Colorado Hunting Seasons 2018 – 2019

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Colorado Hunting Seasons now offer for EVERY PASSIONATE hunter more opportunities than ever before! Experience excitement and adventure and see what hunting in Colorado is truly about.

Colorado is a state with more than 23 million acres of public land, and there is no better place to experience hunting and connect yourself with beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Colorado is a paradise for every type of hunter, and it has what you need for a perfect hunting experience.

And, Colorado holds the record in the largest number of elk and considering that this is the most popular big game animal you can hunt. Other then elk, there are 9 more big game species you can choose from: mule, deer, mountain lion, bear, bighorn sheep, antelope, mountain goat, moose and whitetail deer.

Having many areas with beautiful meadows and ponds, you are right to expect that there is also an abundance of small game, birds and fish for you to catch.

No matter if you are a professional or a beginner in hunting, Colorado is the right place for every hunter.

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Colorado Hunting Seasons and All Available Games

colorado hunting season dates

1. Colorado Deer Seasons

Types

Seasons

Archery

*August 25 – September 23

Muzzleloader

*September 8 – 16

Plains Deer Archery

*October 1 – 26
*November 7 – 30
*December 15 - 31

Plains Deer Muzzleloader

*October 13 - 21

Plains Deer Rifle

*October 27 – November 6

*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone

2. Colorado Elk Seasons

Types

Seasons

Archery

August 25 – September 23

Muzzleloader

September 8 – 16

Rifle

October 13 – 17
October 20 – 28
November 3 – 11
November 14 - 18

3. Colorado Moose Seasons

Types

Seasons

Archery

*September 8 - 23

Muzzleloader

*September 8 – 16

Rifle

*October 1 - 14

*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone

4. Colorado Pronghorn Seasons

Types

Seasons

Archery

August 15 – September 20

Muzzleloader

September 21 - 29

Rifle

October 6 – 12 (Limited Draw)

5. Colorado Bear Seasons

Types

Seasons

Archery

September 2 - 30

Muzzleloader

September 8 - 16

Rifle

September 2 – 30 (Limited Draw)
October 13 – November 18 (over-the-counter with caps)

6. Colorado Mountain Lion Seasons

Types

Seasons

General Season

*November 19 – March 31, 2019

April Season

*April 1 – 30 (In certain units)

*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone

7. Colorado Turkey Seasons

Types

Seasons

Spring

*April 13 – May 26

Fall

*September 1 – October 25

Late Season

*December 15 – January 15

*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone

8. Colorado Waterfowl Seasons

Types

Seasons

Dark Geese

*September 29 – February 17

Light Geese

*November 3 - February 17

Early Canada Goose

*September 1 - 9

Duck and Coot

*September 29 – January 27

September Teal

September 8 - 16

Youth

*September 22 – October 30

*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone

Colorado Small Game & Other Birds Seasons

colorado hunting seasons 2019

Types

Seasons

Band-tailed Pigeon

September 1 - 14

Chukar Partridge

September 1 – November 30

Crow

November 1 – End of February

Dove

September 1 – November 29

Eurasian-collared dove

Year-round

European Starlings, English or house sparrows

Year-round

Greater prairie-chicken

*October 1 – January 6

Grouse

*September 1 – November 18

Pheasant

*November 10 – January 31

Quail

*November 10 – January 31

Sandhill Crane

*September 29 – November 25

Sora and Virginia rail

September 1 – November 9

Teal

*September 8 - 16

Wilson’s snipe

September 1 – December 16

Abert’s squirrels

November 15 – January 15

Beaver

October 1 – April 30

Bobcat

December 1 – end of February

Common Snapping Turtle

April 1 – October 31

Cottontails, snowshoe hare, white-tailed & black-tailed jackrabbits

October 1 - end of February

Coyote

Year-round

Fox & pine squirrels

October 1 - end of February

Marmot

August 10 – October 15

Prairie rattlesnake

June 15 – August 15

Wyoming (Richardson’s) ground squirrel

Year-round

Badger, Mink, Pine Marten, Gray Fox, Red Fox, Swift Fox, Raccoon, Ring-Tailed Cat, Striped Skunk, Western Spotted Skunk, Long-Tailed Weasel, Short-Tailed Weasel, Opossum, Muskrat

November 1 – end of February

*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone or sub-species

License Requirements

Every resident in Colorado who wants to purchase a Resident License is required to have Colorado residency. 

In Colorado, several types of licenses are available for purchase when hunting or taking animals. There are three main types of licenses: Limited Licenses, Leftover Limited Licenses and Over-The-Counter Licenses. 

Anyone who has between 12 and 17 years is allowed to hunt but can only buy a limited hunting license, and they cannot harvest a deer, elk or pronghorn with their license. For those who are born after January 1, 1949, there is a Hunter Education course which they’ll need to pass before purchasing any license.

Before buying a license for hunting mountain lion in Colorado, you are required to complete Mountain Lion Education and Identification Course, and then you can purchase your license. All licenses are available online.

Night Hunting in Colorado

In Colorado, you can hunt small animals one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except furbearers. They can be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Coyotes, raccoons, striped skunks, bobcats, red, gray, swift foxes and beavers can be hunted all night.

Artificial light is allowed on private and public lands to hunt, coyotes, raccoons, striped skunks, bobcats, red, gray, swift foxes and beavers. If you hunt on private lands you need a permit from a landowner, and a special permit when hunting with artificial lights. It’s illegal to hunt with a light that is attached to a vehicle or project a light from inside a vehicle. 

Night vision is not allowed. For special permits in different regions contact the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Where to Hunt in Colorado

colorado hunting seasons waterfowl

Colorado is divided into hunting areas which are called Game Management Units (GMU). In different areas, you are allowed to hunt various animals.

In some, there aren’t those restrictions, so it is essential that every hunter becomes familiar with the boundaries of areas in which they plan to hunt. 

Hunting areas are divided into three regions:

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