Colorado Unit 20 Late Elk

[steveo_steelhead]

Hi Everyone,
I am contemplating going for the Dec. or Jan late season hunt in this unit for 2026. I should have just enough points for it. How realistic is it to DIY hunt this unit in the late season on public lands? I have reached out to an outfitter to see what they can offer, but I doubt that I can afford it this year. I am fit and experienced with later season elk, and would be comfortable with a 3-5 mile packout, but this won't matter if the elk are on private ground, subdivisions, golf courses and the like this late in the year. If you have hunted this unit DIY or outfitted, I would love to hear what its like, feel free to PM me.
Cheers,
Steve

 

[Daj214]

Late season Dec Jan elk in Colorado units on public land DIY is realistic but tough success hinges on the specific unit, snow depth, elk migration, and pressure.

In many units, elk push to lower elevations late season, often stacking on private land, ranches, subdivisions, or feedlots especially with deep snow or cold snaps. Public land can hold pockets south facing slopes, timbered draws, or migration corridors, but herds are smaller, scattered, and wary after months of hunting. Spot and stalk or glassing from high points works if you can find access, but packouts 3–5 miles are common and doable if you're fit.

Units with decent late public land potential 20 mentioned in your context, 62, 70, or some northwest ones e.g., 13, 22 often hold elk on BLM forest edges, but expect low success 5–15% for bulls late vs. early rifle.

Outfitters shine here because they have private access permission DIY means more hiking, cold camping, and luck finding elk off private refuges.

Weather's brutal 20°F nights, deep snow bring winter gear, snowshoes, and plan bailouts.

It's doable if the unit has good public BLM forest mix and you scout hard onX for boundaries, satellite for migration routes. But late season often favors private outfitted hunts for consistency. If your points get you in, go for it worst case, you learn for next time. What's the specific unit?