Last verified Oct. 2026

Elk in GMU 52

Q: Is there over-the-counter elk in GMU 52?

Yes: E-M-000-U2-R , E-M-000-U3-R are valid in GMU 52 for 2026.

GMU 52 has 15 2026 elk hunt codes (2 over the counter, 13 drawn), and the highest resident adult cutoff is E-M-041-O1-M at 0 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 52 is

GMU 52 lies in Delta County. CPW's boundary description: bounded on N by Delta-Mesa Co. line; on E by Grand Mesa-Gunnison NF boundary, Overland Ditch, West Res. No. 1 and Jay Creek; on S by North Fork of Gunnison River and Colo. 92; on W by Colo. 65. 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 52

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 52 in 2026, as they were on the 2025 maps. 2025 brochure, OTC maps pp. 38–41 No over-the-counter archery license is valid in GMU 52; archery elk here is drawn.

GMU 52 has 13 limited elk codes for 2026 (2 archery, 2 muzzleloader and 9 rifle), 4 of them valid in this GMU alone. Resident adult cutoffs, highest first: E-M-041-O1-M at 0 preference points, E-F-041-O1-R at 0 preference points, E-M-041-O1-R at 2nd choice, E-E-052-O1-A at 2nd choice and E-F-041-O1-M at leftover. The code with the most licenses is E-M-041-O1-R (shared across 6 GMUs, so its numbers are for the whole code): 950 licenses and 285 resident adult first-choice applicants. CPW 2026 Elk Draw Recap

Largest codes valid in GMU 52 alone: E-F-052-O2-R (205 licenses, drew out at leftover), E-F-052-O3-R (100 licenses, drew out at leftover) and E-F-052-P5-R (65 licenses, drew out at 2nd choice).

The 2025 harvest row with the most hunters among codes that include GMU 52 is EM000U2R (over the counter): 19.3% success among 23,668 hunters, for the whole code across 93 GMUs, not GMU 52 alone. CPW 2025 Elk Harvest Estimates

2026 elk hunt codes

Over-the-counter elk is available here through 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 52 (CPW 2026 Big Game Brochure)
Hunt code	Method / season	2026 dates	Sex	License	Valid in
E-E-052-O1-A	Archery	Sept. 2–30	Either-sex	Limited (draw)	2 GMUs: 52, 411
E-E-052-P1-A	Archery	Sept. 2–30	Either-sex	Limited (draw), private land only	3 GMUs: 52, 411, 521
E-F-041-O1-M	Muzzleloader	Sept. 12–20	Cow	Limited (draw)	5 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421
E-M-041-O1-M	Muzzleloader	Sept. 12–20	Bull	Limited (draw)	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521
E-E-041-P1-R	Rifle	Oct. 14–18	Either-sex	Limited (draw), private land only	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521
E-E-041-P4-R	Rifle	Nov. 18–22	Either-sex	Limited (draw), private land only	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521
E-F-041-O1-R	Rifle, 1st season	Oct. 14–18	Cow	Limited (draw)	5 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421
E-F-052-O2-R	Rifle, 2nd season	Oct. 24–Nov. 1	Cow	Limited (draw)	GMU 52 only
E-F-052-O3-R	Rifle, 3rd season	Nov. 7–15	Cow	Limited (draw)	GMU 52 only
E-F-052-O4-R	Rifle, 4th season	Nov. 18–22	Cow	Limited (draw)	GMU 52 only
E-F-052-P5-R	Rifle	Dec. 1–Jan. 31	Cow	Limited (draw), private land only	GMU 52 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-M-041-O1-R	Rifle, 1st season	Oct. 14–18	Bull	Limited (draw)	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521
E-M-041-O4-R	Rifle, 4th season	Nov. 18–22	Bull	Limited (draw)	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521

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 52 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-052-O2-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 52 only, 205 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	57	112	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	22	32	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	4	10	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident youth	1	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-052-O3-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 52 only, 100 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	35	64	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	16	19	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	2	2	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident youth	1	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-052-O4-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 52 only, 30 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	9	22	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	0	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	0	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-052-P5-R: 2026 primary draw, GMU 52 only, 65 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	42	58	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 16 of 42 drawn at that level
Resident youth	3	7	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 4 of 6 drawn at that level

The codes below also include GMU 52, but they cover other units too. Their numbers are for the whole code.

E-E-041-P1-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521), not GMU 52 alone, 200 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	43	58	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 15 of 48 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	116	128	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 12 of 67 drawn at that level
Resident youth	8	11	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 3 of 13 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	2	3	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 4 drawn at that level

E-E-041-P4-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521), not GMU 52 alone, 150 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	43	76	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	30	32	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	9	14	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-E-052-O1-A: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 52, 411), not GMU 52 alone, 325 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	72	184	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 112 of 129 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	69	127	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 58 of 108 drawn at that level
Resident youth	3	10	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 7 of 7 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	4	4	0 preference points; 4 of 4 drawn at that level

E-E-052-P1-A: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 52, 411, 521), not GMU 52 alone, 160 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	12	19	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	5	12	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	0	1	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-041-O1-M: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 41, 42, 52, 411, 421), not GMU 52 alone, 315 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	79	168	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	33	74	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	22	45	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident youth	1	5	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)

E-F-041-O1-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 41, 42, 52, 411, 421), not GMU 52 alone, 200 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	152	123	0 preference points; 80 of 107 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	43	34	0 preference points; 21 of 29 drawn at that level
Resident youth	48	38	0 preference points; 26 of 36 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	7	5	0 preference points; 4 of 6 drawn at that level

E-M-041-O1-M: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521), not GMU 52 alone, 500 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	214	213	0 preference points; 177 of 178 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	383	268	0 preference points; 78 of 185 drawn at that level
Resident youth	12	12	0 preference points; 7 of 7 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	15	7	0 preference points; 5 of 12 drawn at that level

E-M-041-O1-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521), not GMU 52 alone, 950 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	285	304	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 19 of 290 drawn at that level
Nonresident adult	562	559	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 5 of 243 drawn at that level
Resident youth	43	46	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 3 of 42 drawn at that level
Nonresident youth	42	41	2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 16 drawn at that level

E-M-041-O4-R: 2026 primary draw for the whole code (GMUs 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521), not GMU 52 alone, 250 licenses
Applicant group	Applicants, 1st choice	Drawn, all choices	Drawn out at
Resident adult	58	136	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident adult	46	65	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Resident youth	11	23	Leftover (licenses remained after the draw)
Nonresident youth	5	7	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 52. 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
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%
EE052O1A	2 GMUs: 52, 411	325	37	11.4%
EE052P1A	3 GMUs: 52, 411, 521	64	15	23.4%
EF041O1M	5 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421	297	31	10.4%
EM041O1M	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521	499	117	23.4%
EE041P1R	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521	158	87	55.1%
EE041P4R	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521	117	48	41%
EF041O1R	5 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421	185	27	14.6%
EF052O2R	GMU 52 only	182	35	19.2%
EF052O3R	GMU 52 only	97	16	16.5%
EF052O4R	GMU 52 only	23	2	8.7%
EF052P5R	GMU 52 only	58	23	39.7%
EM041O1R	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521	923	258	28%
EM041O4R	6 GMUs: 41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521	250	31	12.4%

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 52 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: Southwest), 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 52?

Yes: E-M-000-U2-R, E-M-000-U3-R are valid in GMU 52 for 2026.

What does it take to draw elk in GMU 52?

The highest-cutoff 2026 code that includes GMU 52, E-M-041-O1-M, drew out at 0 preference points for resident adults and 0 preference points for nonresident adults; it covers 6 GMUs.

Where GMU 52 is

What is different about GMU 52

2026 elk hunt codes

2026 draw results

2025 harvest, by hunt code

Outfitters

Common questions

Get the printable 2026 season calendar