Colorado Elk Season 2026-27
Colorado elk season dates start with Aug 15, 2026-Jan 31, 2027. The table below keeps every listed elk row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Colorado's listed 2026-27 elk season runs Aug 15, 2026-Jan 31, 2027.
Rifle - Plains Elk - Plains opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Jan 31, 2027.
Rifle - First Regular Elk opens Oct 14, 2026 and closes Oct 18, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Elk
Elk
Private Land Only (PLO)
PLO elk season lies within August 15 - January 31 annually. Limited either-sex and antlerless elk licenses issued by GMU/DAU as needed. PLO either-sex elk licenses available where necessary.
Zone: Private Land Only
Elk - Plains
Rifle - Plains
Opens September 1 and runs through January 31, either-sex. All legal methods of take permitted.
Zone: East of I-25 except GMUs 104, 133, 134, 140, 141, 142
Elk
Rifle - First Regular
5-day season opening first Wednesday after October 8th. All elk licenses limited. Either-sex and antlered elk licenses issued by GMU/DAU; antlerless elk licenses may be offered in DAUs over population objective.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Elk
Rifle - Second Regular Combined
9-day season followed by 5-day break. Opens on Saturday, includes two full weekends. Limited either-sex, antlered, and antlerless elk licenses issued by GMU/DAU. Unlimited OTC licenses available for antlered elk in certain units.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Elk
Rifle - Third Regular Combined
9-day season followed by 2-day break. Opens on Saturday. Limited either-sex, antlered, and antlerless elk licenses issued by GMU/DAU. Unlimited OTC licenses available for antlered elk in certain units.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Elk
Rifle - Fourth Regular Combined
5-day season. All licenses limited. Limited either-sex or limited antlered, and limited antlerless; all licenses issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Elk
Rifle - Late
Limited antlerless seasons as needed to achieve population objectives. Season lengths variable within time frame by GMU/DAU and set annually.
Zone: Statewide by GMU/DAU
Elk
Archery - West of I-25 and GMU 140
29-day season. Limited either-sex, antlered and antlerless elk licenses issued by GMU/DAU. Unlimited OTC either-sex, antlered, and antlerless archery elk licenses can be made available to residents in certain units. Nonresident archery elk licenses are limited, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Elk
Muzzleloader - West of I-25 and GMU 140
9-day season opening second Saturday of September. Limited either-sex or limited antlered, and limited antlerless; all licenses issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Elk - Plains
Archery - Plains
29-day season. Plains archery elk season, fixed dates annually.
Zone: East of I-25 except select GMUs
Elk - Plains
Muzzleloader - Plains
Aligned with general muzzleloader season dates west of I-25. Opens 2nd Saturday in September, runs 9 days.
Zone: Plains GMUs 104, 133, 134, 141, 142
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Nearby elk seasons
Colorado Elk Season FAQ
When does elk season open in Colorado?
August 15, 2026 is the earliest listed elk opener in Colorado — private land only (plo) elk runs Aug 15, 2026-Jan 31, 2027. Confirm zone and permit details with Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
What are the 2026-27 elk season dates in Colorado?
Colorado lists 11 elk season windows: Private Land Only (PLO) Elk (Aug 15, 2026-Jan 31, 2027); Archery - West of I-25 and GMU 140 Elk (Sep 2-30, 2026); Muzzleloader - West of I-25 and GMU 140 Elk (Sep 12-20, 2026); Rifle - First Regular Elk (Oct 14-18, 2026); Rifle - Second Regular Combined Elk (Oct 24-Nov 1, 2026); Rifle - Third Regular Combined Elk (Nov 7-15, 2026); Rifle - Fourth Regular Combined Elk (Nov 18-22, 2026); Rifle - Late Elk (Nov 23, 2026-Jan 31, 2027); and more. Always verify against Colorado Parks & Wildlife before hunting.
Are there different elk seasons in Colorado?
Yes — Colorado lists separate elk seasons for Private Land Only (PLO) Elk, Archery - West of I-25 and GMU 140 Elk, Muzzleloader - West of I-25 and GMU 140 Elk, Rifle - First Regular Elk, Rifle - Second Regular Combined Elk, Rifle - Third Regular Combined Elk. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Do I need a license to hunt elk in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and elk hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with Colorado Parks & Wildlife.