Colorado’s deer season is a ladder, not a single opener. Archery starts September 2, four rifle seasons run from mid-October to late November, and a late plains hunt closes out the rifle calendar on December 14. Most tags go through a draw, so the date you hunt depends on the license you hold.
This page lays out deer hunting season in Colorado 2026-27 the way you will use it: dates by weapon, how tags work, where you can hunt, and what to do after the shot. Where a number depends on your unit or license type, the official place to confirm it is Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
Colorado’s license year runs April 1 through March 31, so the “2026 season” covers fall 2026 into early 2027, according to The Colorado Hunting Guide. Archery and muzzleloader have already closed for 2026 as of this writing, so the dates below matter most for the remaining rifle seasons and for planning next year.
Deer Hunting Season Dates in Colorado 2026-27
Colorado’s regular deer calendar for 2026 starts with archery and muzzleloader in September, then moves through four rifle seasons. Plains units east of I-25 run their own schedule. Private-land-only deer licenses have the longest window of all.
| Season | 2026-27 Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery (west of I-25 and Unit 140) | Sept. 2 – Sept. 30 | Mostly limited licenses |
| Muzzleloader | Sept. 12 – Sept. 20 | Draw only |
| First Rifle | Oct. 14 – Oct. 18 | Elk-primary; deer only with a limited optional-deer license |
| Second Rifle | Oct. 24 – Nov. 1 | Combined deer and elk |
| Third Rifle | Nov. 7 – Nov. 15 | Combined deer and elk |
| Fourth Rifle | Nov. 18 – Nov. 22 | Limited |
| Private Land Only (PLO) | Aug. 15, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 | Private land only |
The rifle dates match across DeerSeason.org and The Colorado Hunting Guide, which describe the first rifle season as elk-primary and the second and third as the full combined seasons. The PLO window comes from HuntingSeason.com, which cites CPW as its source.
Pro Tip: Your hunt code controls your dates. A second rifle tag does not let you hunt the third season, even though both are combined deer and elk seasons.
Archery and Crossbow Deer Season in Colorado
General archery for deer and elk runs September 2 to 30, 2026 west of I-25 and in Unit 140. East of I-25, plains archery deer runs in three windows: October 1-23, November 4-30 and December 15-31, per the Colorado Directory summary of the CPW calendar.
The September archery window has closed for 2026, so archery hunters still in the field are working the plains. The plains season closes during plains rifle seasons, which is why the November window has a gap at each end.
Crossbow use during archery seasons is limited in Colorado to specific hunters, such as those with a qualifying disability. Check the Big Game brochure on the CPW Big Game page before you pack a crossbow.
Muzzleloader Deer Season in Colorado
The statewide muzzleloader season for deer, elk and moose ran September 12-20, 2026, by draw only. Plains deer muzzleloader runs October 10-18 east of I-25, except Unit 140.
The plains muzzleloader hunt is the last muzzleloader opportunity left this year. If you plan to hunt it next fall, the draw application comes the spring before the season, and the 2026 draw deadline was April 7, according to Hunting Locator.
- Statewide muzzleloader: Sept. 12-20, limited licenses
- Plains muzzleloader: Oct. 10-18, east of I-25 except Unit 140
- Sights and ignition rules vary by license, so read the brochure rules for your hunt code
Firearm Deer Season in Colorado (Rifle and Shotgun)
Rifle deer hunting runs through four regular seasons. As of November 5, 2026, the first two have ended. The third rifle season opens November 7 and runs through November 15, followed by the fourth rifle season November 18-22.
Plains rifle deer hunting east of I-25 ran October 24 to November 3, and the late plains rifle season runs December 1-14, per DeerSeason.org. Most licenses for those hunts are issued through the draw.
- Third Rifle: Nov. 7-15, combined deer and elk
- Fourth Rifle: Nov. 18-22, limited licenses
- Late Plains Rifle: Dec. 1-14, east of I-25
Colorado’s big-game rules center on rifles, so check your brochure for shotgun and slug rules in your unit before you carry one for deer.
Youth and Disabled Hunter Deer Seasons in Colorado
Colorado does not run a separate youth deer season, according to MyWild. Youth hunters hunt during the same seasons as adults, using reduced-price youth licenses. StateOutdoors.org lists youth deer licenses at $18.90 for residents and $126 for nonresidents; fees shift from year to year, so confirm at purchase.
Hunters with disabilities may qualify for accommodations, including crossbow use and access permits on some properties. CPW handles those applications directly, so start with the Big Game brochure and the agency’s customer service line.
Antlerless, Late and Holiday Deer Seasons in Colorado
Late deer hunting in Colorado means the plains. The late plains rifle season runs December 1-14, and plains archery stays open through December 31, based on the 2026 dates published by Colorado Directory.
Private-land-only deer licenses reach into January 31, 2027. That makes PLO the only deer option that spans the holidays, but it works only on private land with landowner permission.
Antlerless licenses are sold by hunt code. Many are limited, so the hunt code you draw decides whether you can take a doe, a buck or either sex.
Colorado Deer Hunting Zones, Units and Counties
Colorado manages deer by Game Management Unit (GMU), not by county. The big dividing line is I-25: plains hunts apply east of it (except Unit 140), and mountain seasons apply west.
Unit boundaries change. For 2026, StateOutdoors.org notes boundary updates to GMUs 97 and 99. Always pull the current unit map from CPW before you scout.
Pro Tip: Match three things before you hunt: your hunt code, your GMU and your season dates. If any one is off, your license is not valid there.
Deer Bag Limits in Colorado
Colorado bag limits follow the license. One license generally means one animal, and the hunt code tells you whether it is a buck, doe or either-sex tag, according to AskHunting.
Some hunters can hold more than one deer license in a season, but only where the brochure allows it. Read the license description for your hunt code rather than assuming a second tag is legal.
Antler Point Restrictions and Buck Rules in Colorado
Colorado has no statewide antler point restriction for general deer licenses. Buck, doe and either-sex limits are set by the license type you hold.
The 2026 cycle added new buck deer licenses, as listed by StateOutdoors.org. If you plan to shoot a buck, confirm that your hunt code says buck or either-sex before you fill the tag.
Deer Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Colorado
You need a valid deer license for the correct hunt code, plus any required habitat stamp and hunter education if you qualify. CPW’s Big Game page explains that limited licenses go through the primary and secondary draws, while over-the-counter (OTC) licenses are available for rifle and archery in certain areas.
Nearly all deer tags in 2026 were draw-only rather than over-the-counter, per Hunting Locator. White-tailed deer is the notable exception, since CPW says some white-tailed deer licenses are available without entering the draw.
| License Type | How You Get It | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Limited mule deer | Primary or secondary draw | Uses preference points |
| Over-the-counter white-tailed deer | Buy any time before or during the season | No preference points |
| Plains archery (some units) | Over the counter | Check unit listing |
| Leftover licenses | Secondary draw or leftover sales | Availability varies |
Colorado is also changing its draw. Kalkal Online reports plans to split tags between a preference-point draw and a bonus-style random draw, so watch CPW announcements before next spring’s application.
Nonresident Deer Hunting in Colorado
Nonresidents can hunt deer in Colorado, but most tags come through the same draw as residents, and nonresident licenses cost far more. StateHunting.org lists a nonresident white-tailed deer license at $481.52 and a resident one at $47.91, though that page predates the current season, so treat the numbers as a ballpark.
The cheapest route for a first-time nonresident is often an over-the-counter white-tailed deer license on the plains. Purchase it through CPW so you pay the current fee.
Where to Hunt Deer in Colorado: Public and Private Land
Colorado has large tracts of public land in the mountains, mostly national forest and Bureau of Land Management ground, plus State Wildlife Areas. The plains are mostly private, so access there depends on permission or a program that opens private land.
CPW’s Landowner Preference Program and private-land-only licenses tie your tag to specific private ground. If you hunt private land, get permission before the season, because a valid license does not give you the right to cross a fence.
- Mountain units: mostly public land, higher elevation, mule deer country
- Eastern plains: mostly private land, whitetail and mule deer in river bottoms
- Private-land-only licenses: valid only on private land in the listed unit
Hunting Deer on Your Own Property in Colorado
Owning land does not exempt you from a license or season. You cannot shoot a deer in your backyard out of season, as HuntWise notes in its Colorado season guide.
Landowners who want a deer tag can apply through the draw like anyone else, and the Landowner Preference Program can help qualifying owners. If deer are damaging crops or property, contact your local CPW office about the legal options rather than acting on your own.
Blaze Orange, Shooting Hours and Legal Methods in Colorado
Rifle deer hunters in Colorado must wear fluorescent orange or pink during rifle seasons. CPW’s deer hunting page shows rifle hunters in blaze orange as a standard part of the hunt, and our rifle season breakdown covers the orange-or-pink question in detail.
Legal methods follow your season: archery equipment in archery season, muzzleloaders in muzzleloader season and rifles in rifle seasons. Legal shooting hours run from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, which you should verify against the brochure for your hunt date.
Pro Tip: Bring a printed copy of the brochure rules for your hunt code. Cell service is thin in many Colorado units, and you may need to show the rules to a wildlife officer.
Sunday Deer Hunting in Colorado
Colorado has no Sunday ban on big game hunting. If your license is valid and the season is open, Sunday is a legal hunting day, a point confirmed in our rifle season guide.
That includes Sunday, November 8, which falls inside the third rifle season. Private-property permission rules still apply on Sundays like any other day.
Chronic Wasting Disease Rules for Deer Hunters in Colorado
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is present in Colorado’s deer herds, and CPW runs testing programs. StateOutdoors.org reports that the 2026 cycle added mandatory CWD testing for rifle-season elk in specific units, so check whether your unit has testing rules for deer too.
Even where testing is voluntary, it is worth doing. Submit the head from your deer to CPW, avoid eating meat from an animal that looks sick, and wear gloves when you field dress. Follow the carcass transport rules in the brochure if you hunt in a unit with special restrictions.
Deer Harvest Reporting, Tagging and Transport in Colorado
Tag your deer right away, before you move it. Colorado requires you to validate the license by notching or marking the date as the brochure directs, and keep it with the animal.
Evidence of sex must stay with the carcass while you transport it, and you should keep your license on you. Leave meat and head attached to the carcass until you reach your destination, and follow any CWD rules for moving parts out of a restricted unit.
- Validate your tag at the kill site.
- Keep proof of sex attached.
- Transport the animal with your license.
- Submit the head for CWD testing if your unit requires it.
Best Time to Hunt Deer in Colorado
For mule deer, many hunters target the third rifle season in early to mid-November, when bucks start moving ahead of the rut. For plains whitetails, the late season in December can be productive once cold weather pushes deer to feed.
With only the third rifle, fourth rifle and late plains hunts left for 2026, the practical window is short. If you missed the draw this year, mark the spring application deadline and pick your unit early. For other Colorado seasons, see our guides to turkey hunting, bear hunting and dove hunting in the state.