Elk Hunting Basecamp Near Craig, CO

Craig calls itself the Elk Hunting Capital of the World, and the claim has teeth. Moffat County holds two of North America’s largest migratory elk herds, and hunters here have nearly 2 million acres of public land within reach: BLM ground, the Routt National Forest, and a scattering of State Wildlife Areas. When the fall hunt comes around, the question is not whether the elk are there. It is where you sleep, where you process meat, and where you refuel between dawn and dusk in the field.

Tunatua RV Resort opens August 1, 2026, about 2 miles from downtown Craig. Its inaugural season is this fall’s hunt. Instead of dry, serviceless dispersed camping deep in a unit, you get a basecamp with RV sites, hot showers, and laundry, minutes from gas, groceries, and game processing in town. Here is how to build your 2026 hunt around it.

Why Craig Is the Elk Hunting Capital

Two Major Herds and Nearly 2 Million Acres

Craig promotes itself as the Elk Hunting Capital of the World, and the country around it backs the title. Moffat County is home to two of North America’s largest migratory elk herds, and hunters here can access nearly 2 million acres of public land. That public ground includes BLM tracts, the Routt National Forest, and several State Wildlife Areas spread across the region. The mix of high mesas, sage parks, and timbered drainages gives elk room to move and gives hunters a deep menu of country to work through a long season.

Moffat County Units and the GMU Map

The big-game country around Craig falls into Moffat County’s game management units, including units 11, 12, 13, and 211. Units 12, 13, and 211 sit closest to Craig and are the ones most DIY elk hunters work from a basecamp here. Unit boundaries do not line up with city limits, so the right move is to pull the current Colorado Parks and Wildlife GMU map and the CPW Hunting Atlas, identify the public land in your chosen unit, and plan access from there. The Atlas layers public and private boundaries, access points, and habitat over the units so you can scout from basecamp before you ever leave the truck.

An RV Basecamp Beats a Remote Camp

Craig is a full service town: gas, groceries, lodging, and game processing are all here, along with the Craig Chamber’s Sportsman Information Center at (970) 824-3046 for BLM and forest maps and license help. That changes the math. Instead of dispersed camping deep in a unit with no water, no power, and no way to clean up, you stage at Tunatua about 2 miles from town, run out to your unit at first light, and come back to hot showers and laundry. Steamboat Springs is about 40 minutes east on US-40 if you need a larger town.

Tags, Public Land, and the 2026 Season

Northwest Colorado is one of the most accessible elk hunts in the country, but the details matter. Here is how tags, public land, and the season windows line up around Craig for 2026. For a deeper walk-through of season strategy, GMU selection, and tag applications, read our Northwest Colorado elk hunting guide.

Over-the-Counter Bull Elk Tags

The Craig Chamber bills the area as having the nation’s only over-the-counter bull elk tags, available for archery and for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons. That means qualifying hunters can buy a bull elk license without drawing it, which is rare in the West and a big part of why Moffat County draws hunters from everywhere. Deer and pronghorn here are generally limited or draw-only, so plan those further ahead. Always confirm current tag types and license availability at cpw.state.co.us before you commit, since rules and over-the-counter status can change year to year.

Public Land: BLM, National Forest, and SWAs

Your hunt will mostly play out on BLM ground, in the Routt National Forest, and on State Wildlife Areas in the region. Each has its own access and camping rules, and SWAs in particular can carry restrictions on overnight stays and require a valid hunting or fishing license to enter. Use the CPW Hunting Atlas to confirm which blocks are public and how to reach them legally, and stop by the Sportsman Information Center in Craig at (970) 824-3046 for current maps before you head out.

2026 Season Windows

For the 2026 seasons sourced from CPW via Visit Moffat County: Archery runs September 2 through 30; Muzzleloader September 12 through 20; 1st Rifle October 14 through 18; 2nd Rifle October 24 through November 1; 3rd Rifle November 7 through 15; and 4th Rifle November 18 through 22. Tunatua opens August 1, right before the season, and over-the-counter and leftover licenses typically go on sale in August. Always confirm current dates and license availability at cpw.state.co.us, since published windows can shift.

Game Processors Near Craig

Once your elk or deer is down, you will want a processor lined up before you ever pull the trigger, because shops fill fast and add hours through rifle season. Craig has several established options within about five minutes of the park, with more in Steamboat Springs about 40 minutes east.

In Craig, minutes from the park:

• Mountain Meat Packing, Lincoln Street, Craig. Family run since 1977 with fast turnaround, specialty sausage, and on-site European mounts.
• Brothers Custom Processing, East 1st Street on the south bypass, Craig. Custom wild-game processing since 2004, with vacuum sealing, hide removal, and European mounts.
• AGP Game Processing, Yampa Avenue, Craig. Custom elk, deer, antelope, and bear processing with your own animal returned to you.
• Tafoya Meats, Yampa Avenue, Craig. In business since 1992, with overnight shipping if you need meat sent home.

In Steamboat Springs, about 40 minutes east:

• Steamboat Meat and Seafood Co., Yampa Street in downtown Steamboat. Big-game processing for elk, deer, antelope, and bear, with a 24-hour courtesy cooler for after-hours drop-off.
• Elk River Custom Meats, west Steamboat Springs. Wild-game processing with vacuum-sealed packaging and specialty recipes.

These are independent businesses, and capacity, hours, and pricing shift through the seasons, so call ahead to confirm drop-off, turnaround, and rates before you haul in your animal.

Mule Deer, Pronghorn, and Yampa River Fishing

Elk are the headline, but the country around Craig also holds mule deer and pronghorn antelope, both generally limited or draw-only, so put in for those licenses well ahead of your trip. For downtime, the Yampa River runs near the park. Be honest with your expectations on the water: the famous Gold Medal trout water is upstream near Steamboat Springs and Stagecoach, not at Craig. At and below Craig the Yampa is a warm-water and transition fishery, where trout give way to northern pike, walleye, bass, and catfish. It is a fun change of pace between hunts, just not a trophy-trout stretch. Pack a warm-water rig rather than chasing Gold Medal browns here. For a closer look at fishing and floating this stretch of the river, see our Yampa River fishing and floating guide.

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Tunatua RV Resort

Tunatua RV Resort sits at 4175 W Hwy 40 in Craig, Colorado, about 2 miles and 5 minutes from downtown in the heart of Moffat County hunting country. The park opens August 1, 2026, right before archery season, and its first season is built around the fall hunt. RV sites, hot showers and restrooms, on-site laundry, and a club and meeting room give you a real basecamp instead of a remote camp with no services. The park is pet-friendly, so the dog comes too, and it sits near the Yampa River with fishing, hiking, and pickleball on the activity list. As a brand-new park, exact hookup levels, site counts, and rates are still being finalized. Call (970) 436-5011 to confirm hookups, site availability, and rates for your hunt dates.

Sites & Hookups

Tunatua RV Resort opens August 1, 2026, with RV sites built for hunters who roll in with a trailer or motorhome and need a clean, serviced place to stage. Hot showers and restrooms, on-site laundry, and a club and meeting room are confirmed, and the park is pet-friendly. Because this is a brand-new park, specific hookup levels, exact site counts, and final nightly rates are still being confirmed. Before you lock in your hunt dates, call (970) 436-5011 to confirm hookups, site availability, and rates. Booking your basecamp early matters during rifle seasons, when hunters from across the country converge on Moffat County.

What's On-Site

Tunatua is set up as a working basecamp, not just a place to park. Hot showers and restrooms let you clean up after long days glassing ridgelines, on-site laundry handles the dirt and the wear of a multi-week hunt, and a club and meeting room gives your party a place to plan the next morning’s push or break down the day’s results. The park is pet-friendly, so your hunting dog or camp companion rides along. Fishing, hiking, and pickleball are on the activity list for downtime and for non-hunting members of the group. As a new park opening August 1, 2026, the full amenity roster is still coming online, so call (970) 436-5011 to confirm what is available for your dates.

Other Places to Stay Near Craig, CO

<p>Tunatua RV Resort is built as a serviced hunting basecamp minutes from town, but a few state parks and campgrounds also serve travelers in the Craig area. Availability and rules change, so call ahead before you plan around any of them.</p>

Beyond the Hunt: Things to Do Around Craig

On the Water

The Yampa River runs near the park and offers a warm-water and transition fishery at and below Craig, where trout give way to northern pike, walleye, bass, and catfish. It is a relaxed change of pace on a rest day, not a Gold Medal trout stretch, which lies upstream near Steamboat Springs and Stagecoach. Elkhead Reservoir, about 15 minutes east, adds lake fishing and boating for the non-hunting members of your party.

Hunt-Season Guide for Craig, CO

Practical Tips for Hunting Out of Craig

Frequently Asked Questions