:35 a.m. to 7:20 p.m.6:35 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.
Oct 24, 2026Second rifle opens7:25 a.m.6:19 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 6:49 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 6:19 p.m.
Nov 23, 2026Lion season opens6:59 a.m.4:51 p.m.6:29 a.m. to 5:21 p.m.6:29 a.m. to 4:51 p.m.
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:22 a.m.4:50 p.m.6:52 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.6:52 a.m. to 4:50 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.

Keep looking around GMU 521

Nearby GMUs and some broader guides.

GMU 53

APR, lion 9

GMU 63

APR, lion 9

GMU 54

APR, lion 10

GMU 55

APR, lion 10

All GMUsOTC licensesLion groups
Male and female cinnamon teal on a pond at Roaring Judy, Gunnison County
Male and female cinnamon teal on a pond at Roaring Judy, Gunnison CountyPhoto: Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0)
Sagebrush steppe near Hartman Rocks southwest of Gunnison, Gunnison County
Sagebrush steppe near Hartman Rocks southwest of Gunnison, Gunnison CountyPhoto: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mountain pasture with melting snow patches below snowy hills near Gunnison
Mountain pasture with melting snow patches below snowy hills near GunnisonPhoto: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)

GMU 521 in brief

What hunt codes include GMU 521?

14 elk, 8 deer, 3 moose and 8 black bear, 33 in total, listed in the table above.

Which county holds most of GMU 521?

Gunnison County, with 60% of the 508 square miles.

Does GMU 521 require CWD samples?

Selected rifle elk codes in GMU 521 must submit a head.

What is the elk antler rule in GMU 521?

APR: 4+ points on one antler or a brow tine of 5 inches.

What is the turkey status of GMU 521?

Spring: OTC; fall: OTC. Spring 2027 dates are not out yet.

Which lion group is GMU 521 in?

Group 9, shared by 5 GMUs, limit 31.

Can GMU 521 be hunted on public ground?

5 land records list GMU 521, including 0 SWAs and 0 STL parcels.

How crowded is GMU 521 for elk?

2,197 hunters logged 13,050 days in 2024.

Where do I buy supplies near GMU 521?

Paonia.

Which elk herd covers GMU 521?

E-14, estimated at 14,840 elk after 2025.

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