Hunt unit · Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge

Elk Hunt Unit Map & Access

OpenYouth opportunity

The Elk unit is one of 3 mapped hunt units on Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Rio Grande County, CO. It covers approximately 6,189 acres and is listed as “open to hunting” for 2026–2027. Hunting generally follows state seasons and bag limits, along with general refuge rules.

Navigate to unit Refuge overview Official hunt info ↗

6,189acres

Openstatus 2026–27

Norefuge permit

Rio Grande Countycounty

Elk map

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OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates

Downloads (whole refuge):KML GPX

Rules & permits for this unit

Status: Open to hunting

Hunting follows Colorado seasons, bag limits and licensing, plus general National Wildlife Refuge rules.

🧒 A youth waterfowl hunt is offered.

Game at Monte Vista NWR

Species listed for the refuge as a whole — a special-regulation unit may be limited to certain species. Confirm in the hunt brochure.

Getting to the Elk unit

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Destination: center of the Elk unit

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Decimal: 37.50183, -106.05277
DMS: 37°30′06.6″N 106°03′10.0″W

Nearest towns

Alamosa, CO10 mi W of town
Pueblo, CO94 mi SW of town
Raton, NM98 mi NW of town

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is a point inside the unit polygon, not necessarily a parking area or legal access point. Use satellite view to find roads, gates and designated parking, and respect closed areas and private inholdings.

Shooting hours at this unit

Today at Elk

Legal light*–

Sunrise–

Sunset–

Pick a date

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Denver local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

Date	Shooting light	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight
Tue, Sep 1, 2026	6:03 AM	6:33 AM	7:35 PM	13h 02m
Tue, Sep 15, 2026	6:15 AM	6:45 AM	7:14 PM	12h 29m
Thu, Oct 1, 2026	6:28 AM	6:58 AM	6:49 PM	11h 51m
Thu, Oct 15, 2026	6:40 AM	7:10 AM	6:28 PM	11h 18m
Sun, Nov 1, 2026	5:58 AM	6:28 AM	5:07 PM	10h 39m
Sun, Nov 15, 2026	6:13 AM	6:43 AM	4:54 PM	10h 11m
Tue, Dec 1, 2026	6:29 AM	6:59 AM	4:47 PM	9h 47m
Tue, Dec 15, 2026	6:41 AM	7:11 AM	4:47 PM	9h 36m
Fri, Jan 1, 2027	6:48 AM	7:18 AM	4:55 PM	9h 37m
Fri, Jan 15, 2027	6:47 AM	7:17 AM	5:08 PM	9h 50m
Mon, Feb 1, 2027	6:38 AM	7:08 AM	5:26 PM	10h 18m

Computed for 37.502, -106.053 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

Weather forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Other units at Monte Vista NWR

Unit	Status	Acres	Permit
Open	Special regs	4,978	—
Closed	Closed	5,045	—

Back to Monte Vista NWR →