Colorado Unit 70 Elk Hunting Guide
Colorado Unit 70 sits in the southwestern part of the state and covers nearly 966,000 acres of elevation-diverse terrain, ranging from 4,838 feet up to 13,986 feet at its highest points. For elk hunters researching this unit, the combination of large acreage, 74% public land, and consistent harvest numbers makes it worth a close look — but the data also tells a nuanced story about what kind of hunt to expect. This article breaks down what HuntPilot's data shows for Unit 70 elk hunting, from recent harvest performance to herd composition and how to get an application in for future seasons.
Unit 70 is not a boutique, low-tag trophy unit. It's a working elk unit with meaningful hunter pressure and solid opportunity, which shows clearly in the harvest figures below. Hunters who understand what this unit is — and isn't — will get the most out of applying here.
Harvest Success Rates
Recent harvest data for Unit 70 shows a unit that consistently produces results for hunters who draw a tag. In 2025, 2,017 hunters harvested 742 elk for a 37% success rate. That mirrors the previous year almost exactly — in 2024, 6,802 hunters harvested 2,521 elk, also landing at a 37% success rate.
The most notable shift between the two years is hunter volume. The 2024 season saw well over three times the number of hunters afield compared to 2025 (6,802 versus 2,017), yet the success rate held steady at 37% in both years. That consistency is a meaningful signal — it suggests Unit 70's elk herd and harvest dynamics are stable rather than being propped up by a single strong year or an unusually low hunter count. A 37% success rate is a solid number for an elk unit of this size and public land composition, and it should give applicants confidence that opportunity here is real, not just theoretical.
Herd Health & Population Trends
The wildlife survey data available for Unit 70 covers six survey years between 2018 and 2024, and the average bull:cow ratio across that span comes in at 16:100. This is a low ratio relative to many Colorado elk units, and it's an important data point for hunters to weigh honestly rather than gloss over.
A bull:cow ratio in this range typically points to a unit where bull elk face significant hunting pressure relative to the cow population, which tracks with the harvest numbers above — thousands of hunters pursuing elk in a single season will naturally keep bull ratios compressed. This doesn't mean the unit lacks elk; the 2024 harvest of over 2,500 animals confirms there's a substantial elk population using this ground. But hunters should calibrate their expectations: this is a unit with a healthy overall elk population and dependable opportunity, not one built around abundant mature bulls per cow.
Trophy Quality
Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 70 shows a limited history of trophy-class entries. This aligns with what the bull:cow ratio and forum chatter both suggest — Unit 70 is not regarded as one of Colorado's premier trophy elk units. Hunters should treat this as a unit with limited trophy potential rather than a destination for chasing record-book bulls.
That said, "limited trophy potential" doesn't mean bulls aren't available — it means hunters pursuing this unit should set realistic goals around a mature, respectable bull rather than banking on a record-book animal. Given the low bull:cow ratio and hunter volume in recent years, patient hunters willing to work away from pressure and access points have the best chance at finding an older bull that's avoided harvest in previous seasons.
Access & Terrain
Unit 70 offers 74% public land, which is a strong number and puts the majority of the unit's nearly 966,000 acres in play for DIY hunters without needing to negotiate private land access. Only 3% of the unit is designated wilderness, meaning the vast majority of public ground is accessible without wilderness-specific travel restrictions, and nonresident hunters won't run into Wyoming-style outfitter requirements here — Colorado carries no such mandate regardless of wilderness percentage.
The elevation range is dramatic, spanning from 4,838 feet at the low end to 13,986 feet at the highest points in the unit. That nearly 9,150-foot spread means Unit 70 holds everything from lower-elevation sagebrush and foothill terrain to high alpine basins near timberline. Elk will use this elevation gradient seasonally, and hunters should expect to adjust their strategy based on when they're in the field — early-season hunters may find elk holding higher, while animals typically work toward lower elevations as weather pushes them down later in the year. With that much vertical relief across the unit, physical conditioning and a willingness to hunt away from easy access points will pay dividends, since pressure tends to concentrate near roads and trailheads on a unit this heavily used.
HuntPilot Analysis
Is Unit 70 worth applying for? Based on the data, the honest answer is: it depends on what a hunter wants out of the experience.
For hunters prioritizing opportunity — meaning a real, data-backed chance at harvesting an elk — Unit 70 checks the box. A 37% success rate held consistent across two very different hunter-volume years (2,017 hunters in 2025 versus 6,802 in 2024) is a dependable number, and with 74% public land access across nearly a million acres, there's plenty of ground to hunt without needing private land connections.
For hunters chasing a trophy-class bull, Unit 70 is not the unit to prioritize. The limited trophy record history in the surrounding counties, combined with a bull:cow ratio averaging 16:100 across six years of survey data, points to a unit shaped more by volume hunting than mature bull management. Hunters should walk in expecting a solid, huntable elk population rather than a trophy hunt.
The high hunter numbers referenced in 2024 (6,802 hunters) also mean this is a unit where crowding is a realistic factor, particularly near easier access points. Hunters serious about maximizing their odds should use HuntPilot's mapping tools to identify public land pockets farther from roads and concentrate scouting efforts on the elevation bands elk are likely using during their specific season window.
How to Apply
Colorado's elk application system requires hunters to plan ahead, and the fee structure differs meaningfully between residents and nonresidents.
Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website or HuntPilot's Colorado state page (/states/co) before applying.
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 70? Unit 70 spans an enormous elevation range, from 4,838 feet to 13,986 feet, meaning the unit includes everything from lower-elevation foothill terrain to high alpine country near timberline. With 965,795 total acres and 74% public land, there's substantial variety in terrain type across the unit, though only 3% is designated wilderness, so most of the public ground is accessible without wilderness travel restrictions.
What is harvest success like in Unit 70 for elk? Recent data shows a consistent 37% success rate in both 2024 (6,802 hunters, 2,521 harvested) and 2025 (2,017 hunters, 742 harvested). That consistency across very different hunter volumes suggests dependable opportunity for hunters who draw a tag here.
How big are the elk in Unit 70? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 70 shows a limited history of trophy-class entries, and the average bull:cow ratio across six survey years (2018-2024) sits at 16:100 — a low ratio that points to a unit shaped by hunting pressure rather than a haven for mature bulls. Hunters should expect a solid, huntable population rather than trophy-caliber bulls as the norm.
Is Unit 70 worth applying for as an elk hunter? For hunters prioritizing tag opportunity and a fair shot at harvesting an elk, yes — the 37% success rate held steady across both high and low hunter-volume years, and 74% public land gives DIY hunters plenty of room to work. For hunters specifically chasing a trophy-class bull, the limited trophy record history and low bull:cow ratio suggest looking elsewhere.
Is Unit 70 crowded during elk hunts? Hunter volume varies significantly by year — 2024 saw 6,802 hunters afield, while 2025 saw far fewer at 2,017. Given that 74% of the unit is public land, pressure can concentrate near access points, so hunters willing to push into less-traveled public ground are likely to find better hunting conditions than those who stay close to roads.