Last verified
Elk in GMU 551
GMU 551 has 11 2026 elk hunt codes (0 over the counter, 11 drawn), and the highest resident adult cutoff is E-M-551-O4-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 551 is
GMU 551 lies in Gunnison & Saguache counties. CPW's boundary description: bounded on N by U.S. 50, Quartz Creek Rd., North Quartz Creek Rd. and Taylor River-Tomichi Creek divide; on E by Continental Divide; on S and W by Colo. 114.
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 551
GMU 551 is not on CPW's 2026 map for the unlimited 2nd and 3rd season bull licenses, although it was on the 2025 map. 2026 brochure, OTC maps pp. 38–40 2025 brochure, OTC maps pp. 38–41 No over-the-counter archery license is valid in GMU 551; archery elk here is drawn.
GMU 551 has 11 limited elk codes for 2026 (1 archery, 2 muzzleloader and 8 rifle), 11 of them valid in this GMU alone. Resident adult cutoffs, highest first: E-M-551-O4-R at 2 preference points, E-M-551-O1-R at 1 preference point, E-M-551-O1-M at 1 preference point, E-E-551-O1-A at 0 preference points and E-F-551-O2-R at 0 preference points. The code with the most licenses is E-M-551-O2-R (valid in this GMU alone): 510 licenses and 75 resident adult first-choice applicants. CPW 2026 Elk Draw Recap
Largest codes valid in GMU 551 alone: E-M-551-O2-R (510 licenses, drew out at leftover), E-M-551-O3-R (315 licenses, drew out at leftover) and E-E-551-O1-A (190 licenses, drew out at 0 preference points).
The 2025 harvest row with the most hunters among codes that include GMU 551 is EM000U2R (over the counter): 19.3% success among 23,668 hunters, for the whole code across 93 GMUs, not GMU 551 alone. CPW 2025 Elk Harvest Estimates
2026 elk hunt codes
There is no over-the-counter elk license valid in GMU 551 in 2026: every elk code here is drawn. "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-551-O1-A | Archery | Sept. 2–30 | Either-sex | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-F-551-O1-M | Muzzleloader | Sept. 12–20 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-M-551-O1-M | Muzzleloader | Sept. 12–20 | Bull | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-F-551-O1-R | Rifle, 1st season | Oct. 14–18 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-F-551-O2-R | Rifle, 2nd season | Oct. 24–Nov. 1 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-F-551-O3-R | Rifle, 3rd season | Nov. 7–15 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-F-551-O4-R | Rifle, 4th season | Nov. 18–22 | Cow | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-M-551-O1-R | Rifle, 1st season | Oct. 14–18 | Bull | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-M-551-O2-R | Rifle, 2nd season | Oct. 24–Nov. 1 | Bull | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-M-551-O3-R | Rifle, 3rd season | Nov. 7–15 | Bull | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
| E-M-551-O4-R | Rifle, 4th season | Nov. 18–22 | Bull | Limited (draw) | GMU 551 only |
2026 draw results
These codes are valid in GMU 551 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 | 176 | 123 | 0 preference points; 75 of 127 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 154 | 42 | 4 preference points; 25 of 34 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 13 | 6 | 0 preference points; 5 of 12 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 4 | 0 | None drawn |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 13 | 19 | Leftover Choice 1; 5 of 7 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 3 | 0 | None drawn |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 31 | 32 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 54 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 18 | 20 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 2 of 29 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 5 | 6 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 0 | 1 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 0 | 1 | Leftover Choice 3; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 66 | 52 | 0 preference points; 35 of 44 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 13 | 5 | 0 preference points; 2 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 12 | 14 | 3rd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 6 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 5 | 5 | 0 preference points; 3 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 0 | 4 | Leftover Choice 3; 2 of 2 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 136 | 70 | 0 preference points; 2 of 61 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 35 | 18 | 1 preference point; 9 of 15 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 10 | 2 | 0 preference points; 2 of 10 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 4 | 5 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 2 of 4 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 0 | 5 | Leftover Choice 3; 2 of 2 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 117 | 77 | 0 preference points; 1 of 39 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 15 | 7 | 1 preference point; 4 of 4 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 7 | 4 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 2 of 6 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 1 | 2 | Leftover Choice 2; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 1 | 0 | None drawn |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 15 | 25 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 11 of 28 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 5 | 6 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 2 | 3 | Leftover Choice 2; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 1 | 1 | Leftover Choice 3; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 49 | 20 | 1 preference point; 11 of 17 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 48 | 6 | 7 preference points; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 3 | 0 | None drawn |
| Nonresident youth | 3 | 0 | None drawn |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 2 | 3 | 2nd choice (every earlier-choice applicant drew); 1 of 6 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 1 | 1 | Leftover Choice 1; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 94 | 31 | 1 preference point; 12 of 33 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 62 | 12 | 4 preference points; 2 of 22 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 11 | 5 | 1 preference point; 2 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 3 | 0 | None drawn |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 14 | 6 | 0 preference points; 4 of 12 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 6 | 6 | Leftover Choice 1; 1 of 3 drawn at that level |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 75 | 178 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Nonresident adult | 83 | 156 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Resident youth | 2 | 15 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Nonresident youth | 4 | 10 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 1 | 19 | Leftover Choice 3; 6 of 6 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 1 | 0 | None drawn |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 56 | 135 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Nonresident adult | 22 | 57 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Resident youth | 1 | 9 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Nonresident youth | 4 | 4 | Leftover (licenses remained after the draw) |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 4 | 23 | Leftover Choice 3; 8 of 8 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 4 | 0 | None drawn |
| Applicant group | Applicants, 1st choice | Drawn, all choices | Drawn out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident adult | 26 | 5 | 2 preference points; 1 of 2 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident adult | 9 | 2 | 4 preference points; 1 of 2 drawn at that level |
| Resident youth | 2 | 1 | 2 preference points; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Nonresident youth | 1 | 0 | None drawn |
| Landowner (unrestricted) | 5 | 1 | 3 preference points; 1 of 1 drawn at that level |
| Landowner (restricted) | 3 | 1 | 0 preference points; 1 of 3 drawn at that level |
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 551. 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% |
| EE551O1A | GMU 551 only | 177 | 32 | 18.1% |
| EF551O1M | GMU 551 only | 57 | 9 | 15.8% |
| EM551O1M | GMU 551 only | 30 | 9 | 30% |
| EF551O1R | GMU 551 only | 55 | 5 | 9.1% |
| EF551O2R | GMU 551 only | 82 | 11 | 13.4% |
| EF551O3R | GMU 551 only | 71 | 12 | 16.9% |
| EF551O4R | GMU 551 only | 10 | 3 | 30%* |
| EM551O1R | GMU 551 only | 55 | 7 | 12.7% |
| EM551O4R | GMU 551 only | 7 | 2 | 28.6%* |
* 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 551 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 551?
No. GMU 551 is on none of CPW's 2026 over-the-counter elk maps, so every elk license here is drawn.
What does it take to draw elk in GMU 551?
The highest-cutoff 2026 code that includes GMU 551, E-M-551-O4-R, drew out at 2 preference points for resident adults and 4 preference points for nonresident adults; it covers this GMU alone.