At a Glance
699Square Miles
80.9%Public Land
7,291 - 13,035Elevation Range
Quick Tips
- Use horses to pack in base camp
- Watch for afternoon thunderstorms
- Fly fish Gunnison River or the alpine lakes
Hunters discussing Colorado's Unit S54 highlight diverse terrain that includes rugged, steep mountains and more accessible valleys, making it important for hunters to be in good physical condition. Many emphasize the need for scouting due to the unit's challenging accessibility and variable elk movement. It's noted that non-motorized vehicles are often necessary to reach promising hunting grounds, especially in remote areas. Success in this unit seems to rely heavily on early-season scouting, understanding the migration patterns of the elk, and having a solid navigation plan.
North of the Gunnison River and Blue Mesa Reservoir is a herd of about 125 Rocky Mountain bighorns. The West Elks Wilderness Area offers thousands of acres of public land. Resident archery and rifle ram tags are available through the draw.
Bighorn rams can be found on top of West Elk Peak or near Dillon Mesa north of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Tag holders have many areas to glass. Archery season is the perfect time to head into the West Elk Wilderness. Weather can help determine where to hunt during September and October with a rifle tag.