Colorado OTC Elk Units › Unit 78
OTC 2nd & 3rd rifle · 2026

Unit 78 Elk Hunting, Colorado

South San Juans near Pagosa Springs, Southwest Colorado. Here's the terrain, access, and license picture, plus how to hunt it under pressure.

RegionSouth San Juans near Pagosa Springs, Southwest Colorado
Public landSan Juan National Forest and the South San Juan Wilderness; largely public
Elevationroughly 7,000 to 13,000 ft
2026 licenseUnlimited antlered bull, over the counter (OTC), for 2nd and 3rd rifle in 2026.

The country

Big timbered San Juan country east of Pagosa Springs. Oak and ponderosa benches climb through aspen into dense spruce-fir and the South San Juan Wilderness.

Access and pressure

Lots of country but heavy pressure and outfitter camps. You have to get off the roads to find elk.

How to hunt Unit 78

Hunt the dark north-facing timber and wilderness pockets well off the forest roads.

Know the unit. Now find where the elk move.

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Other Colorado elk units:
Unit 12 · Unit 23 · Unit 24 · Unit 32 · Unit 43 · Unit 61 · Unit 62 · Unit 76 · see all
Terrain, forest, and elevation details are drawn from public land and habitat sources. License types change year to year, so always confirm a unit's current status and boundaries on the official Colorado Parks and Wildlife big game brochure before you buy. ScoutIQ forecasts are confidence-weighted, not guarantees.

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