This season at a glance
Archery deer and elk, and September rifle bear: September 2 to September 30. Rifle seasons: October 14 through November 22. Every date is below.
All of it comes from Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s published season structure. Archery and muzzleloader dates apply west of I-25 and in GMU 140. That’s all of Northwest Colorado, including every unit around Steamboat.
Deer and elk
| Season | 2026 dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Archery, deer & elk | Sept 2 – Sept 30 | |
| Muzzleloader, deer & elk | Sept 12 – Sept 20 | |
| 1st rifle, elk only | Oct 14 – Oct 18 | |
| 2nd rifle, deer & elk | Oct 24 – Nov 1 | |
| 3rd rifle, deer & elk | Nov 7 – Nov 15 | |
| 4th rifle, deer & elk | Nov 18 – Nov 22 |
Blaze orange, before you leave the truck. Colorado requires 500 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange or pink on an outer garment above the waist, plus a hat in the same color, visible from all directions. Camo orange doesn’t count. It applies to deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bear on rifle and muzzleloader licenses, and to archers hunting during a rifle season. What counts, and what 500 square inches looks like: Colorado’s blaze orange rule.
Bear
| Season | 2026 dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| September rifle bear | Sept 2 – Sept 30 | |
| With rifle deer & elk | Oct 14–18 · Oct 24–Nov 1 Nov 7–15 · Nov 18–22 |
Moose and pronghorn
| Season | 2026 dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Moose, rifle | Oct 1 – Oct 14 | |
| Pronghorn, muzzleloader | Sept 21 – Sept 29 | |
| Pronghorn, 1st rifle | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | |
| Pronghorn, 2nd rifle | Oct 17 – Oct 25 |
Plains deer, east of I-25
| Season | 2026 dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Plains muzzleloader deer | Oct 10 – Oct 18 | |
| Plains rifle deer | Oct 24 – Nov 3 |
Mountain lion
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain lion, 2026–27 | Nov 23, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027 |
Lion licenses are over the counter. You need the standard hunter education certificate and a separate mountain lion education exam. Do the exam early. People show up in November without it.
What else is open this fall
- Dusky (blue) grouse opened September 1, the day before archery. Almost nobody plans for it. Some of the best days in the high country.
- Fall turkey west of I-25: September 1 to October 4.
- Cottontail, snowshoe hare and squirrel open October 1.
- Pheasant and quail open November 14.
- Coyote is open year round. No furbearer permit needed.
Waterfowl dates are set by flyway zone. We’re still confirming which zone covers Routt County. Until then we’d rather leave them off than get a boundary wrong.
Before you go
- Colorado’s blaze orange rule. What the 500 square inches means, and what doesn’t count.
- Are trail cameras legal in Colorado? The regulation, word for word.
- 2027 Colorado big game season dates. Already set by CPW, so plan now.
Get ready
- Blaze orange. Vests and hats that count.
- Binoculars. You’ll find more elk with glass than with boots.
- Game calls. Elk, predator and turkey.
- Lights and headlamps. Dark walk in, dark walk out.
- Boots. Wet feet end hunts.
- Coats and jackets. Fourth season weather.
Sources. Season dates from Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s 2025–2029 Big Game Season Structure. Small game and mountain lion dates from the current CPW brochures. We re-check this page against CPW every February and after any Commission action. Always confirm against the current brochure before you buy a license or hunt. Spot an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.
Season alerts
Get the next guide first
One email when a new guide goes up. A note before each elk season opens. That’s it.
Elk Season checklist
