Colorado Mule Deer Elk

Unit 511 (Sangre de Cristo South)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Elk

Unit 511 sits on the east flank of the Sangre de Cristo range in Custer and Huerfano counties, running from Music Pass south to the Spanish Peaks. Steep timber, oakbrush benches, and hay-meadow transitions create consistent mule deer country managed for mature bucks.

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Logistics & Planning Guide →

Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 511.

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 511

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 511

Unit 511 bucks use the oakbrush-aspen transition on the east face of the Sangres.

Early Seasons

Bucks hold in dark timber above 9,000 feet near Music Pass and Hayden Pass. Glass sidehill openings at first light.

Rut Seasons

Late rifle catches bucks chasing does into oakbrush benches at 7,500-9,000 feet. Focus on transitions between hay meadows and timber.

Access Points

Trailheads off CO-96 and CR-634 give consistent access. WIA parcels south of Westcliffe open additional opportunity.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 511

Unit 511 is a glassing hunt with steep timber sidehill country.

Sidehill Glassing

Set up across drainages on north-facing ridges at dawn and dusk. Mature bucks rarely move in the open midday.

Rut Still-Hunts

November hunts focus on doe-heavy oakbrush pockets. Bucks cruise fence lines and timber edges.

Vehicle Staging

FSR 337 and FSR 301 give fast access to drainages. Stage at 9,000 feet and hunt on foot from there.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle28%

Unit 511 mule deer success runs 30-42% rifle depending on season. Late rifle during the rut leads. Trophy potential is above average with bucks regularly pushing 170 inches.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— 2nd Season	14	139	10.1%	2
Rifle— 3rd Season	15	63	23.8%	1
Rifle— 2nd Season	33	17	100.0%	0
Rifle— 3rd Season	32	6	100.0%	0
Rifle— 4th Season	18	128	14.1%	4
Rifle— 4th Season	67	42	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Colorado preference-point draw. Unit 511 buck tags typically draw at 2-6 points for residents. Non-residents face tighter odds with the 35% cap.

Elk Hunting in Unit 511

Unit 511 sits on the east flank of the Sangre de Cristo range in Custer and Huerfano counties, running from Music Pass south toward the Spanish Peaks. Steep spruce-fir timber, oakbrush benches, and hay-meadow transitions create consistent elk country with a long legacy of rifle and archery opportunity.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 511

Elk in Unit 511 work vertical habitat bands across the Sangre de Cristo east slope.

High Timber (Archery)

September bulls hold in dark spruce-fir above 10,000 feet on the east side of Music Pass and in the high timber above Huerfano County hay meadows.

Mid-Elevation Oakbrush (Rifle)

Rifle pressure pushes elk downslope into Gambel oak benches and aspen stringers between 8,500 and 9,500 feet.

Late-Season Hay Meadows

By 4th rifle, elk work the hay-meadow fringe at the base of the range, especially after snow stacks on the high country.

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How to Hunt Elk in Unit 511

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle19%

Unit 511 elk success tracks Colorado's east-slope average — rifle runs in the high teens to low 20s, with archery in single digits. Weather-driven migration during 3rd and 4th rifle drives the best seasons.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— 1st Season	25	52	48.1%
Rifle— 5th Season	93	61	100.0%
Rifle— 1st Season	55	65	84.6%
Rifle— 4th Season	26	11	100.0%
Rifle— 2nd Season	50	96	52.1%
Rifle— 3rd Season	28	30	93.3%
Rifle— 4th Season	9	3	100.0%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 511 elk licenses are allocated through Colorado's preference-point draw. Some hunt codes historically clear with low points; bull-specific limited codes consume more.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Trailer Access

Yes — CO-69 and CO-96 paved. Trailers handle FSR 337 dry; tight switchbacks on higher spurs.

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Water

Good. Grape Creek, Hardscrabble Creek, Middle Creek drainages all flow most seasons.

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Road Conditions

Paved main routes; FSRs well-maintained gravel. 4WD needed on two-tracks after rain/snow.

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Terrain Difficulty

Difficult. Steep east face of Sangre de Cristo, 7,500-14,000 foot range.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Local hunters dominate early; non-residents in rut seasons.

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Weather

Snow possible by late October. Daytime temps 20-65F rifle season.

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Cell Service

Decent along CO-69. Drops quickly up drainages.

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Nearest Town

Westcliffe (population ~400) for basics; Canon City (~16,500) 45 miles east.

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Permit Notes

Unit 511 buck tags are limited draw. Most seasons require 3+ resident points.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is Unit 511 physically?

Steep. The Sangres climb fast from valley floor to 13,000+ feet. Plan for vertical miles. Most bucks are below 10,000 feet but getting above them means climbing.

Is Unit 511 a rut unit?

Late rifle catches the pre-rut and rut, and buck movement dramatically increases. Early seasons rely on glassing patterns in stable habitat.

Is Unit 511 a DIY elk unit?

Yes. Pike-San Isabel NF dominates the east slope, and DIY hunters have strong public-land access from trailheads above Westcliffe and Gardner.

Which rifle season is best?

3rd and 4th rifle typically produce the best weather-driven elk movement, but 2nd rifle can be excellent in cold years.

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Sources & Verification

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

CPW Big Game Statistics — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Unit 511 mule deer harvest, Buck age-class distribution, Multi-year trend · accessed 2026-04-17
Pike and San Isabel National Forests — USDA Forest Service · supports: San Isabel NF in Unit 511, Sangre de Cristo Wilderness access, Trailhead list · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Walk-In Access Program — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: WIA parcels in Unit 511, Habitat stamp requirement, Seasonal windows · accessed 2026-04-17
CPW Hunting — Big Game Unit Information — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: GMU 511 boundary, Elk license structure · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Colorado Big Game Brochure — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: 2025 elk season dates (archery, muzzleloader, four rifle seasons), Hunt codes for GMU 511 · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 511 (Sangre de Cristo South)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 511

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 511

Early Seasons

Rut Seasons

Access Points

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 511

Sidehill Glassing

Rut Still-Hunts

Vehicle Staging

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 511

Where to Find Elk in Unit 511

High Timber (Archery)

Mid-Elevation Oakbrush (Rifle)

Late-Season Hay Meadows

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 511

Follow Pressure Downslope

Archery in the High Basins

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Trailer Access

Water

Road Conditions

Terrain Difficulty

Hunting Pressure

Weather

Cell Service

Nearest Town

Permit Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification