FAQS - hunting area colorado gmu 53 elk and mule deer

Our hunting area is in the majestic west elk wilderness of Colorado (unit 53).  Since it is a designated wilderness area that means there is no motorized equipment allowed.  So everything we do is on horses or on foot.  Our camps sit about 9,000 ft to 9,500 ft in elevation, and you will elk hunt anywhere from 8,000 ft to 12,500 ft in elevation. 

Elk Basin Outfitters is the only legal, permitted Colorado Outfitter in this area, and because of its remoteness there is virtually no hunting pressure  

Our camps have top notch equipment and consists of 5 ft wall canvas tents with wood stoves, and cot’s w/foam for sleeping.  We have separate cook tents, guide/equipment tents, shower/toilet tents.  There truly is no other way to go on a Colorado elk or Colorado mule deer wilderness hunt! 

No matter your experience with a horse, be it none to a lot we have the right horse for you!!  Our guides all have 2 – 15+ years of experience and all are excellent Colorado elk and Colorado mule deer hunters themselves, and know the area very well. 

Guided hunts are a full 5 days of Colorado hunting with one day pack-in and one day pack-out for a total of 7-days.  Do it yourself/Drop camp hunts are a full 5 days of Colorado hunting with one day pack-in and one day pack-out for a total of 7 days. 

Elk Basin Outfitters is not responsible for weather conditions.  The weather in Colorado can have a large influence on hunting.   

 If you were born after or on January 1st, 1949 you must possess a valid hunter safety card from any state on all Colorado hunts.  

All Colorado mule deer licenses no matter the season are draw.

Muzzle loader Colorado elk either sex are draw

1st and 4th Colorado rifle seasons are draw

If you are interested in any of Colorado’s  draw hunts then please contact us so that you have the current and correct information.

The drawing deadline is April 2nd.  All applications must be submitted before this date

CENTER FIRE RIFLES

a. Must be minimum of .24 caliber (6 mm).

b. Must have a minimum 16-inch barrel and be at least 26 inches long.

c. If semiautomatic, they can hold a maximum of six rounds in the magazine and chamber combined.

d. Must use expanding bullets that weigh minimum 70 grains for deer, pronghorn and bear, 85 grains for elk and moose, and have an impact energy (at 100 yards) of 1,000-ft. pounds as rated by manufacturer.

MUZZLE LOADING RIFLES & SMOOTHBORE MUSKETS

a. Only legal muzzle loaders allowed in muzzle loading seasons.

b. In-line muzzle loaders are legal.

c. Must be single-barrel that fires a single round-ball or conical projectile.

d. To hunt deer, pronghorn or bear, they must be minimum of .40 caliber.

e. To hunt elk or moose, they must be minimum of .50 caliber.

f. From .40 caliber to .50 caliber, bullets must weigh minimum 170 grains.

g. If greater than .50 caliber, bullets must weigh minimum 210 grains.

h. Shotshell primers are legal.

i. Pelletized powder systems prohibited in muzzle loading seasons.

j. Cannot be loaded from the breech in muzzle loading seasons.

k. Only open or iron sights allowed in muzzle loading seasons. Fiber optics and fluorescent paint incorporated into or on open or iron sights are legal. Scopes or any sighting device using artificial light, batteries and electronic gear are prohibited during muzzle loading seasons.

l. Sabots are prohibited in muzzle loading seasons. Cloth patches are not sabots.

m. Smokeless powder prohibited in muzzle loading seasons. Black powder and black-powder substitutes are legal.

n. Electronic or battery-powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to muzzle loader during muzzle loading seasons.

HAND HELD BOWS

A long bow, recurve bow or compound bow on which the string is not drawn mechanically or held mechanically under tension. String or mechanical releases are legal if they are hand-drawn or hand-held with no other attachments or connections to bow (except bowstring).

a. Hand-held bows, including compound bows, must use arrows with a broadhead having a minimum 7/8-inch outside diameter or width and minimum two steel cutting edges. Each cutting edge must be in same plane for entire length of cutting surface.

b. Only legal, hand-held bows allowed during archery seasons.

c. Minimum draw weight of 35 pounds required. Let-off maximum of 80 percent.

d. No part of bow’s riser (handle) or track, trough, channel, arrow rest or other device (excluding cables and bowstring) that attaches to riser can contact, support and/or guide the arrow from a point rearward of the bow’s brace height behind the undrawn string.

e. Bows can propel only a single arrow at a time. No mechanisms for automatically loading arrows allowed.

f. Scopes, electronic or battery-powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to bow or arrow.

g. Hydraulic or pneumatic technology cannot be used to derive or store energy to propel arrows. Explosive arrows prohibited.

Click below to ensure you have everything you need for your successful archery hunt!