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Sky Mountain Park Elk Hunt Lottery
Deadline to Enter is March 16, 2026
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails is accepting entries for a limited cow elk hunt at Sky Mountain Park. The lottery is held in the spring, so selected hunters have time to apply for the appropriate fourth-season license before the hunt.
About the Limited Hunt
The limited hunt at Sky Mountain Park is authorized under the Sky Mountain Park Management Plan and is conducted in coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to support elk herd management in Game Management Unit 431.
Entries are due March 16, 2026. Five hunters plus three alternates will be drawn on March 17, 2026. All lottery participants will be notified about their drawing status by March 19, 2026.
Controlled hunting helps distribute elk more evenly across the landscape and reduces the “refuge effect,” which can lead to overuse and habitat degradation when elk congregate in one area for extended periods.
Key Dates
- February 25, 2026 - Lottery opens
- March 16, 2026 - Lottery closes
- March 19, 2026 - Lottery participants notified about entry status
- August 3, 2026 - Deadline for winning lottery participants to submit hunting tag information to Pitkin County Open Space and Trails
- November 2026 - Hunt orientation with Open Space and Trails (date TBD)
- November 19 - 23, 2026 - Fourth Rifle Season
How to Enter
Those interested in entering the lottery must complete the entry form by March 16, 2026.
Each participant will receive one lottery entry. Submitting an entry does not guarantee selection. Hunters selected in 2025 are not eligible for the 2026 hunt.
In an effort to expand opportunities for youth and first-time big game hunters, the lottery is weighted for these entries:
- Youth hunters: 2 entries
- First-time big game hunters: 2 entries
- Youth + first-time big game hunters: 3 entries
This system increases opportunity while keeping the hunt open to all qualified applicants.
Five lottery participants will be selected, along with three alternates.
All lottery participants will be notified about their drawing status by March 19, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the lottery, applicants must:
- Hold a valid Colorado hunting license, and
- Be eligible to obtain a fourth-season cow elk license in GMU 431
Selected hunters must obtain the appropriate license for the hunt. Hunt lottery winners must confirm license eligibility and hunter status with Pitkin County Open Space and Trails by August 3, 2026.