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Colorado › Hunting seasons › GMUs › GMU 86

Big game unit · 496 sq mi

Game Management Unit 86 licenses and dates

496 square miles across Custer County, Fremont County and Chaffee County, with 39 hunt codes and 42 season rows that name this unit.

Codes by species2024 harvestHunting gear
496Square miles
39Hunt codes
292Elk taken 2024
3Counties

Photo: Jeffrey Beall (CC BY-SA 2.0)

GMU 86 measured up

GMU 86 measures 496 square miles on the CPW boundary layer. It is a mountain GMU in the CPW Southeast Region, centred on Custer County (56% of the unit).

GMU 86 spills over 3 county lines, which matters when you look up land records or a processor: Custer, Fremont and Chaffee.

WhereSq miGMU %County %
Custer County277.956%38%
Fremont County184.237%12%
Chaffee County33.67%3%

License quotas follow herd objectives, so the DAU matters: GMU 86 counts toward deer herd D-34, elk herd E-27, pronghorn herd A-20, moose herd M-15, bear herd B-7 and lion herd L-ES.

496Square miles
317,343Acres
D-34Deer DAU
E-27Elk DAU
A-20Pronghorn DAU
M-15Moose DAU
B-7Bear 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.

GMU 86 unit-by-unit rules

YesElk APR
VoluntaryElk CWD test
15Lion group
47Lion limit
OTCSpring turkey
OTCFall turkey
NoLynx area
MountainTerrain
4OTC elk rows
  • Bull elk in GMU 86 fall under the antler point restriction (4+ points one side or a 5-inch brow tine).
  • GMU 86 is not on the 2026 mandatory elk CWD list; testing is voluntary.
  • Group 15 (7 GMUs) sets a 47-lion limit that includes GMU 86.
  • Turkey: in GMU 86 spring turkey is OTC and fall turkey is OTC.
  • 4 OTC elk season rows reach GMU 86.

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 86

Read this table for dates, then the hunt-code table for the exact license. GMU 86 has 15 elk, 13 deer, 6 pronghorn, 5 black bear, 1 mountain lion and 2 wild turkey rows.

GameSeason groupDatesHow soldCodes
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 cow
limited
Sep 12–20Limited69
Elk
Muzzleloader either sex
limited
Sep 12–20Limited19
Elk
Rifle either sex
limited
Oct 14–18Limited16
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 cow
limited
Nov 18–22Limited90
Elk
Rifle either sex
limited
Nov 18–22Limited26
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
early season
Sep 12–20Limited8
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Oct 24–Nov 1Limited71
Deer
Rifle buck
private land only
Oct 24–Nov 1Private only17
Deer
Rifle doe
private land only
Oct 24–Nov 1Private only12
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 7–15Limited71
Deer
Rifle buck
private land only
Nov 7–15Private only17
Deer
Rifle doe
private land only
Nov 7–15Private only12
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
Nov 18–22Limited59
Deer
Rifle buck
limited
late season
Dec 1–14Limited33
Deer
Rifle doe
limited
late season
Dec 1–14Limited44
Pronghorn
Muzzleloader buck
limited
Sep 21–29Limited35
Pronghorn
Muzzleloader doe
limited
Sep 21–29Limited24
Pronghorn
Rifle buck
limited
Oct 3–11Limited66
Pronghorn
Rifle buck
private land only
Oct 3–11Private only14
Pronghorn
Rifle doe
limited
Oct 3–11Limited48
Pronghorn
Rifle doe
private land only
Oct 17–25Private only2
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 2–30Private only20
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 86 codes, sex and List

Every CPW code whose valid-unit list includes GMU 86 sits below, 39 of them (15 elk, 13 deer, 6 pronghorn and 5 black bear).

The mix in GMU 86: 4 unlimited, 35 limited, of which 9 are for private land and 0 for enrolled ranches.

Elk archery, 4

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
E-E-000-U1-AEither sexOTC
Sep 2–30
A
1,076 of 9,541
E-E-086-V1-AEither sexNonresident only
Sep 2–30
A
27 of 255
E-F-000-U1-ACowOTC
Sep 2–30
B
50 of 872
E-F-086-V1-ACowNonresident only
Sep 2–30
B
0 of 4

Elk muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
E-E-086-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
A
15 of 103
E-F-086-O1-MCowLimited
Sep 12–20
B
2 of 57

Elk rifle, 9

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
E-F-086-P5-RCowPrivate land only
Sep 1–Jan 31
B
164 of 335
E-E-086-O1-REither sexLimited
Oct 14–18
A
29 of 157
E-E-086-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Oct 14–18
A
15 of 44
E-F-086-O2-RCowLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
B
3 of 85
E-M-000-U2-RBullOTC
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
4,558 of 23,668
E-F-086-O3-RCowLimited
Nov 7–15
B
4 of 58
E-M-000-U3-RBullOTC
Nov 7–15
A
2,096 of 17,371
E-E-086-O4-REither sexLimited
Nov 18–22
A
6 of 80
E-F-086-O4-RCowLimited
Nov 18–22
B
9 of 52

Deer archery, 1

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
D-E-069-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
A
135 of 305

Deer muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
D-F-069-O1-MDoeLimited
Sep 12–20
A
27 of 42
D-M-069-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 12–20
A
60 of 204

Deer rifle, 10

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
D-M-082-E1-RBuckLimited, early
Sep 12–20
A
24 of 37
D-F-069-P2-RDoePrivate land only
Oct 24–Nov 1
B
74 of 95
D-M-069-O2-RBuckLimited
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
214 of 518
D-M-069-P2-RBuckPrivate land only
Oct 24–Nov 1
A
188 of 439
D-F-069-P3-RDoePrivate land only
Nov 7–15
B
78 of 113
D-M-069-O3-RBuckLimited
Nov 7–15
A
239 of 428
D-M-069-P3-RBuckPrivate land only
Nov 7–15
A
210 of 313
D-M-069-O4-RBuckLimited
Nov 18–22
A
51 of 73
D-F-109-L1-RDoeLimited, late
Dec 1–14
A
16 of 36
D-M-109-L1-RBuckLimited, late
Dec 1–14
A
27 of 61

Pronghorn muzzleloader, 2

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
A-F-069-O1-MDoeLimited
Sep 21–29
A
9 of 45
A-M-069-O1-MBuckLimited
Sep 21–29
A
24 of 48

Pronghorn rifle, 4

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
A-F-069-O1-RDoeLimited
Oct 3–11
A
62 of 183
A-M-069-O1-RBuckLimited
Oct 3–11
A
120 of 173
A-M-069-P1-RBuckPrivate land only
Oct 3–11
B
64 of 76
A-F-069-P2-RDoePrivate land only
Oct 17–25
B
42 of 70

Black bear archery, 1

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
B-E-082-O1-AEither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
A
2 taken

Black bear muzzleloader, 1

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
B-E-082-O1-MEither sexLimited
Sep 12–20
A
0 taken

Black bear rifle, 3

CodeSexLicenseDatesListNote, 2025
B-E-082-O1-REither sexLimited
Sep 2–30
A
13 taken
B-E-086-P1-REither sexPrivate land only
Sep 2–30
B
7 taken
B-E-082-O5-REither sexLimited
Oct 14–18
Oct 24–Nov 1
Nov 7–15
Nov 18–22
A
0 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 86 take, hunters and success

In 2024, 15% of GMU 86 elk hunters filled a tag: 127 bulls, 163 cows and 3 calves.

Deer hunters took 168 deer (151 bucks) with 37% success among 450 hunters.

The pronghorn table lists 55 for this unit.

7 bears came from this unit.

Herd estimate for elk (GMUs 86, 691, 861): 3,150 post-hunt, ratio 22 males to 100 females.

Adding up the 2025 elk codes numbered for unit 86 gives 274 animals and 1,230 hunters.

20 lions came from the old group including GMU 86 in 2025-26.

How many of each came out of GMU 86 in 20240100200300400deer, all: 168168deer, allelk, all: 292292elk, allpronghorn, all: 5555pronghorn, allbear, all: 77bear, all
AnimalHarvestSex and ageHuntersSuccessDays afield
Deer168151/13/345037%2,001
Elk292127/163/31,93415%12,283
Pronghorn5538/17/011647%363
Black bear77/0——21

2025 by herd unit

SpeciesDAUHarvestHuntersSuccessHerd sizeM:100F
DeerD-341,4643,17946%13,74032
ElkE-274242,70416%3,15022
PronghornA-2044492748%3,11034

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 86 public hunting ground

10 places open to some hunting overlap GMU 86. SWAs number 1; trust land parcels 4.

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.

State trust land, 4

Ranger districts, 2

BLM offices, 1

National forests, 1

State Recreation Area, 1

State wildlife areas, 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 86 neighbours

Towns for supplies: 1 inside the unit, 2 within ten miles.

Nearby GMUs that overlap the same counties as GMU 86, nearest first.

GMUShared countiesSq miElk 2024Deer 2024Codes
GMU 691
Fremont
Custer
252277438
GMU 69
Fremont
Custer
2927744136
GMU 84
Custer
Fremont
1,28027252944
GMU 58
Fremont
Chaffee
87228822830
GMU 561
Chaffee
128454024
GMU 57
Chaffee
Fremont
27316314834
GMU 56
Chaffee
2389911134
GMU 581
Fremont
68819629237

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 86

The sun rises about twenty minutes later at Grand Junction than at Burlington, so use the times worked out for GMU 86.

WhenEventRiseSetBig gameSmall game
Sep 2, 2026First archery day6:31 a.m.7:32 p.m.6:01 a.m. to 8:02 p.m.6:01 a.m. to 7:32 p.m.
Sep 12, 2026Muzzleloader opens6:40 a.m.7:16 p.m.6:10 a.m. to 7:46 p.m.6:10 a.m. to 7:16 p.m.
Oct 3, 2026Duck season opens6:58 a.m.6:43 p.m.6:28 a.m. to 7:13 p.m.6:28 a.m. to 6:43 p.m.
Oct 24, 2026Second rifle opens7:18 a.m.6:13 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 6:43 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 6:13 p.m.
Nov 23, 2026Lion season opens6:51 a.m.4:46 p.m.6:21 a.m. to 5:16 p.m.6:21 a.m. to 4:46 p.m.
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:14 a.m.4:45 p.m.6:44 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.6:44 a.m. to 4:45 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 86

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

GMU 691

Mountain unit

GMU 69

Mountain unit

GMU 82

Mountain unit

GMU 84

Mountain unit

All GMUsDraw and pointsHunting seasons
Blue pond in a green valley below the Wet Mountains, Custer County
Blue pond in a green valley below the Wet Mountains, Custer CountyPhoto: Heath Alseike (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)
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)

Quick answers for GMU 86

How do I hunt turkeys in GMU 86?

Spring turkey is OTC and fall turkey is OTC; 0 turkey codes list GMU 86.

What was the 2024 elk harvest in GMU 86?

292 elk, all methods.

What public hunting ground is in GMU 86?

10 records: 1 SWAs, 4 STLs, 5 other.

What are the DAU codes for GMU 86?

Deer: D-34, Elk: E-27, Pronghorn: A-20, Moose: M-15, Bear: B-7 and Lion: L-ES.

Is there a town inside GMU 86?

Yes: Westcliffe.

How big is GMU 86?

496 square miles (317,343 acres) in 3 counties, led by Custer.

How many licenses can I use in GMU 86?

39 brochure codes include GMU 86 (15 elk, 13 deer, 6 pronghorn and 5 black bear); 35 are limited.

Do spike bulls count in GMU 86?

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 86?

No, but CPW accepts voluntary samples.

What is the mountain lion limit for GMU 86?

Group 15 has a limit of 47 lions.

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