Colorado Unit 33 Elk Hunting Guide

Colorado Unit 33 sits in the northwest part of the state and draws a heavy mix of resident and nonresident elk hunters every year, thanks in part to over-the-counter accessibility on some hunts and a large public land base. With 266,312 total acres and 76% public land, Unit 33 offers hunters real room to roam — but that access comes with tradeoffs worth understanding before committing a season to this unit. Elevations here range from 5,300 feet up to 11,456 feet, giving hunters everything from sagebrush foothills to high alpine basins depending on where and when they hunt.

This is a unit that shows up constantly in online hunting forums, and for good reason — it's one of the more talked-about elk destinations in northwest Colorado for hunters trying to figure out where they can find opportunity without burning through years of points. But talked-about doesn't always mean top-tier, and the data tells a more nuanced story than forum chatter alone.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 33 Worth Applying For?

The honest answer is that Unit 33 is best understood as a volume-opportunity unit rather than a trophy destination. Harvest data compiled by HuntPilot shows a unit that has seen a significant surge in hunter pressure over the past three years. In 2023, 2,351 hunters pursued elk in Unit 33 with 249 harvested, an 11% success rate. That number improved in 2024, with 4,323 hunters and 622 harvested for a 14% success rate. Then in 2025, hunter numbers nearly tripled the 2023 figure — 6,573 hunters afield — and harvest jumped to 1,581 animals, pushing the unit-wide success rate to 24%.

That trend line is worth sitting with. More than doubling hunter pressure from 2023 to 2025 while also improving success rate suggests either a healthier elk population, better hunter distribution, or both. It's a positive signal for opportunity-minded hunters, but the flip side is obvious: this is a unit seeing rapidly increasing pressure, and forum accounts of crowded trailheads and heavy competition for public ground track with what the harvest numbers show.

Wildlife survey data compiled across six survey years (2018-2024) shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 21:100. That's a fairly low ratio by elk herd health standards, which typically points to a bull population that is available but not particularly mature or abundant relative to cows. This aligns with what hunters should expect walking into Unit 33 — this is an opportunity unit where seeing elk and getting a shot is realistic, but a low bull:cow ratio and the unit's limited trophy record history both point toward a unit built for filling a tag rather than chasing an exceptional bull.

Trophy potential for Unit 33 is limited based on available records. The counties overlapping this unit show a limited history of trophy-class entries, which does not rule out a mature bull turning up, but hunters should not plan a trip around Unit 33 producing an exceptional-caliber animal. For hunters whose primary goal is filling the freezer and enjoying rugged Colorado country, the improving harvest trend makes Unit 33 worth serious consideration. For hunters chasing a genuine trophy-class bull, this unit should not be the priority.

Access & Terrain

Unit 33 spans a wide elevation gradient — from 5,300 feet at its lowest to 11,456 feet at its highest points — meaning hunters can find everything from low sagebrush and scrub terrain to steep, high-alpine basins within the same unit boundary. That range gives hunters flexibility to hunt early-season elk at lower elevations before pushing higher as weather and pressure dictate, though the exact seasonal movement patterns for this specific unit aren't detailed in the available data.

With 76% of the unit in public ownership, DIY hunters have substantial room to work with — this is one of the stronger public-land ratios among Colorado elk units and supports a legitimate do-it-yourself hunt without needing to negotiate private land access. There is no wilderness designation recorded for Unit 33 (0%), which means hunters can access public ground with vehicles and standard trail systems rather than needing to plan pack-in wilderness logistics.

That said, forum accounts consistently describe Unit 33 as physically demanding country with elk pushed into rougher terrain, particularly as pressure builds through the season. Multiple hunters note that elk tend to concentrate on private ground in certain parts of the unit, meaning public-land hunters may need to work harder into steeper, higher-elevation pockets to find animals away from crowds. Hunters planning a wall-tent or backcountry-style camp should expect genuinely rugged terrain in the upper elevation bands, consistent with a unit that tops out above 11,000 feet.

Herd Health & Population Trends

The bull:cow ratio of 21:100, averaged across six survey years from 2018 to 2024, is on the low end for elk herds generally and suggests a unit where bulls are harvested at a meaningful rate relative to the cow population, or where bull recruitment has been limited over time. This is consistent with a unit that carries heavy hunter pressure — as reflected in the harvest data — and supports the assessment that Unit 33 functions primarily as an opportunity unit rather than a unit managed for trophy bull ratios.

Hunters should treat this ratio as a multi-year trend indicator rather than a single-year snapshot, and the six-year survey window gives it more credibility than a one-off count. The takeaway: expect bulls to be present but not abundant relative to cows, and expect competition for those bulls given the hunter volume the unit has been absorbing.

How to Apply

Colorado's draw system for Unit 33 elk runs on an annual application cycle through Colorado Parks and Wildlife, with dates and fees varying by residency and year.

Given the significant cost difference between resident and nonresident tag fees, nonresident hunters in particular should budget carefully and confirm current fee schedules before applying, since Colorado's fee structure and deadlines can shift from one year to the next.

For hunters comparing draw odds and point requirements for Unit 33 against other northwest Colorado elk units, HuntPilot's Colorado state page at /states/co maintains updated draw odds information as new data becomes available each cycle.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Colorado page at /states/co.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 33? Unit 33 covers a broad elevation range from 5,300 feet to 11,456 feet, offering everything from lower sagebrush country to steep, high-alpine terrain. With 76% public land and no designated wilderness, hunters have solid vehicle and trail access to public ground, though forum accounts describe the unit as physically demanding, especially in higher-elevation pockets where elk retreat from hunting pressure.

What is harvest success like in Unit 33? Harvest success has been trending upward. In 2023, hunters saw an 11% success rate with 2,351 hunters afield. That rose to 14% in 2024 with 4,323 hunters, and jumped again to 24% in 2025 with 6,573 hunters — a substantial increase in both participation and success rate over a short span.

How big are the elk in Unit 33? Trophy potential in Unit 33 is limited based on available record-book history for the surrounding counties. The average bull:cow ratio of 21:100 across six survey years (2018-2024) also points to a bull population skewed toward availability over maturity. Hunters should approach Unit 33 as a unit for filling an elk tag rather than one likely to produce an exceptional bull.

Is Unit 33 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing opportunity and improving harvest odds, yes — the harvest trend from 2023 to 2025 shows a unit where more hunters are finding success, and the 76% public land base supports a legitimate DIY approach. For hunters specifically chasing trophy-class bulls, Unit 33 is not the strongest option given its limited trophy record history and modest bull:cow ratio.

Is Unit 33 crowded during elk season? Hunter numbers have grown significantly, from 2,351 in 2023 to 6,573 in 2025. Forum accounts consistently mention crowding on public access points and elk pushing onto private ground under pressure, which tracks with the sharp rise in hunter participation reflected in the harvest data.