Hunting in Colorado

Small game and upland-bird hunting in Colorado

See what a Colorado small-game license covers, the 2026 seasons and limits for common animals and birds, the extra permits some birds need, and the field rules that are easy to miss.

License first

One license covers a lot, but not everything

Annual, one-day, and combination licenses count

An annual small-game license, youth small-game license, one-day small-game license, or eligible small-game and fishing combination license can cover the species listed for small game. Most hunters ages 18 through 64 also need one annual Habitat Stamp, subject to CPW's listed exceptions.

HIP comes before the first trip

Register with the Harvest Information Program each season before hunting small game, coyote, or migratory birds. HIP is free, but a small-game license bought only to qualify for the big-game draw does not need HIP if you will not use it to hunt.

Turkey is separate

Colorado regulations list wild turkey with small game, but an adult small-game license does not authorize a turkey harvest. Buy the correct spring, fall, or late turkey license for that hunt.

Waterfowl and most furbearers add another layer

Ducks and geese use a small-game license, but hunters age 16 or older also need the required state and federal waterfowl stamps. Most furbearers need either a furbearer license or a small-game license plus the annual furbearer harvest permit. Coyote is the exception.

Common 2026 seasons

Pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbits, and squirrels do not share one calendar

Pheasant

The 2026 season opens November 14. East of I-25 it runs through January 31, 2027. West of I-25 it runs through January 3. The limit is three cocks a day and nine in possession.

Quail

The 2026 quail season also opens November 14. It runs through January 31 in the longer eastern and southern area described in Chapter W-3, and through January 3 in the other open areas. The limit is eight of each quail species a day and 24 of each in possession.

Dusky grouse

Dusky grouse is open west of I-25 from September 1 through November 22, 2026. The limit is three birds a day and nine in possession.

Cottontail, snowshoe hare, and jackrabbit

These seasons run statewide from October 1 through the end of February each year. The daily limits are 10 cottontails, 10 snowshoe hares, and 10 jackrabbits. The possession limit is 20 of each.

Abert's squirrel

The statewide season runs November 15 through January 15 each year. The limit is two a day and four in possession.

Fox and pine squirrels

The statewide season runs October 1 through the end of February each year. The limit is five of each species a day and 10 of each in possession.

Birds with extra rules

A small-game license is only the first check

Ptarmigan and two grouse species need an added permit

White-tailed ptarmigan, greater sage-grouse, and mountain sharp-tailed grouse require one annual species permit in addition to the small-game license and HIP. The permit does not make every unit open.

Some grouse seasons are short and unit-specific

The 2026 greater sage-grouse season is September 12 through 18 in most open units and September 12 through 13 in North Park. Mountain sharp-tailed grouse is open September 1 through 20 in listed units only. Gunnison sage-grouse has no open season.

Dove uses the small-game license and HIP

Mourning and white-winged dove season runs statewide September 1 through November 29 each year. The combined limit is 15 a day and 45 in possession. Waterfowl stamps are not required for dove.

Band-tailed pigeon adds its own permit

The statewide band-tailed pigeon season runs September 1 through 14 each year. You need the small-game license, HIP, and the annual band-tailed pigeon permit. The limit is two a day and six in possession.

Chukar and prairie-chicken use different maps

Chukar is open statewide September 1 through November 30 each year, with a limit of four a day and 12 in possession. Greater prairie-chicken is open October 1 through January 31 only in the eastern units and areas named in Chapter W-3, with a limit of two a day and six in possession.

Legal equipment

The animal decides which methods are legal

Most small-game mammals allow several methods

Legal methods include rifles or handguns, shotguns no larger than 10 gauge, hand-held bows, crossbows, air guns, slingshots, and hawking. A shotgun may hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined.

Bird rules are narrower

For nonmigratory small-game birds, rifles and handguns are legal only for dusky grouse and ptarmigan. The same is true for air guns and slingshots. Other listed birds may be taken with a legal shotgun, hand-held bow, crossbow, or hawk. A shotgun cannot fire a single slug.

Electronic calls are generally out

A hand or mechanical call is allowed. A recorded or electronically amplified call is not legal for ordinary small game. CPW allows electronic calls for furbearers, crows, and light geese during the conservation order season.

Bait, drones, and same-day camera feeds are out

Do not use bait for small-game mammals or game birds. Do not use a drone to find wildlife. A camera that sends a live image cannot be used to locate game for a hunt that day or the next day.

Colorado field quirks

A few rules change when other seasons overlap

Small-game hours end at sunset

Legal small-game hunting time runs from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. That is earlier than the one-half hour after sunset ending time used for big game.

Orange or pink is encouraged, not required

Small-game and migratory-bird hunters are not required to wear solid fluorescent orange or pink. CPW encourages it for safety, especially when big-game seasons are underway.

The west-of-I-25 rifle limit is easy to miss

During regular rifle deer and elk seasons west of I-25, you may not hunt game birds, small-game animals, or furbearers with a centerfire rifle larger than .23 caliber unless you hold an unfilled deer or elk license for that season. You still need the small-game license.

Dog use can change during big-game seasons

Dogs may flush, point, pursue, or retrieve small game. They may not be used for cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares, or tree squirrels on land where a regular deer, elk, pronghorn, or moose season is in progress.

Finding legal ground

A season and license do not create access

Walk-In Access opens enrolled private land

Walk-In Access parcels are private land enrolled for public hunting. Carry a valid small-game license and Habitat Stamp, follow the posted program dates, and stay inside the signed parcel. You do not need a separate Walk-In permit or landowner permission for an enrolled parcel.

Walk-In does not open every bird

The current program does not allow Gambel's quail, Gunnison sage-grouse, or greater sage-grouse on Walk-In parcels. A property's access dates also do not extend a closed species season.

Ordinary private land still needs permission

Get permission before entering private land, even when it is not fenced or posted. Confirm where you may park, where you may walk, and whether a wounded bird can be followed across another property line.

State properties can have their own rules

A State Wildlife Area, State Trust Land, federal parcel, or local open space can limit weapons, dates, reservations, parking, dogs, or the species allowed. Check the exact property page and current signs before the trip.

After a harvest

Limits, identification, and meat care follow you home

Bring out the edible meat

For small-game birds and small-game mammals, take all edible portions from the field and prepare them for people to eat. Make a reasonable effort to track and recover wounded wildlife.

Daily means the whole day

Wildlife eaten or donated on the day it is taken still counts toward that day's bag limit. The possession limit includes wildlife in the field, in transit, at home, or in storage.

Keep bird identification attached

Keep a fully feathered wing or head attached to a bird until it reaches your home or a commercial processor. Doves and band-tailed pigeons use separate transport rules. For pheasant, a foot with a visible spur may substitute.

Tag birds left with someone else

If migratory birds are left for cleaning, storage, processing, or taxidermy, attach a signed tag with your address, the species and number of birds, date of kill, and hunting license number.

Take this with you

Before a Colorado small-game or upland-bird hunt

✓ The species, 2026 dates, area, daily limit, and possession limit all match.
✓ The small-game license, Habitat Stamp, HIP registration, and any bird permit are settled.
✓ The weapon, shell capacity, call, dog, hunting hours, and overlapping big-game rules are clear.
✓ Access, private-land permission, bird identification, meat care, and transport are planned.

Official sources and review

Check the current rule before you act

These links go to the agencies that control this part of the trip. Use the exact page, license, listing, map, order, or confirmation for your situation.

Reviewed: July 2026 CPW — Small Game & Waterfowl CPW — Wildlife Rules and Regulations CPW — Small Game in the Field CPW — Harvest Information Program CPW — Turkey Hunting CPW — Walk-In Access

Use this carefully: CPW has adopted 2026 dates in final regulations, but the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure is due in August. Check the current brochure when it appears, the exact Chapter W-3 or W-5 rule, your license, and the property rules before hunting.

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