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Colorado Unit 61 Hunting: One Tag, One Shot, Make It Count

Most hunters draw this tag once in a lifetime. Hunt it with the family that has guided GMU 61 since 2002.

Twenty years of points deserve more than a map and a guess. We take only 4 to 5 hunters at a time, first come, first served, and we scout this plateau year-round so your hunt starts where the bulls are.

Check My DatesCall (970) 729-1806

What is Colorado Unit 61?

Unit 61 covers roughly 1,300 square miles of the western Uncompahgre Plateau in southwest Colorado, running from Gateway near the Utah line southeast toward Placerville. About 85 percent is public land in the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests and BLM, mostly between 8,300 and 9,200 feet.

Every elk and deer license is limited draw, with no over-the-counter tags. The unit is managed for quality, which keeps bull-to-cow ratios and antler class high year over year.

Why Unit 61 Is Worth the Wait

Colorado Parks and Wildlife keeps license numbers low, so more bulls live long enough to grow. The unit also holds a strong mule deer herd, which is rare.

Elk in Unit 61

Typical mature bull class
300 to 340 inches
Trophy potential
350 inches and up
Bull-to-cow ratio
roughly 19 per 100
Strong rut activity that can carry into the early rifle seasons

Mule deer in Unit 61

Typical mature buck class
160 to 180 inches
Trophy potential
180 inches and up
Buck-to-doe ratio
roughly 31 per 100

We will be straight with you: most mature bulls here are solid six-points in the 300-inch range. A 350 is possible, and our job is to put you in the country where it can happen.

The Draw: What It Really Takes

How many points does Unit 61 take?

Recent nonresident draws by hunt code:

Hunt

Recent nonresident points

Archery elk
Mid 20s
Muzzleloader elk
Upper 20s
Early rifle elk
Around 30
1st rifle elk
Mid 20s to 30
2nd and 3rd rifle elk
Varies year to year
Mule deer
Fewer points than elk, still competitive

Point requirements move every year, and in 2028 half of each hunt code's licenses shift to a random pool. Big point stack? The draws before 2028 may be your best shot.

Talk Points With UsApply Through CPW

Nowhere close yet? Unit 70 sells bull tags over the counter for 2nd and 3rd rifle. Same family, same guides, and you can hunt it this fall while your points keep building.

Hunt Unit 70 This Fall

Pick Your Season. We Handle the Rest.

Species

Season window

Method

Elk
September through November
Archery, muzzleloader, rifle
Mule deer
September through November
Archery, muzzleloader, rifle
Black bear
September, draw only
Add-on to a deer or elk license
Mountain lion
November through April
Hound hunt (OTC license, statewide quotas)
Bobcat
December through February
Hound hunt

Colorado adjusts seasons annually, including a newer 4th rifle deer season here. Confirm dates in the CPW Big Game Brochure.

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Most Hunters Stay Within a Mile of the Road. We Don't.

The plateau is heavily timbered, cut by canyons, aspen benches and open parks, and most hunters never get more than a mile from Divide Road. We scout long before you arrive: which benches hold bulls in early September, which wallows go quiet after the first cold front, and where elk slide when opening-weekend pressure hits.

Everything Handled. You Just Hunt.

Every Unit 61 hunt is a fully guided 5-day experience built around you, with extra days on request.

01
2:1 hunter-to-guide ratio. One-on-one guiding available.
02
Full game pack-out. You focus on the hunt.
03
Lodge included: sleeps up to 5 hunters, with 2 bathrooms, a living area and a small bar. Three home-cooked meals daily.
04
Small groups only, 4 to 5 hunters at a time. You are never one of a crowd.
05
Prefer the backcountry? Ask about our Unit 70 drop camps.
Reserve Your Unit 61 Dates
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Still Stacking Points? Don't Sit Out the Season.

Hunt Unit 70 while you wait.
No points needed for 2nd or 3rd rifle elk. Same country, same guides, and you hunt this year instead of in 2040.
Ask about private land vouchers.
These occasionally bypass the draw entirely. Availability changes yearly, so call.
Talk Through Your OptionsSee Unit 70 Hunts

Your Unit 61 Checklist

If you are still building points
−
Buy a qualifying license and apply for a preference point every year, without fail
Decide which weapon and season you are targeting, since point requirements differ sharply
Track CPW's annual draw recap so you know how close you are
Factor in the 2028 hybrid draw change when deciding how long to keep waiting
Call us to talk through whether your points are best spent in 61 or elsewhere
If you drew, or expect to draw
+
Call KCO to check availability (first come)
Confirm hunt dates and reserve
Purchase license by CPW payment deadline
60 to 90 days out
+
Book travel (we recommend flying into Montrose, MTJ)
Start conditioning (8,000+ ft)
Shoot at realistic field distances/positions
Review gear (esp. boots + optics)
Research/contact a taxidermist
30 days out
+
Confirm final details with us
Ship gear ahead if flying
Break in boots fully
Arrange meat processing + transport home
Arrive 1 to 2 days early to acclimate
Bring
+
License, tags, ID
Layers for 70 degrees and snow
Broken-in boots + backup
Rifle/bow sighted in + ammo/arrows
Quality optics
Personal meds

Not sure about something on this list? Just ask. We are happy to help.

FAQ

How many preference points do you need for Unit 61 in Colorado?
+
Recent nonresident draws have taken roughly the mid 20s to around 30 points depending on hunt code, with early rifle elk at the top. Residents generally need fewer. Confirm against CPW's current draw recap.
When do I apply for a Unit 61 tag?
+
Colorado's primary draw application window typically opens in early March and closes the first week of April. Results post in late May. Point requirements shift every year, so check CPW's current draw recap before you apply.
Are there over-the-counter tags in Unit 61?
+
No. Every elk and deer license in Unit 61 is limited draw. Nonresidents also can no longer buy over-the-counter archery elk licenses and must apply through the draw and name a unit.
How many Unit 61 licenses go to nonresidents?
+
For hunt codes that took Colorado residents six or more points to draw, nonresidents can receive up to 20 percent of the licenses. Under six points, the cap is 25 percent. Unit 61 falls in the tighter 20 percent bracket.
How does Colorado's 2028 draw change affect Unit 61?
+
Starting in 2028, half of the licenses in each hunt code will go to top point holders as they do now, and half will go into a randomized pool. That cuts the value of a big point stack roughly in half, which is why many high-point hunters are choosing to use their points before 2028.
How much public land is in Unit 61?
+
About 85 percent of Unit 61's roughly 1,300 square miles is public land, across the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests and BLM ground.
What size bulls does Unit 61 produce?
+
Mature bulls commonly fall in the 300 to 340 inch range, with 350-plus bulls taken every year. The unit is managed for quality, which keeps mature bulls in the herd.
Do I need an outfitter to hunt Unit 61?
+
No, but the unit is large, heavily timbered and hard to learn quickly. Since most hunters draw it once, a guide who scouts it year-round removes the learning curve.
Can Knight Canyon Outfitters help me decide when to use my points?
+
Yes. Call before you apply and we will give you an honest read on whether this is your year, based on your points, season, weapon and goals.
Where do I fly into for a Unit 61 hunt?
+
Montrose (MTJ) is the airport we recommend. It is a straightforward drive to our lodge near Norwood, in San Miguel County, and the easiest way to start your hunt on schedule. Grand Junction, Telluride and Cortez also serve the area if flights line up better for you.
How high is the lodge, and do I need to acclimate?
+
The lodge sits at 7,500 feet, and most of the hunting runs between 8,300 and 9,200 feet. If you are coming from sea level, plan to arrive a day or two early.

You waited twenty years.
Let's do this right.

We only take 4 to 5 hunters at a time, and Unit 61 dates go first come, first served. When your tag comes through, call us first.

Check AvailabilityNo Tag Yet? See Unit 70

(970) 729-1806 | (970) 417-9896

knightcanyonoutfitters@yahoo.com

Colorado Outfitter License #2233

Check Availability


P.O. Box 404
Norwood, CO 81423

(970) 729-1806
(970) 417-9896

knightcanyonoutfitters@yahoo.com
w4wilson1@outlook.com

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