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Colorado Elk

Unit 711 (Wolf Creek / Upper Rio Grande)

Colorado Hunting Guide — Elk

Unit 711 is a limited-quota subunit in the San Juan high country near Wolf Creek Pass, covering spruce-fir timber and alpine basins in Mineral and Archuleta counties. Rio Grande National Forest anchors the public ground. Low tag numbers make this a quality-managed elk hunt.

View Draw Odds Colorado Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 711

Unit 711 is a limited-quota subunit in the San Juan high country near Wolf Creek Pass, covering spruce-fir timber and alpine basins in Mineral and Archuleta counties. Rio Grande National Forest anchors the public ground. Low tag numbers make this a quality-managed elk hunt.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 711

Unit 711 elk stay high through most of the season thanks to low pressure.

Archery and Early Rifle

Bulls bugle in the spruce-fir above 10,000 feet near Wolf Creek Pass and along Pass Creek. Wallows on south-facing aspen benches are magnets.

Late Rifle

Elk shift to mid-elevation aspen stands near the West Fork San Juan drainage once snow builds. Mature bulls hold in thick dark timber.

Wilderness Pockets

The Weminuche Wilderness edge sees almost no pressure — basins above Elwood Pass produce trophy bulls for packed-in hunters.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 711

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle19%
Unit 711 elk success runs 22-32% rifle thanks to low tag quotas and quality bulls. Archery typically 12-18%, muzzleloader 15-22%. Trophy potential is well above Colorado average.

Elk Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— 4th Season87510.7% 6
Rifle— 2nd Season81355.9% 7
Rifle— 3rd Season81784.5% 7

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 711 is a quality-managed limited unit under CPW's preference-point system. Bull tags typically require 8-14 points for residents, 12-18 for non-residents. Cow tags clear with fewer points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points for Unit 711 elk?
Recent draws cleared at 8-14 resident points for bull rifle. Non-residents need more due to the 35% cap. Cow tags are more accessible.
Can I hunt Unit 711 from a vehicle camp?
Yes — Wolf Creek Pass gives excellent road access. But the best bulls live back in the Weminuche Wilderness, which requires foot or horse travel.

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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 711 elk harvest, Hunter success rates, Quality-limited quota history · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. Rio Grande National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Rio Grande NF boundaries in Unit 711, Weminuche Wilderness access, Trailhead list · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. CPW Big Game Draw — Colorado Parks and Wildlife · supports: Preference-point draw mechanics, Unit 711 quality tag structure, Application deadlines · accessed 2026-04-17