Hunt code E-M-851-O3-R: 2026 Colorado bull elk, 3rd rifle

E-M-851-O3-R (printed on a license as EM851O3R) is a limited bull elk rifle license for the 3rd rifle season, November 7, 2026 to November 15, 2026, valid in units 85, 140 and 851.

What the code means

Part	Meaning
E	Species: elk
M	Sex: bull
851	Hunt area number. It names the license, not always a single unit: the valid units are listed below
O3	Season: 3rd rifle
R	Method: rifle

Season dates and units

Dates: November 7, 2026 to November 15, 2026
Valid in: unit 85, unit 140, unit 851
How it is issued: limited: issued through the draw, with any left over sold afterwards

Read from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Your license and the current brochure are the authority: check both before you hunt.

How 3rd rifle elk hunters did there in 2024

Unit	Hunters	Animals taken	Success
Unit 85	345	28	8%
Unit 140	27	4	14%
Unit 851	65	17	26%

All 3rd rifle elk hunters in each unit, every license type together, from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's 2024 harvest survey. These are estimates, and they are not specific to this hunt code.

Holding EM851O3R?

FilledTag builds one exact plan for this tag: where to park, camp and sit in units 85, 140 and 851, with every pin checked against public land and road rules.

Check my hunt

Other elk codes for these units

E-E-085-O1-R (either-sex, 1st rifle) · E-E-085-O4-R (either-sex, 4th rifle) · E-F-085-O2-R (cow, 2nd rifle) · E-F-085-O3-R (cow, 3rd rifle) · E-F-085-O4-R (cow, 4th rifle) · E-M-000-U2-R (bull, 2nd rifle) · E-M-000-U3-R (bull, 3rd rifle) · E-M-851-O1-R (bull, 1st rifle) · E-M-851-O2-R (bull, 2nd rifle) · E-M-851-O4-R (bull, 4th rifle)