CO Hunting Seasons & Public Land

Colorado Hunting Seasons 2026 & GMU Map

Elk Aug 14–Sep 7. Deer Sep 2–Jan 15. Pronghorn Aug 15–Oct 11.

11,565 Seasons19 Species

Direct Answer

Colorado hunting seasons cover 11,565 season dates across 268 GMUs for Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn and more. Many big game hunts are draw or limited-entry, so confirm application windows before the deadline. Use the tables below for exact opening and closing dates by species and gmu.

Season data sourced from the Colorado wildlife agency. Always verify dates and regulations on the official site before hunting—regulations can change during the season.

Colorado Hunting Seasons by Species

Elk

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Unit 1RifleAug 15Jan 1589%
Unit 1RifleDec 1Dec 3189%
GMU 1ArcherySep 2Sep 30
Unit 1ArcherySep 2Sep 300%89%
GMU 1MuzzleloaderSep 12Sep 20
Unit 1MuzzleloaderSep 12Sep 200%89%
Unit 1MuzzleloaderSep 12Sep 200%89%
Unit 1RifleOct 1Oct 110%89%
GMU 1RifleOct 14Oct 18
Unit 1RifleOct 14Oct 180%89%
Unit 1RifleOct 24Nov 157%89%
GMU 1RifleOct 24Nov 1
Unit 1RifleNov 7Nov 1562%89%
GMU 1RifleNov 7Nov 15
Unit 1RifleNov 18Nov 2217%89%
GMU 1RifleNov 18Nov 22
Unit 10RifleAug 15Jan 1576%
Unit 10RifleSep 2Nov 3076%
Unit 10RifleSep 27Oct 176%
Unit 10RifleOct 4Oct 876%
Unit 10RifleDec 1Dec 3176%
GMU 10ArcherySep 2Sep 30
Unit 10ArcherySep 2Sep 3047%76%
GMU 10MuzzleloaderSep 12Sep 20

+ 2899 more Elk seasons

Deer

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Unit 1ArcherySep 2Sep 300%89%
GMU 1ArcherySep 2Sep 30
Unit 1MuzzleloaderSep 12Sep 20100%89%
GMU 1MuzzleloaderSep 12Sep 20
GMU 1RifleOct 14Oct 18
Unit 1RifleOct 24Nov 138%89%
GMU 1RifleOct 24Nov 3
Unit 1RifleNov 7Nov 15100%89%

+ 492 more Deer seasons

Pronghorn

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
GMU 1ArcheryAug 15Sep 20
GMU 1MuzzleloaderSep 21Sep 29
GMU 1RifleOct 3Oct 11
GMU 10ArcheryAug 15Sep 20
GMU 10MuzzleloaderSep 21Sep 29
GMU 10RifleOct 3Oct 11
GMU 100ArcheryAug 15Sep 20
GMU 100MuzzleloaderSep 21Sep 29

+ 492 more Pronghorn seasons

Antelope

GMUWeaponSeasonHarvestPublic
Unit 1MuzzleloaderSep 21Sep 2989%
Unit 1MuzzleloaderSep 21Sep 2989%
Unit 10RifleSep 20Oct 576%
Unit 10RifleOct 3Oct 1176%
Unit 100MuzzleloaderSep 21Sep 290%
Unit 100MuzzleloaderSep 21Sep 290%
Unit 100RifleOct 3Oct 110%
Unit 100RifleOct 3Oct 110%

+ 192 more Antelope seasons

Colorado Hunting Season FAQ

When does hunting season start in Colorado?

Colorado hunting season currently spans Aug 14 to Sep 7 for Elk, with other species opening at different times. Dates vary by gmu and weapon. This page lists 11,565 Colorado season dates across 268 GMUs.

What can you hunt in Colorado?

Colorado offers hunting for 19 species, including Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn and more. Each species has its own season dates, weapon rules and bag limits.

How many hunting GMUs does Colorado have?

Colorado is divided into 268 GMUs. Season dates, harvest rates and public-land access differ by unit—use the tables above to compare units before you apply or buy a tag.

Does Colorado use a draw or limited-entry system?

Yes. Many Colorado big game hunts are allocated by draw or limited-entry tags rather than sold over the counter. Always confirm application windows on the official Colorado wildlife agency site before the deadline.

State Resource

Always verify season dates and regulations with the official state wildlife agency:

Colorado Official Hunting Regulations

View Colorado on the map

See GMU boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas for Colorado on our interactive hunting map.

Also see Colorado public land, license, and regulations.

Hunt Colorado with offline maps