Unit 682

Elk in Unit 682 summer on the high alpine meadows and tundra benches above timberline, descending to the spruce-fir and mixed-conifer drainages of the Piedra watershed as fall arrives. The roadless basins in the upper Piedra hold bull groups through early September before rifle pressure pushes them deeper into the timber.

Focus on aspen parks and meadow edges in the mixed-conifer zone at elevations between 9,500 and 11,500 feet — these transition areas concentrate elk at first and last light throughout the season.

Archery hunters should focus on September rut activity in the spruce-fir basins above 10,000 feet — bulls are vocal and responsive to calls in the roadless upper Piedra country. Set up near wallows and seeps with prevailing thermals in your favor.

Rifle hunters who pack into the remote basins beyond road access find less-pressured elk in predictable timber pockets. A spike camp approach allows hunting prime habitat miles from the nearest trailhead.