CO Elk Unit 53
Season Dates
| Year | Weapon | Dates | Tag Type | Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Archery | Sep 2, 2026 — Sep 30, 2026 | — | — |
| 2026 | Muzzleloader | Sep 12, 2026 — Sep 20, 2026 | — | — |
| 2026 | Rifle — Third | Nov 7, 2026 — Nov 15, 2026 | — | — |
| 2026 | Rifle — Second | Oct 24, 2026 — Nov 1, 2026 | — | — |
| 2026 | Rifle — Fourth | Nov 18, 2026 — Nov 22, 2026 | — | — |
| 2026 | Rifle — First | Oct 14, 2026 — Oct 18, 2026 | — | — |
Trophy Data
Herd Data
Bull : Cow
17per 100
2023 Survey
Population Est.
9,160
2023 Survey
AI Scout Analysis
# CO 53 Tactical Analysis ## Terrain & Access Unit 53 spans 5,323–12,688 ft with 80% public land and 31% wilderness. Forum reports confirm challenging, remote terrain with moderate elk densities and demanding physical conditions. Early/late season timing and calling skills are essential for success. ## Herd Quality Bull:cow ratios average 18:100 (2019–2023), indicating a balanced herd below prime breeding composition. The 2023 Quality Index of 51/100 reflects a "Good" but not exceptional herd. Population appears stable relative to objectives. ## Trophy Potential Gunnison County (68% overlap) has produced 6 record-book entries averaging 377.6, with a high of 397.2 (pre-2000)....
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Get StartedDraw Odds
| Year | Weapon | Residency | Applicants | Tags | Draw % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | rifle (Either S1) | resident | 20 | 31 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Either S1) | nonresident | 27 | 30 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Either S4) | resident | 5 | 9 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Either S4) | nonresident | 1 | 1 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | archery (Either S1) | nonresident | 265 | 453 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | muzzleloader (Female S1) | resident | 9 | 9 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | muzzleloader (Female S1) | nonresident | 9 | 8 | 88.9% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S1) | resident | 22 | 11 | 50.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S1) | nonresident | 11 | 5 | 45.5% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S2) | resident | 28 | 18 | 64.3% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S2) | nonresident | 12 | 6 | 50.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S3) | resident | 38 | 24 | 63.2% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S3) | nonresident | 12 | 6 | 50.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S4) | resident | 11 | 22 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S4) | nonresident | 1 | 2 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S5) | resident | 81 | 68 | 84.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Female S5) | nonresident | 5 | 4 | 80.0% |
| 2025 | muzzleloader (Male S1) | resident | 27 | 27 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | muzzleloader (Male S1) | nonresident | 72 | 56 | 77.8% |
| 2025 | rifle (Male S1) | resident | 52 | 52 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Male S1) | nonresident | 81 | 23 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | rifle (Male S4) | resident | 1 | 13 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | rifle (Male S4) | nonresident | 1 | 5 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Either S1) | resident | 17 | 25 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Either S1) | nonresident | 36 | 43 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Either S4) | resident | 6 | 11 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Either S4) | nonresident | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | muzzleloader (Female S1) | resident | 15 | 13 | 86.7% |
| 2024 | muzzleloader (Female S1) | nonresident | 17 | 4 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S1) | resident | 23 | 12 | 52.2% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S1) | nonresident | 20 | 5 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S2) | resident | 31 | 17 | 54.8% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S2) | nonresident | 21 | 7 | 33.3% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S3) | resident | 21 | 24 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S3) | nonresident | 13 | 8 | 61.5% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S4) | resident | 8 | 19 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S4) | nonresident | 2 | 2 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S5) | resident | 78 | 70 | 89.7% |
| 2024 | rifle (Female S5) | nonresident | 3 | 3 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | muzzleloader (Male S1) | resident | 38 | 35 | 92.1% |
| 2024 | muzzleloader (Male S1) | nonresident | 56 | 48 | 85.7% |
| 2024 | rifle (Male S1) | resident | 39 | 39 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Male S1) | nonresident | 97 | 36 | 37.1% |
| 2024 | rifle (Male S4) | resident | 9 | 17 | 100.0% |
| 2024 | rifle (Male S4) | nonresident | 1 | 4 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Either S1) | resident | 17 | 34 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Either S1) | nonresident | 26 | 27 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Either S4) | resident | 5 | 8 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Either S4) | nonresident | 2 | 2 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | muzzleloader (Female S1) | resident | 9 | 9 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | muzzleloader (Female S1) | nonresident | 9 | 8 | 88.9% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S1) | resident | 27 | 8 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S1) | nonresident | 23 | 7 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S2) | resident | 40 | 20 | 50.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S2) | nonresident | 17 | 5 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S3) | resident | 30 | 24 | 80.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S3) | nonresident | 13 | 10 | 76.9% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S4) | resident | 7 | 15 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S4) | nonresident | 1 | 1 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S5) | resident | 81 | 69 | 85.2% |
| 2023 | rifle (Female S5) | nonresident | 3 | 3 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | muzzleloader (Male S1) | resident | 23 | 25 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | muzzleloader (Male S1) | nonresident | 48 | 52 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Male S1) | resident | 46 | 42 | 91.3% |
| 2023 | rifle (Male S1) | nonresident | 121 | 35 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | rifle (Male S4) | resident | 3 | 7 | 100.0% |
| 2023 | rifle (Male S4) | nonresident | 1 | 2 | 100.0% |
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Get StartedHarvest Data
| Year | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,033 | 326 | 16.0% | |
| 2024 | rifle | 917 | 171 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | archery | 1,018 | 148 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | muzzleloader | 98 | 7 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | archery | 1,170 | 115 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 2,067 | 275 | 13.0% | |
| 2023 | rifle | 806 | 157 | 19.0% |
| 2023 | muzzleloader | 91 | 3 | 3.0% |
| 2022 | 2,133 | 307 | 14.0% | |
| 2022 | rifle | 862 | 178 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | archery | 1,174 | 117 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | muzzleloader | 97 | 12 | 13.0% |
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