Colorado Unit 68 Elk Hunting Guide
Unit Overview: High Country Elk in Western Colorado
Colorado Unit 68 sits in the western Colorado high country, spanning a dramatic elevation range from approximately 7,583 feet at its lower margins to 13,822 feet at its alpine peaks. At nearly 386,000 total acres with 90% public land, this is one of the more accessible elk units in the state for DIY hunters who want to cover ground on foot without constantly running into private land barriers. The unit's combination of vast public acreage, rugged terrain, and a full spectrum of elk habitat — from sagebrush-rimmed foothills to timberline basins — makes it a legitimate destination for hunters willing to put in the legwork.
Unit 68 is not a trophy factory, and the harvest data and herd survey numbers confirm that. But for hunters seeking a genuine high-country elk experience on accessible public land, with realistic opportunities to fill a tag, the unit deserves a closer look. What follows is a data-driven breakdown of everything hunters need to understand before applying.
Harvest Success Rates
The harvest record in Unit 68 tells a story of meaningful year-to-year variability — and some encouraging movement in recent seasons.
In 2022, 4,628 hunters pursued elk in the unit, with 490 harvested for an 11% success rate. The following year, 2023 saw a modest dip: 4,616 hunters afield, 386 harvested, and an 8% success rate — the lowest of the four years in the dataset. Then came 2024, when success jumped back to 14% with 646 animals harvested from 4,566 hunters, representing the best absolute harvest count in the recent record.
The 2025 data introduces an important wrinkle. The hunter count dropped sharply to 1,209 — likely reflecting a significant change in draw structure, quota reduction, or a partial-year reporting window — while 187 elk were harvested at a 15% success rate. If 2025 represents a reduced-pressure scenario, that 15% success rate is the best in the dataset and may signal that lower competition improves individual hunter outcomes considerably.
Averaged across the four most recent complete seasons (2022–2025), hunters in Unit 68 have been harvesting elk at roughly an 8–15% rate, with the midpoint around 12%. That range puts the unit solidly in the middle tier for Colorado elk — not the 30%+ success rates of the state's premium limited-entry units, but competitive for a unit accessible to hunters across multiple point levels. Hunters should enter this draw with realistic expectations: statistically, more than eight out of ten applicants who draw a tag will not harvest an elk. Success here requires preparation, physical fitness, and a willingness to hunt hard in demanding terrain.
Trophy Quality
The counties overlapping Unit 68 have a limited history of trophy records. Hunters prioritizing record-book-class bulls should approach this unit with measured expectations — trophy-class animals have been taken from this area, but they are not common, and the unit's record history does not place it among Colorado's elite trophy producers. The herd survey data (discussed below) reinforces this assessment.
Unit 68 is best framed as an opportunity hunt rather than a trophy destination. Bulls exist across a range of ages and antler development, but the conditions that produce exceptional, mature bulls — low hunting pressure, favorable bull-to-cow ratios, refugia — are not strongly indicated by the available data.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Wildlife survey data spanning six survey years between 2018 and 2024 shows an average bull-to-cow ratio of 20:100 across the unit. That number deserves honest interpretation.
A 20:100 bull-to-cow ratio is below the benchmark that wildlife managers typically target for a healthy, well-structured elk herd. Many Colorado units with strong trophy potential and good age-class distribution carry ratios in the 25–35 bulls per 100 cows range. At 20:100, Unit 68's herd appears to be running a relatively low proportion of bulls, which is consistent with the unit's limited trophy history and moderate harvest success rates.
Low bull-to-cow ratios don't necessarily mean the unit lacks elk — it means the bull component is suppressed relative to cows. This can result from sustained hunting pressure, habitat factors, or management philosophy. For hunters seeking mature, hard-antlered bulls, this ratio signals that competition for encounters with quality bulls will be real. Cow and calf numbers may be solid, but the upper age classes of bulls appear limited based on the survey trend.
The consistent data across six survey years lends credibility to the 20:100 figure — this isn't a one-year anomaly from a small survey sample. It represents a sustained pattern.
Access & Terrain
With 90% public land across 385,966 acres and an elevation band stretching from roughly 7,500 feet to nearly 14,000 feet, Unit 68 offers genuine DIY access throughout nearly the entire unit. Hunters won't spend significant time negotiating private land boundaries or seeking access permission — the overwhelming majority of the unit is open public ground.
The terrain is legitimately demanding. The full 6,239-foot elevation differential means hunters moving from lower valleys to high basins are dealing with real physiological stress, especially early in the season when temperatures can still be warm at lower elevations. The alpine and subalpine zones above treeline offer exceptional glassing opportunities and can hold elk that have escaped lower-elevation pressure, but reaching them requires fitness and proper preparation.
Approximately 6% of the unit falls within designated wilderness. This is a modest wilderness footprint by Colorado standards, meaning the majority of the unit is accessible without the logistics and restrictions that come with deep wilderness travel. Nonresident hunters should be aware that Colorado does not impose a guide requirement for wilderness areas — this is a Wyoming-specific law — so DIY nonresidents can hunt the wilderness portions of Unit 68 without hiring an outfitter.
The unit's mix of timbered north-facing slopes, open sagebrush parks, and high alpine basins creates diverse elk habitat. Elk tend to utilize different elevation bands depending on season, pressure, and weather. Hunters who can cover ground effectively and adjust to changing conditions — moving higher or lower as pressure dictates — will maximize their opportunities.
HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 68 Worth Applying For?
Unit 68 occupies a specific niche in Colorado's elk draw ecosystem: a large, primarily public-land unit with moderate success rates, a suppressed bull-to-cow ratio, limited trophy history, and broad physical access. Here's an honest read on who should and shouldn't prioritize this unit.
Apply if: Hunters want a genuine DIY high-country experience on public land with real elk numbers and don't need a record-book outcome to feel successful. The 90% public land composition is genuinely rare and valuable — many Colorado units require careful navigation of private inholdings. The 2024 and 2025 harvest data suggests the unit can produce respectable success rates when hunters are prepared. Hunters who are physically fit, comfortable with alpine terrain, and willing to work multiple elk-holding zones have a legitimate shot at filling a tag.
Apply with caution if: Hunters are trophy-focused and expecting encounters with large-racked, mature bulls. The 20:100 bull-to-cow ratio and limited trophy record history both suggest the unit's bull age structure is not exceptional. This is not the unit for a once-in-a-lifetime trophy investment.
Skip if: Hunters have accumulated significant preference points and want to spend them on a premium draw. Those points are better deployed in Colorado's top limited-entry units where bull-to-cow ratios are healthier, trophy history is stronger, and the draw investment pays higher dividends.
For hunters at lower point levels, or residents looking for a reasonable draw opportunity, Unit 68 represents solid value. For high-point holders with a trophy agenda, the unit's data profile suggests looking elsewhere.
For current draw odds and point requirements specific to this unit, visit the HuntPilot Unit 68 page.
How to Apply
Colorado elk applications for Unit 68 follow the state's standard preference point draw system. Here is the current application information hunters need.
For 2028 applications:
- Application opens: March 1, 2028
- Application deadline: April 1, 2028
For 2026 applications (resident):
- Application opens: March 1, 2026
- Application deadline: April 7, 2026
- Application fee: $9.00
- Tag fee: $70.00
- License fee: $53.19 (required to hold before applying)
- Preference point fee: $50.00 (if applying for points only)
For 2026 applications (nonresident):
- Application opens: March 1, 2026
- Application deadline: April 7, 2026
- Application fee: $11.00
- Tag fee: $845.00
- License fee: $117.62 (required to hold before applying)
- Preference point fee: $100.00 (if applying for points only)
A critical note for both residents and nonresidents: Colorado requires hunters to purchase a valid Colorado hunting license before submitting their draw application. The license fees listed above ($53.19 resident / $117.62 nonresident) are separate from the application and tag fees and must be paid regardless of whether a tag is ultimately drawn.
In Colorado's preference point system, a successful draw consumes accumulated points — hunters who draw a tag restart their point accumulation from zero. Plan accordingly when deciding whether to apply for a tag or burn a point-building year.
Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Colorado Unit 68?
Unit 68 covers nearly 386,000 acres of western Colorado high country ranging from approximately 7,583 feet to 13,822 feet in elevation. The unit includes sagebrush and aspen foothills at lower elevations, transitioning through dense timber to open subalpine meadows and rocky alpine basins near the peaks. The terrain is physically demanding — hunters targeting upper-elevation elk should be prepared for significant elevation gain and variable weather conditions. With 90% public land, access is excellent relative to most Colorado units.
What is the harvest success rate in Colorado Unit 68 elk hunting?
Recent harvest data shows meaningful year-to-year variation. Success rates have ranged from 8% (2023) to 15% (2025), with 2024 recording 14% success on 646 harvested elk from 4,566 hunters. The multi-year average across 2022–2025 falls roughly in the 8–15% range. These figures reflect the full unit and encompass all draw types — individual results depend heavily on effort, fitness, and familiarity with elk behavior and habitat in the unit.
How big are the elk in Colorado Unit 68?
The counties overlapping Unit 68 have a limited trophy record history, suggesting that exceptional, record-book-class bulls are not common here. The unit's average bull-to-cow ratio of 20:100 across six survey years (2018–2024) indicates a suppressed bull component, which typically corresponds to fewer mature, heavily-antlered animals. Hunters should plan for a quality elk hunting experience rather than targeting a specific trophy outcome in this unit.
Is Colorado Unit 68 worth applying for?
It depends on what hunters are looking for. The unit's strengths are clear: 90% public land, genuine high-country terrain, and recent harvest success rates in the 12–15% range when hunter pressure is moderate. For DIY hunters seeking a legitimate public-land elk experience at a reasonable point investment, Unit 68 is a credible option. For trophy-focused hunters with significant preference points, the limited trophy history and below-average bull-to-cow ratio suggest those points are better spent on premium limited-entry units. For current draw odds and point requirements, visit the HuntPilot Colorado page.
What is the bull-to-cow ratio in Unit 68?
Wildlife surveys conducted across six years between 2018 and 2024 show an average bull-to-cow ratio of 20 bulls per 100 cows. This figure is consistently below the ratios typically associated with well-structured herds and reflects a pattern rather than a single-year data anomaly. Hunters targeting mature bulls should factor this into their expectations — the unit carries elk, but the bull age structure appears limited based on the available survey data.