2026–2027 Colorado Big Game and Small Game Hunting: Dates, Licenses, and Zones
If you’re planning a trip for deer, elk, turkey, ducks, small game, or furbearers in Colorado, this guide pulls the current official details into one place. It covers dates, methods of take, permit rules, game management basics, youth options, and public-access planning for the 2026–2027 cycle.
A quick heads-up before you start planning: Colorado has already published its 2026 big-game and turkey materials, and current 2026 regulation chapters are in place for migratory birds and several annual small-game categories. If you also hunt neighboring states, it can be useful to compare timing with this Wyoming hunting seasons guide.
Quick Reference Points
Here’s the short version if you just want the broad calendar first:
- Deer: Archery opens Sept. 2, 2026. Muzzleloader starts Sept. 12. Rifle dates run from mid-October through late November depending on the hunt. Most deer tags are limited, with only select white-tailed opportunities sold over the counter in certain units.
- Elk: Similar core timing to deer. Some elk opportunities are limited, while others are available over the counter depending on unit, weapon type, and tag class.
- Bear: Archery and muzzleloader opportunities begin in September. Bear rules are more mixed than many people expect because some opportunities are limited, some are OTC, and some are add-on licenses tied to deer or elk licenses.
- Turkey: Spring runs April 11 to May 31, 2026. Fall varies by region, and the late private-land-only beardless period runs Dec. 15, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027.
- Ducks and geese: Colorado splits waterfowl by flyway and zone, so dates change a lot by region.
- Youth opportunities: The state offers reduced-cost youth licenses, youth-priority placement in some limited draws, youth-only turkey hunts in some units, a youth extended fall turkey window, and special youth/veteran/active military waterfowl days.
Big Game Overview
Colorado’s big-game calendar is straightforward on paper but gets complicated once you factor in draw status, OTC availability, GMUs, land type, and list classifications. The table below gives you the planning view first.
Big Game Overview Table
| Species | Archery | Muzzleloader | Rifle / Modern Gun | Tag Notes | GMU / Area Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Sept. 2–30, 2026 | Sept. 12–20, 2026 | 1st rifle: Oct. 14–18; 2nd: Oct. 24–Nov. 1; 3rd: Nov. 7–15; 4th: Nov. 18–22; plains rifle: Oct. 24–Nov. 3 | Most deer licenses are limited. OTC deer access is mostly limited to select white-tailed opportunities in certain units. Qualifying license required to apply for the draw, but not for OTC purchases. | First rifle is only available in select GMUs. Always match your hunt code to the exact unit group and land type. |
| Elk | Sept. 2–30, 2026 | Sept. 12–20, 2026 | 1st rifle: Oct. 14–18; 2nd: Oct. 24–Nov. 1; 3rd: Nov. 7–15; 4th: Nov. 18–22 | Mixed system: some hunts are limited, some are OTC, and some are left over after draws. Youth get priority in the secondary draw. | Eastern plains and units east of I-25 often involve much more private land, so access matters as much as the tag. |
| Bear | Sept. 2–30, 2026 | Sept. 12–20, 2026 | Sept. rifle: Sept. 2–30; 1st: Oct. 14–18; 2nd: Oct. 24–Nov. 1; 3rd: Nov. 7–15; 4th: Nov. 18–22; plains rifle OTC runs Sept. 2–Nov. 22; private-land-only rifle OTC also runs through Nov. 22 in applicable hunts | Bear is a mix of limited licenses, OTC rifle options, and OTC add-on licenses. Archery and muzzleloader add-on bear licenses require a deer or elk license for the same method and at least one overlapping unit. | Bear rules vary a lot by hunt code. Some eastern units are mostly private. Mandatory inspection and sealing rules apply after harvest. |
What matters most for big-game planning
For deer, elk, and bear, the date alone is only half the story. The bigger issue is whether your tag is limited, OTC, private-land-only, Ranching for Wildlife, leftover, or secondary-draw only. Colorado also uses List A, B, and C classifications, which control whether you can hold more than one license for the same species.
A few practical points:
- Primary draw deadline for 2026 big game: April 7
- Secondary draw deadline for 2026 big game: June 30
- Leftover / OTC sales start: Aug. 4, 2026
- Youth ages 12–17 get priority in the secondary draw
- A qualifying license is required for draw applications
- OTC licenses do not require a qualifying license
If you’re building a do-it-yourself trip, don’t just pick a unit because it looks good on a map. Look at access, landownership, road density, season pressure, and whether the hunt code is public-land valid or private-land-only.
Turkey Dates
Turkey is one of the easier categories to understand in Colorado because the spring, fall, and late windows are broken out clearly. The catch is that weapon rules change by time of year, and some areas are closed or restricted.
Turkey Dates Table
| Hunt Type | Dates | Weapon Rules | Bag Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring OTC | April 11–May 31, 2026 | Shotguns, bows, crossbows; rifles and handguns are not legal in spring | Part of the 2-bearded-turkey spring total | OTC valid only in listed huntable GMUs; some eastern units are private-land-only for OTC use |
| Spring Limited | April 11–May 31, 2026 in most listed units; a few unit-specific split dates apply | Same as spring OTC | Part of the 2-bearded-turkey spring total | One spring bird must be taken on a limited license if you take two total in spring |
| Spring Youth-Only Limited Hunts | April 11–May 31, 2026 in selected unit groupings | Same as spring | Same spring total rules | Several youth-only hunt codes are available in limited units |
| Fall OTC | Sept. 1–Oct. 4, 2026 west of I-25 and GMU 140; Sept. 1–Oct. 23, 2026 east of I-25 except GMU 140 | Shotguns, bows, crossbows, rifles, handguns, qualifying air guns, falconry | 1 either-sex turkey | Good fit for mixed-access private and public planning |
| Fall Limited | Sept. 1–Oct. 4 or Sept. 1–Oct. 23, 2026 depending on unit | Same as fall OTC | 1 either-sex turkey | Several SWA-only and youth-only unit options exist |
| Late Season Private-Land-Only | Dec. 15, 2026–Jan. 15, 2027 | Fall/late weapon rules apply | 2 beardless turkeys | OTC, private land only, valid in units 112 and 113 |
| Youth Extended Fall Opportunity | Nov. 21–29, 2026 | Based on the original unfilled youth license | Uses the original youth license | Youth under 18 with an unfilled fall license may hunt with a mentor who cannot hunt |
Turkey rules that trip people up
Spring and fall are not interchangeable. In spring, you’re dealing with a more restricted method-of-take setup and a bearded-bird framework. In fall, you move into more flexible firearm rules and an either-sex structure. Late winter turkey access is even more specific because it is private-land-only and limited to beardless birds in a narrow set of units.
A few extra notes worth keeping in mind:
- Spring closed units: 26, 45, 201, 371, 471
- Fall closed units include: 2, 21, 26, 30, 35, 36, 44, 45, 80, 81, 89, 90, 93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 106, 111, 115, 120, 201, 371, 471
- Hunters under 16 need a mentor in the field
- Youth under 18 can buy reduced-cost turkey licenses
Furbearer Opportunities
Colorado’s furbearer rules are useful because several opportunities are long and simple, but the license side is easy to mess up if you assume every species works like coyote.
Furbearer Opportunities Table
| Species / Group | 2026–2027 Dates | Bag Limit | License Requirement | Extra Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote | Year-round | Unlimited | Small-game license or furbearer license | No furbearer harvest permit needed, but HIP registration is required |
| Bobcat | Dec. 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 | Unlimited | Furbearer license, or small-game/combo license plus annual furbearer harvest permit | Mandatory seal/inspection after harvest |
| Beaver | Oct. 1, 2026–April 30, 2027 | Unlimited | Furbearer license, or small-game/combo plus furbearer harvest permit | Good one to double-check for water-access issues |
| Raccoon, badger, mink, muskrat, foxes, skunks, weasels, opossum, ring-tailed cat, pine marten | Nov. 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 | Unlimited | Furbearer license, or small-game/combo plus annual furbearer harvest permit | Night take is allowed for some listed species under state rules |
The big furbearer takeaway
The main exception here is coyote. It’s treated as a furbearer, but it does not require the separate annual furbearer harvest permit. That’s different from bobcat, beaver, raccoon, fox, and other true permit-based furbearer harvests.
If you want a flexible setup for mixed days in the field, the small-game license plus furbearer harvest permit is usually the most practical route. If you only care about furbearers, the stand-alone furbearer license may be enough.
Small Game Section
This is where Colorado starts to split into two buckets: species with clear annual windows already spelled out in regulation, and species whose refreshed upland-bird brochure entries may still be pending on the public site when you look them up.
Small Game Table
| Species | 2026–2027 Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit / snowshoe hare / jackrabbit | Oct. 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 | 10 of each species | One of the most straightforward small-game windows in the state |
| Abert’s squirrel | Nov. 15, 2026–Jan. 15, 2027 | 2 | Possession limit: 4 |
| Fox squirrel / pine squirrel | Oct. 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 | 5 of each species | Possession limit: 10 of each species |
| Dove (mourning and white-winged) | Sept. 1–Nov. 29, 2026 | 15 singly or in aggregate | Statewide |
| Chukar partridge | Sept. 1–Nov. 30, 2026 | 4 | Statewide |
| Pheasant | CPW refresh pending on public 2026 upland brochure at the time of writing; last official posted window was Nov. 8, 2025–Jan. 31, 2026 east of I-25 and Nov. 8, 2025–Jan. 4, 2026 west of I-25 | 3 cocks | Recheck before opening day |
| Quail (bobwhite, scaled, Gambel’s) | Nov. 8, 2025–Jan. 31, 2026 in southern/eastern portions and Nov. 8, 2025–Jan. 4, 2026 in other listed areas | 8 of each species | Recheck before opening day |
Complete Waterfowl Seasons
Colorado waterfowl planning is all about zones. If you skip that step, you can end up driving to the wrong side of a boundary with the wrong opening date.
Waterfowl and Migratory Bird Table
| Species / Zone | 2026–2027 Dates | Daily Limit | Permit Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks/Coots – Central Northeast Zone | Oct. 17–Nov. 29, 2026; Dec. 11, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027 | Ducks/mergansers 6 aggregate; coots 15 | East of I-25 and north of I-70 |
| Ducks/Coots – Central Southeast Zone | Oct. 28, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027 | Ducks/mergansers 6 aggregate; coots 15 | East of I-25 and south of I-70, plus El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, Las Animas |
| Ducks/Coots – Mountain/Foothills Zone | Oct. 3–Nov. 29, 2026; Dec. 25, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027 | Ducks/mergansers 6 aggregate; coots 15 | West of I-25 and east of the Continental Divide, with county exceptions |
| Ducks/Coots – Pacific Western Zone | Oct. 3–Oct. 20, 2026; Nov. 6, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027 | Ducks/mergansers 7 aggregate; coots 25 | West of the Continental Divide outside the eastern Pacific zone |
| Ducks/Coots – Pacific Eastern Zone | Oct. 3, 2026–Jan. 15, 2027 | Ducks/mergansers 7 aggregate; coots 25 | Routt, Grand, Summit, Eagle, Pitkin and specific western-slope areas |
| September teal | Sept. 12–20, 2026 | 6 teal | Lake and Chaffee counties plus all areas east of I-25 |
| Dark goose – Balance of Central Flyway | Nov. 2, 2026–Feb. 14, 2027 | 5 | Three daily bag limits in possession |
| Light goose – Balance of Central Flyway | Oct. 31, 2026–Feb. 14, 2027 | 50 | Unlimited possession |
| Dark goose – North Park / South Park | Oct. 3, 2026–Jan. 15, 2027 | 5 | Special-area frameworks |
| Dark goose – San Luis Valley | Oct. 3–Oct. 21, 2026; Nov. 21, 2026–Feb. 14, 2027 | 5 | Split season |
| Goose – Pacific Western Zone | Oct. 3–Oct. 11, 2026; Nov. 6, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027 | Dark 5 / Light 10 | West-side structure |
| Goose – Pacific Eastern Zone | Oct. 3, 2026–Jan. 6, 2027 | Dark 5 / Light 10 | Specific county and boundary definitions apply |
| Light goose conservation order | Feb. 15–April 30, 2027 | Unlimited | Federal duck stamp not required for this special conservation order |
Waterfowl permits you should expect
If you’re 16 or older and going after ducks or geese, you generally need:
- a small-game license
- a Colorado state waterfowl stamp
- a federal duck stamp
- HIP registration
Colorado also publishes youth, veteran, and active military waterfowl days by zone. Those 2026 dates are:
- Central Northeast: Oct. 10–11
- Central Southeast: Oct. 17–18
- Mountain/Foothills: Sept. 26–27
- Pacific Western: Oct. 24–25
- Pacific Eastern: Sept. 26–27
Other Available Game
Some of the most useful entries in a guide are the oddball ones. They’re the categories people forget until the week before a trip.
Other Available Game Table
| Species | Dates | Daily Limit | Useful Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandhill crane | Oct. 3–Nov. 29, 2026 | 3 | Requires free annual sandhill crane permit plus HIP and small-game license |
| Crow | Nov. 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 | Unlimited | Recorded or amplified calls are allowed |
| Prairie dog | Public land: June 15, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027; private land: year-round | Unlimited | Very different public/private setup |
| Common snapping turtle | April 1–Oct. 31, 2026 | 3 | Small-game or fishing license required |
| Marmot | Aug. 10–Oct. 15, 2026 | 2 | Possession limit 4 |
| Prairie rattlesnake | June 15–Aug. 15, 2026 | 3 | Possession limit 6 |
| Eurasian collared dove | Year-round | Unlimited | No license required because it is treated as an invasive species |
Hunting Zones and Access Areas
Before you buy anything, figure out where you can legally go.
Hunting Zones Table
| Category | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Big-game planning | Colorado uses GMUs. Your hunt code controls the exact unit group, method, and land class. |
| Turkey planning | Fall timing often changes by whether you’re east or west of I-25, with GMU-specific exceptions. |
| Waterfowl planning | Colorado uses Central and Pacific flyway structures with multiple subzones. Dates can change sharply across zone lines. |
| Public access | State Wildlife Areas, Walk-In Access properties, some state parks, BLM lands, and U.S. Forest Service lands can all be part of a trip plan. |
| Reservations | Some properties require reservations. Small game and waterfowl reservations can be made up to 14 days ahead; big game and turkey reservations can be made up to 45 days ahead. |
| Official map tool | Use the Colorado Hunting Atlas to check GMUs, access layers, and unit boundaries before you travel. |
The biggest access mistake people make is assuming public-looking country is automatically open. In this state, you really do need to sort out public versus private parcels, SWA rules, seasonal closures, and any local reservation requirement before you leave home.
Permits, Tags & Licenses
This is the part where a lot of trips get derailed. The date may be correct, but the wrong license stack will still ruin the day.
Permits, Tags & Licenses Table
| License Type | Current 2026 Fee Snapshot | Who It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual small game | $38.49 | Qualifying license for draws and general small-game access |
| Nonresident annual small game | $104.86 | Main nonresident small-game option |
| Youth annual small game | $2.53 | Under 18 |
| Resident spring turkey | $38.49 adult / $20.62 youth | Qualifying and direct turkey option |
| Nonresident spring turkey | $194.21 adult / $130.39 youth | Nonresident turkey option |
| Resident fall turkey | $32.11 adult / $20.62 youth | Fall application or purchase option |
| Nonresident fall turkey | $194.21 adult / $130.39 youth | Nonresident fall option |
| Resident deer | $51.25 adult / $20.30 youth | Big-game tag fee if drawn or purchased |
| Resident elk | $70.40 adult / $20.30 youth | Big-game tag fee if drawn or purchased |
| Resident bear | $64.01 / $19.93 youth | Big-game bear fee |
| Veteran lifetime combo | Free | Colorado resident veterans with qualifying disability/Purple Heart status |
| First responder lifetime combo | Free | Colorado resident first responders with permanent occupational disability |
Add-ons and extra requirements
- Habitat stamp: $12.76 for 2026, generally required for ages 18–64 when buying or applying for licenses in Colorado
- Furbearer harvest permit: $10 if you’re using a small-game or combo license to take most furbearers
- Colorado waterfowl stamp: $12.47
- Federal duck stamp: $33
- Band-tailed pigeon permit: $5
- Sandhill crane permit: $0, but still required
- Short-term small-game licenses: Colorado offers one-day and additional-day small-game options, but the live 2026 public small-game fee refresh was still catching up on some pages when this guide was prepared, so check the CPW buy/apply portal before checkout
- Mobility-impaired hunters: Colorado offers special license access and accommodation permits for qualifying hunters with permanent mobility limits
- Military and disability programs: The state also offers veteran lifetime combo and first responder lifetime combo options for qualifying residents
Colorado Hunting Quick FAQ
1) Do I need a qualifying license to apply for deer or elk?
Yes. For the draw, you need a current qualifying license. If you’re only buying an OTC license later, that qualifying license is not required.
2) Can I buy a bear tag over the counter?
Sometimes, yes. Some rifle bear options are OTC, and some archery or muzzleloader bear opportunities are available as add-on licenses if you already hold the right deer or elk license with overlapping units.
3) Is coyote treated the same as other furbearers?
Not exactly. You can hunt coyote with a small-game or furbearer license, and you do not need the separate furbearer harvest permit for coyote. You still need HIP registration.
4) Are all turkey hunts draw-only?
No. Colorado has both limited and OTC turkey options. Spring and fall each include OTC access in eligible units, while some better-controlled hunts stay in the draw.
5) Do I need both state and federal stamps for ducks?
If you’re 16 or older, yes. You need a small-game license, a Colorado waterfowl stamp, a federal duck stamp, and HIP registration.
6) Where should I look before choosing a unit?
Start with GMU boundaries, public-access layers, and landownership. The hunting atlas matters just as much as the brochure.
7) What is the safest way to avoid a bad date or wrong unit mistake?
Match the hunt code, the GMU, the method of take, and the land type together. Don’t rely on a simple calendar screenshot.
Conclusion
Colorado’s 2026–2027 game calendar is manageable once you break it into categories. Big game is mostly about draw strategy and GMU accuracy. Turkey is easier to read, but methods and access rules matter. Waterfowl is heavily zone-based. Furbearers and small game look simple until permits, HIP registration, or sealing requirements enter the picture.
So the smart move is pretty basic: verify your dates one more time, buy permits early, check access before you drive, and don’t assume one part of the state works like another. Bookmark this page if you want a working reference for the year and use it as a planning checklist before every trip.