Is Colorado Pheasant Season Open Nov. 14? What Colorado Law Requires for 2026-27
November 9, 2026
Pheasant hunting season in Colorado 2026-27 opens on a Saturday, and it opens on the same day across the whole state. The opener is November 14, 2026. Season 1, east of I-25, runs to January 31, 2027, while Season 2, west of I-25, runs to January 3, 2027.
That gives eastern plains hunters roughly eleven weeks and mountain-side hunters about seven. This article walks you through dates, licenses, limits, shooting hours, access, and the habits that put roosters in the bag.
Rules change, so the official Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) small game page is the place to confirm anything before you load the truck.
Pheasant Hunting Season Dates in Colorado 2026-27
Colorado splits pheasant season into two areas with a shared opening day. Season 1 covers east of I-25 from November 14, 2026, through January 31, 2027, and Season 2 covers west of I-25 from November 14, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Those dates come from the 2026 CPW Small Game and Waterfowl Brochure.
| Season | Area | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant Season 1 | East of I-25 | Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Sunday, January 31, 2027 |
| Pheasant Season 2 | West of I-25 | Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Sunday, January 3, 2027 |
Pro Tip: Some third-party sites still list November 8 dates. That was the 2025 opener. For 2026-27, use the CPW brochure dates above.
Youth Pheasant Hunting Season in Colorado
Colorado does not run a separate youth-only pheasant season in 2026-27. The brochure dates no youth pheasant season. Young hunters take birds during the regular season under the same bag limit as adults.
Youth do get a break on paperwork, and the habitat stamp applies only to hunters ages 18 through 64. If you are taking a kid out, plan the trip around hunter education requirements and a mentor who can stay within arm’s reach in the field.
Pheasant Season Zones, Regions and Counties in Colorado
Colorado’s pheasant zones are simple: Interstate 25 is the dividing line. Everything east of it is Season 1, and everything west is Season 2.
The real action sits in the eastern plains. CPW’s forecast groups the best pheasant country into regions, including East Central Colorado, which covers southern Yuma, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, and Kiowa counties. Northeast counties such as Yuma, Phillips, Sedgwick, and Logan, plus Prowers and Baca in the southeast, are the traditional hotspots where CRP grass and cropland meet.
- Northeast: Cornfield edges, shelterbelts, and river bottoms along the South Platte.
- Southeast: Milo stubble and CRP fields, especially in years without drought.
- West of I-25: Limited pheasant habitat, shorter season, mostly irrigated valleys and river corridors.
Pheasant Hunting License, Stamp and Permit Requirements in Colorado
You need a small game license, and most hunters also need a habitat stamp. To hunt Walk-In lands, a hunter must have a valid small game license, have a habitat stamp, and follow program rules. The CPW brochure also notes that small-game seasons continuing beyond March 31 require a 2026 small-game license.
Fees for 2026, as reported by mywild.report from CPW pricing in October 2026, are listed below. Confirm final prices in the CPW brochure or at purchase.
| Item | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Small game license | $38.49 | $104.86 |
| One-day small game license | $18.07 | $21.90 |
| 2026 Habitat Stamp (ages 18-64) | $12.76 | $12.76 |
Pheasant is not a migratory bird, so you do not need a federal duck stamp or HIP registration for pheasant alone. If you plan to hunt doves or ducks on the same trip, check the separate requirements for those species.
Nonresident Pheasant Hunting in Colorado
Nonresidents hunt pheasants in Colorado without a draw or a special tag. You buy the same small game license, at the nonresident price, and add the habitat stamp if you are 18 through 64.
The one-day option is the bargain for weekend trips. A single day costs $21.90 for nonresidents, compared with $104.86 for the full-season small game license. If you plan to hunt more than four or five days, the season license wins.
Most out-of-state hunters drive in from Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. Pair your trip with a Walk-In Access property and a reserved motel in Wray, Burlington, or Lamar before the opener fills them up.
Pheasant Bag and Possession Limits in Colorado
The limit is three birds a day. The daily limit is 3 roosters and 9 in possession. The possession limit applies to birds in your freezer and your cooler combined, so a multi-day trip can hit nine quickly.
- Daily bag limit: 3 roosters
- Possession limit: 9 roosters
- Applies to the same limit across both Season 1 and Season 2 areas
Rooster-Only and Hen Rules for Pheasant Hunting in Colorado
Colorado is a rooster-only state for wild and released pheasants. Only roosters may be taken. A hen in the bag is a violation, and wardens can ask to see your birds.
Roosters carry a bright red face wattle, a white neck ring, and a long, barred tail. Hens are mottled brown with a shorter tail. Flush decisions happen in a second, so call “hen” out loud when you see one and let it go.
Pro Tip: Keep a fan of the tail or a wing attached to field-dressed birds until you reach home. It makes the rooster-only rule easy to show.
Pheasant Shooting Hours in Colorado
Colorado’s small game shooting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Because the season opens in mid-November, sunrise comes late, so the legal window is short and sits around the cold morning and the warmer midday.
The CPW brochure lists the exact hours and the sunrise and sunset convention. Check it before the opener, because a few minutes of shooting after sunset is the most common reason hunters get ticketed.
Legal Weapons, Shot Size and Methods for Pheasant in Colorado
Shotguns are the standard tool for pheasant in Colorado. Select data sources list shotgun as the legal method for pheasant. Most upland hunters carry a 12 or 20 gauge with modified or improved cylinder chokes.
Nontoxic shot is required on many State Wildlife Areas and other public lands, so check the property rules before you buy shells. Lead shot restrictions vary by property, and steel or bismuth loads in sizes 4 to 6 work well for roosters.
Dogs are part of the method. Dogs are allowed as an aid in small-game hunting only.
Blaze Orange and Safety Rules for Pheasant Hunters in Colorado
Colorado does not require blaze orange for small game or upland birds, but wearing it is smart. Walking lines of hunters with dogs in tall CRP creates blind arcs, and bright orange is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
- Wear an orange vest and cap, especially when hunting in a group.
- Agree on safe zones of fire before the first push.
- Put an orange bandana or vest on your dog if it is working in thick cover.
- Stay out of the line of other hunters during blocker and walker drives.
Hunter education is required for hunters born on or after January 1, 1949, with limited exceptions. If you or a family member lack a certificate, finish a course before the season opens.
Wild vs. Stocked Pheasants in Colorado
Colorado’s pheasants are a mix of wild birds and stocked birds, and the difference shapes where you hunt. Wild ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) live on the eastern plains and are tough, wary, and run before they flush. They reward dog work and quiet approaches.
Stocked birds are released at select properties, including some State Wildlife Areas and private hunting clubs. They hold tighter and flush closer, which makes them a good choice for beginners and for training young dogs.
The rooster-only rule and the 3-bird limit apply on public ground. Private preserves may offer their own bag limits and seasons, so ask the club for its rules.
Where to Hunt Pheasants in Colorado: Public Land and Walk-In Access
Public pheasant hunting in Colorado is easiest through the Walk-In Access program, State Wildlife Areas, and some national grasslands. Walk-In hunters need a valid small game license and a habitat stamp, and must follow program rules. You can find property maps in CPW’s annual Walk-in Atlas.
The CPW Walk-in Access Program page lists the regular atlas and the Late Season Cropland atlas. The late-season cropland properties open after harvest and can hold birds into January.
- Download the Walk-in Atlas and mark properties near CRP and standing crops.
- Scout from the road a day early to see where birds are loafing.
- Park only in designated areas and follow property signage.
- Have a backup property in case another party arrives first.
Public land gets crowded on opening weekend. Hunt weekdays or later in the season when pressure drops.
Hunting Pheasants on Private Land in Colorado
Most of the eastern plains is private farmland, and asking permission is the path to the best birds. Knock on the door, introduce yourself, and tell the landowner how many hunters and dogs you are bringing.
Ask before the season, not on opening morning. Offer to share birds, help with a chore, or send a thank-you note after the hunt. Many landowners say yes to respectful hunters who close gates and leave no trash.
Trespass is a serious violation. Stay out of posted land, and never assume that an unmarked field is open.
Pheasant Population Outlook in Colorado This Season
Recent seasons have been better after the drought years. According to CPW’s 2025-26 forecast, hunters harvested more than 26,000 pheasants in Colorado in 2024-25. That was a 62.5% increase from the prior year but still the second-lowest harvest on record.
CPW’s forecast also noted that pheasant populations across the eastern plains would range from slightly better to significantly better than 2024. The ultimateupland.com Colorado page adds that production this year is unlikely to match the improving trajectory seen in 2025.
Habitat remains the limiting factor, especially in southeast Colorado. Check the latest CPW eastern plains forecast and talk to district wildlife officers for local conditions before choosing a county.
Best Time to Hunt Pheasants in Colorado
Opening weekend has the most birds and the most hunters. Roosters are naive, but public ground is crowded, and birds flush wild after the first few pushes.
Late season is the sleeper. After the first hard freeze and snow, birds bunch in thick cover near food, and weekday pressure drops. Mid-December through January can be the best time for a patient hunter with a good dog.
- Early morning: Birds are near field edges feeding on waste grain.
- Midday: Birds move to thick cover to loaf. Walk the heavy grass.
- Late afternoon: Birds return to feed and roost cover.
- After snow: Hunt cattails, plum thickets, and CRP with deep cover.
Hunting Pheasants with Dogs in Colorado
A good dog doubles your success and recovers birds you would otherwise lose. Colorado allows dogs for small game hunting, and the rule is that they are an aid only. Pointers, flushing spaniels, and retrievers all work.
Pheasants run, so a close-working flusher or a pointer with experience works best. Keep dogs within gun range, and watch for cactus, ice, and sharp stubble that can cut paws.
Bring water for your dog, because plains fields often have none. Carry a first aid kit, and check your dog’s feet and ears after each hunt.
Sunday Pheasant Hunting in Colorado
Sunday hunting for pheasants is legal in Colorado. The season runs every day between the opening and closing dates, and the calendar includes Sundays. Opening day itself falls on Saturday, and the east-of-I-25 season closes on Sunday, January 31, 2027.
Sundays are good days to hunt Walk-In properties because many weekend hunters head home early. Private land permission still applies every day of the week.
Tagging, Transporting and Possessing Pheasants in Colorado
Pheasants do not need a harvest tag in Colorado. A valid small game license and a habitat stamp, if required, cover the birds you take within the limit.
When you transport birds, keep proof of sex attached. A tail fan, wing, or head left on the carcass lets a warden confirm that you took roosters. Keep your possession total at or under nine birds.
- Leave a fully feathered wing or head on each bird in transit.
- Label birds you give away with your name and the date.
- Keep your license on you in the field.
If you are also planning a big game trip, see the related guides on Colorado deer season, Colorado turkey season, and dove season in Colorado.
Pheasant Hunting Season in Colorado 2026-27: Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Pheasant Season Open in Colorado in 2026?
November 14, 2026. The season closes January 31, 2027, east of I-25 and January 3, 2027, west of I-25.
How Many Pheasants Can You Shoot a Day in Colorado?
The daily limit is 3 roosters, with a possession limit of 9. Hens are not legal to take.
Do You Need a Habitat Stamp to Hunt Pheasants in Colorado?
Most hunters ages 18 through 64 need one. It is also required to hunt Walk-In Access properties, along with a small game license.
Is There a Youth Pheasant Season in Colorado?
No. The 2026 brochure lists no separate youth pheasant season, so young hunters hunt during the regular season.
Can Nonresidents Hunt Pheasants in Colorado?
Yes. Nonresidents buy a small game license, either full-season or one-day, plus the habitat stamp if they are 18 through 64.
Where Can You Find Public Pheasant Hunting in Colorado?
Start with the CPW Walk-in Atlas and State Wildlife Areas on the eastern plains. You can find more details in the CPW small game resources, including the 2026 brochure and corrections insert.
Pheasant season in Colorado is short, so a plan matters more than luck. Lock in your license, scout your Walk-In properties, and check the CPW brochure for the final word on dates and hours before November 14.