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Colorado Elk

Unit 561 (Arkansas Headwaters / Collegiates South)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Elk

Unit 561 sits in the heart of the Collegiate Peaks range in Chaffee County, straddling the San Isabel and Gunnison national forests between Buena Vista and Salida. Steep alpine basins, dense spruce-fir, and aspen benches feed one of central Colorado's steadier elk herds.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 561

Unit 561 sits in the heart of the Collegiate Peaks range in Chaffee County, straddling the San Isabel and Gunnison national forests between Buena Vista and Salida. Steep alpine basins, dense spruce-fir, and aspen benches feed one of central Colorado's steadier elk herds.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 561

Elk in Unit 561 hold high in the Collegiate Peaks early and slide toward the Arkansas valley late.

Archery

Bulls bugle in the spruce-fir above 10,500 feet near Mount Princeton and Chalk Creek. Wallows along FSR 212 see annual use.

First and Second Rifle

Elk move into the aspen mid-elevations around Agnes Vaille Falls and North Cottonwood Creek. Benches at 9,500 feet between timber and parks produce.

Late Rifle

By third and fourth season, elk are in oakbrush and pinyon on the east face of the Collegiates, often pushed onto the Browns Creek State Wildlife Area.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 561

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Elk Success Rates

Archery12%
Muzzleloader15%
Rifle19%
Unit 561 elk success runs 14-19% rifle, 7-10% archery, 10-13% muzzleloader. Late seasons with snow kick numbers higher as elk concentrate near the valley edge.

Elk Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Archery— 1st Season545794.7% 0
Muzzleloader— 1st Season1810100.0% 0
Muzzleloader— 1st Season263281.3% 0
Rifle— 2nd Season264065.0% 0
Rifle— 3rd Season222588.0% 0
Rifle— 4th Season165100.0% 0
Rifle— 1st Season214843.8% 1
Rifle— 2nd Season213658.3% 0
Rifle— 3rd Season1811100.0% 0
Rifle— 4th Season111100.0% 0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Colorado's preference-point draw applies. Unit 561 bull rifle tags typically draw at 1-4 points for residents. Cow tags generally at 0-1 point.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 561 good for a first high-altitude elk hunt?
Only with prep. The Collegiate Peaks top 14,000 feet, and most hunts happen above 10,000 feet. Fit, acclimated hunters score consistently; flatlanders who skip training struggle.
How much Unit 561 is public?
Roughly 70-80% public, dominated by San Isabel and Gunnison national forests with Collegiate Peaks Wilderness as the centerpiece.

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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. CPW Big Game Statistics — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Unit 561 elk harvest, Weapon-type success rates, Multi-year trend · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. Pike and San Isabel National Forests — USDA Forest Service · supports: San Isabel NF in Unit 561, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness access, Trailhead list · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. Gunnison National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Gunnison NF on the west side of Unit 561, Cottonwood Pass access, Dispersed camping rules · accessed 2026-04-17