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Colorado › Hunting seasons › GMUs › GMU 581

Hunt unit in Park County

GMU 581 hunt codes, dates and success

Every license that is good in this 688-square-mile unit, where it sits in Park County, Fremont County and Teller County, and how hunters did here in 2024.

Every codeTake and successHunting gear
688Square miles
37Hunt codes
196Elk taken 2024
3Counties

Photo: John Spade (CC BY 2.0)

GMU 581 on the map of counties

The CPW Northeast Region looks after GMU 581, 688 square miles of mountain country. The biggest share, 37%, sits inside Park County.

3 counties share this unit, led by Park County with 257 square miles.

In countyArea (sq mi)% of GMU% of county
Park County257.137%12%
Fremont County246.936%16%
Teller County184.127%33%

For population work CPW lumps GMU 581 into D-16, E-23, A-30, M-14, B-2 and L-ES (deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and lion).

688Square miles
440,329Acres
D-16Deer DAU
E-23Elk DAU
A-30Pronghorn DAU
M-14Moose DAU
B-2Bear DAU
L-ESLion 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.

Unit rules for GMU 581

YesElk APR
VoluntaryElk CWD test
8Lion group
30Lion limit
OTCSpring turkey
OTCFall turkey
NoLynx area
MountainTerrain
4OTC elk rows
  • Elk hunters here follow the 4-point rule: four points on one side, or a brow tine 5 inches long or longer.
  • The mandatory elk testing units do not include GMU 581.
  • Lion hunters in GMU 581 share a cap of 30 with the rest of group 8.
  • The turkey brochure lists GMU 581 this way: spring turkey is OTC, and fall turkey is OTC.
  • GMU 581 is on 4 OTC elk lists, so no draw is needed for those.

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 581 openers and closers

Here are the 39 CPW season groupings that list GMU 581 among their valid units (15 elk, 8 deer, 4 pronghorn, 4 moose, 5 black bear, 1 mountain lion and 2 wild turkey).

AnimalSeasonWhenLicenseCode count
Elk
Rifle cow
private land only
Sep 1–Jan 31Private only33
Elk
Archery cow
limited
nonresident only
Sep 2–30Limited10
Elk
Archery cow
OTC residents
Sep 2–30OTC—
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 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
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
late season
Sep 1–Oct 31Limited2
Deer
Archery either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited29
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 buck
limited
Nov 7–15Limited71
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
Nov 7–15Limited35
Pronghorn
Archery buck
limited
Aug 15–Sep 20Limited24
Pronghorn
Archery doe
limited
Sep 1–20Limited11
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
Moose
Rifle cow
limited
late season
Oct 14–Nov 22Limited10
Black bear
Archery either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited35
Black bear
Rifle either sex
limited
Sep 2–30Limited34
Black bear
Rifle either sex
private land only
Sep 2–Nov 22Private only7
Black bear
Muzzleloader either sex
limited
Sep 12–20Limited35
Black bear
Rifle either sex
limited
Oct 14–Nov 22Limited19
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.

GMU 581 license codes and dates

Codes that name GMU 581, grouped by species and weapon: 16 elk, 8 deer, 4 pronghorn, 4 moose and 5 black bear, 37 in all.

Of these, 4 are OTC, 2 private-land-only and 0 RFW; 1 carried the 6+ point marker.

Elk archery, 4

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
E-E-000-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
A
1,076 of 9,541
E-E-059-V1-AEither sexNonresident only
Sep 2–30
A
16 of 142
E-F-000-U1-ACowOTC
Sep 2–30
B
50 of 872
E-F-059-V1-ACowNonresident only
Sep 2–30
B—

Elk muzzleloader, 2

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
E-F-059-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
B
10 of 114
E-M-059-O1-MBullLimited
Sep 12–20
A
8 of 84

Elk rifle, 10

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
E-F-581-P5-RCowPrivate land only
Sep 1–Jan 31
B
45 of 227
E-F-059-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 14–18
B
0 of 44
E-F-070-O4-RCowLimited
Oct 14–18
A
16 of 44
E-M-059-O1-RBullLimited
Oct 14–18
A
21 of 96
E-F-059-O2-RCowLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
B
5 of 80
E-M-000-U2-RBullOTC
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
4,558 of 23,668
E-F-059-O3-RCowLimited
Nov 7–15
B
2 of 56
E-M-000-U3-RBullOTC
Nov 7–15
A
2,096 of 17,371
E-F-059-O4-RCowLimited
Nov 18–22
B
0 of 10
E-M-059-O4-RBullLimited
Nov 18–22
A
3 of 151

Deer archery, 1

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
D-E-049-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
A
73 of 266

Deer muzzleloader, 2

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
D-F-049-O1-MDoeLimited
Sep 12–20
A
8 of 25
D-M-049-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 12–20
A
51 of 141

Deer rifle, 5

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
D-F-069-L1-RDoeLimited, late
Sep 1–Oct 31
C
46 of 89
D-F-058-O2-RDoeLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
5 of 9
D-M-049-O2-RBuckLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
451 of 760
D-F-058-O3-RDoeLimited
Nov 7–15
A
5 of 10
D-M-049-O3-RBuckLimited
Nov 7–15
A
352 of 545

Pronghorn archery, 2

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
A-M-057-O1-ABuckLimited
Aug 15–Sep 20
A
3 of 17
A-F-057-O1-ADoeLimited
Sep 1–20
A
0 of 19

Pronghorn rifle, 2

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
A-F-057-O1-RDoeLimited
Oct 3–11
A
19 of 29
A-M-057-O1-RBuckLimited
Oct 3–11
A
6+ pts
34 of 40

Moose muzzleloader, 1

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
M-F-051-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
A
0 taken

Moose rifle, 2

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
M-F-051-O1-RCowLimited
Oct 1–14
A
1 of 1
M-F-051-L1-RCowLimited, late
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
A
4 of 4

Moose season choice, 1

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
M-M-051-O1-XBullLimited
Sep 12–20
Sep 12–30
Oct 1–14
A
6 of 6

Black bear archery, 1

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
B-E-058-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
0 taken

Black bear muzzleloader, 1

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
B-E-058-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
B
2 taken

Black bear rifle, 3

Hunt codeSexLicenseSeasonList2025 result
B-E-058-O1-REither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
B
5 taken
B-E-058-P5-REither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–Nov 22
C
6 taken
B-E-058-O5-REither sexLimited
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
B
0 taken

Read the 2025 column as a rough guide to success on that license, unit lines aside.

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.

How hunters did in GMU 581

The 2024 elk estimate for GMU 581 is 196 animals from 1,521 hunters, a 13% success rate over 11,076 hunter days.

The deer take was 292: 249 bucks, 43 does and 0 fawns.

18 pronghorn came out of GMU 581 in 2024.

CPW counts 5 bears from GMU 581 in 2024.

The elk herd for units 511, 512, 581, 59, 591 was estimated at 4,300 after the 2025 hunts.

By code, unit 581 elk licenses yielded 45 in 2025 (1 codes).

Lion hunters took 12 lions (8 males, 4 females) in the 2025-26 group that held GMU 581.

GMU 581: what hunters took in 20240100200300400mule/whitetail: 292292mule/whitetailelk: 196196elkantelope: 1818antelopeblack bear: 55black bear
GameTakenBy sex and ageHuntersSuccessDays
Deer292249/43/057251%2,131
Elk196115/81/01,52113%11,076
Pronghorn1815/3/03649%163
Black bear53/2——20

Whole-herd numbers, 2025

SpeciesDAUHarvestHuntersSuccessPost-hunt pop.Males per 100
DeerD-161,0482,17948%11,03027
ElkE-233703,85810%4,30034
PronghornA-3010626840%1,29042

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.

Public ground across GMU 581

17 public land records on this site list GMU 581: 2 state wildlife areas and 9 state trust land parcels among them.

Some land records cover many GMUs at once; their pages give the local access notes.

State trust land, 9

State parks, 3

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.

GMU 581 towns and neighbouring units

3 nearby towns and 1 inside make good starting points for GMU 581.

Next-door units, ranked by distance from the middle of GMU 581, with code counts and 2024 harvest.

GMUCountiesSquare milesElk (2024)Deer (2024)Codes
GMU 58
Park
Fremont
87228822830
GMU 59
Teller
Fremont
6461355439
GMU 511
Teller
Park
3629529635
GMU 50
Park
5002737433
GMU 57
Fremont
Park
27316314834
GMU 691
Fremont
252277438
GMU 501
Park
50112521640
GMU 46
Park
2135414733

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.

Legal light in GMU 581

The CPW brochures print Denver sunrise and sunset tables with town offsets; the times for GMU 581 here are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for its own location.

DayMarkerSun upSun downElk and deerTurkey and ducks
Aug 15, 2026Pronghorn archery opens6:15 a.m.8:00 p.m.5:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.5:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sep 2, 2026Archery day one6:32 a.m.7:34 p.m.6:02 a.m. to 8:04 p.m.6:02 a.m. to 7:34 p.m.
Sep 12, 2026Muzzleloader opens6:40 a.m.7:18 p.m.6:10 a.m. to 7:48 p.m.6:10 a.m. to 7:18 p.m.
Oct 3, 2026Duck season opens6:59 a.m.6:44 p.m.6:29 a.m. to 7:14 p.m.6:29 a.m. to 6:44 p.m.
Oct 24, 2026Second rifle opens7:21 a.m.6:13 p.m.6:51 a.m. to 6:43 p.m.6:51 a.m. to 6:13 p.m.
Nov 23, 2026Lion season opens6:54 a.m.4:45 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.6:24 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:18 a.m.4:43 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 5:13 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 4:43 p.m.

The light goose conservation order runs to half an hour after sunset.

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.

Other units by GMU 581

Four neighbours by distance and three Colorado-wide pages.

GMU 58

Elk 2024: 288

GMU 59

Elk 2024: 135

GMU 511

Elk 2024: 95

GMU 50

Elk 2024: 273

All GMUsLion groupsPark County
Grassy hills dotted with pines and distant mountains, Park County
Grassy hills dotted with pines and distant mountains, Park CountyPhoto: Suzie Tremmel (CC BY 2.0)
Snow-covered Rocky Mountain peaks rising above a line of pines in Colorado
Snow-covered Rocky Mountain peaks rising above a line of pines in ColoradoPhoto: Bob Denaro (CC BY 2.0)
Snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains beyond pines and a valley in central Colorado
Snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains beyond pines and a valley in central ColoradoPhoto: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain Mark 1.0)

Questions on GMU 581

What are the CWD rules for GMU 581?

Voluntary testing only.

Is GMU 581 open to lion hunting?

Yes, in harvest-limit group 8.

What turkey licenses work in GMU 581?

0 limited turkey codes include GMU 581; beyond those, spring turkey is OTC and fall turkey is OTC.

Is GMU 581 good for elk?

In 2024, 1,521 hunters took 196, 13% success.

How many SWAs are in GMU 581?

2 state wildlife areas list GMU 581.

What herd unit includes GMU 581?

D-16, E-23, A-30, M-14, B-2 and L-ES. The 2025 post-hunt estimate for units 511, 512, 581, 59, 591 is 4,300.

Where can I stay near GMU 581?

Cripple Creek inside the unit.

Does GMU 581 reach into Park County?

Mostly Park County (257 sq mi), plus Fremont and Teller.

How many GMU 581 codes are limited?

33 of 37; 2 of those are private-land-only.

Does GMU 581 have antler point restrictions?

Yes. Bulls need 4 points on one side or a 5-inch brow tine.

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