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CPW Area 12
Hunting in Prowers County
Prowers County hunting in one place: GMUs 132, 127, 146, 139, 126, the CPW Southeast Region, the duck zone, turkey status by unit, public land by owner, outfitters, stores and shooting hours.
Photo: Ron Knight (CC BY 2.0)
Where Prowers County fits in Colorado
On the CPW map, Prowers County belongs to the Southeast Region, whose territory runs across the Arkansas River valley, the southeastern plains and grasslands, the Wet Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo front and Pikes Peak country. CPW Area 12 covers it, with staff working out of Lamar (Lamar Office) under area wildlife manager Todd Marriott. Lamar is the county seat, and the Census Bureau estimated 11,957 residents in 2024, 0.4% down on the 2020 base of 12,003.
Count on 1,638 square miles of land within the county lines, about 1,048,580 acres. The state line puts Greeley County (KS), Hamilton County (KS) and Stanton County (KS) next door, alongside Baca County, Bent County and Kiowa County.
Population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; area from the 2024 Census gazetteer; neighbours from Census county adjacency; seat from the list of Colorado counties; CPW region, area and offices from the CPWAdminData layers and the CPW Contact Us page. Checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County GMUs and unit rules
Hunt codes for Prowers County come from 5 units; about 50% of the county sits in GMU 132. GMU 132 is entirely in-county; the rest straddle county lines. Treat the percentages as a rough guide. The legal line is the road, river or ridge the brochure names for each unit. All of these are plains units east of the foothills, where most land is private and OTC plains elk, whitetail and pronghorn archery licenses apply.
| Game unit | County part | Unit part | Also covers | APR elk | Test elk | Lion group | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 132 | 50% | 100% | None | No | No | Group 19 | OTC, private only | Draw only |
| GMU 127 | 28% | 49% | Kiowa | No | No | Group 19 | OTC, private only | Draw only |
| GMU 146 | 14% | 24% | Bent | No | No | Group 20 | OTC | Draw only |
| GMU 139 | 7% | 10% | Baca | No | No | Group 19 | OTC, private only | Draw only |
| GMU 126 | 1% | 2% | Kiowa, Bent | No | No | Group 19 | OTC | Draw only |
Any bull with visible antlers is legal under a bull license in these units; no point rule applies. The mandatory elk sampling units do not include any GMU in Prowers County. For lion, Prowers County units belong to group 19 (limit 5) and group 20 (limit 22). A group shuts as soon as its quota is filled. GMUs 146, 126 take the statewide OTC spring turkey license.
GMU shares from the CPW GMU boundary layer over Census county lines; boundaries in the 2026 Big Game brochure GMU descriptions; point rule from brochure p. 36; CWD units from brochure p. 41; lion groups from the 2026-2027 Mountain Lion brochure; turkey lists from the 2026 Turkey brochure; shed closure from brochure p. 12. Checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County season dates for 2026-27
Ducks follow five Colorado zones split by I-25, I-70 and the Continental Divide, which is why a county near a line can show two sets of bird dates.
| Quarry | Season type | Where | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery doe, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Archery either-sex, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader buck, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader doe, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader either-sex, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle either-sex, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited late-season | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited late-season | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle either-sex, limited late-season | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Elk | Plains rifle either-sex, OTC | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery either-sex, OTC plains | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery either-sex, OTC residents | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader buck, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader doe, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle buck, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle buck, private-land only | GMUs 132/146/139/126 | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, limited | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, private-land only | GMUs 132/146/139/126 | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, limited late-season | GMUs 127/146 | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, private-land only | GMUs 132/146/139 | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, limited late-season | GMU 126 | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, private-land only | GMU 126 | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Plains rifle, OTC | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Sep 2, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Mountain lion | Lion season | GMU 146 | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Mountain lion | Lion season | GMUs 132/127/139/126 | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, limited late-season | GMUs 132/127/146/139 + | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Season 1 | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season 1 | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| Ptarmigan | Season 1 | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September teal season | Listed areas | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Season | Southeast zone | Oct 28, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Dark geese | Season | Central Flyway | Nov 2, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Season | Central Flyway | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Light Goose Conservation Order | East of I-25 | Feb 15, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Prairie dogs | Private land, year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Snapping turtle | Season | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Ground squirrel | Year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Collared-dove | Year-round (invasive) | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Starling and sparrow | Year-round (invasive) | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Prairie dogs | Public land season | Statewide | Jun 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rattlesnake | Season | Statewide | Jun 15, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 | |
| Marmot | Season | Statewide | Aug 10, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Band-tailed pigeon | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | |
| White-winged dove | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Rails | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Fox squirrel | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pine squirrel | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Jackrabbits | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Season | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Sandhill crane | Season | East of the Divide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth and military days | Southeast zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Other furbearers | Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Crow | Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Abert's squirrel | Season | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Season | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the 2026 Turkey brochure and the 2026-2027 Mountain Lion brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County license options
Residents can buy an over-the-counter archery elk license, either sex, for GMUs 132, 127, 146, 139, 126 without entering the draw. Nonresidents may also buy OTC archery elk in GMUs 132, 127, 146, 139, 126, part of the plains and east-of-I-25 exceptions. The plains OTC rifle elk license (either sex) covers GMUs 132, 127, 146, 139, 126, mostly on private land with permission.
| Species | OTC season rows | Limited codes | Private-only codes | RFW codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deer | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Pronghorn | 0 | 19 | 9 | 0 |
| Black bear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wild turkey | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Across the county's units the 2026 brochures list 68 big game and turkey hunt codes; most are limited, so the draw decides who hunts. A current qualifying license (annual small game, a combo or spring turkey, among others) must be in hand before applying, and unsuccessful first choices earn a preference point.
| License | Colorado resident | Out of state |
|---|---|---|
| Elk, adult | $70.40 | $845.16 |
| Deer, adult | $51.25 | $506.92 |
| Pronghorn, adult | $51.25 | $506.92 |
| Black bear, adult | $64.01 | $302.56 |
| Mountain lion | $64.02 | $845.16 |
| Small game, annual | $38.49 | $104.86 |
Firearm hunters for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear wear at least 500 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or pink above the waist plus an orange or pink hat. The annual Habitat Stamp ($12.76) is required for adults 18 through 64.
OTC rows and hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure tables and the 2026 Turkey brochure; draw dates from brochure p. 4; fees from brochure p. 5 (nonresident big game prices are fishing combos and include the $1.25 search-and-rescue fee); orange rule from brochure p. 15. Checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County SWAs, trust land and federal acres
About 1.6% of Prowers County, near 16,772 acres, is public hunting land on these layers, chiefly CPW state wildlife areas. The State Land Board owns more trust land than the public figure shows, but only parcels leased by CPW for hunting access are open; the rest is leased and closed to the public. Starred lines show land that is mapped but not counted as open hunting ground. Map-measured acres differ from what agencies publish, so use the land pages for official numbers.
| Kind | Acres mapped |
|---|---|
| CPW state wildlife areas | 10,201 |
| CPW-leased trust land | 6,317 |
| BLM land | 369 |
| All State Land Board land* | 34,792 |
Prowers County SWAs, trust lands and forest
BLM Royal Gorge field office
BLM field office.
Queens STL
CPW species: Coyote, Deer, Dove, Pronghorn, Waterfowl.
Queens SWA
CPW species: Deer, Dove, Pronghorn, Rabbit, Waterfowl.
Two Buttes Reservoir SWA
CPW species: Bobwhite quail, Deer, Dove, Pheasant, Pronghorn, Rabbit, Scaled quail, Waterfowl.
Granada SWA
CPW species: Deer, Small game, Waterfowl.
Mike Higbee SWA
CPW species: Bobwhite quail, Deer, Dove, Pheasant, Rabbit, Scaled quail, Squirrel, Waterfowl.
Two Buttes STL
CPW species: Deer, Dove, Pheasant, Pronghorn, Rabbit, Scaled quail, Waterfowl.
Red Dog SWA
CPW species: Small game.
Deadman SWA
CPW species: Deer, Small game, Waterfowl.
More areas: Thurston Reservoir SWA, Holly SWA.
Next-county ground for Prowers County
- Turks Pond SWA32 miles, state wildlife area, Baca County
- Sweetwater STL33 miles, state trust land parcel, Kiowa County
- Treetop STL39 miles, state trust land parcel, Bent County
Bring a hunting or fishing license on SWAs and leased trust land; non-hunters 16 and older buy the SWA Pass. Property rules such as seasonal closures and vehicle limits come from each CPW page. Prowers County is also one of the counties with Walk-In Access properties: private land leased by CPW, foot traffic only, with the Habitat Stamp and a small game license.
Acres from the CPW managed properties layer (SWA and STL), USGS PAD-US 4.1 (Forest Service, BLM, refuges, parks, military) and the BLM field office layer; places from the CPW SWA finder, the STL finder and each land page; access rules from the CPW property pages. Checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County GMU harvest numbers, 2024
Because CPW stopped at the unit level (it has no county estimates), the table lists 2024 survey estimates for the GMUs in Prowers County. Top elk unit for 2024: GMU 146, 13 elk and 15% success across all methods. For deer, GMU 132 had the highest 2024 estimate at 102 (60% success). GMU 132 led for pronghorn with 78 animals. No bear harvest was estimated in these units for 2024. Success is the share of hunters who took an animal, all methods combined; small units with few hunters swing widely from year to year.
| Unit | % of county | Deer | Deer success | Elk | Elk hunters | Elk success | Pronghorn | Black bear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 132 | 50% | 102 | 60% | 0 | 26 | 0% | 78 | — |
| GMU 127 | 28% | 80 | 30% | 3 | 36 | 8% | 39 | — |
| GMU 146 | 14% | 44 | 26% | 13 | 91 | 15% | 65 | — |
| GMU 139 | 7% | 85 | 48% | 0 | 8 | 0% | 54 | — |
| GMU 126 | 1% | 76 | 33% | 5 | 47 | 11% | 72 | — |
Estimates from the CPW 2024 harvest reports by GMU: deer, elk, pronghorn and black bear; no county tables (CPW statistics pages); county shares from the CPW GMU layer. Checked November 5, 2026.
Birds and high-country game in Prowers County
Only one duck zone reaches Prowers County: the Central Flyway Southeast Zone. Dark goose hunting here uses the general Central Flyway season. Snow goose hunters east of I-25 get the conservation order from February 15 to April 30, 2027. Mourning doves open statewide on September 1, 2026 and close November 29, 2026. Migratory bird hunters need HIP, a $12.76 state stamp and the $33.00 federal stamp on top of the small game license.
| Birds | Zone or area | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks and coots | Southeast | Oct 28–Jan 31 (2026-27) |
| Youth and military days | Southeast | Oct 17–Oct 18, 2026 |
| Dark geese | Central Flyway | Nov 2–Feb 14 (2026-27) |
| Sandhill crane | Listed counties | Oct 3–Nov 29, 2026 |
| Light geese | Central Flyway | Oct 31–Feb 14 (2026-27) |
| Conservation order | East of I-25 | Feb 15–Apr 30, 2027 |
| September teal | Listed areas | Sep 12–Sep 20, 2026 |
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 29, 2026 |
Prowers County spring and fall turkey
In spring 2026 the OTC gobbler season ran April 11 to May 31, 2026, and 2 of 5 units in Prowers County took the OTC license (GMUs 132, 127, 139 on private land only). The 2027 spring turkey brochure was not posted at our check, so treat spring dates as last year's.
Prowers County high-country units
No bighorn sheep or mountain goat unit reaches Prowers County.
Waterfowl zones and dates from the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure (county lists derived from the zone text and the I-25, I-70 and Divide lines); doves from the dove season page; turkey from the 2026 Turkey brochure; sheep and goat units from the CPW bighorn and mountain goat unit layers and the 2026 Sheep and Goat brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County hunting events
Inside the county line: 1 listing ahead (RMEF banquet), checked November 4, 2026.
| Scheduled | Event | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2027 | RMEF Southeastern Colorado Banquet · RMEF banquet in Lamar | Lamar, Prowers County | Buy tickets | Source |
Phone list for Prowers County hunts
Questions about access, damage or violations in Prowers County go to the Area 12 office, where Todd Marriott serves as area wildlife manager. CPW offices close on state holidays, so call before driving in to buy a license or check an animal.
Towns of Prowers County
Prowers County also includes:
- Holly843
- Wiley437
- Hartman57
Inside the county we found 4 gun and outdoor stores and 2 outfitters and guides but no game processors and taxidermists. Registered outfitters are listed by mailing town from the DORA records; other businesses are directory listings worth a phone call before you drive.
Prowers County sporting goods
Prowers County DORA outfitters
Offices and area wildlife managers from the CPW Contact Us page and the CPW area layer; towns and places from the 2024 Census gazetteer; outfitters from the DORA licence data; other services from store locators and Yellow Pages listings. Checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County: gun clubs, clay fields and public ranges
Each Prowers County card gives the entry rule and the source (2 ranges in total).
Ranges from the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County legal shooting light
In Prowers County, the light goose conservation order and furbearer hunting both run to half an hour after sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Big game | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery elk/deer opens | 6:19 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. |
| Oct 28, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:10 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:38 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:02 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Prowers County FAQ
Which public tract in Prowers County is the biggest?
BLM Royal Gorge field office, 600,000 acres across all its counties.
Where is the closest CPW counter to Prowers County?
Lamar Office in Lamar, about 14 straight-line miles.
May I put out salt or grain for deer in Prowers County?
No. Hunting big game over bait, salt and grain included, is illegal; ordinary agricultural salt blocks are excepted.
Is there sheep or goat hunting near Prowers County?
Not inside the county.
What GMU is most of Prowers County in?
GMU 132, roughly 50% of its area.
When do OTC elk licenses go on sale for Prowers County?
Leftover and OTC licenses went on sale Aug. 4.
Does the four-point rule cover Prowers County?
No.
Is deer CWD testing required in Prowers County?
No, there is no mandatory deer testing in 2026.
How do I report a lion taken in Prowers County?
Call CPW within 48 hours and present the head and hide within 5 days.
Do Prowers County units open for fall turkeys?
Only where a limited fall license lists the unit.
What are the 2026-27 duck dates for Prowers County?
Southeast zone: October 28, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
Answers from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the Turkey brochure, the Mountain Lion brochure, orange rule, Sunday hunting, hunter education, CPW records note and the sources above. Checked November 5, 2026.
Prowers County last word
Sign and attach the carcass tag as soon as the animal is down, and keep evidence of sex naturally attached.
Sources: 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, CPW hunting, Census and the sources in each section. Checked November 5, 2026.