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Colorado › Hunting seasons › GMUs › GMU 53

30 hunt codes · 2026-27

What you can hunt in GMU 53, Colorado

30 hunt codes, 33 CPW season rows and 253,708 acres spread over Gunnison County and Delta County.

Codes and datesHow hunters didHunting gear
396Square miles
30Hunt codes
326Elk taken 2024
2Counties

Photo: Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0)

Counties inside GMU 53

At 396 square miles, GMU 53 is counted by CPW as a mountain unit. 68% of its ground is in Gunnison County; the CPW Southwest Region manages it.

Hunters in GMU 53 can be standing in any of 2 counties; the table gives each piece in square miles.

County pieceSq miUnit shareCounty share
Gunnison County268.668%8%
Delta County127.432%11%

Herd units for GMU 53: deer D-20, elk E-5, moose M-5, bear B-17 and lion L-SW. Each DAU groups GMUs that share one population. CPW lists no pronghorn herd for GMU 53.

396Square miles
253,708Acres
D-20Deer DAU
E-5Elk 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 53 elk, lion and turkey rules

YesElk APR
VoluntaryElk CWD test
9Lion group
31Lion limit
OTCSpring turkey
OTCFall turkey
NoLynx area
MountainTerrain
3OTC elk rows
  • GMU 53 is on the antler point list, so a legal bull carries at least 4 points on a side or a 5-inch brow tine.
  • Chronic wasting disease samples from GMU 53 are welcome but not required in 2026.
  • Harvest-limit group 9 covers GMU 53; the group limit is 31.
  • GMU 53 turkey: spring turkey is OTC in 2026 and fall turkey is OTC.
  • Elk licenses sold over the counter are good here: Archery either sex, 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.

Season windows for GMU 53

Season rows show the windows in one line each. GMU 53 appears in 33 of them, split 15 elk, 8 deer, 1 moose, 6 black bear, 1 mountain lion and 2 wild turkey.

SpeciesMethod and sexDatesTypeCodes
Elk
Archery either sex
limited
nonresident only
Sep 2–30Limited24
Elk
Archery either sex
OTC residents
Sep 2–30OTC—
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
Elk
Rifle cow
private land only
Dec 1–Jan 31Private only5
Deer
Rifle doe
private land only
Sep 1–Oct 31Private only5
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
Season choice (archery/muzzleloader/rifle) bull
limited
Sep 12–Oct 14Limited19
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
Muzzleloader either sex
limited
Sep 12–20Limited35
Black bear
Muzzleloader either sex
OTC
Sep 12–20OTC15
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.

Every GMU 53 hunt code

Apply with the code, not the unit number. GMU 53 turns up in 30 codes: 15 elk, 8 deer, 1 moose and 6 black bear.

24 are limited (draw or leftover), 6 are private-land-only and 0 are Ranching for Wildlife codes; 1 need six or more preference points in the last draw.

Elk archery, 2

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
E-E-000-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
A
1,076 of 9,541
E-E-053-V1-AEither sexNonresident only
Sep 2–30
A
119 of 507

Elk muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
E-F-053-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
A
4 of 18
E-M-053-O1-MBullLimited
Sep 12–20
A
21 of 84

Elk rifle, 11

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
E-E-053-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Oct 14–18
A
41 of 84
E-F-053-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 14–18
A
7 of 15
E-M-053-O1-RBullLimited
Oct 14–18
A
17 of 72
E-F-053-O2-RCowLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
10 of 30
E-M-000-U2-RBullOTC
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
4,558 of 23,668
E-F-053-O3-RCowLimited
Nov 7–15
A
4 of 32
E-M-000-U3-RBullOTC
Nov 7–15
A
2,096 of 17,371
E-E-053-P4-REither sexPrivate land only
Nov 18–22
A
8 of 43
E-F-053-O4-RCowLimited
Nov 18–22
A
5 of 25
E-M-053-O4-RBullLimited
Nov 18–22
A
0 of 23
E-F-053-P5-RCowPrivate land only
Dec 1–Jan 31
B
27 of 86

Deer archery, 1

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
D-M-053-O1-ABuckLimited
Sep 2–30
A
10 of 43

Deer muzzleloader, 1

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
D-M-053-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 12–20
A
8 of 23

Deer rifle, 6

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
D-F-053-P5-RDoePrivate land only
Sep 1–Oct 31
B
39 of 44
D-M-053-O2-RBuckLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
81 of 116
D-M-053-P2-RBuckPrivate land only
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
47 of 62
D-M-053-O3-RBuckLimited
Nov 7–15
A
71 of 83
D-M-053-P3-RBuckPrivate land only
Nov 7–15
A
37 of 41
D-M-053-O4-RBuckLimited
Nov 18–22
A
6+ pts
12 of 15

Moose season choice, 1

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
M-M-053-O1-XBullLimited
Sep 12–20
Sep 12–30
Oct 1–14
A
3 of 3

Black bear archery, 2

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
B-E-053-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
6 taken
B-E-053-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
B
0 taken

Black bear muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
B-E-053-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
B
1 taken
B-E-053-U1-MEither sexOTC
Sep 12–20
B
1 taken

Black bear rifle, 2

CodeSexSold asOpenListNote
B-E-053-O1-REither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
59 taken
B-E-053-U5-REither sexOTC
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
B
4 taken

Harvest numbers in the right-hand column are 2025 survey estimates for the code as a whole.

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 53 harvest and success

Elk hunters in GMU 53 took 326 elk in 2024 (218 bulls, 99 cows), 16% success for 2,033 hunters.

Deer success in GMU 53 ran 72% in 2024, with 280 taken.

The bear take in 2024 was 72.

CPW puts the 2025 post-hunt elk herd that includes GMU 53 (units 53, 54, 63) at 10,230, with 28 males per 100 females.

1,019 hunters held elk codes numbered 53 in 2025 and took 263.

For lions, the 2025-26 group total was 14.

Animals taken in GMU 53 during 20240100200300400Deer taken: 280280Deer takenElk taken: 326326Elk takenBears taken: 7272Bears taken
SpeciesHarvestMale / female / youngHuntersSuccessHunter days
Deer280246/31/338772%1,925
Elk326218/99/92,03316%11,987
Black bear7241/31——244

DAU estimates, 2025

GameDAUTakeHuntersSuccessPopulationMales/100 F
DeerD-2060786270%8,43038
ElkE-051,0195,39019%10,23028

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 53 land open to hunting

2 SWAs, 0 STL parcels and 5 other units make up the 7 public lands that list GMU 53.

Large federal records span many units, so read each land page for the part that falls in this GMU.

State parks, 2

State wildlife areas, 2

BLM offices, 1

National forests, 1

Ranger districts, 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.

Towns and units around GMU 53

Inside GMU 53: 1 towns; near it: 0.

If the draw goes against you, the neighbouring units below share counties with GMU 53.

NeighbourSame countySq miElkDeerCodes
GMU 521
Gunnison
Delta
50840721333
GMU 63
Delta
Gunnison
36929225733
GMU 52
Delta
26525254936
GMU 411
Delta
23013319635
GMU 54
Gunnison
58449837128
GMU 64
Delta
Gunnison
26918914943
GMU 55
Gunnison
88639745935
GMU 62
Delta
1,3781,02459941

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 53 hours on key season dates

Deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and lion may be hunted from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; turkey, small game and waterfowl stop at sunset.

DateSeason pointSunriseSunsetBig gameBirds and small game
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, 2026Bowhunting starts6:37 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.

Lion hunting hours match big game.

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.

Beside GMU 53

Nearest units first; three hub pages follow.

GMU 521

33 hunt codes

GMU 63

33 hunt codes

GMU 52

36 hunt codes

GMU 411

35 hunt codes

All GMUsCWD testingDraw and points
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 53 FAQ

Must elk heads from GMU 53 go to CPW?

No mandatory submission applies here.

Are GMU 53 bulls under APR?

Yes, including RFW ranches in the unit.

Is GMU 53 open for spring turkey?

Spring turkey is OTC; spring 2026 rows here ran April 11 to May 31, 2026, and spring 2027 dates are not published yet.

When does lion season close in GMU 53?

March 31, 2027, or sooner if group 9 hits 31 lions.

Can GMU 53 be hunted on public ground?

7 land records list GMU 53, including 2 SWAs and 0 STL parcels.

What is the elk success rate in GMU 53?

16% in 2024 (326 from 2,033 hunters).

What towns are near GMU 53?

Paonia.

Which herd DAUs take in GMU 53?

D-20 (deer), E-5 (elk), M-5 (moose), B-17 (bear) and L-SW (lion).

Can I hunt GMU 53 without a draw?

Yes for 6 OTC codes and 6 OTC season rows; the other 24 codes are limited.

What counties are in GMU 53?

Gunnison (68%) and Delta (32%), for 396 square miles in all.

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