Home › Colorado › Counties › San Juan County
CPW Area 15
San Juan County for Hunters
San Juan County hunting in one place: GMUs 74, 75, 76, 751, the CPW Southwest Region, duck zones, turkey status by unit, public land by owner, outfitters, stores and shooting hours.
Photo: Kimon Berlin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Where San Juan County fits in Colorado
On the CPW map, San Juan County belongs to the Southwest Region, whose territory runs across the San Juan Mountains, the Gunnison basin, the Uncompahgre Plateau, the San Luis Valley and the canyon and mesa country around Durango and Cortez. CPW Area 15 covers it, with staff working out of Durango (Durango Office) under area wildlife manager Adrian Archuleta. Area lines also cut through the county, leaving Area 17 (9%) with other area teams.
Silverton is the county seat, and the Census Bureau estimated 821 residents in 2024, 17.1% up on the 2020 base of 701. Count on 388 square miles of land within the county lines, about 248,010 acres. The counties around it are Dolores County, Hinsdale County, La Plata County, Montezuma County, Ouray County and San Miguel 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around San Juan County
San Juan County GMUs and unit rules
Hunt codes for San Juan County come from 4 units; about 61% of the county sits in GMU 74. 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.
| Game unit | County part | Unit part | Also covers | APR elk | Test elk | Lion group | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 74 | 61% | 40% | La Plata | Yes | No | Group 17 | OTC | OTC |
| GMU 75 | 25% | 15% | La Plata | Yes | No | Group 17 | OTC | OTC |
| GMU 76 | 9% | 4% | Mineral, Hinsdale, Rio Grande + | No | No | Group 14 | OTC | OTC |
| GMU 751 | 5% | 4% | La Plata, Hinsdale, Archuleta | Yes | No | Group 17 | OTC | OTC |
Elk antler point restrictions apply in GMUs 74, 75, 751: a legal bull has four points on one antler or a brow tine at least five inches long, in every season. The mandatory elk sampling units do not include any GMU in San Juan County. For lion, San Juan County units belong to group 14 (limit 16) and group 17 (limit 23). A group shuts as soon as its quota is filled. Inside GMUs 74, 75, 76, 751, felid trapping follows the lynx area limits. No shed collecting on public land west of I-25 before May 1. GMUs 74, 75, 76, 751 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.
San Juan 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 buck, limited | GMUs 74/76 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Deer | Archery either-sex, limited | GMUs 75/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited early-season | GMU 74 | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader buck, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader doe, limited | GMUs 75/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited | GMU 75 | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited | GMUs 74/76 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, private-land only | GMU 74 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited | GMU 75 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, private-land only | GMU 75 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited | GMUs 74/75/76 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, private-land only | GMUs 74/75 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited | GMU 75 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, private-land only | GMU 75 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, limited | GMUs 74/75 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck, private-land only | GMU 75 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, limited | GMU 75 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe, private-land only | GMU 75 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery bull, limited | GMUs 74/75/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery cow, limited | GMUs 74/75/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery either-sex, limited | GMU 76 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery either-sex, private-land only | GMUs 74/75/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader bull, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader cow, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull, limited early-season | GMU 76 | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 7, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull, private-land only | GMU 74 | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow, limited | GMUs 74/75/751 | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow, private-land only | GMU 74 | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull, limited | GMU 76 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Second rifle bull, OTC | GMUs 74/75/751 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull, limited | GMU 76 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Elk | Third rifle bull, OTC | GMUs 74/75/751 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull, limited | GMUs 74/75/751 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull, private-land only | GMUs 74/75/751 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow, limited | GMUs 75/76/751 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow, private-land only | GMUs 74/75/751 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow, private-land only | GMU 751 | Dec 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Moose | Archery cow, limited | GMU 76 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Moose | Archery cow, split-season limited | GMU 76 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Moose | Muzzleloader cow, limited | GMU 76 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Moose | Muzzleloader cow, split-season limited | GMUs 76/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Moose | Season-choice bull, limited | GMUs 74/75/76 | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Moose | Season-choice bull, split-season limited | GMUs 76/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Moose | Rifle cow, limited | GMU 76 | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Moose | Rifle cow, split-season limited | GMUs 76/751 | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Archery either-sex, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Archery either-sex, OTC | GMUs 74/75/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle either-sex, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle either-sex, private-land only | GMUs 74/75/751 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader either-sex, limited | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader either-sex, OTC | GMUs 74/75/751 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle either-sex, limited | GMU 76 | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle either-sex, OTC | GMUs 74/75/751 | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Mountain lion | Lion season | GMU 76 | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Mountain lion | Lion season | GMUs 74/75/751 | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Archery ram, resident | S71 West Needles | Aug 22, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, nonresident | S21 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, nonresident | S33 | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 17, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, resident | S21 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, resident | S28 Vallecito | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, resident | S33 | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 17, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, resident | S71 West Needles | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ewe, resident | S33 | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 17, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ewe, nonresident | S21 | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ewe, resident | S21 | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, nonresident | S33 | Sep 18, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ram, resident | S33 | Sep 18, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ewe, nonresident | S33 | Sep 21, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Bighorn sheep | Rifle ewe, resident | S33 | Sep 21, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | |
| Mountain goat | Archery either-sex, nonresident | G05 West Needles | Sep 8, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Mountain goat | Archery either-sex, resident | G05 West Needles | Sep 8, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Mountain goat | Rifle either-sex, resident | G05 West Needles | Sep 8, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall, OTC (west/GMU 140) | GMUs 74/75/76/751 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth extended fall season | Youth's own units | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Season 2 | West of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season 3 | West of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| Dusky grouse | Season | West of I-25 | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ptarmigan | Season 1 | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ptarmigan | Season 2 | Listed GMUs | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Season | Eastern zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Mountain zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Season (split) | Western zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Dark geese | San Luis Valley, split | San Luis Valley | Oct 3, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Dark geese | Season | Central Flyway | Nov 2, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Season | Central Flyway | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 14, 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 | |
| Canada geese | Early Canada goose season | Pacific Flyway | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 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 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth and military days | Eastern zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth and military days | Mountain zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 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 | |
| Geese | Season | Eastern zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Geese | Season (split) | Western zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth and military days | Western zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 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.
San Juan County license options
OTC bull tags for the second and third rifle seasons are valid in GMUs 74, 75, 751.
| Species | OTC season rows | Limited codes | Private-only codes | RFW codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | 2 | 29 | 9 | 0 |
| Deer | 0 | 20 | 9 | 0 |
| Black bear | 3 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Moose | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Wild turkey | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Across the county's units the 2026 brochures list 96 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.
San Juan County SWAs, trust land and federal acres
About 88.6% of San Juan County, near 219,628 acres, is public hunting land on these layers, chiefly national forest (incl. grassland). 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 | 13 |
| CPW-leased trust land | 1,255 |
| National forest (incl. grassland) | 174,036 |
| BLM land | 44,609 |
| All State Land Board land* | 1,254 |
San Juan County SWAs, trust lands and forest
San Juan National Forest
CPW species: elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bear.
Rio Grande National Forest
National forest.
Uncompahgre National Forest
CPW species: elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bear.
Divide Ranger District
Ranger district.
Columbine Ranger District
CPW species: elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bear.
BLM Gunnison field office
BLM field office.
BLM Tres Rios field office
BLM field office.
Ouray Ranger District
CPW species: elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bear.
Sultan Creek STL
CPW species: Big game, Coyote, Deer, Elk.
More areas: West Lime Creek STL.
Just over the San Juan County line
- Haviland Lake SWA19 miles, state wildlife area, La Plata County
- Brown Lakes SWA26 miles, state wildlife area, Hinsdale County
- Ridgway State Park30 miles, state park, Ouray County
- Fish Creek SWA31 miles, state wildlife area, Dolores County
- Williams Creek Reservoir SWA31 miles, state wildlife area, Hinsdale County
- Billy Creek SWA33 miles, state wildlife area, Ouray 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.
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.
San Juan 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 San Juan County. Top elk unit for 2024: GMU 76, 518 elk and 46% success across all methods. For deer, GMU 75 had the highest 2024 estimate at 617 (55% success). GMU 75 recorded the most bears, 26. 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 74 | 61% | 130 | 43% | 329 | 1,537 | 21% | — | 24 |
| GMU 75 | 25% | 617 | 55% | 308 | 1,337 | 23% | — | 26 |
| GMU 76 | 9% | 46 | 57% | 518 | 1,138 | 46% | — | 6 |
| GMU 751 | 5% | 431 | 56% | 234 | 1,165 | 20% | — | 18 |
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 San Juan County
CPW zone text and the GIS lines put parts of San Juan County in the Central Flyway Mountain/Foothills Zone, Pacific Flyway Western Zone and Pacific Flyway Eastern Zone. For dark geese, the San Luis Valley area rules and dates apply in San Juan County. 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 | Mountain/Foothills | Oct 3–Nov 29, 2026 Dec 25–Jan 31 (2026-27) |
| Youth and military days | Mountain/Foothills | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 |
| Ducks and coots | Western | Oct 3–Oct 20, 2026 Nov 6–Jan 31 (2026-27) |
| Youth and military days | Western | Oct 24–Oct 25, 2026 |
| Ducks and coots | Eastern | Oct 3–Jan 15 (2026-27) |
| Youth and military days | Eastern | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 |
| Dark geese | San Luis Valley | Oct 3–Oct 21, 2026 Nov 21–Feb 14 (2026-27) |
| Sandhill crane | Listed counties | Oct 3–Nov 29, 2026 |
| Light geese | Central Flyway | Oct 31–Feb 14 (2026-27) |
| Early Canada geese | West of the Divide | Sep 1–Sep 9, 2026 |
| Geese | Western | Oct 3–Oct 11, 2026 Nov 6–Jan 31 (2026-27) |
| Geese | Eastern | Oct 3–Jan 6 (2026-27) |
| Mourning dove | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 29, 2026 |
Gobblers in San Juan County
In spring 2026 the OTC gobbler season ran April 11 to May 31, 2026, and 4 of 4 units in San Juan 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 GMUs 74, 75, 76, 751.
San Juan County high-country units
Bighorn and goat units are not GMUs; San Juan County overlaps 4 sheep units and 1 goat unit.
| Code | Name | Species | Open? | Shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S21 | Cow Creek/Wetterhorn Peak | Bighorn sheep | Open | Ouray, San Miguel, Gunnison, Hinsdale |
| S28 | Vallecito | Bighorn sheep | Open | Hinsdale, La Plata |
| S33 | Lake Fork/Pole Mountain | Bighorn sheep | Open | Hinsdale |
| S71 | West Needles | Bighorn sheep | Open | La Plata |
| G05 | West Needles | Mountain goat | Open | La Plata, Hinsdale |
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.
Phone list for San Juan County hunts
Questions about access, damage or violations in San Juan County go to the Area 15 office, where Adrian Archuleta serves as area wildlife manager. CPW offices close on state holidays, so call before driving in to buy a license or check an animal.
San Juan County towns, units and land
Inside the county we found 1 taxidermist and 1 outfitter or guide but no game processors and gun and outdoor stores. Registered outfitters are listed by mailing town from the DORA records; other businesses are directory listings worth a phone call before you drive.
San Juan County processors
San Juan County shoulder mounts
Guns and optics, San Juan County
San Juan 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.
San Juan County: gun clubs, clay fields and public ranges
Durango Gun Club heads this short list for San Juan County at about 36 miles from the county centre.
Bayfield Lions Club Shooting Range is the CPW-listed range nearest San Juan County, 38 miles away; entry is free. See the range
Ranges from the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
San Juan County legal shooting light
In San Juan 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 | 6:41 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:49 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:07 a.m. | 6:52 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:27 a.m. | 6:23 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:23 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:59 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:55 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.
San Juan County FAQ
Does the four-point rule cover San Juan County?
Yes, GMUs 74, 75, 751.
How much does a CWD test cost for a San Juan County elk?
$25 for a voluntary test.
How do I report a lion taken in San Juan County?
Call CPW within 48 hours and present the head and hide within 5 days.
Do San Juan County units open for fall turkeys?
Yes, on the OTC fall license in GMUs 74, 75, 76, 751.
Which stamps does a San Juan County duck hunter carry?
A small game license with HIP, the $12.76 Colorado waterfowl stamp and, at 16 and older, the $33.00 federal stamp.
Which goose area covers San Juan County?
San Luis Valley.
Does San Juan County have big game records?
CPW keeps no big game records program; harvest statistics are the published measure.
Which public tract in San Juan County is the biggest?
San Juan National Forest, 1,866,191 acres across all its counties.
Which of the four CPW regions includes San Juan County?
The Southwest Region, served from Durango.
When can I pick up sheds on public land in San Juan County?
From May 1; public land west of I-25 is closed to shed collecting January 1 to April 30.
Is there sheep or goat hunting near San Juan County?
Yes, see the unit table.
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.
San Juan 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.