Colorado Elk and Hunting Season Information and Regulations, 2023 – 2024
*All information listed below is disclosed based on research we have conducted. We do our best to ensure that all information is up to date and accurate. However, rules and regulations are changing every day. Please make sure to verify your state-specific regulations prior to your hunt.
Colorado Elk Season
| Archery Elk Season | Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, 2023 and Sep. 2 – Sep 30, 2024 |
| Muzzleloader Elk Season | Sep. 9 – Sep. 17, 2023 and Sep. 14 – Sep. 22, 2024 |
| Rifle Elk Season | Oct. 15 – Oct. 18, 2023 and Oct. 12 – Oct. 16, 2024 |
*Colorado has a handful of specific location-based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and elk hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Colorado is home to some wonderful elk hunting. The license fees are different than for just deer, and there are some combos that include hunting/fishing.
Colorado Plains Deer Season
| Archery Plains Deer Season | Oct. 1 – Oct. 27, Nov. 8 – Nov. 30, Dec. 15 – Dec. 31 |
| Muzzleloader Plains Deer Season | Oct. 14 – Oct. 22, 2023 and Oct. 12 – Oct 20, 2024 |
| Rifle Plains Deer Season | Oct. 28 – Nov. 7, 2023 and Dec. 1 – Dec. 14, 2024 |
*Colorado has a handful of specific location-based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and plains deer hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Deer/Elk season runs September 2-30th and hosts a bag limit of four deer. No more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless are permitted per category.
Colorado Deer Season
| Archery Deer Season | Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, 2023 and Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, 2024 |
| Muzzleloader Deer Season | Sep. 9 – Sep. 17, 2023 and Sep. 14 – Sep. 22, 2024 |
| High Country Deer Season | Sep 9. – Sep. 17, 2023 and Sep. 7 to Sep. 15, 2024 |
*Colorado has a handful of specific location-based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and deer hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Colorado Pronghorn Season
| Archery – Bucks Only | Aug. 15 – Aug. 31, 2023 and Aug. 15 – Aug. 31, 2024 |
| Archery – Bucks & Does | Sep. 1 – Sep. 20, 2023 and Sep. 1 – Sep. 20, 2024 |
| Muzzleloader Pronghorn Season | Sep. 21 – Sep. 29, 2023 and Sep. 21 – Sep. 29, 2024 |
| Rifle Pronghorn Season | Oct. 7 – Oct. 15, 2023 and Oct. 5 to Oct. 13, 2024 |
*Colorado has a handful of specific location-based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and pronghorn hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Colorado Moose Season
| Archery Moose Season | Sep. 9 – Sep. 30, 2023 and Sep. 7 – Sep. 30, 2024 |
| Muzzleloader Moose Season | Sep. 9 – Sep. 17, 2023 and Sep. 14 – Sep. 22, 2024 |
| Rifle Moose Season | Oct. 1 – Oct. 14, 2023 and Oct. 1 – Oct. 14, 2024 |
*Colorado has a handful of specific location-based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and moose hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Colorado Bear Season
| Archery Bear Season | Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, 2023 and Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, 2024 |
| Muzzleloader Bear Season | Sep. 9 – Sep. 17, 2023 and Sep. 14 – Sep. 22, 2023 |
| Rifle Bear Season | Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, 2023 and Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, 2024 |
| Concurrent Rifle Bear Season | Oct. 14 – Oct. 18, 2023, Oct. 28 – Nov. 25, 2023, Nov. 11 – Nov. 17, 2023, Nov. 22 – Nov. 26, 2023 and Oct. 12 – Oct. 16, 2024, Oct. 26 – Nov. 23, 2024, Nov. 9 – Nov. 15, 2024, Nov. 20 – Nov. 24, 2024 |
*Colorado has a handful of specific location-based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and bear hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Previously interpreted as a problem or nuisance, black bears in Colorado were declared a game animal in 1935 and afforded protection under the state’s hunting regulations. Today, the bear season runs from the first week of September to mid-November.
Hunting, harassing, or harvesting bears within their dens is prohibited under all circumstances. Also, female black bears accompanied by cubs are not considered legal games.
Colorado Turkey Seasons
| Spring Turkey Hunting Season | April 15 – May 31, 2023 |
| Fall Turkey Hunting Season | September 1 – October 27, 2023 |
| Late Turkey Hunting Season | December 15, 2023 – January 15, 2024 |
*Colorado has a handful of specific location-based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and turkey hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website.
Colorado is home to two primary breeds of wild turkey-Mountain Merriam and Rios. Spring turkey season begins April 9th and runs through the end of May. Turkey tags are provided over the counter as well as through the limited license draw. Hunters age 18-64 are only allotted one turkey tag per fiscal year.
Please note- one must hold a turkey-specific license to harvest a turkey in Colorado. A small-game license will not suffice.
Colorado Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons
| Abert’s Squirrel | Nov. 15 – Jan. 15 |
| Common Snapping Turtle | Apr. 1 – Oct. 31 |
| Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Jackrabbit | Oct. 1 – End of February |
| Marmot | Aug. 10 – Oct. 15 |
| Prairie Dog | Jun. 15 – Feb. 28 |
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Jun. 15 – Aug. 15 |
| Squirrel | Oct. 1 – Feb. 28 |
| Coyote | Year Round |
| Band-Tailed Pigeon | Sep. 1 – Sep. 14 |
| Chukar Partridge | Sep. 1 – Nov. 30 |
| Dove | Sep. 1 – Nov. 29 |
| Greater Prairie-Chicken | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 |
| Grouse: Dusky | Sep. 1 – Nov. 28 |
| Grouse: Greater Sage | Sep. 11 – Sep. 17 |
| Grouse: Mountain Sharp-Tailed | Sep. 1 – Sep. 19 |
| Pheasant | Nov. 13 – Jan. 31 |
| Quail | Nov. 13 – Jan. 31 |
| Sandhill Crane | Oct. 2 – Nov. 28 |
| White-Tailed Ptarmigan | Sep. 11 – Oct. 2 |
| Wilson’s Snipe | Sep. 1 – Dec. 16 |
Duck, Coot, and Teal
| Northeast Zone | Oct. 9 – Nov. 27, 2023 and Dec. 18, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024 |
| Southeast Zone | Oct. 28, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024 |
| Mountain/Foothills Zone | Oct. 2 – Nov. 27, 2023 and Dec. 25, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024 |
| Western Zone | Oct. 1 – Oct. 18, 2023 and Nov. 6, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024 |
| Eastern Zone | Oct. 1, 2023 – Jan. 13, 2024 |
| September Teal Season | Sep. 10 – Sep. 18, 2023 |
* Colorado has a handful of specific location based regulations, primarily surrounding being East or West of I-25. With that being said, there are various units that need to be paid attention to when planning your hunts. For specific information on big game and small game and waterfowl hunting in Colorado, check the official Colorado Parks & Wildlife website
To hunt and claim small game or waterfowl you will need a small-game license, a combo small-game/fishing license, or a lifetime combo license. It is legal to hunt smaller game from one half hour prior to sunrise until sunset the same day. Bag limits and seasons vary greatly and are dependent on the category of animal you plan to hunt. However, they are statewide and annually reoccurring with little discretion.
Crossbow Regulations
Crossbows in Colorado are legal for all hunters during the regular season but legal only for the disabled during the archery season.
- Minimum bolt length of 16 inches.
- Broadheads are to have at least two steel cutting edges and must be a minimum of 7/8”.
- Minimum draw weight is 125 pounds.
Crossbow hunting regulations may shift according to the breed of animal throughout the state. Check the regulations before heading into the outdoors. Note: Additional crossbow-specific training is sometimes required before being granted permission to hunt with a crossbow.
Hunting Licenses in Colorado
All Colorado residents wishing to hunt must obtain a resident hunting license. Residents ages 18-64 must also purchase the Habitat Stamp in order to apply for a hunting license. Resident licenses are currently sold at $42.00. A non-resident license is very similar. Colorado residents and non-residents alike who are under the age of 18 prior to the first day the first season of the year may purchase a youth hunting license.
Disabled hunters may purchase a mobility-impaired license.
If you want to check out the next state on our list, click here to see Connecticut.
Or, you can check out the last state on our list, California
