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Is deer season open in Colorado?

Every Colorado deer season we have read for 2026 from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, open or closed on the day you pick, and when the next one opens.

Colorado deer seasons 2026

Colorado's Second Rifle deer season opens Oct 24, 2026.

Nearly every Colorado deer license is limited, drawn for named units and one season, so the dates on your license are the ones that count, and private land, youth extended and special hunts on other dates are not included here.

Archery · West of I-25Sep 2 to Sep 30
Muzzleloader · West of I-25Sep 12 to Sep 20
Plains archery · Plains (east of I-25)Oct 1 to Oct 23 · Nov 4 to Nov 30 · Dec 15 to Dec 31
Plains muzzleloader · Plains (east of I-25)Oct 10 to Oct 18
First Rifle · West of I-25 · Select game management units onlyOct 14 to Oct 18
Second Rifle · West of I-25Oct 24 to Nov 1
Plains Rifle · Plains (east of I-25)Oct 24 to Nov 3
Third Rifle · West of I-25Nov 7 to Nov 15

2 more seasons

Fourth Rifle · West of I-25Nov 18 to Nov 22
Late plains rifle · Plains (east of I-25) · Plains units with a late hunt onlyDec 1 to Dec 14

Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), checked November 2026.

Deer Season DatesColorado · 2026

Which state?

Which zone?

Which day?

Deer season · Colorado · Today

Depends on zone

Depends on the zone. A deer season is open today in Plains (east of I-25). Pick your zone above.

Archery · West of I-25
Muzzleloader · West of I-25
Plains archery · Plains (east of I-25)
Plains muzzleloader · Plains (east of I-25)
First Rifle · West of I-25 · Select game management units
Second Rifle · West of I-25
Plains Rifle · Plains (east of I-25)
Third Rifle · West of I-25
Fourth Rifle · West of I-25
Late plains rifle · Plains (east of I-25) · Plains units with a late hunt

OctNovDec

ArcheryArchery
Sep 2 to Sep 30
West of I-25
Colorado's wording
"Deer Season Dates | ■ Archery Sept . 2–30* | *unless otherwise noted in the brochure tables"
MuzzleloaderMuzzleloader
Sep 12 to Sep 20
West of I-25
Colorado's wording
"Deer Season Dates | ■ Muzzleloader Sept . 12–20* | *unless otherwise noted in the brochure tables"
Plains archeryArcheryOpen
Oct 1 to Oct 23 · Nov 4 to Nov 30 · Dec 15 to Dec 31
Plains (east of I-25)
Colorado's wording
"87 Plains 87, 88, 89, 90, 95 Oct. 1–23 Either D-E-087- O1-A ANov. 4–30 Dec. 15–31"
Plains muzzleloaderMuzzleloader
Oct 10 to Oct 18
Plains (east of I-25)
Colorado's wording
"87 Plains 87, 88, 89, 90, 95 Oct. 10–18 Buck D-M-087- O2-M A"
First RifleFirearm
Oct 14 to Oct 18
West of I-25, Select game management units only
Colorado's wording
"■ First Rifle Oct. 14–18** | **In select GMUs. See the rifle hunt code tables."
Second RifleFirearm
Oct 24 to Nov 1
West of I-25
Colorado's wording
"■ Second Rifle Oct. 24–Nov. 1"
Plains RifleFirearm
Oct 24 to Nov 3
Plains (east of I-25)
Colorado's wording
"■ Plains Rifle Oct. 24–Nov. 3"
Third RifleFirearm
Nov 7 to Nov 15
West of I-25
Colorado's wording
"■ Third Rifle Nov. 7–15"
Fourth RifleFirearm
Nov 18 to Nov 22
West of I-25
Colorado's wording
"■ Fourth Rifle Nov. 18–22"
Late plains rifleLate
Dec 1 to Dec 14
Plains (east of I-25), Plains units with a late hunt only
Colorado's wording
"122 Plains 122, 127, 132 Oct. 24–Nov. 3 Buck D-M-122- O1-R A Doe D-F-122- O1-R A Dec. 1–14 Late Buck D-M-122-L1-R A"

Hunter orange

"The law requires hunters to wear at least 500 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material on an outer garment above the waist while hunting deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear with any firearm license. A fluorescent orange or pink hat or head covering, visible from all directions, is also required. Camouflage orange or pink does not qualify."

Hunting in Colorado

38 outfitters, guides and lodges listed in Colorado. Legal shooting hours in Colorado today.

See Colorado outfitters

Common questions

Deer season questions

Colorado's Second Rifle deer season opens Oct 24, 2026. Nearly every Colorado deer license is limited, drawn for named units and one season, so the dates on your license are the ones that count, and private land, youth extended and special hunts on other dates are not included here. Source: 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife).

Colorado's Archery season opens Sep 2, 2026 in the zones it covers. Source: 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife).

Colorado's rule says: "The law requires hunters to wear at least 500 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material on an outer garment above the waist while hunting deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear with any firearm license. A fluorescent orange or pink hat or head covering, visible from all directions, is also required. Camouflage orange or pink does not qualify."

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