Colorado Bear Hunting Season: Dates, Licenses, and Regulations for 2026
June 8, 2026
Colorado is one of the most compelling destinations for black bear hunting in the American West, combining vast public land, a robust bear population, and a flexible licensing system that gives both resident and non-resident hunters realistic shot at filling a tag. Whether you plan to chase bears as a primary target or add a tag onto your elk or deer hunt, understanding the rules before you apply is non-negotiable.
This guide covers every key aspect of the 2026 Colorado bear hunting season — from species identification and season dates to license costs, legal weapons, bag limits, GMU zones, and field-proven tactics. Always confirm final details with the official 2026 Colorado Big Game Brochure from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), as regulations can change between publication and opening day.
Bear Species You Can Hunt in Colorado
Black bears are the only bear species managed through regulated hunting seasons in Colorado. No grizzly bears exist in huntable numbers in the state — the black bear is your quarry, and it comes in a surprisingly wide range of coat colors that can catch first-time hunters off guard.
Colorado is one of the western states where the opportunity to take a color-phase bear is quite good because guides and outfitters routinely report 50 percent of bears taken are colored. The most common colors are various shades of brown to cinnamon in most hunting areas, although blonde becomes more common in the southern reaches of the state.
Positive species identification matters because cubs and yearlings are protected. Cubs younger than one year old, and adult black bears accompanied by one or more cubs, cannot be harvested. Yearlings and cubs can be nearly the same size, and distinguishing them can be difficult — it is best to observe small bears for several minutes before shooting.
Pro Tip: Use quality binoculars to assess bear size before committing to a shot. Yearling bears tend to grow their fall coat slowly, so a bear with badly bleached, thin hair is probably a yearling (55–90 lbs). Two or three small bears of similar size together is most likely a group of cubs — even without the mother present, this suggests a sibling group.
Bear numbers in Colorado have steadily increased, just like the rest of the West. The statewide population is estimated as high as 20,000, although no recent population study has been conducted, so the count could be higher. That healthy population is precisely why CPW offers multiple license pathways and over-the-counter options in many units.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Colorado
Colorado structures its big game seasons by weapon type, and bear season follows the same framework as deer and elk. Colorado’s Big Game Season Structure (BGSS) for 2025–2029 changed some key rules, so even veteran hunters need to pay attention. Below are the standard 2026 statewide season windows.
| Season Type | 2026 Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2–30 | Statewide framework; unit-specific rules apply |
| Muzzleloader | September 12–20 | Overlaps archery season in many units |
| 1st Rifle | October 14–18 | Blaze orange required |
| 2nd Rifle | October 24–November 1 | Blaze orange required |
| 3rd Rifle | November 7–15 | Blaze orange required |
| Plains Rifle Bear | September 2–November 22 | OTC; eastern plains units only |
For the 2026 season, standard deer, elk, and bear seasons run: Archery (Sept. 2–30), Muzzleloader (Sept. 12–20), 1st Rifle (Oct. 14–18), 2nd Rifle (Oct. 24–Nov. 1), 3rd Rifle (Nov. 7–15). The Plains Early Rifle Deer Season runs October 24–November 3.
The Plains Rifle Bear Season runs September 2–November 22, 2026, and is over-the-counter. That extended window gives plains hunters a much longer opportunity than their mountain counterparts. Always check your physical license and the Colorado Big Game Brochure for specific hunting dates and legal hunting hours.
Key Insight: The best window for bear hunting is often mid to late September, when bears are highly visible feeding on natural mast crops. Timing your hunt around peak food availability dramatically improves your odds of spotting a bear in daylight.
If you plan to hunt deer in Colorado during the same trip, note that many deer and bear seasons overlap, which makes adding a bear tag to a deer hunt one of the most efficient ways to maximize your time in the field.
Bear Hunting Licenses and Tags in Colorado
Colorado offers three distinct pathways to a bear license, making it one of the more accessible big game species in the state. Colorado bear hunting licenses include limited bear licenses through the primary and secondary draw, over-the-counter rifle bear licenses, or limited add-on bear licenses if you are also hunting deer or elk.
License Types at a Glance
- Over-the-Counter (OTC): OTC licenses are not restricted in quantity but are restricted to certain units, seasons, and manners of take. Although they are considered “unlimited licenses,” they are still subject to purchase limits for each individual.
- Add-On Bear License: If you draw a license in a cow unit, you may add on a bear tag as well. Any hunt code with a bear pay symbol next to it in the big game regulations qualifies you to add on a bear tag after you have drawn your license.
- Limited Draw: There are limited licenses and secondary draws for bear tags if you are looking to hunt a quality unit with a sole focus on bears.
License Fees (as of 2026)
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident | Youth (Non-Resident) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Tag | ~$61.62* | $302.56 | $64.10 |
| Annual Small Game (qualifying license) | $38.49 | $104.86 | $2.53 |
| Habitat Stamp (ages 18–64) | $12.76 | $12.76 | Waived |
| Application Fee (draw hunts) | $8.93 | $11.49 | $11.49 |
*Resident bear tag pricing from outfitter sources; confirm exact resident draw pricing at CPWShop.com. Adult non-resident bear license fees for 2026 are $302.56. All prices include a $1.25 search-and-rescue fee and a $1.50 Wildlife Education Fund fee.
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.
Draw Deadlines
The application season for the primary draw ran from March 1, 2026, to April 7, 2026, with big game draw results available May 26–29 for elk, deer, antelope, moose, and bear. If you missed the primary draw, you still have options.
The deadline for the secondary draw is June 30 at 8 p.m. MDT, with a payment deadline of July 21. Any eligible hunter ages twelve through seventeen will receive preference in the secondary draw for elk, deer, antelope, and bear licenses. You can also buy leftover and OTC licenses starting August 4.
Hunters planning elk hunts in Colorado can often pair a bear add-on tag at minimal additional cost, making it one of the best value combinations in the state.
Important Note: All hunters born after January 1, 1949, must pass a hunter education course before getting a Colorado hunting license. Proof of hunter education from another state is generally accepted — carry it in the field.
Legal Methods and Weapons for Bear Hunting in Colorado
Rifles, archery gear, and muzzleloaders are all legal during the fall bear season. Muzzleloader season is one of the specific hunting periods that allow the use of muzzleloader firearms for black bear hunting. The weapon you carry must match the season type on your license.
Weapon-Specific Rules
- Archery: Hunters must meet minimum draw weight requirements and cannot use scopes or battery-powered electronics on bows.
- Muzzleloader: Must meet caliber minimums and use peep, open, or iron sights — optics are not allowed.
- Rifles and Handguns: Legal during rifle seasons. Hunters must ensure their firearm meets the minimum caliber requirements for the species they are targeting.
Blaze Orange Requirements
During any rifle season, hunters are required to wear at least 500 square inches of solid blaze orange or pink on the head, chest, and back. 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.
Prohibited Methods
Baiting is not permitted in Colorado, and the use of dogs is prohibited. In 1992, the citizen-approved Amendment 10 banned baiting practices and the use of dogs to hunt bears, as well as the spring hunting season. These restrictions are strictly enforced, so be sure your tactics comply before you head into the field.
Spot-and-stalk and ambush tactics are the primary methods, especially in areas with concentrated food sources. These approaches require patience and preparation but reward hunters who put in the scouting time.
Common Mistake: Assuming that hunting near a gut pile from an elk or deer you harvested counts as baiting — it does not. Party hunting, or group members taking animals under a different group member’s license, is illegal in Colorado. Always confirm what is and is not considered baiting with CPW before your hunt.
If you hunt other states as well, understanding how regulations differ is important. Compare Colorado’s rules with hunting laws in Montana or hunting laws in Idaho, where bear hunting rules and permitted methods can vary significantly.
Bag Limits and Harvest Reporting Requirements in Colorado
Colorado enforces a one-bear bag limit per season and backs it up with mandatory reporting requirements that give CPW the population data it needs to manage the herd responsibly.
Bag Limit
For big game, the general rule is one animal per license for deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn — the license specifies exactly what you can harvest. You may not use another hunter’s license to tag an animal you harvested, and you may not harvest more than one bear per season regardless of how many licenses you hold.
Mandatory Harvest Inspection
The pelt and head of all hunter-killed black bears must be presented to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer by the hunter within five days of the kill. The hide will be sealed and data on age, sex, and location of kill will be collected — this is an effort to monitor the number of bears killed and the age and sex of animals harvested by hunting time.
Bears cannot be taken out of Colorado until the head and hide are inspected and sealed. Hunters are required to present harvested bears to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife office within five business days of harvest.
Meat and Carcass Rules
All edible parts of bears must be properly prepared for human consumption, excluding internal organs. At a minimum, this means the four quarters, tenderloins, and backstraps.
Carcasses must have the carcass tag and evidence of sex attached. The carcass tag must be securely attached to the carcass — not the head or hide — or must accompany processed meat.
Important Note: Having a carcass, hide, skull, claws, or parts of bears without a valid hunting license or unless authorized by CPW is illegal. It is also illegal to sell, trade, barter, or offer to sell, trade, or barter bear gall bladders or edible portions of bears.
Black bear hunting requires a separate license and, in some cases, mandatory tooth submission after a successful harvest. This helps CPW monitor bear populations and age structures. Check with your CPW officer at inspection to confirm whether a tooth is required for your specific unit and license type.
Bear Hunting Zones and Units in Colorado
Colorado manages bear hunting through a system of Game Management Units (GMUs) that divide the state into distinct hunting areas, each with its own license allocations, season structures, and over-the-counter eligibility. Understanding how GMUs work is essential for choosing the right unit and license type.
How GMUs Work
Huntable areas are broken down into units called “game management units.” A GMU map is available through the Colorado Hunting Atlas or on the inside back cover of the Big Game Brochure. Colorado is divided into more than 180 GMUs, and the rules vary in each of them.
Each year, a set number of limited licenses is allotted to each game management unit. OTC bear licenses are available in many units, but not all — you must verify OTC eligibility for your chosen GMU in the Big Game Brochure before purchasing.
Top Bear Hunting Units
Units in southwest and central Colorado are particularly productive, including certain units like Units 70, 71, 80, 81, 54, and 55. These units feature mixed terrain, good food sources, and strong bear populations. Scouting and familiarity with food availability are key to success in these areas.
Colorado is home to 11 national forests covering approximately 13 million acres. Nearly all are located in the western half of the state, which offers the best bear habitat and subsequently the highest concentration of bears.
Public Land Access
Hunters have access to more than 23 million acres of public hunting land in Colorado, so there is plenty of terrain to explore and hunt. The majority of prime bear habitat falls within national forest boundaries in the western and central mountains.
| Region | Notable GMUs | License Type Available | Bear Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Colorado | 70, 71, 80, 81 | Limited draw + OTC | High |
| Central Mountains | 54, 55 | Limited draw + OTC | High |
| Western Slope | Various | OTC widely available | High |
| Eastern Plains | Plains units | OTC (Plains Rifle season) | Lower |
If you hunt other western states, you may find it useful to compare Colorado’s zone system with hunting laws in Minnesota or hunting laws in Virginia, where bear management zones work quite differently.
Tips for a Successful Bear Hunt in Colorado
Bear hunting is not easy. Over recent seasons, harvest estimates show that between 7 and 8 percent of all licensed bear hunters actually harvest a bear. The hunters who fill tags consistently do so by understanding bear behavior, scouting hard before the season, and executing patient glassing-based tactics.
Scout Food Sources First
Nearly all bears concentrate at local lower-elevation habitats where fruits and nuts are abundant from mid-August to late September or early October. Most of the good berry and nut-producing vegetation in Colorado is found in dense stands where visibility is limited.
In mid-August, Colorado bears go on a feeding frenzy looking for high fat and high-carbohydrate foods in preparation for winter. Depending on the timing and location, primary trees and plants include the serviceberry, chokecherry, pineberry, squaw apple, mountain ash, buffaloberry, and currant. Most of these foods are found at mid-and-lower elevations.
Wherever oakbrush thickets dominate the mountains, you can count on finding black bears feeding on acorns in September. Pinon pine is also a significant food source for bears during the fall.
Use the Hyperphagia Window
In mid-August, black bears enter a period of hyperphagia, or feeding frenzy. Their diets change — while their summer diets consist of leaves and flowers of broad-leafed plants and insects, in the fall bears eat primarily fruits and nuts. Fruits and nuts provide the high fat and carbohydrates needed to put on fat for winter hibernation.
Many bears actively forage up to 20 hours per day during the fall feeding frenzy. This contrasts with 2–4 hours of active foraging during much of the spring and summer. That extended feeding window means bears are on their feet and visible far more often during September than at any other time of year.
Glass From High Points
The better technique is to scout for areas with abundant bear food and bear sign, locate a higher point for observation, and patiently watch the area. This allows you to sight the bear and plan your stalk carefully.
During the feeding frenzy, each bear may defecate 5–15 times a day, so bear scat should be abundant. By casually examining the scat, hunters can find out what fruits the bears are eating, which in turn will help them figure out the area to be hunted.
Pro Tip: Bears know which areas have good fruit and nut production and will migrate 20 to 30 miles from their summer range to traditional fall ranges. Most of the better fruit areas are at lower elevations of bear habitat, often away from the pine and spruce-fir forests that many hunters associate with bears.
Read Bear Sign
Understanding the terrain, including drainages, ridges, and valleys, can significantly increase the chances of spotting a bear. Recognizing bear sign such as tracks, scat, and digging is essential for locating bears and predicting their movements.
Look for tracks, claw marks on trees, and scat to identify potential hunting spots. Fresh sign — especially scat containing berry seeds or fruit pulp — tells you a bear is actively feeding in that area right now, not last week.
Gear Up for Mountain Conditions
Bring quality optics, layered clothing for variable mountain weather, a pack frame for packing out meat, and bear spray for safety. Colorado’s September weather can swing from 80-degree afternoons to freezing nights, especially above 9,000 feet.
The most successful advanced strategies focus on three biological realities: bears are primarily crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), they are driven by caloric need, and they adjust their movements dramatically based on food availability. Plan your glassing sessions around first and last light for the best odds of catching bears on their feet in daylight.
Combine Tags Strategically
Colorado is a top destination for fall black bear hunting, thanks to its vast public lands, strong bear population, and overlapping seasons with deer and elk. Adding a bear tag to a turkey or goose hunting trip is less common, but pairing it with a deer or elk license is one of the smartest ways to maximize your time and tag investment in Colorado.
If you are exploring bear hunting opportunities across multiple states, review hunting laws in Tennessee or hunting laws in South Carolina for a comparison of how other states structure their bear seasons and regulations.
Know the Rules Before You Pull the Trigger
Going onto private land without getting permission first while hunting or performing any related activity is illegal. Private lands do not need to be posted or fenced, so it can be difficult to see boundaries. Violators may be suspended for up to 5 years for trespassing.
Carcass tagging is mandatory — once you harvest game, you must immediately tag it using your valid license. Failing to tag a harvested bear before moving it is a violation that can result in significant fines and license suspension points. Treat every harvest with the same attention to compliance that you bring to the shot itself.
For additional regulations that affect your time in the field beyond hunting, Colorado’s dog leash laws may also be relevant if you plan to bring a dog into the backcountry during your trip.