When is elk season in Colorado Unit 80?

Colorado Unit 80 has several 2026 elk seasons. A female rifle season runs September 1, 2026–January 31, 2027, while archery is September 2–30 and muzzleloader is September 12–20. Other rifle windows are October 14–18, October 24–November 1, November 7–15, and November 18–22. Separate San Luis Valley refuge bull hunts require a valid season-and-refuge elk license plus a refuge access permit issued by random drawing.

What license or permit do I need to hunt elk in Colorado Unit 80?

You need the Elk License that applies to your hunt in Colorado Unit 80. Residents and nonresidents have over-the-counter options, including supported OTC licenses that go on sale at 9 a.m. on August 4, 2026. The exact hunt code and restrictions depend on the season and opportunity.

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

Colorado Elk Game Management Unit 80

Plan an elk hunt in Colorado Game Management Unit 80. Review season dates, license options, then browse available private-land hunts and book directly from landowners.

Last updated October 19, 2026 by Aricin Rotarius

Find Hunts in Unit 80

Only 1 Hunt Offered

Early Access

GMU 80 Big Game Hunt + Stay | Draw Tag: 4th Season - $5625/Group

648 Acres at Red Hen Ranch in Monte Vista, CO

Starting Price $1,406 / Guest

4 Guests

5 Days

Lodging

View All Properties

Colorado Elk Opportunities in Unit 80

Female

September 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Female	Rifle	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-F-080-P5-R	Land: Private Land Only List B

Archery — Limited Resident & Nonresident Licenses

September 2, 2026 – September 30, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Either	Archery	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-E-080-O1-A	—

Muzzleloader Elk — Limited Licenses

September 12, 2026 – September 20, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Antlerless	Muzzleloader	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-F-080-O1-M	List A.
Bull	Muzzleloader	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-M-080-O1-M	List A.

Male

October 14, 2026 – October 18, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Male	Rifle	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-M-080-O1-R	List A

Female

October 24, 2026 – November 1, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Female	Rifle	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-F-080-O2-R	List A

Second Season

October 24, 2026 – November 1, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Antlered	Rifle	Resident: OTC Nonresident: OTC	Elk License: E-M-000-U2-R	List: A. Units marked New: 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 131, 211, 214, 231, 301, 441.

Female

November 7, 2026 – November 15, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Female	Rifle	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-F-080-O3-R	List A

Third Season

November 7, 2026 – November 15, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Antlered	Rifle	Resident: OTC Nonresident: OTC	Elk License: E-M-000-U3-R	List: A. Valid units same as second season. Units marked New: 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 131, 211, 214, 231, 301, 441.

Female

November 18, 2026 – November 22, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Female	Rifle	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-F-080-O4-R	List A

Male

November 18, 2026 – November 22, 2026

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Male	Rifle	Resident: — Nonresident: —	Elk License: E-M-080-O4-R	List A

Bull Seasons

Opportunity	Method	Availability	License or Permit	Additional Details
Bull	Archery, Muzzleloader, Rifle	Draw	Other opportunitiesCould not find purchase options for this license.	Land: Alamosa (GMU 83), Baca (GMU 82) And Monte Vista (GMU 80) National Wildlife Refuges San Luis Valley refuge elk permits: USFWS allows a limited number of elk hunters to access and hunt on the refuges. Hunters must hold an elk license valid for the season and refuge. Open seasons: archery; muzzleloader; first rifle; second rifle; third rifle; fourth rifle. To be entered, eligible hunters must email montevista.wildlife@state.co.us starting the day after leftover licenses go on sale; applications accepted for five days. Permits issued via email after random drawing no later than August 25 annually.

License and Permit Options

Elk License: E-E-080-O1-A

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-E-080-O1-A	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-E-080-O1-A	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-E-080-O1-A	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-E-080-O1-A	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-F-080-O1-M

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-F-080-O1-M	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-F-080-O1-M	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-F-080-O1-M	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-F-080-O1-M	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-F-080-O2-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-F-080-O2-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-F-080-O2-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-F-080-O2-R	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-F-080-O2-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-F-080-O3-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-F-080-O3-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-F-080-O3-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-F-080-O3-R	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-F-080-O3-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-F-080-O4-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-F-080-O4-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-F-080-O4-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-F-080-O4-R	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-F-080-O4-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-F-080-P5-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-F-080-P5-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-F-080-P5-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-F-080-P5-R	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-F-080-P5-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-M-000-U2-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-M-000-U2-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$70.40
Elk License: E-M-000-U2-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$20.30
Elk License: E-M-000-U2-R	Nonresident	—	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$845.16
Elk License: E-M-000-U2-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$130.07

Elk License: E-M-000-U3-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-M-000-U3-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$70.40
Elk License: E-M-000-U3-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$20.30
Elk License: E-M-000-U3-R	Nonresident	—	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$845.16
Elk License: E-M-000-U3-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	OTCAvailable August 4, 2026	$130.07

Elk License: E-M-080-O1-M

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-M	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-M	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-M	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-M	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-M-080-O1-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-R	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-M-080-O1-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07

Elk License: E-M-080-O4-R

License	Residency	Eligibility	Availability	Price
Elk License: E-M-080-O4-R	Resident	Ages 18–63	—	$70.40
Elk License: E-M-080-O4-R	Resident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$20.30
Elk License: E-M-080-O4-R	Nonresident	—	—	$845.16
Elk License: E-M-080-O4-R	Nonresident	Ages 12–17; Youth hunters	—	$130.07