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CPW Area 3
Hunting in Morgan County
Morgan County hunting in one place: GMUs 99, 95, 96, 100, 951 and 1 more, the CPW Northeast Region, the duck zone, turkey status by unit, public land by owner, outfitters, stores and shooting hours.
Photo: Paul L Dineen (CC BY 2.0)
Where Morgan County fits in Colorado
On the CPW map, Morgan County belongs to the Northeast Region, whose territory runs across the Front Range from Fort Collins to Denver, the South Platte valley, the northeastern plains and the high parks of the Continental Divide around North Park and South Park. CPW Area 3 covers it, with staff working out of Brush (Brush Office) under area wildlife manager Todd Cozad. Fort Morgan is the county seat, and the Census Bureau estimated 30,300 residents in 2024, 4.1% up on the 2020 base of 29,112.
Count on 1,280 square miles of land within the county lines, about 819,510 acres. The counties around it are Adams County, Logan County, Washington County and Weld 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.
Morgan County GMUs and unit rules
Hunt codes for Morgan County come from 6 units; about 40% of the county sits in GMU 99. No GMU is entirely in-county, which means the unit table matters more than the county boundary. 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 99 | 40% | 31% | Adams, Weld, Washington + | No | No | Group 19 | OTC | Closed |
| GMU 95 | 34% | 58% | Weld, Logan, Washington | No | No | Group 19 | OTC | Closed |
| GMU 96 | 14% | 72% | Logan, Washington | No | No | Group 19 | Draw only | Draw only |
| GMU 100 | 9% | 11% | Washington | No | No | Group 19 | OTC | Closed |
| GMU 951 | 3% | 4% | Weld | No | No | Group 19 | OTC | OTC |
| GMU 97 | 1% | 3% | Washington, Logan | No | No | Group 19 | OTC | Closed |
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 Morgan County. For lion, Morgan County units belong to group 19 (limit 5). A group shuts as soon as its quota is filled. GMUs 99, 95, 100, 951, 97 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.
Morgan County license and season calendar
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 either-sex, limited | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Season-choice doe, limited | GMUs 99/95/100/97 | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Season-choice doe, private-land only | GMU 96 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Deer | Season-choice either-sex, limited | GMUs 99/95/100/97 | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader buck, limited | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader doe, limited | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, private-land only | GMU 951 | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited late-season | GMU 100 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited late-season | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, private-land only | GMU 96 | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited late-season | GMUs 99/95/96/951 + | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Elk | Plains rifle either-sex, OTC | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery either-sex, OTC plains | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery either-sex, OTC residents | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader buck, limited | GMUs 99/95/100/951 + | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader doe, limited | GMUs 99/95/100/951 | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle buck, limited | GMUs 99/95/100/951 + | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, limited | GMUs 99/95/100 | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, private-land only | GMUs 95/951 | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe, limited late-season | GMU 97 | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Plains rifle, OTC | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Sep 2, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Mountain lion | Lion season | GMUs 99/95/96/100 + | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, limited late-season | GMU 96 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, youth-only limited | GMU 96 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, OTC (east) | GMU 951 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth extended fall season | Youth's own units | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Season 1 | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season 2 | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| Prairie-chicken | Season | Listed GMUs | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| 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 (split) | Northeast zone | Oct 17, 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 | Northeast zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 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.
Morgan County license options
Residents can buy an over-the-counter archery elk license, either sex, for GMUs 99, 95, 96, 100, 951, 97 without entering the draw. Nonresidents may also buy OTC archery elk in GMUs 99, 95, 96, 100, 951, 97, part of the plains and east-of-I-25 exceptions. The plains OTC rifle elk license (either sex) covers GMUs 99, 95, 96, 100, 951, 97, mostly on private land with permission.
| Species | OTC season rows | Limited codes | Private-only codes | RFW codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deer | 0 | 43 | 4 | 0 |
| Pronghorn | 0 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Black bear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wild turkey | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Across the county's units the 2026 brochures list 73 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.
Morgan County SWAs, trust land and federal acres
About 2.9% of Morgan County, near 24,107 acres, is public hunting land on these layers, chiefly CPW-leased trust land. 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 | 7,685 |
| CPW-leased trust land | 15,450 |
| BLM land | 972 |
| All State Land Board land* | 42,009 |
| State parks* | 720 |
Morgan County SWAs, trust lands and forest
BLM Royal Gorge field office
BLM field office.
Weldon Valley STL
CPW species: Coyote, Deer, Dove, Pronghorn, Rabbit, Waterfowl.
Antelope Flats STL
CPW species: Coyote, Deer, Pronghorn, Rabbit.
Brammer STL
CPW species: Coyote, Deer, Pronghorn.
Elliott SWA
CPW species: Bobwhite quail, Deer, Dove, Pheasant, Rabbit.
Brush Prairie Ponds SWA
CPW species: Deer, Dove, Pheasant, Waterfowl.
Jean K Tool SWA
CPW species: Bobwhite quail, Deer, Dove, Turkey, Waterfowl.
Cottonwood SWA
CPW species: Deer, Dove, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Turkey, Waterfowl.
Andrick Ponds SWA
CPW species: Dove, Turkey, Waterfowl.
More areas: Rosener STL, Brush SWA, Jackson Lake State Park, Jackson Lake SWA.
Just over the Morgan County line
- Orchard STL19 miles, state trust land parcel, Weld County
- Messex SWA23 miles, state wildlife area, Washington County
- Dearfield STL25 miles, state trust land parcel, Weld County
- Prewitt Reservoir SWA26 miles, state wildlife area, Washington County
- Greasewood Lake STL26 miles, state trust land parcel, Weld County
- South Roggen STL28 miles, state trust land parcel, Weld 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. Morgan 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.
Morgan 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 Morgan County. Top elk unit for 2024: GMU 96, 3 elk and 17% success across all methods. For deer, GMU 99 had the highest 2024 estimate at 204 (48% success). GMU 951 led for pronghorn with 85 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 99 | 40% | 204 | 48% | 0 | 8 | 0% | 74 | — |
| GMU 95 | 34% | 33 | 37% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 28 | — |
| GMU 96 | 14% | 191 | 29% | 3 | 15 | 17% | 0 | — |
| GMU 100 | 9% | 101 | 60% | 0 | 8 | 0% | 33 | — |
| GMU 951 | 3% | 104 | 30% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 85 | — |
| GMU 97 | 1% | 37 | 47% | — | — | — | 28 | — |
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 Morgan County
Only one duck zone reaches Morgan County: the Central Flyway Northeast 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 | Northeast | Oct 17–Nov 29, 2026 Dec 11–Jan 31 (2026-27) |
| Youth and military days | Northeast | Oct 10–Oct 11, 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 |
Morgan County spring and fall turkey
In spring 2026 the OTC gobbler season ran April 11 to May 31, 2026, and 5 of 6 units in Morgan County took the OTC license. The 2027 spring turkey brochure was not posted at our check, so treat spring dates as last year's. OTC fall turkey covers GMU 951; GMUs 99, 95, 100, 97 stays closed.
Morgan County high-country units
No bighorn sheep or mountain goat unit reaches Morgan 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.
Morgan County hunting events
Inside the county line: 1 listing ahead (RMEF banquet), checked November 4, 2026.
| When | Title | Location | Register or details | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2027 | RMEF High Plains Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet in Fort Morgan | Fort Morgan, Morgan County | Buy tickets | Source |
Phone list for Morgan County hunts
Questions about access, damage or violations in Morgan County go to the Area 3 office, where Todd Cozad serves as area wildlife manager. CPW offices close on state holidays, so call before driving in to buy a license or check an animal.
Morgan County towns, units and land
| Town | Population | Unit | Land within 10 mi | Acres within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Morgan | 11,835 | GMU 99 | 4 | 3,116 |
Morgan County also includes:
- Brush5,370
- Wiggins1,872
- Log Lane Village938
- Hillrose317
- Blue Sky
- Jackson Lake
- Morgan Heights
- Orchard
- Saddle Ridge
- Snyder
- Trail Side
- Weldona
Inside the county we found 2 gun and outdoor stores and 5 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.
Morgan County processors
Morgan County shoulder mounts
Morgan County sporting goods
Morgan 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.
Morgan County: gun clubs, clay fields and public ranges
Morgan County counts 1 range, all clubs, shops or private grounds.
North Sterling State Park Archery Range is the CPW-listed range nearest Morgan County, 46 miles away; entry is a state parks pass. See the range
Ranges from the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Morgan County legal shooting light
In Morgan 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 | 6:23 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:07 a.m. | 6:14 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 6:14 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:50 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:14 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 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.



Morgan County FAQ
Which Morgan County units require CWD heads?
None.
How do I report a lion taken in Morgan County?
Call CPW within 48 hours and present the head and hide within 5 days.
Do Morgan County units open for fall turkeys?
Yes, on the OTC fall license in GMU 951.
Is Morgan County Central Flyway or Pacific Flyway country?
Central Flyway.
Can I hunt doves in Morgan County?
Yes, September 1 to November 29, 2026, statewide.
Does Morgan County have big game records?
CPW keeps no big game records program; harvest statistics are the published measure.
Which public tract in Morgan County is the biggest?
BLM Royal Gorge field office, 600,000 acres across all its counties.
Which of the four CPW regions includes Morgan County?
The Northeast Region, served from Denver.
Which Morgan County hunters must show a hunter education card?
Everyone born on January 1, 1949 or later, unless hunting on an apprentice certificate.
Is there sheep or goat hunting near Morgan County?
Not inside the county.
What GMU is most of Morgan County in?
GMU 99, roughly 40% of its area.
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.
Morgan 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.