Overview
Known For
Colorado is known for its big game animals, especially trophy-class mule deer and elk. The state is home to the largest elk herd in North America with a population of 280,000 animals. And with more than 23 million acres of public land, Colorado boasts some of the best public hunting access in the country. For perspective, Colorado’s public-land acreage is equal in size to the state of Indiana.
Terrain
From its grass-covered eastern plains to the Rocky Mountain Front, Colorado’s terrain has everything from rugged mountains, rivers, valleys, and vast plains to desert lands, desert canyons, and mesas.
Colorado Hunting Seasons
Season | Start Date | End Date | |
---|---|---|---|
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Antelope – Archery (Bucks Only)
over-the-counter
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Aug 15, 2023 | Aug 31, 2023 |
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Antelope – Archery (Either Sex)
over-the-counter
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Sep 20, 2023 |
|
Antelope – Muzzleloader
|
Sep 21, 2023 | Sep 29, 2023 |
|
Antelope – Rifle
Limited Draw.
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
|
Bear – Rifle (2nd season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
|
Oct 28, 2022 | Nov 5, 2023 |
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Bear – Archery
over-the-counter and/or limited
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
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Bear – Rifle (September)
Limited Draw.
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
|
Bear – Muzzleloader
Licenses are over-the-counter with caps.
|
Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
|
Bear – Rifle (1st season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 18, 2023 |
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Bear – Rifle (3rd Season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
|
Nov 11, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
|
Bear – Rifle (4th season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
|
Nov 22, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
Coyote
No limit. No closed season
|
Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
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Deer – Archery
West of I-25 and Unit 140.
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader
|
Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
|
Deer – 1st Plains Archery
east of I-25, except Unit 140 |
Oct 1, 2023 | Oct 27, 2023 |
|
Deer – 2nd Rifle
Combined deer and elk. (Third elk rifle season.)
|
Oct 11, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
|
Deer – Plains Muzzleloader
east of I-25, except Unit 140 |
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
|
Deer – 1st Rifle
Combined deer and elk. (Second elk rifle season.)
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 5, 2023 |
|
Deer – Plains Rifle
east of I-25, except Unit 140 |
Oct 28, 2023 | Nov 7, 2023 |
|
Deer – 2nd Plains Archery
east of I-25, except Unit 140 |
Nov 8, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
|
Deer – 3rd Rifle
Combined limited deer/elk (4th season) |
Nov 22, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
Deer – Late Plains Rifle
east of I-25, except Unit 140 |
Dec 1, 2023 | Dec 14, 2023 |
|
Deer – 3rd Plains Archery
east of I-25, except Unit 140 |
Dec 15, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
Duck – Teal
Lake and Chaffee counties, and all areas east of I-25.
|
Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 18, 2022 |
|
Duck – Eastern Zone
See regulations for zone boundaries.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 13, 2023 |
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Duck – Southeast Zone
East of I-25 and south of I-70, and all of El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
|
Oct 28, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Duck – Western Zone 2
West of Continental Divide not included in the Eastern Zone.
|
Nov 6, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Duck – Northeast Zone 2
East of I-25 and North of I-70.
|
Dec 18, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Duck – Mountain/Foothills Zone 2
West of I-25 and east of Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
|
Dec 25, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Elk – Archery
West of I-25 and Unit 140.
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
|
Elk – Muzzleloader
|
Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
|
Elk – 1st Rifle
Separate limited elk.
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 18, 2023 |
|
Elk – 2nd Rifle
Combined elk and deer. The duration of the second and third rifle seasons for over-the-counter bull elk licenses have been reduced to five days if used in GMUs 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 131, 211, 214, 231, 301, and 441. If such licenses are used outside the severe winter GMUs, the full season dates apply. For more information, see the big game brochure. |
Oct 18, 2023 | Nov 5, 2023 |
|
Elk – 3rd Rifle
Combined elk and deer.The duration of the second and third rifle seasons for over-the-counter bull elk licenses have been reduced to five days if used in GMUs 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 131, 211, 214, 231, 301, and 441. If such licenses are used outside the severe winter GMUs, the full season dates apply. For more information, see the big game brochure. |
Nov 11, 2023 | Nov 17, 2023 |
|
Elk – 4th Rifle
Combined limited elk and deer.
|
Nov 22, 2023 | Nov 26, 2023 |
|
Mountain Goat
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location. See hunt tables and maps for details, pages 7–11 in sheep and goat regulation pdf. Some licenses are valid only for specific dates
|
Sep 5, 2023 | Oct 31, 2023 |
|
Goose – Light Goose Conservation Order
East of I-25. NOTE: The 2022-2023 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Brochure comes out in August annually. Season dates and fees are updated below at this time. https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/WaterfowlDatesFees.aspx
|
Feb 14, 2022 | Apr 30, 2022 |
|
Goose – Early Pacific
West of the Continental Divide.
|
Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 9, 2022 |
|
Goose – Pacific Flyway Eastern Zone
Check regulations for zone definition.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 4, 2023 |
|
Goose – Central Flyway South Park Season 1
Dark Goose. : Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park and Teller counties.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 13, 2023 |
|
Goose – Central Flyway North Park Season
Dark Goose.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 13, 2023 |
|
Goose – Central Flyway Regular Season 2
Light Goose. East of the Continental Divide, except areas designated as part\nof the special seasons below that include: Northern Front Range,\nNorth Park, San Luis Valley and South Park.
|
Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
|
Goose – Central Flyway South Park Season 2
Light Goose. : Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park and Teller counties.
|
Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
|
Goose – Central Flyway North Park Season 2
Jackson County. Light Goose.
|
Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
|
Goose – San Luis Valley Season 3
Light Goose. Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla and Rio Grande counties, and the parts of Archuleta, Hinsdale, Mineral, Saguache and San Juan counties east of the Continental Divide.
|
Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
|
Goose – Central Flyway Regular Season 1
Dark Goose. East of the Continental Divide, except areas designated as part\nof the special seasons below that include: Northern Front Range,\nNorth Park, San Luis Valley and South Park.
|
Oct 31, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
|
Goose – Pacific Flyway Western Zone 2
West of the Continental Divide not included in Eastern Zone.
|
Nov 6, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Only GMUs 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 131, 211, 214 and 441
|
Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 19, 2022 |
|
Sage Grouse (Season 1)
GMUs 2, 3, 11, 13, 18 except east of Colo. 125 in Grand County, 27, 28 except north and east of Grand CR 50 (Church Park Rd.) and U.S. 40, 37, 181, 201, 211, 301 and 441.
|
Sep 11, 2022 | Sep 17, 2022 |
|
Sage Grouse (Season 2)
Only GMUs 6, 16, 17, 161, 171 (North Park)
|
Sep 11, 2022 | Sep 12, 2022 |
|
Moose – Archery
|
Sep 9, 2023 | Sep 30, 2023 |
|
Moose – Rifle
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Oct 14, 2023 |
|
Pheasant (West)
West of I-25
|
Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 2, 2023 |
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Pheasant (East)
East of I-25
|
Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Quail (Season 2)
East of I-25 and north of I-70 from I-25 east to Byers and Hwy. 36 from Byers to Kansas.
|
Nov 13, 2021 | Jan 2, 2022 |
|
Quail (Season 1)
East of I-25 and south of I-70 from I-25 to Byers and Hwy. 36 from Byers to Kansas, and the parts of the following counties that are west of I-25: Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano, El Paso and Las Animas counties.
|
Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
|
Quail (Season 3)
West of I-25 except those areas west of I-25 in Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano, El Paso and Las Animas counties.
|
Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 2, 2023 |
|
Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location. See hunt tables and maps for details, pages 7–11. Some licenses are valid only for specific dates. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE CORRECT DATES FOR YOUR HUNT |
Aug 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location. See hunt tables and maps for details, pages 7–11 in sheep and goat regulation pdf. Some licenses are valid only for specific dates.
|
Nov 1, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
|
Turkey – Spring
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location.
|
Apr 9, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
|
Turkey – Spring
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location. |
Apr 8, 2023 | May 31, 2023 |
|
Turkey – Fall
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location. |
Sep 1, 2023 | Oct 27, 2023 |
|
Turkey – Late Season
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location. |
Dec 15, 2023 | Jan 15, 2024 |
|
Greater Prairie Chicken
Only GMUs 93, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, and 109, and all of Morgan Co., and those portions E of Colo. 71, and S of Colo. 14 and Hwy. 138.
|
Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |

The most accurate draw odds, harvest data, and application trends for hunters.
Toprut is designed to help hunters research, plan, and apply for hunts and tags every year.
- View draw odds for 11 western states.
- Explore comprehensive information on elk, deer, antelope, moose, sheep, mountain goat, and bison.
- Research using advanced filtering based on residency, species, weapon, and preference points.
- View success rates, harvest data, and applicant numbers to monitor trends.
Colorado Draw Specifics
COLORADO – ELK, DEER, ANTELOPE
Point System
- For elk, deer and antelope Colorado uses a Preference Point system
- Preference Points are like a place in line – 1st in 1st out. The applicants with the most Preference Points draw before those with less
- If you apply for and are unsuccessful drawing your 1st choice limited license, you will receive an additional Preference Point for future drawings
- Applicants may apply for Preference Points only during the primary application window that begins in early March but you must first buy a qualifying license
- Preference Points are considered for your 1st choice only – if you draw your 1st choice for a species and it is a limited license, your Preference Points are purged back to 0
- If nonresidents fail to apply or buy a Preference Point for a particular species in 10 consecutive years, they will lose all accumulated Preference Points for that species
Tag Allocation
- For elk and deer hunt codes that required six or more points for a Colorado resident to draw, up to 20 percent may go to nonresidents
- For hunt codes that required fewer than six points for a Colorado resident to draw an elk or deer license, up to 35 percent may go to nonresidents
- There is no maximum nonresident tag allocation for Antelope
- Nonresident allocations may increase if licenses remain after all Colorado resident first choices have been drawn for that hunt code
- License allocations do not apply to private-land only and Ranching for Wildlife licenses
- In a group of applications made up of both residents and nonresidents, all nonresidents in the group will count against the nonresident allocation
Understanding Draw Odds
- In Colorado we include 1 draw odds columns in our List View: Minimum Points to Draw – Draw Odds
- Draw Odds: This is the value that indicates how many Preference Points were required to successfully draw a tag in the Preference Point draw for everyone’s 1st Choice. So 25% @ 16 pts means that 25% of the applicants with 16 Preference Points were successful. In this example there are more applicants at 16 points than tags left to issue, so they randomly select from the pool of 16 point applicants until the quota is reached. It also means that 100% of applicants with more than 16 Preference Points were successful, and that 0% of applicants with less than 16 Preference Points drew a tag in the Preference Point draw. Use these columns to evaluate if you have any shot to draw a particular hunt using Preference Points given your total. It’s also a key indicator of demand for the hunt, and it’s implied quality.
Other Tips
- In Colorado if you apply as a group, the entire group will be entered into the drawing with the Preference Point total for the group member with the least points.
- There is a secondary drawing that includes the remaining limited licenses with quota remaining from the primary draw for deer, elk, pronghorn and bear. This draw is open to everyone, whether you applied in the primary draw or not. In ‘21 the application period is June 16 – June 30th wth results posted on July 6.
- Colorado has a large number of over-the-counter elk units and an unlimited number of tags can be purchased beginning in early August. These hunts are very popular and increasingly crowded, but you’ll be elk hunting! See our Over the Counter unit information here and here.
COLORADO – MOOSE, SHEEP, MOUNTAIN GOAT
Point System
- For moose, sheep and mountain goat Colorado uses a Preference Point + Weighted Point system
- Effectively, you must accumulate the maximum of 3 Preference Points before you have any chance to draw a tag – so if you’re new you will not have any chance for 3 years
- After you have 3 Preference Points, you accumulate Weighted Points. Weighted Points are a fancy way to effectively implement Bonus Points in an otherwise random drawing. For full details, read this and this
- Participating in the Weighted Point program is now optional. Once you have 3 Preference Points, you can opt out of paying the additional fee ($100 for nonresidents, $50 for residents) to accumulate Weighted Points
- There is no Point System for Desert Bighorn Sheep – the very few available tags in Colorado are issued randomly
- Points are considered for your 1st choice only – if you draw your 1st choice for a species and it is a limited license, all Points are purged back to 0
- If nonresidents fail to apply or buy a Preference Point for a particular species in 10 consecutive years, they will lose all accumulated Preference Points for that species
Tag Allocation
- Up to 10% of the available moose, sheep and mountain goat tags can be issued to nonresidents
Understanding the Draw Odds
- In Colorado we include 1 draw odds columns in our List View for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat
- Draw Odds: This is the value that indicates your draw odds given your Preference Points + Weighted Point total. So 1% @ 3 + 8 pts means your draw odds would have been 1% if you have accumulated your 3 Preference Points, and in addition have 8 Weighted Points.The more Weighted Points you have, the better your odds to draw are, if only very slightly. If you change the selected value in the “PREF + WEIGHTED PTS” dropdown, this value will recalculate.
Other Tips
- Drawing a bull moose, ram or mountain goat tag in Colorado involves a good bit of luck no matter how many points you have and you can easily go a lifetime without ever being successful. Have realistic expectations going in.
- If you harvest a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram with a half-curl or more, you must wait five years before applying for another bighorn ram license. During the five year waiting period, hunters may apply for ewe permits, but cannot accrue preference points.
- If you harvest a mountain goat, you must wait five years before applying for another mountain goat license.
- If you harvest a desert bighorn sheep, you cannot participate in future desert bighorn sheep drawings.
Colorado Licenses, Permits and Regulations
Colorado hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Colorado hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Colorado hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of game management units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Colorado.
Game Management Units
Colorado is divided into 185 game management units (GMUs), 93 of which offer over-the-counter (OTC) second and third rifle season hunting licenses. Altogether there are four separate rifle seasons, with the first and fourth being draw-only tags. Click below to view Colorado game management units in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers

CO Private Lands
Over 2,100,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Colorado. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

CO Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 29,000,000 acres in Colorado to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.

CO GMUs
Colorado Big Game, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat Game Management Units. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 3 Sublayers
- Big Game Mgmt Units
- Bighorn Sheep Mgmt Units
- Mtn. Goats Mgmt Units

CO Possible Access
onX has mapped 89,000 acres of possible access lands in Colorado including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

CO Walk In Access
Colorado Parks and Wildlife WalkIn Access Lands show CRP grasslands, sandsage, cholla rangelands, and cultivated cropland. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program

CO Species Activity
Big Game Migration and Species Data for the State of Colorado.
Includes 9 Sublayers
- Elk
- Whitetail Deer
- Bighorn Sheep
- Black Bear
- Moose
- Mountain Goat
- Mule Deer
- Pronghorn
- Turkey


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