Colorado's 2026 hunting seasons are underway, with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) reminding both hunters and other outdoor recreationists to share public lands safely and respectfully this fall.

Big game season dates for 2026 are as follows: rifle bear season and archery season run September 2–30; muzzleloader season runs September 12–20; first rifle season is October 14–18; second rifle season is October 24 through November 1; third rifle season is November 7–15; and fourth rifle season is November 18–22. The complete list of season dates is available in the 2026 Big Game Brochure at cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/BigGame/biggame.pdf.

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Big game hunters using a firearm must wear fluorescent orange or pink in the field; camouflage orange or pink is not allowed. Archery hunters are exempt. CPW recommends — though does not require — that other recreation users also wear bright colors, particularly during muzzleloader and rifle seasons.

Most public lands in Colorado are open to multiple types of recreational use. Nonhunters should be aware that it is illegal to intentionally interfere with hunters, including causing animals to flee, denying access to public areas, or placing oneself in the line of fire.

Two regulatory changes take effect this season. Daily bag limits for 17 furbearer species — coyote, badger, red fox, gray fox, swift fox, mink, muskrat, opossum, pine marten, raccoon, ring-tailed cat, striped skunk, western spotted skunk, long-tailed weasel, short-tailed weasel, beaver, and bobcat — have been updated from unlimited to 2. Additionally, beaver season now runs October 1 through March 31 annually, shortened from the previous April 30 end date. Beginning October 1, 2026, hunters must personally present beaver hides and pelts to CPW for physical sealing to support harvest monitoring.

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Hunters are also reminded that gray wolves are protected under both the federal Endangered Species Act and state law. Penalties for illegally killing a gray wolf can include substantial fines, jail time, and loss of hunting privileges. CPW has published a guide to help outdoors users distinguish coyotes from gray wolves at cpw.widencollective.com/assets/share/asset/vgd3rogvrx. Additional wolf resources are available at cpw.state.co.us/living-wolves.

Additional limited licenses remain available for deer, elk, pronghorn, and bear. Over-the-counter licenses are still available for bear, elk, pronghorn, and white-tailed deer. Leftover and reissued licenses can be purchased in person at any CPW sales location, online, or by phone at 1-800-244-5613. A Reissue Preview List is posted every Tuesday, with hunter-returned licenses available for purchase each Wednesday morning.

Hunters can use the Colorado Hunting Atlas at ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/index.html?app=HuntingAtlas to find public land, topographic maps, big game migration corridors, and OHV trails. CPW also encourages all outdoor users to download the free Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) app at trails.colorado.gov to check active fire alerts before heading out.

Details on license availability and hunting resources are at cpw.state.co.us/hunting. General information about Colorado outdoor recreation is at cpw.state.co.us.