At a Glance
646Square Miles
88.7%Public Land
7,562 - 12,779Elevation Range
Quick Tips
- Good trout fishing at Lake Granby
- Good trout fishing at Williams Fork Reservoir
- Buy a bear tag, excellent hunting
- Rocky Mountain National Park is closed to hunting
Hunters discussing Unit 18 in Colorado frequently highlight its challenging terrain and variable weather conditions, which can impact accessibility and game movement. Many emphasize the importance of scouting ahead of the hunting season to familiarize themselves with the area's layout and to identify potential game hotspots. There is a consensus on the need for proper preparation and adaptability, as game behavior can be unpredictable, especially with changing weather. Overall, seasoned hunters recommend using high-quality maps and GPS for navigation and focusing efforts on areas less trafficked by others to increase the chances of a successful hunt.
Lots of public land from the Rabbit Ears Mountains south to the Colorado River along with good numbers of deer and elk and some high-quality animals attract hunters to this unit, which is managed to produce mature bucks. Hunters don’t need to draw elk tags for the second and third seasons.
This unit was largely burned during the 2020 East Troublesome Fire. Hunters should be aware that the landscape will be vastly different in areas and animal movements and habits may have changed. Some mature bulls live in this unit, which is a rarity in most other units, and hunters can buy tags over-the-counter for the second and third rifle seasons. Most of the good bucks are killed during the two November seasons, but archery, muzzleloader and first rifle elk seasons are also very good. There is plenty of low elevation ground to hunt in November seasons.