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Colorado Elk Mule Deer Pronghorn

Unit 301 (North Park)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn

Unit 301 is part of the Jackson County North Park complex, covering rolling sage parks surrounded by Medicine Bow and Routt National Forest timber. The unit carries a strong elk population that shifts between summer timber and fall sage parks, producing good rifle opportunity and occasional trophy bulls.

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Elk Hunting in Unit 301

Unit 301 is part of the Jackson County North Park complex, covering rolling sage parks surrounded by Medicine Bow and Routt National Forest timber. The unit carries a strong elk population that shifts between summer timber and fall sage parks, producing good rifle opportunity and occasional trophy bulls.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 301

Unit 301 elk migrate between high timber and North Park sage country.

Timber Edges

Early archery bulls hold in lodgepole and spruce between 8,500 and 10,500 feet along the Medicine Bow range.

Sage Parks

As snow arrives, elk pour down into North Park sage at 7,500-8,500 feet. Focus on morning and evening feeding edges.

Creek Bottoms

Willow-choked bottoms along the North Platte, Michigan River, and Illinois River hold elk through the day.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 301

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle19%
Unit 301 rifle elk success typically runs 20-35%, climbing to 40%+ in years with early snow that triggers migration. Archery hunters average 10-14%.

Elk Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— 1st Season95416.7% 3
Rifle— 1st Season112937.9% 0
Rifle— 3rd Season122254.5% 0
Rifle— 5th Season182281.8% 0
Rifle— General262892.9% 0
Rifle— 2nd Season31225.0% 2
Rifle— 2nd Season96100.0% 0
Rifle— 4th Season71070.0% 0
Rifle— 6th Season61100.0% 0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 301 elk uses Colorado's pure preference-point draw. Resident limited bull tags typically require 2-5 points depending on season. Late-season cow tags often draw with 0-1 points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points for Unit 301 elk?
Unit 301 rifle bull elk typically requires 2-5 preference points for residents through Colorado's pure preference-point draw, depending on season choice. Late-season cow tags often require 0-1 points.
Does Unit 301 hold a late-migration hunt?
Yes. North Park is prime migration country, and third/fourth rifle seasons can intercept elk moving to wintering grounds if snow cooperates.
How do I apply for Unit 301 mule deer?
Unit 301 mule deer tags are issued through CPW's limited-draw using the state preference-point system. We apply through the CPW online licensing portal before the April deadline.
Is Unit 301 mostly public land?
Unit 301 has significant USFS public land. We use the CPW Hunting Atlas to confirm exact parcel boundaries before scouting or applying.
How tough are Unit 301 pronghorn tags to draw?
Difficulty depends on the hunt code and residency. Buck tags typically need more points than doe tags. We check the CPW draw recap and the chart on this page for current-cycle data.
Can I hunt Unit 301 pronghorn without building points?
Sometimes — leftover and doe tags occasionally come through with zero or one point depending on demand. We watch the CPW leftover list after the primary draw every summer.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

  1. Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure (Current Cycle) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Elk season dates, Unit 301 boundary, Late-season structure · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. CPW Elk Hunt Statistics — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Unit 301 harvest totals, North Park DAU population · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU 301 — Colorado Parks and Wildlife / CSU NREL · supports: Unit 301 boundary, Medicine Bow / Routt NF layers, Arapaho NWR parcels · accessed 2026-04-17
  4. CPW Big Game Hunting — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Season dates, License types · accessed 2026-04-17
  5. CPW Big Game Statistics — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Per-GMU harvest totals, Hunter success rates · accessed 2026-04-17
  6. CPW Big Game Draw — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Preference-point draw, Tag allocation · accessed 2026-04-17