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, 2022 | Aug 31, 2022 |
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Antelope – Archery (Either Sex)
over-the-counter
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Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 20, 2022 |
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Antelope – Muzzleloader
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Sep 21, 2022 | Sep 29, 2022 |
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Antelope – Rifle
Limited Draw.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 9, 2022 |
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Bear (Add-on)
Archery and Muzzleloader Add-On Bear licenses are available in unlimited numbers. Hunters can ‘add-on’ an OTC bear license for archery or muzzleloader seasons if they hold a deer or elk license for the same method of take and at least one unit overlaps.
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Sep 2, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
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Bear – Archery
over-the-counter and/or limited
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Sep 2, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
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Bear – Rifle (September)
Limited Draw.
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Sep 2, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
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Bear – Muzzleloader
Licenses are over-the-counter with caps.
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Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 18, 2022 |
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Bear – Rifle (1st season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
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Oct 15, 2022 | Oct 19, 2022 |
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Bear – Rifle (2nd season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
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Oct 29, 2022 | Nov 6, 2022 |
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Bear – Rifle (3rd Season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
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Nov 12, 2022 | Nov 18, 2022 |
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Bear – Rifle (4th season)
over-the-counter and/or limited
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Nov 23, 2022 | Nov 27, 2022 |
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Coyote
No limit. No closed season
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Jan 1, 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 |
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Sandhill Crane
East of the Continental Divide except North Park (Jackson County) and San Luis Valley.
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Oct 3, 2022 | Nov 29, 2022 |
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Deer – Archery
West of I-25 and Unit 140.
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Sep 2, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
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Deer – Muzzleloader
Units: 1-86, 140, 161-861.
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Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 18, 2022 |
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Deer – 1st Plains Archery
Units: 87-139, 141-145, east of I-25.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 28, 2022 |
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Deer – Plains Muzzleloader
Units: 87-139, 141-147, east of I-25.
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Oct 10, 2022 | Oct 18, 2022 |
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Deer – 2nd Rifle
Combined deer and elk. (Third elk rifle season.)
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Oct 29, 2022 | Nov 6, 2022 |
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Deer – 1st Rifle
Combined deer and elk. (Second elk rifle season.)
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Oct 29, 2022 | Nov 6, 2022 |
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Deer – Plains Rifle
Units: 87-139, 141-147, east of I-25.
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Oct 29, 2022 | Nov 8, 2022 |
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Deer – 2nd Plains Archery
Units: 87-139, 141-145, east of I-25.
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Nov 9, 2022 | Nov 30, 2022 |
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Deer – 3rd Rifle
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Nov 12, 2022 | Nov 18, 2022 |
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Deer – 4th Rifle
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Nov 23, 2022 | Nov 27, 2022 |
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Deer – Late Plains Rifle
Units: 87-139, 141-147, east of I-25.
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Dec 1, 2022 | Dec 14, 2022 |
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Deer – 3rd Plains Archery
Units: 87-139, 141-145, east of I-25.
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Dec 15, 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 |
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Mourning Dove and White-Winged Dove
Statewide. Eurasian-collared dove ONLY can be hunted year-round.
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Sep 1, 2022 | Nov 29, 2022 |
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Duck – Teal
Lake and Chaffee counties, and all areas east of I-25.
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Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 18, 2022 |
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Duck – Eastern Zone
See regulations for zone boundaries.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 13, 2023 |
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Duck – Western Zone 1
West of Continental Divide not included in the Eastern Zone.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 18, 2022 |
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Duck – Mountain/Foothills Zone 1
West of I-25 and east of Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Nov 27, 2022 |
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Duck – Northeast Zone 1
East of I-25 and North of I-70.
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Oct 8, 2022 | Nov 27, 2022 |
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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.
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Oct 28, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Duck – Western Zone 2
West of Continental Divide not included in the Eastern Zone.
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Nov 6, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Duck – Northeast Zone 2
East of I-25 and North of I-70.
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Dec 18, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Duck – Mountain/Foothills Zone 2
West of I-25 and east of Continental Divide, except El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
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Dec 25, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Elk – Archery
West of I-25 and Unit 140.
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Sep 2, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
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Elk – Muzzleloader
|
Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 18, 2022 |
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Elk – 1st Rifle
Separate limited elk.
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Oct 15, 2022 | Oct 19, 2022 |
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Elk – 2nd Rifle
Combined elk and deer.
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Oct 29, 2022 | Nov 6, 2022 |
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Elk – 3rd Rifle
Combined elk and deer.
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Nov 12, 2022 | Nov 18, 2022 |
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Elk – 4th Rifle
Combined limited elk and deer.
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Nov 23, 2022 | Nov 27, 2022 |
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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
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Sep 6, 2022 | Oct 31, 2022 |
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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
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Feb 14, 2022 | Apr 30, 2022 |
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Goose – Early Pacific
West of the Continental Divide.
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Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 9, 2022 |
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Goose – Central Flyway San Luis Valley Season 1
Dark 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.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 19, 2022 |
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Goose – Pacific Flyway Eastern Zone
Check regulations for zone definition.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 4, 2023 |
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Goose – Central Flyway South Park Season 1
Dark Goose. : Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park and Teller counties.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 13, 2023 |
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Goose – Central Flyway North Park Season
Dark Goose.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 13, 2023 |
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Goose – Pacific Flyway Western Zone 1
West of the Continental Divide not included in Eastern Zone.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 9, 2022 |
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Goose – Central Flyway South Park Season 2
Light Goose. : Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Park and Teller counties.
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Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
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Goose – Central Flyway North Park Season 2
Jackson County. Light Goose.
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Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
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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.
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Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
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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.
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Oct 29, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
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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.
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Oct 31, 2022 | Feb 12, 2023 |
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Goose – Pacific Flyway Western Zone 2
West of the Continental Divide not included in Eastern Zone.
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Nov 6, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Dusky (Blue) Grouse
West of I-25 only.
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Sep 1, 2022 | Nov 28, 2022 |
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Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Only GMUs 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 131, 211, 214 and 441
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Sep 1, 2022 | Sep 19, 2022 |
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Sage Grouse (Season 2)
Only GMUs 6, 16, 17, 161, 171 (North Park)
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Sep 11, 2022 | Sep 12, 2022 |
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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.
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Sep 11, 2022 | Sep 17, 2022 |
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Moose – Muzzleloader
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Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 18, 2022 |
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Moose – Archery
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Sep 10, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 |
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Moose – Rifle
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Oct 1, 2022 | Oct 14, 2022 |
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Pheasant (West)
West of I-25
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Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 2, 2023 |
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Pheasant (East)
East of I-25
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Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Quail (Season 3)
West of I-25 except those areas west of I-25 in Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano, El Paso and Las Animas counties.
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Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 2, 2023 |
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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.
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Nov 13, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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Rocky Mountain 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.
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Aug 1, 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 |
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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, 2022 | Nov 30, 2022 |
|
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Turkey – Spring
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location.
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Apr 9, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
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Turkey – Fall
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location.
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Sep 1, 2022 | Oct 28, 2022 |
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Turkey – Late Season
Hunt dates vary by license type and hunt location.
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Dec 15, 2022 | Jan 15, 2023 |
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Chukar Partridge
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Sep 1, 2022 | Nov 30, 2022 |
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White-tailed Ptarmigan (Season 2)
Only GMUs 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74-81, 444 and 751
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Sep 11, 2022 | Nov 28, 2022 |
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White-tailed Ptarmigan (Season 1)
Statewide except GMUs 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74-81, 444 and 751
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Sep 11, 2022 | Oct 3, 2022 |
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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.
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Oct 1, 2022 | Jan 31, 2023 |
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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