Colorado Deer Hunting Season: Dates, Licenses, and Regulations for 2026
May 13, 2026
Colorado is one of the most coveted deer hunting destinations in the West, offering vast public land, trophy-class mule deer in the high country, and whitetails across the eastern plains. Before you pack your gear, you need to know exactly when the seasons open, which licenses apply to your hunt, and what regulations govern your time in the field.
This guide covers every key aspect of the 2026 Colorado deer hunting season — from archery opener to plains rifle close, bag limits to CWD rules — so you can plan a legal and successful hunt. Always confirm final details with the 2026 Colorado Big Game Brochure from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), as regulations can change.
Colorado Deer Hunting Season Dates
The general big game hunting season dates in Colorado for 2026 vary by species, method of take — archery, muzzleloader, or rifle — and Game Management Unit (GMU). CPW regulations provide a statewide framework of dates, but actual hunt periods may differ depending on hunt codes and unit-specific regulations.
Most archery seasons start in early September, muzzleloader seasons typically run mid-September, and rifle seasons are staggered through October and November, with some late hunts extending into December or even January. The table below summarizes the standard 2026 deer season structure for mountain and foothills units. Always verify your specific hunt code dates on your physical license.
| Season Type | Approximate 2026 Dates | License Type |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Limited draw and OTC (select units) |
| Muzzleloader | Mid-September (approx. Sept. 13–21) | Limited draw |
| Rifle Season 1 | Mid-October (limited draw) | Limited draw |
| Rifle Season 2 | Late October | Limited draw |
| Rifle Season 3 | Early–mid November | Limited draw |
| Rifle Season 4 | Mid–late November | Limited draw |
| Plains Early Rifle | October 24 – November 3 | Mostly draw, some Season Choice |
| Plains Late Rifle | December 1 – 14 | Mostly draw, some Season Choice |
For 2026, the Plains Early Rifle Deer Season runs October 24–November 3 and the Plains Late Rifle Deer Season runs December 1–14, with most licenses issued through the draw, though some Season Choice options are available in select units.
Important Note: Always check your physical license and the Colorado Big Game Brochure for specific hunting dates and legal hunting hours. Season dates listed here reflect the general 2026 framework — your individual hunt code may differ.
Weapon-Specific Seasons in Colorado
Colorado structures deer seasons around three primary weapon types, each with its own licensing pathway and set of rules. Knowing which weapon season you plan to hunt determines not just your season dates but also your orange requirements and legal equipment.
Archery Season opens first each fall, generally running September 2–30. Colorado deer hunting licenses include limited licenses through the primary and secondary draw for archery, rifle, and muzzleloader, and over-the-counter licenses for rifle and archery. Archery hunters may use compound bows, recurve bows, or longbows meeting CPW specifications. Crossbows are only permitted for hunters with a qualifying disability permit.
Muzzleloader Season typically falls in mid-September, bridging the gap between archery and rifle seasons. This season is limited draw only for deer. Your firearm must meet CPW’s definition of a muzzleloader — a single-shot, muzzle-loading firearm using black powder or an approved substitute. Inline muzzleloaders are legal, but scopes may be restricted depending on your specific hunt code; check the brochure carefully.
Rifle Seasons are the most heavily attended and run in four staggered phases from mid-October through late November. Colorado’s rifle seasons for big game are structured into multiple phases: Rifle Season 1 is often a shorter, limited draw season in October; Rifle Season 2 begins in late October, offering both limited draw and OTC options; Rifle Season 3 runs early to mid-November; and Rifle Season 4 covers mid to late November and is generally a limited draw season with fewer tags available.
Pro Tip: If you’re hunting during any open rifle season, all hunters in the field — including archery and muzzleloader hunters — must wear solid fluorescent orange or pink. During rifle seasons, all hunters — including archery and muzzleloader hunters — must wear solid fluorescent orange or pink, and all legal methods of take are allowed as long as rifle-season rules are followed.
Suppressors are also worth noting for those who legally own them. Suppressors are legal to own and use for hunting in Colorado. As long as you legally possess a suppressor in compliance with federal regulations, you are allowed to use it while hunting, including for big game species like mule deer.
Bag Limits and Antler Restrictions in Colorado
Colorado manages deer harvests primarily through the draw system itself, meaning tag quotas — not statewide bag limits — control harvest pressure. That said, there are clear rules about what constitutes a legal deer and how many you can take.
In general, each deer tag authorizes the harvest of one deer of the sex and type specified on your license. You are not permitted to harvest more animals than your license authorizes, and party hunting — group members taking animals under a different group member’s license — is illegal in Colorado.
Regarding antler restrictions, there are generally no statewide antler point restrictions — a legal buck simply needs antlers five inches or longer — but hunters must meticulously check the annual Big Game Brochure to see if their specific unit or hunt code has been selected for mandatory disease submission. Some Ranching for Wildlife (RFW) properties may carry additional antler requirements, so confirm your specific hunt code rules before heading out.
Key Insight: Unless specified for a specific Ranching for Wildlife property, Colorado does not have general antler point restrictions. Your license type — buck, doe, or either-sex — controls what you can legally harvest, not a minimum point count.
For antlerless deer, your license must specifically authorize antlerless harvest. Doe tags are issued through the draw in most units and are deliberately limited to manage herd populations. If your license says “buck,” taking an antlerless deer is a violation regardless of circumstances.
License and Tag Requirements in Colorado
Colorado’s licensing system has multiple layers, and understanding each one before you apply is essential to avoid missing deadlines or purchasing the wrong credential.
Qualifying License Requirement: Colorado requires all hunters — resident and non-resident — to purchase a qualifying Annual Small Game License before they can purchase or apply for any big game tag. The annual small game license costs $38.49 for residents, $104.86 for non-residents, and $2.53 for youth.
Deer Tag Costs (as of 2026): Resident deer tags are $51.25; non-resident deer tags are $506.92. All licenses include a $1.25 search-and-rescue fee and a $1.50 wildlife education fee. Additional required costs may include an application fee ($8.93 resident / $11.49 non-resident per species) and a $12.76 annual Habitat Stamp for hunters ages 18–64.
| Fee Item | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Small Game (Qualifying License) | $38.49 | $104.86 |
| Deer Tag | $51.25 | $506.92 |
| Habitat Stamp (ages 18–64) | $12.76 | $12.76 |
| Application Fee (per species) | $8.93 | $11.49 |
| Youth Deer Tag (ages 12–17) | ~$20.30 | $130.07 |
Draw Deadlines: The application season runs from March 1, 2026, to April 7, 2026, with big game draw results available May 26–29 for elk, deer, antelope, moose, and bear. You can still apply in the secondary draw (June 18–30) or buy leftover and OTC licenses starting August 4.
Hunter Education: Colorado law requires that individuals born on or after January 1, 1949, must complete an approved hunter education course before applying for or purchasing a Colorado hunting license. Hunter education classes are available in-person in a classroom setting or online with an in-person completion exam.
OTC License Note: OTC licenses do not require buying or having a qualifying license, do not use preference points, and may be purchased any time before and during a season. However, OTC deer options are limited — most deer licenses in Colorado require the draw. Check the Big Game Brochure for valid OTC deer units. If you’re also planning a turkey hunt in Colorado, your qualifying license covers both draw applications.
Hunting Zones and Public Land Rules in Colorado
Colorado’s hunting seasons are divided by species, weapon type, and geographic area — specifically Game Management Units, or GMUs. Understanding which GMU you’re hunting in is not optional; your license is valid only in the unit or units listed on your tag.
Hunters have access to more than 23 million acres of public hunting land in Colorado, spanning National Forests, BLM land, state wildlife areas, and Walk-In Access (WIA) properties. Throughout much of western Colorado, there is ample public land to hunt. The eastern plains have very little public land by comparison.
Key zone and access rules to know:
- Some areas within National Forests may have temporary closures, access restrictions, or special rules, so it’s important to contact the local Forest Service office before your hunt to get up-to-date maps and information.
- Always confirm the regulations for the specific GMU where you plan to hunt, as many GMUs include portions of National Forest land.
- The boundaries for Game Management Units 97 and 99 have changed for 2026. Hunters should check the CPW Hunting Atlas and ensure that they are using the latest versions of GPS or map applications for accurate boundaries.
- Non-resident hunters can hunt on public land in Colorado. Non-residents interested in hunting on private land can take advantage of CPW’s Walk-in Access Program.
For plains deer hunting, the Colorado Plains Rifle Season refers to designated big-game rifle hunting periods in the eastern plains units of the state, primarily east of I-25, where most land is privately owned and landowner permission is strongly advised.
If you’re also interested in other Colorado seasons, check out the Colorado goose hunting season guide and the Colorado dove hunting season guide for additional public land access tips that apply across species.
Hunter Orange and Safety Requirements in Colorado
Colorado takes hunter visibility seriously, and the orange requirements shift depending on which season is open in your area. Getting this wrong can result in a citation even if you’re hunting legally in every other respect.
During any open rifle season — including when rifle seasons overlap with archery or muzzleloader seasons — all hunters in the field must wear solid fluorescent orange or solid fluorescent pink. This requirement applies regardless of your method of take. The orange or pink must be worn as an outer garment, visible from all sides.
During archery-only seasons (when no rifle season is concurrently open in that unit), orange is not required but is strongly recommended for safety, especially in areas where multiple hunters may be present. CPW encourages all hunters to wear blaze orange or pink whenever possible.
Common Mistake: Assuming that because you’re an archery hunter, you don’t need to wear orange. If a rifle season is open anywhere in your GMU at the same time, you are required to wear solid fluorescent orange or pink as an outer garment. Check the season overlap dates for your specific unit in the Big Game Brochure before you hunt.
Beyond orange requirements, standard Colorado safety rules apply: treat every firearm as if it’s loaded, identify your target and what’s beyond it, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and never point a weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot. CPW also recommends that all hunters complete a hunter education course — even those who are exempt by age — as a refresher on field safety. You can find additional safety frameworks through resources like the International Hunter Education Association.
Harvest Reporting Requirements in Colorado
Colorado does not currently require mandatory online harvest reporting for deer in the same way some other states do, but there are critical field-tagging and reporting obligations that every deer hunter must follow immediately after harvest.
Sign and detach your carcass tag from your hunting license immediately after harvesting your animal. Carefully cut notches around the sides of the carcass tag to indicate the date of harvest and the sex of the animal. The carcass tag should be attached to the carcass — not to a detached head or hide carried separately — immediately prior to and during transportation in any vehicle, or while in camp or at a residence or other place of storage.
Tags must stay on until meat is processed and remain with meat until consumed. It is illegal to sign the tag before harvesting an animal.
Additional tagging rules:
- It is illegal to have or transport a big-game carcass without evidence of sex naturally attached. It is illegal to have only detached evidence of sex accompany the carcass.
- Evidence of sex for a buck is a head with antlers attached to the carcass, or a testicle, scrotum, or penis attached to the carcass.
- You must report big-game animals unintentionally killed — not due to carelessness or negligence — to a CPW office (or a local Sheriff’s office after CPW regular hours) before continuing the hunt and as soon as practical.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife conducts big game harvest surveys each year by phone or email. Participation is not required unless you’ve hunted bighorn sheep, moose, or mountain goat. For deer hunters, responding to CPW’s voluntary harvest survey is encouraged, as the data directly supports herd management decisions. If you hunt deer in other states, see how harvest reporting compares in our guides for Michigan deer hunting and Minnesota deer hunting.
CWD Zones and Carcass Transport Rules in Colorado
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the brains of deer, elk, and moose. It causes animals to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, and eventually die. Infected animals often show no signs of illness.
CWD has been found in several regions in Colorado, as well as other states and provinces. For deer, infection rates tend to be highest in prime-aged mature bucks.
2026 Mandatory Testing Update: There will be no mandatory CWD testing for harvested deer in the 2026 seasons. However, CPW will require mandatory submission of CWD test samples (heads) from all deer harvested during rifle seasons from specific hunt codes. There will be no charge for mandatory testing. If a hunter is not selected for mandatory testing but wants to know whether their harvested deer has CWD, they can submit their animal’s head and pay a testing fee of $25.
Voluntary Testing: Hunters may voluntarily submit their animal for testing for a fee of $25 per animal. CPW recommends submitting heads within five days of harvest for the most accurate results.
Carcass Transport Rules: Strict carcass transport restrictions apply. Whole carcasses generally cannot leave CWD zones or be imported from positive states. When transporting a harvested deer out of a CWD management zone, you must reduce the carcass to:
- Boned-out meat (no spine, skull, or brain tissue)
- Quarters with no spinal column attached
- Antlers, skull plates, or capes with no meat or brain tissue
- Finished taxidermy mounts
- Cleaned teeth or hooves
Important Note: Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends that hunters not eat the meat of an animal that tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. If your animal tests positive, a CPW representative will contact you with guidance on the reimbursement process.
Animals harvested in states other than Colorado will not be accepted at CPW submission sites. Animals from other states may be tested at Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. For more on how CWD regulations work in neighboring states, see our guides on Maryland deer hunting and Mississippi deer hunting.
Youth and Special Season Rules in Colorado
Colorado actively supports youth hunters through dedicated license preferences, reduced fees, and extended season opportunities that give younger hunters a head start before the general seasons open.
Youth hunters have youth-only hunting opportunities including small game, extended seasons for deer, elk, and pronghorn, and hunter outreach opportunities for big game (including moose), small game, waterfowl, and turkey hunting experiences.
Youth Preference in the Draw: Youth hunters receive 100 percent preference in the Secondary Draw, giving them first opportunity to draw licenses. The Secondary Draw does not use or award preference points. However, application fees, qualifying licenses, and a Habitat Stamp are still required.
Any eligible hunter ages twelve through seventeen will receive preference in the secondary draw for elk, deer, antelope, and bear licenses.
Youth License Costs: Youth under 18 get deeply discounted qualifying licenses ($2.50) and big game tags ($20.30 resident / $130.07 non-resident).
Accompaniment Requirement: Youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older. The accompanying adult may not hunt under the youth’s license — party hunting, or group members taking animals under a different group member’s license, is illegal in Colorado.
Mentored Hunting Program: Colorado’s Mentored Hunting Program allows youth hunters to participate in hunting under the supervision of a licensed adult mentor. This is an excellent pathway for first-time young hunters who have not yet completed hunter education.
Special Accommodations: Resident hunters experiencing disabilities can request accommodations for visual and physical disabilities to assist with their hunts. CPW also offers accommodation permits for hunters with disabilities who may need to use crossbows during archery season or access restricted areas.
Pro Tip: If you’re introducing a young hunter to deer season for the first time, look into CPW’s Hunt Planner service. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a “Hunt Planner” service to anyone looking at hunting Colorado. You can contact a CPW hunt planner at 303-297-1192, and they will help you apply and map out your hunt.
For a broader look at how youth deer seasons are structured across the country, our guides on Massachusetts deer hunting and Minnesota deer hunting seasons offer useful comparisons. Colorado’s preference-first approach for youth in the secondary draw is among the most hunter-friendly in the West, making it a strong state to introduce the next generation to big game hunting.