Last verified Oct. 2026

Elk in GMU 181

Q: Is there over-the-counter elk in GMU 181?

Yes: E-F-000-U1-A , E-E-000-U1-A , E-M-000-U2-R , E-M-000-U3-R are valid in GMU 181 for 2026.

GMU 181 has 18 2026 elk hunt codes (4 over the counter, 14 drawn), and the highest resident adult cutoff is E-F-181-L1-R at 2 preference points. CPW 2026 Big Game Brochure

Everything below is 2026: the 2026 hunt codes, the 2026 draw and the 2025 harvest. 2027 hunt codes and quotas are not on this site yet (CPW had not published them as of October 17, 2026, when this site last checked). Codes do change between years, so confirm yours in the 2027 brochure before you apply.

Where GMU 181 is

GMU 181 lies in Grand County. CPW's boundary description: bounded on N by Continental Divide; on E by Poison Creek and Main Fork of Troublesome Creek; on S by Colorado River; on W by Colo. 9 and U.S. 40. 2026 brochure, unit descriptions p. 69–72 Check the line on the ground and on private land in CPW's own Colorado Hunting Atlas; boundary roads and ridgelines are the legal edge, not a map shading. How GMUs work.

What is different about GMU 181

2026 brochure, OTC maps pp. 38–40 The unlimited 2nd and 3rd season bull licenses (E-M-000-U2-R and E-M-000-U3-R) are valid in GMU 181 in 2026, as they were on the 2025 maps. 2025 brochure, OTC maps pp. 38–41 Residents can also buy over-the-counter archery here (E-F-000-U1-A, E-E-000-U1-A); nonresidents cannot buy OTC archery elk west of I-25 and apply for a limited code.

GMU 181 has 14 limited elk codes for 2026 (2 archery, 2 muzzleloader and 10 rifle), 5 of them valid in this GMU alone. Resident adult cutoffs, highest first: E-F-181-L1-R at 2 preference points, E-E-018-O1-R at 0 preference points, E-E-018-O1-M at 0 preference points, E-F-181-P5-R at 0 preference points and E-E-018-V1-A at leftover. The code with the most licenses is E-E-018-O1-R (shared across 2 GMUs, so its numbers are for the whole code): 405 licenses and 319 resident adult first-choice applicants. CPW 2026 Elk Draw Recap

Largest codes valid in GMU 181 alone: E-F-181-O3-R (105 licenses, drew out at leftover), E-F-181-O4-R (100 licenses, drew out at leftover) and E-F-181-O2-R (95 licenses, drew out at leftover).

The 2025 harvest row with the most hunters among codes that include GMU 181 is EM000U2R (over the counter): 19.3% success among 23,668 hunters, for the whole code across 93 GMUs, not GMU 181 alone. CPW 2025 Elk Harvest Estimates

2026 elk hunt codes

Over-the-counter elk is available here through E-F-000-U1-A, E-E-000-U1-A, E-M-000-U2-R, E-M-000-U3-R; how OTC units work. "Statewide framework" dates are the general season windows on the elk seasons page.

2026 elk hunt codes valid in GMU 181 (CPW 2026 Big Game Brochure)
Hunt code	Method / season	2026 dates	Sex	License	Valid in
E-E-000-U1-A	Archery	Sept. 2–30	Either-sex	Over the counter Resident only	115 GMUs (full list below)
E-E-018-V1-A	Archery	Sept. 2–30	Either-sex	Limited (draw) Nonresident only	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-F-000-U1-A	Archery	Sept. 2–30	Cow	Over the counter Resident only	33 GMUs (full list below)
E-F-018-V1-A	Archery	Sept. 2–30	Cow	Limited (draw) Nonresident only	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-E-018-O1-M	Muzzleloader	Sept. 12–20	Either-sex	Limited (draw)	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-F-018-O1-M	Muzzleloader	Sept. 12–20	Cow	Limited (draw)	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-E-018-O1-R	Rifle, 1st season	Oct. 14–18	Either-sex	Limited (draw)	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-E-018-O4-R	Rifle, 4th season	Nov. 18–22	Either-sex	Limited (draw)	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-E-018-P1-R	Rifle	Oct. 14–18	Either-sex	Limited (draw), private land only	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-E-018-P4-R	Rifle	Nov. 18–22	Either-sex	Limited (draw), private land only	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-F-018-O1-R	Rifle, 1st season	Oct. 14–18	Cow	Limited (draw)	2 GMUs: 18, 181
E-F-181-L1-R	Rifle, Late	Nov. 28–Dec. 6	Cow	Limited (draw)	GMU 181 only
E-F-181-O2-R	Rifle, 2nd season	Oct. 24–Nov. 1	Cow	Limited (draw)	GMU 181 only
E-F-181-O3-R	Rifle, 3rd season	Nov. 7–15	Cow	Limited (draw)	GMU 181 only
E-F-181-O4-R	Rifle, 4th season	Nov. 18–22	Cow	Limited (draw)	GMU 181 only
E-F-181-P5-R	Rifle	Sept. 1–Jan. 31	Cow	Limited (draw), private land only	GMU 181 only
E-M-000-U2-R	Rifle, 2nd season	Oct. 24–Nov. 1	Bull	Over the counter	90 GMUs (full list below)
E-M-000-U3-R	Rifle, 3rd season	Nov. 7–15	Bull	Over the counter	90 GMUs (full list below)

E-F-000-U1-A is valid in 33 GMUs in 2026

6, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 30, 31, 32, 38, 43, 59, 82, 85, 86, 133, 134, 140, 141, 142, 161, 171, 181, 431, 471, 511, 581, 591, 682, 691, 791, 851, 861

E-E-000-U1-A is valid in 115 GMUs in 2026

3, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 53, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 79, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 161, 171, 181, 211, 214, 231, 301, 361, 371, 431, 471, 511, 581, 591, 681, 691, 851, 861, 951

E-M-000-U2-R is valid in 90 GMUs in 2026

3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 52, 53, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 131, 133, 134, 140, 141, 142, 161, 171, 181, 211, 214, 231, 301, 361, 371, 411, 421, 431, 441, 444, 471, 511, 521, 581, 591, 681, 691, 711, 741, 751, 771, 851, 861

E-M-000-U3-R is valid in 90 GMUs in 2026

2026 draw results

These codes are valid in GMU 181 and nowhere else, so their draw numbers describe this unit. "Drawn out at" is the preference-point level of the last applicant drawn in that group, from CPW's Drawn Out At report; how to read it.

E-F-181-L1-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 181 only, 10 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	39	7	2 preference points; 5 of 16 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	5	2	2 preference points; 2 of 4 drawn at that level
Resident youth	1	1	0 preference points; 1 of 1 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	1	0	None drawn

E-F-181-O2-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 181 only, 95 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	24	61	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	2	4	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	3	4	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-181-O3-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 181 only, 105 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	45	78	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	2	2	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	2	5	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident youth	1	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-181-O4-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 181 only, 100 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	4	18	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	1	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-181-P5-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 181 only, 10 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	8	7	0 preference points; 7 of 8 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	1	1	2 preference points; 1 of 1 drawn at that level
Resident youth	1	2	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 5 drawn at that level

The codes below also include GMU 181, but they cover other units too. Their numbers are for the whole code.

E-E-018-O1-M: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 250 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	147	143	0 preference points; 120 of 124 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	117	100	0 preference points; 69 of 86 drawn at that level
Resident youth	3	3	0 preference points; 3 of 3 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	6	4	0 preference points; 3 of 5 drawn at that level

E-E-018-O1-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 405 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	319	270	0 preference points; 207 of 256 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	217	98	0 preference points; 61 of 162 drawn at that level
Resident youth	39	34	0 preference points; 30 of 35 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	7	3	0 preference points; 1 of 4 drawn at that level

E-E-018-O4-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 205 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	91	149	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 58 of 119 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	31	45	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 14 of 21 drawn at that level
Resident youth	3	7	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 4 of 7 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	3	4	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 2 drawn at that level

E-E-018-P1-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 130 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	3	9	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	6	13	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	0	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-E-018-P4-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 130 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	0	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-E-018-V1-A: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 380 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Nonresident adult	137	262	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident youth	2	2	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-018-O1-M: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 55 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	17	45	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 28 of 105 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	0	1	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 21 drawn at that level
Resident youth	0	9	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 9 of 11 drawn at that level

E-F-018-O1-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 80 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	65	66	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 181 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	5	5	0 preference points; 2 of 2 drawn at that level
Resident youth	5	8	3rd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 8 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	1	1	0 preference points; 1 of 1 drawn at that level

E-F-018-V1-A: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 18, 181), not GMU 181 alone, 10 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Nonresident adult	2	3	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

CPW 2026 Elk Draw Recap CPW 2026 Elk Drawn Out At

2025 harvest, by hunt code

CPW reports harvest by hunt code and by herd area (DAU), not by GMU. A code that covers several units reports one number for all of them, so read those rows as the code, not as GMU 181. Why success rates mislead.

2025 elk harvest by hunt code (CPW 2025 Elk Harvest Estimates). Each row is the whole hunt code, wherever it was valid in 2025 (2025 brochure unit lists).
2025 hunt code	Valid in (2025)	Hunters	Elk harvested	Success
EE000U1A (OTC)	115 GMUs (full list below)	9,541	1,076	11.3%
EF000U1A (OTC)	29 GMUs (full list below)	872	50	5.7%
EM000U2R (OTC)	93 GMUs (full list below)	23,668	4,558	19.3%
EM000U3R (OTC)	93 GMUs (full list below)	17,371	2,096	12.1%
EE018V1A	2 GMUs: 18, 181	311	7	2.3%
EE018O1M	2 GMUs: 18, 181	350	38	10.9%
EF018O1M	2 GMUs: 18, 181	49	2	4.1%
EE018O1R	2 GMUs: 18, 181	555	93	16.8%
EE018O4R	2 GMUs: 18, 181	579	62	10.7%
EE018P1R	2 GMUs: 18, 181	35	19	54.3%
EE018P4R	2 GMUs: 18, 181	17	2	11.8%
EF018O1R	2 GMUs: 18, 181	68	6	8.8%
EF181L1R	GMU 181 only	8	0	0%*
EF181O2R	GMU 181 only	89	0	0%
EF181O3R	GMU 181 only	120	13	10.8%
EF181O4R	GMU 181 only	129	3	2.3%
EF181P5R	GMU 181 only	6	0	0%*

* CPW flags this estimate: few hunters responded.

EF000U1A was valid in 29 GMUs in 2025

6, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 30, 31, 32, 38, 43, 82, 85, 86, 133, 134, 140, 141, 142, 161, 171, 181, 431, 471, 682, 691, 791, 851, 861

EE000U1A was valid in 115 GMUs in 2025

EM000U2R was valid in 93 GMUs in 2025

3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 131, 133, 134, 140, 141, 142, 161, 171, 181, 211, 214, 231, 301, 361, 371, 411, 421, 431, 441, 444, 471, 511, 521, 551, 581, 591, 681, 691, 711, 741, 751, 771, 851, 861

EM000U3R was valid in 93 GMUs in 2025

CPW 2025 Elk Harvest Estimates

Outfitters

No outfitter in this site's verified directory sells hunts in GMU 181 on its own website or lists it among its registered GMUs, so none is named here. We do not place outfitters on a unit page by mailing address.

Listings come only from this site's verified outfitter directory (this unit's region: Northwest), where every record is an Active state registration with guided hunting confirmed on the outfitter's own site. Check any outfitter's registration yourself before you book (how).

Common questions

Is there over-the-counter elk in GMU 181?

Yes: E-F-000-U1-A, E-E-000-U1-A, E-M-000-U2-R, E-M-000-U3-R are valid in GMU 181 for 2026.

What does it take to draw elk in GMU 181?

The highest-cutoff 2026 code that includes GMU 181, E-F-181-L1-R, drew out at 2 preference points for resident adults and 2 preference points for nonresident adults; it covers this GMU alone.

Where GMU 181 is

What is different about GMU 181

2026 elk hunt codes

2026 draw results

2025 harvest, by hunt code

Outfitters

Common questions

Get the printable 2026 season calendar