Last verified
Elk in GMU 521
GMU 521 has 14 2026 elk hunt codes (2 over the counter, 12 drawn), and the highest resident adult cutoff is E-F-521-O2-R at 1 preference point. 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 521 is
GMU 521 lies in Gunnison & Delta counties. CPW's boundary description: bounded on N by Delta-Mesa Co. line and Gunnison-Mesa Co. line; on E by Gunnison-Pitkin Co. line, White River-Gunnison NF boundary and Ruby Range Summit; on S by Gunnison CR 12 (Kebler Pass Rd.) and North Fork of Gunnison River; on W by Jay Creek, West Res. No. 1, Overland Ditch and Grand Mesa-Gunnison NF boundary.
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 521
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 521 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 521; archery elk here is drawn.
GMU 521 has 12 limited elk codes for 2026 (2 archery, 2 muzzleloader and 8 rifle), 6 of them valid in this GMU alone. Resident adult cutoffs, highest first: E-F-521-O2-R at 1 preference point, E-M-041-O1-M at 0 preference points, E-F-521-O1-R at 0 preference points, E-F-521-O3-R at 0 preference points and E-F-521-O1-M at 0 preference points. 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 521 alone: E-E-521-O1-A (750 licenses, drew out at 2nd choice), E-F-521-O1-R (40 licenses, drew out at 0 preference points) and E-F-521-O2-R (35 licenses, drew out at 1 preference point).
The 2025 harvest row with the most hunters among codes that include GMU 521 is EM000U2R (over the counter): 19.3% success among 23,668 hunters, for the whole code across 93 GMUs, not GMU 521 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.
| Hunt code | Method / season | 2026 dates | Sex | License | Valid in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-E-052-P1-A | Archery | Sept. 2–30 | Either-sex | Limited (draw), private land only | 3 GMUs: 52, 411, 521 |
| E-E-521-O1-A | Archery | Sept. 2–30 | Either-sex | Limited (draw) | GMU 521 only |
| E-F-521-O1-M | Muzzleloader | Sept. 12–20 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 521 only |
| 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-521-O1-R | Rifle, 1st season | Oct. 14–18 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 521 only |
| E-F-521-O2-R | Rifle, 2nd season | Oct. 24–Nov. 1 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 521 only |
| E-F-521-O3-R | Rifle, 3rd season | Nov. 7–15 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 521 only |
| E-F-521-O4-R | Rifle, 4th season | Nov. 18–22 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 521 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
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
2026 draw results
These codes are valid in GMU 521 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.
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 108 | 142 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 34 of 209 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 533 | 584 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 51 of 463 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 8 | 10 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 2 of 7 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 14 | 14 | 0 preference points; 10 of 10 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 19 | 14 | 0 preference points; 10 of 15 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 18 | 4 | 3 preference points; 3 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 1 | 1 | 0 preference points; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 2 | 1 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 5 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 36 | 23 | 0 preference points; 3 of 16 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 19 | 9 | 1 preference point; 2 of 7 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 9 | 7 | 0 preference points; 6 of 8 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 2 | 1 | 1 preference point; 1 of 2 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 76 | 24 | 1 preference point; 16 of 35 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 50 | 5 | 4 preference points; 2 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 6 | 3 | 0 preference points; 3 of 6 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 5 | 3 | 0 preference points; 2 of 4 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 39 | 19 | 0 preference points; 5 of 25 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 19 | 7 | 2 preference points; 4 of 4 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 3 | 4 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 16 | 10 | 0 preference points; 8 of 13 drawn at that level |
The codes below also include GMU 521, but they cover other units too. Their numbers are for the whole code.
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
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 521. Why success rates mislead.
| 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% |
| EE052P1A | 3 GMUs: 52, 411, 521 | 64 | 15 | 23.4% |
| EE521O1A | GMU 521 only | 707 | 159 | 22.5% |
| EF521O1M | GMU 521 only | 15 | 3 | 20% |
| 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% |
| EF521O1R | GMU 521 only | 32 | 5 | 15.6% |
| EF521O2R | GMU 521 only | 20 | 5 | 25% |
| EF521O3R | GMU 521 only | 20 | 10 | 50% |
| EF521O4R | GMU 521 only | 9 | 6 | 66.7%* |
| 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% |
* CPW flags this estimate: few hunters responded.
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
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
Outfitters
No outfitter in this site's verified directory sells hunts in GMU 521 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 521?
Yes: E-M-000-U2-R, E-M-000-U3-R are valid in GMU 521 for 2026.
What does it take to draw elk in GMU 521?
The highest-cutoff 2026 code that includes GMU 521, E-F-521-O2-R, drew out at 1 preference point for resident adults and 4 preference points for nonresident adults; it covers this GMU alone.