Colorado Elk and Hunting Season Information and Regulations, 2022 – 2023
*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 |
| Muzzleloader Elk Season | Aug. 20 – Dec. 31 |
| Rifle Elk Season | Oct. 15 – Oct. 19, Oct. 29 – Nov. 6, Nov. 12 – Nov. 18, Nov. 23 – Nov. 27 |
*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. 28, Nov. 9 – Nov. 30, Dec. 15 – Dec. 31 |
| Muzzleloader Plains Deer Season | Oct. 8 – Oct. 16 |
| Rifle Plains Deer Season | Oct. 29 – Nov. 8, Dec. 1 – Dec. 14 |
*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 host 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 |
| Muzzleloader Deer Season | Sep. 1 – Sep. 19 |
| Rifle Deer Season | Oct. 30 – Nov. 7, Nov. 13 – Nov. 19, Nov. 24 – Nov. 28 |
*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 |
| Archery – Bucks & Does | Sep. 1 – Sep. 20 |
| Muzzleloader Pronghorn Season | Sep. 21 – Sep. 29 |
| Rifle Pronghorn Season | Oct. 2 – Oct. 10 |
*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. 10 – Sep. 30 |
| Muzzleloader Moose Season | Sep. 10 – Sep. 18 |
| Rifle Moose Season | Oct. 1 – Oct. 14 |
*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 |
| Muzzleloader Bear Season | Sep. 10 – Sep. 18 |
| Rifle Bear Season | Sep. 2 – Sep. 30, Oct. 15 – Oct. 19, Oct. 29 – Nov. 6, Nov. 12 – Nov. 18, Nov. 23 – Nov. 27, Sep. 2 – Nov. 27 (Private Land) |
*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, 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 game.
Colorado Turkey Seasons
| Spring Turkey Hunting Season | April 9 – May 31 |
| Fall Turkey Hunting Season | September 1 – October 28 |
| Late Turkey Hunting Season | December 15 – January 15 |
*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 – Feb. 22 |
| 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 |
| European Starling, House Sparrow | Year Round |
| 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. 28, Dec. 18 – Jan. 31 |
| Southeast Zone | Oct. 28 – Jan. 31 |
| Mountain/Foothills Zone | Oct. 2 – Nov. 28, Dec. 25 – Jan. 31 |
| Western Zone | Oct. 2 – Oct. 19, Nov. 6 – Jan. 31 |
| Eastern Zone | Oct. 2 – Jan. 14 |
| September Teal Season | Sep. 11 – Sep. 19 |
* 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
