Find Your Personalized Elk Hunting Game Management Unit

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****After answering the questions, be sure to check the box next to "Proceed to Purchase and Checkout " before submitting your answers. You will then be directed to the checkout pages to purchase the report for a cost of $35. After completing the checkout pages, you will receive a PDF report within a few days by email along with a PDF map of the Game Management Units to use as a reference.****

Please note that this report is not free and will only be emailed after the purchase price of $35 is paid during the checkout process.

The map above divides the GMUs into four different regions? If you would like your report to be more specific toward one region, then select the appropriate option below and that answer will be weighted more heavily in the overall results. For example, if you lived in Denver you may be more interested in the GMUs in the Northeast part of the state since they are closer to where you live. The numbers in parentheses are the weighted value used in the overall calculation. Selecting the entire state option will have no influence on the final results.
Northeast (+4)
Northwest (+4)
Southwest (+4)
Southeast (+4)
I would like the results for the entire state west of I-25 (+0).

Which type of license will you be applying for or purchasing?
1--Over-the-counter Antlerless Elk - Archery - Public Land
2--Over-the-counter Either Sex Elk - Archery - Public Land
3--Over-the-counter Antlered Elk - Rifle - 2nd or 3rd Season
4--Limited License (Draw) Either Sex - Archery
5--All other Elk Licenses

What should the density of elk be for the GMU (# elk/ square mile)?
1--High--Seems like a no-brainer if you want to shoot an elk, but these GMUs can be crowded. Also, these GMUs offer the best chance to put some meat in the freezer, but legal bulls may be scarce.
2--Medium--Generally not as many hunters and can offer the chance for a nice bull.
3--Low--Generally speaking, the lower density areas are managed for trophy bulls, but they may require more preference points.

What density of hunters are you comfortable with in the GMU (# hunters/ square mile)? The hunter density is calculated based on the total estimated number of hunters within a GMU over all seasons combined.
1--Low density--I am a loner and want to be away from other hunters.
2--Medium density--I don't mind seeing a few other hunters in the area.
3--High density--After all, it must be a good area to hunt since there are so many other hunters.

Considering all types of roads/OHV trails within a GMU that are on public lands (USFS, BLM, or CPW), what would be the ideal road density for your style of hunting (miles of road/ square mile)? Roads on private lands or areas off limits to elk hunting are not factored into the road density calculation.
1--Low density--The fewer roads, the better. Once camp is setup, I plan on hiking into remote areas and leaving my vehicle at camp.
2--Medium density--I would like the GMU to be fairly accessible to motor vehicles so that I can do some quick scouting, but I still want to have the opportunity to hike into remote areas that cannot be accessed by vehicles.
3--High density--I like the GMU to be accessible to motor vehicles so that I can easily drive around and scout out new areas without needing to walk a considerable distance.

Which type of hunting style best describes you?
1--I am saving my preference points and I want to hunt for a trophy bull and do not care if it takes me many years to get the chance for a tag. These GMUs generally require at least 6 preference points to draw a tag for most seasons. Also, selecting this option may limit you to hunting certain seasons and methods of take. If this choice is selected, your answer will be weighted 5 points higher than answers to other questions.
2--I like to put meat in the freezer. I will be applying for a cow/either sex tag or purchasing an over the counter license.

Percentage of GMU within 5 miles of a major highway (Interstate, U.S., and State)?
1--High--I don't have time to 4x4 in for a day. I just want to set up camp and hunt.
2--Moderate--Rough roads do not intimidate me as long as it does not take all day to get to camp.
3--Low--Even if it takes me all day to get to camp, that just adds to the overall experience.

How many square miles should be classified as wilderness within the GMU?
1--None--Less than one–I do not plan on hunting in wilderness areas.
2--Low--More than one but less than 30-–I will probably not hunt in a wilderness area, but enjoy being near them because of the scenery.
3--Moderate--More than 30 but less than 100--I may want the opportunity to try hiking in away from roads for a mile or two.
4--High--More than 100--Just get me the hell away from roads and vehicle noise. If this choice is selected, your answer will be weighted 2 points higher than answers to other questions.

What percentage of the GMU should be open to the public for elk hunting (includes BLM, USFS, CPW)?
1--Low--I may plan to hunt on private land (with landowner permission, of course).
2--Moderate--I can read maps really well and know how to use my GPS, so I should not have any problem remaining on public lands.
3--High--I do not like to worry about whether or not I am crossing onto private land

In terms of slope and terrain, which best describes your GMU? This question takes into account the most likely areas you will be hunting within the GMU when rating the degree of difficulty while hunting. For example, the overall terrain across GMU 082 is relatively flat with little slope. However, the areas you would most likely be hunting would be near the eastern boundary, which is pretty rough country. As a result, GMU 082 would be rated as extreme.
1--Low--Greatest percentage of huntable GMU is between 0 and 20 percent slope. I prefer to hunt in a GMU that has gently rolling hills and not many areas of steep terrain.
2--Moderate--Greatest percentage of huntable GMU is between 20 and 40 percent slope. I do not mind hunting in an area that may require a fair amount of exertion on my part.
3--Extreme--Greatest percentage of huntable GMU is greater than 40 percent slope. I am one bad-arse hunter. The more extreme, the better.

What percentage of the GMU should be classified as heavily forested?
1--Low--I do not like walking through down timber and prefer open areas.
2--Moderate--I do not mind stalking elk through the trees, but also like to just sit in a meadow every now and then and relax.
3--High--This is where they hole up during the day, and I can walk all day through the timber stalking elk.

What percentage of the GMU should be classified as open meadow or shrublands?
1--Low--I am either a bow hunter or have not sighted in my gun for long range shots.
2--Moderate--I have sighted in my gun and am ready to try a long range shot if needed.
3--High--I have the best gun, scope, load my own bullets, and know exactly how to adjust the settings depending on the range of the elk and the current conditions.

What percentage of the GMU should be classified as sub-alpine/alpine habitat (above 10,500 ft.)?
1--High--I am a bowhunter and have found out that elk are often in the higher elevations early in the season. If this choice is selected, your answer will be weighted 2 points higher than answers to other questions.
2--Medium--It is nice to be able to occasionally get up out of the trees to glass a large area for elk.
3--Low--I get winded too easily. Besides, I hunt the later seasons after the elk have moved out of the high country.

Should the GMU have designated ATV/OHV only trails? This question will only apply to the GMUs that overlap USFS lands with trails designated strictly for ATVs/OHVs. This question is not meant to categorize an entire GMU as restrictive to ATV/OHV use since many USFS roads are open to multiple types of motorized travel. Outside of USFS lands, other agencies will need to be contacted for regulations regarding ATV/OHV use?
1--No, those noisy machines scare all the elk.
2--Hell yes, riding around on an ATV/OHV just adds to the hunting experience.

Roads that are officially closed to motorized travel by the U.S. Forest Service can offer good hiking access into the backcountry. What would be the ideal closed road density for your style of hunting (miles of closed road/ square mile)? Roads on private lands or areas off limits to elk hunting are not factored into the closed road density calculation.
1--Low density--The fewer roads, the better. I do not want to take the chance of coming upon an ATV or truck that has illegally accessed an area using a closed road while I am hunting in an a remote area.
2--Medium density--I would like the GMU to contain a moderate amount of closed roads since I may want to try an easier route into the backcountry areas. However, I also realize that just because a road is closed does not mean that individuals will not illegally or unintentionally use these roads for motorized access.
3--High density--Closed roads offer excellent access points into the backcountry areas where vehicles are no longer allowed.

What percentage of the GMU should be considered elk winter concentration areas? Winter concentration areas represent that part of the winter range of elk where densities are at least 200% greater than the surrounding winter range density during the average five winters out of ten from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up, or during a site specific period of winter as defined for each Data Analysis Unit?
1--High--I hunt the late seasons and hope that the higher elevations get pounded with snow so the elk will move onto their winter range.
2--Medium--In the event that there are early heavy snows, the elk may start moving into these areas and I want to be there, waiting.
3--Low--I am a bowhunter or muzzleloader and the elk are generally not in their winter range during these seasons.

What percentage of the GMU should be considered elk summer concentration areas? Summer concentration areas represent those areas where elk concentrate from mid-June through mid-August. High quality forage, security habitat, and lack of disturbance are characteristics of these areas to meet the high energy demands of lactation, calf rearing, antler growth, and general preparation for the rigors of fall and winter?
1--High--I am one of the following--a bowhunter, a muzzleloader, or a late season optimist hoping that the weather has been mild and the elk are still at higher elevations.
2--Medium--You can't predict the weather, so I am just hoping it is fairly mild during the season that I hunt.
3--Low--I hunt the late seasons, so I pray that it snows like crazy early on and the elk have all moved out of the high country.

What percentage of the GMU should be considered elk migration corridor? Migration corridors are defined as specific areas through which large numbers of animals migrate and loss of which would change migration routes?
1--High--Duh, isn't that where the elk are moving from one range type to the next?
2--Moderate--It all depends on the weather, so they may or may not be moving through these areas during the season I am hunting.
3--Low--The elk are generally not moving through these areas during the earlier seasons that I am hunting.

What else would you like to know about GMUs (optional).

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