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CPW rules by game group, times worked out for every county
Colorado Legal Shooting Hours by Game and County
The CPW legal hours for big game, lion, turkey, small game, furbearers, waterfowl and the light goose conservation order, the Walk-In Access hours, the town offsets CPW prints beside its Denver tables, and hunting hours worked out with the NOAA solar formula for the centre of all 64 counties on 8 key dates of the 2026-27 seasons.
Photo: Bob Denaro (CC BY 2.0)
Today and this week in your Colorado county
Each card is one day for the county you pick: deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and lion may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset under CPW rules. Game with a sunset close, such as waterfowl, ends at the printed sunset, half an hour before the window shuts.
Seven days of sunrise, sunset and legal light for Denver County load here.
Computed in the browser from the county center; the official CPW hours are set out in the sections below.
Legal hours by kind of game in Colorado
Daytime hunting in Colorado starts half an hour before sunrise. Big game, lion and furbearers run to half an hour after sunset; turkey, small game and waterfowl stop at sunset itself, and the spring light goose order borrows the big game close.
- Deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear, lionDeer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear, lion hours: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear, lion).
- Wild turkeyWild turkey hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Small game and waterfowlSmall game and waterfowl hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- FurbearersFurbearers hours: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; raccoon, coyote, bobcat, striped skunk, beaver and red/gray/swift fox may be hunted at night (artificial light rules).
- Light goose conservation orderLight goose conservation order hours: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
- Walk-In Access propertiesWalk-In Access properties hours: wIA properties open 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset (2 hours for waterfowl, deer, elk, pronghorn).
Sources: 2026 Big Game brochure, p. 13; 2026 Turkey brochure, p. 3; Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, p. 4; Mountain Lion brochure, p. 5. Checked: rows matched to the sources November 5, 2026.
How CPW adjusts its Denver table by town
CPW prints one sunrise and sunset table for Denver and a list of 12 towns with the minutes to add or take away: a plus figure means later than Denver, a minus figure earlier. CPW applies one offset to both sunrise and sunset; the NOAA column is the sunrise difference on one day only, so the two need not match to the minute.
| Town | CPW offset from Denver (minutes) | NOAA sunrise difference, Dec 21 |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington | -10 | -12 |
| Lamar | -9 | -14 |
| La Junta | -6 | -11 |
| Sterling | -6 | -4 |
| Fort Morgan | -4 | -3 |
| Alamosa | +3 | -3 |
| Buena Vista | +5 | – |
| Walden | +5 | +8 |
| Gunnison | +7 | +4 |
| Craig | +9 | +13 |
| Durango | +11 | +4 |
| Grand Junction | +13 | +13 |
The CPW Denver sunrise and sunset tables themselves were not transcribed; the offsets are as CPW prints them, and the last column is worked out here with the NOAA solar formula for the town centre. Sources: 2026 Big Game brochure, p. 13; Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, p. 4. Checked: rows matched to the sources November 5, 2026.
Denver sunrise, sunset and legal hours
The brochures tie legal hours to sunrise and sunset. Every time on this page comes from the NOAA solar formula for each county's Census centre point, rounded to the minute. Denver is shown because the CPW tables and town offsets are built on it.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game opens | Big game closes | Birds close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Elk and deer rifle segment opens | 6:34 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 4:53 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:53 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 4:40 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Elk and deer rifle segment opens | 7:01 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Late beardless turkey opens | 7:13 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 4:36 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:17 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 4:38 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Last duck day in most zones | 7:09 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. | 5:16 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Light goose order opens | 6:53 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. | 6:04 p.m. | 5:34 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Last lion day | 6:47 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 7:21 p.m. |
Sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula for the Census internal point of the City and County of Denver, Mountain Time with daylight saving where it applies. Sources: 2026 Big Game brochure, p. 13. Checked: rows matched to the sources November 5, 2026.
Shooting hours for all 64 Colorado counties
On December 21, 2026 the sun comes up first over Baca County and last over Moffat County, 33 minutes later, so legal light on the western edge starts well after the eastern edge. Daylight saving time ended on November 1 and returns on March 14, 2027.
| County | Sunrise Dec 21 | Nov 7: Elk and deer rifle segment opens | Nov 23: Lion season opens | Dec 1: Elk and deer rifle segment opens | Dec 15: Late beardless turkey opens | Dec 21: Shortest day | Jan 31: Last duck day in most zones | Feb 15: Light goose order opens | Mar 31: Last lion day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 7:15 a.m. | 6:02-5:20 p.m. | 6:21-5:07 p.m. | 6:29-5:04 p.m. | 6:41-4:33 p.m. | 6:45-5:05 p.m. | 6:37-5:14 p.m. | 6:21-6:02 p.m. | 6:15-7:49 p.m. |
| Alamosa | 7:14 a.m. | 6:04-5:30 p.m. | 6:21-5:19 p.m. | 6:29-5:16 p.m. | 6:40-4:46 p.m. | 6:44-5:18 p.m. | 6:38-5:24 p.m. | 6:24-6:11 p.m. | 6:22-7:54 p.m. |
| Arapahoe | 7:14 a.m. | 6:02-5:21 p.m. | 6:20-5:08 p.m. | 6:29-5:05 p.m. | 6:41-4:34 p.m. | 6:44-5:06 p.m. | 6:37-5:14 p.m. | 6:21-6:02 p.m. | 6:15-7:49 p.m. |
| Archuleta | 7:18 a.m. | 6:08-5:36 p.m. | 6:25-5:25 p.m. | 6:33-5:22 p.m. | 6:45-4:52 p.m. | 6:48-5:24 p.m. | 6:42-5:30 p.m. | 6:28-6:17 p.m. | 6:27-7:59 p.m. |
| Baca | 7:00 a.m. | 5:50-5:18 p.m. | 6:07-5:06 p.m. | 6:15-5:04 p.m. | 6:27-4:34 p.m. | 6:30-5:06 p.m. | 6:25-5:12 p.m. | 6:10-5:58 p.m. | 6:09-7:41 p.m. |
| Bent | 7:04 a.m. | 5:54-5:19 p.m. | 6:11-5:07 p.m. | 6:19-5:04 p.m. | 6:31-4:34 p.m. | 6:34-5:06 p.m. | 6:28-5:13 p.m. | 6:13-6:00 p.m. | 6:11-7:43 p.m. |
| Boulder | 7:20 a.m. | 6:07-5:24 p.m. | 6:26-5:11 p.m. | 6:34-5:08 p.m. | 6:46-4:37 p.m. | 6:50-5:09 p.m. | 6:42-5:17 p.m. | 6:26-6:06 p.m. | 6:19-7:54 p.m. |
| Broomfield | 7:18 a.m. | 6:05-5:23 p.m. | 6:24-5:10 p.m. | 6:32-5:07 p.m. | 6:44-4:36 p.m. | 6:48-5:08 p.m. | 6:40-5:16 p.m. | 6:24-6:05 p.m. | 6:18-7:52 p.m. |
| Chaffee | 7:19 a.m. | 6:08-5:30 p.m. | 6:26-5:18 p.m. | 6:34-5:15 p.m. | 6:46-4:45 p.m. | 6:49-5:17 p.m. | 6:43-5:24 p.m. | 6:28-6:11 p.m. | 6:23-7:57 p.m. |
| Cheyenne | 7:05 a.m. | 5:53-5:15 p.m. | 6:11-5:03 p.m. | 6:20-5:00 p.m. | 6:31-4:30 p.m. | 6:35-5:02 p.m. | 6:28-5:09 p.m. | 6:13-5:56 p.m. | 6:08-7:42 p.m. |
| Clear Creek | 7:20 a.m. | 6:07-5:26 p.m. | 6:26-5:13 p.m. | 6:34-5:10 p.m. | 6:46-4:39 p.m. | 6:50-5:11 p.m. | 6:42-5:19 p.m. | 6:26-6:07 p.m. | 6:20-7:55 p.m. |
| Conejos | 7:15 a.m. | 6:05-5:32 p.m. | 6:22-5:21 p.m. | 6:30-5:18 p.m. | 6:41-4:49 p.m. | 6:45-5:21 p.m. | 6:39-5:26 p.m. | 6:25-6:13 p.m. | 6:23-7:55 p.m. |
| Costilla | 7:12 a.m. | 6:02-5:29 p.m. | 6:19-5:18 p.m. | 6:27-5:15 p.m. | 6:38-4:45 p.m. | 6:42-5:17 p.m. | 6:36-5:23 p.m. | 6:22-6:10 p.m. | 6:20-7:52 p.m. |
| Crowley | 7:08 a.m. | 5:57-5:21 p.m. | 6:15-5:09 p.m. | 6:23-5:06 p.m. | 6:35-4:36 p.m. | 6:38-5:08 p.m. | 6:32-5:15 p.m. | 6:17-6:02 p.m. | 6:13-7:46 p.m. |
| Custer | 7:14 a.m. | 6:03-5:28 p.m. | 6:21-5:16 p.m. | 6:29-5:13 p.m. | 6:40-4:43 p.m. | 6:44-5:15 p.m. | 6:38-5:21 p.m. | 6:23-6:09 p.m. | 6:20-7:53 p.m. |
| Delta | 7:26 a.m. | 6:14-5:36 p.m. | 6:32-5:24 p.m. | 6:41-5:21 p.m. | 6:52-4:51 p.m. | 6:56-5:23 p.m. | 6:49-5:30 p.m. | 6:34-6:17 p.m. | 6:29-8:03 p.m. |
| Denver | 7:17 a.m. | 6:04-5:23 p.m. | 6:23-5:10 p.m. | 6:31-5:06 p.m. | 6:43-4:36 p.m. | 6:47-5:08 p.m. | 6:39-5:16 p.m. | 6:23-6:04 p.m. | 6:17-7:51 p.m. |
| Dolores | 7:25 a.m. | 6:15-5:41 p.m. | 6:32-5:29 p.m. | 6:40-5:26 p.m. | 6:52-4:56 p.m. | 6:55-5:28 p.m. | 6:49-5:35 p.m. | 6:35-6:22 p.m. | 6:33-8:05 p.m. |
| Douglas | 7:16 a.m. | 6:04-5:24 p.m. | 6:22-5:11 p.m. | 6:30-5:08 p.m. | 6:42-4:37 p.m. | 6:46-5:09 p.m. | 6:38-5:17 p.m. | 6:23-6:05 p.m. | 6:17-7:51 p.m. |
| Eagle | 7:24 a.m. | 6:11-5:30 p.m. | 6:30-5:17 p.m. | 6:38-5:14 p.m. | 6:50-4:44 p.m. | 6:54-5:16 p.m. | 6:46-5:24 p.m. | 6:30-6:12 p.m. | 6:24-7:59 p.m. |
| El Paso | 7:13 a.m. | 6:01-5:23 p.m. | 6:19-5:11 p.m. | 6:27-5:08 p.m. | 6:39-4:37 p.m. | 6:43-5:09 p.m. | 6:36-5:17 p.m. | 6:21-6:04 p.m. | 6:16-7:50 p.m. |
| Elbert | 7:12 a.m. | 6:00-5:20 p.m. | 6:19-5:08 p.m. | 6:27-5:05 p.m. | 6:39-4:34 p.m. | 6:42-5:06 p.m. | 6:35-5:14 p.m. | 6:20-6:02 p.m. | 6:14-7:48 p.m. |
| Fremont | 7:15 a.m. | 6:04-5:27 p.m. | 6:22-5:15 p.m. | 6:30-5:12 p.m. | 6:42-4:42 p.m. | 6:45-5:14 p.m. | 6:39-5:21 p.m. | 6:24-6:08 p.m. | 6:20-7:53 p.m. |
| Garfield | 7:28 a.m. | 6:16-5:35 p.m. | 6:34-5:22 p.m. | 6:43-5:19 p.m. | 6:55-4:49 p.m. | 6:58-5:21 p.m. | 6:51-5:28 p.m. | 6:35-6:17 p.m. | 6:29-8:03 p.m. |
| Gilpin | 7:20 a.m. | 6:07-5:25 p.m. | 6:26-5:12 p.m. | 6:34-5:09 p.m. | 6:46-4:38 p.m. | 6:50-5:10 p.m. | 6:42-5:18 p.m. | 6:26-6:07 p.m. | 6:20-7:54 p.m. |
| Grand | 7:23 a.m. | 6:10-5:27 p.m. | 6:29-5:14 p.m. | 6:37-5:10 p.m. | 6:49-4:40 p.m. | 6:53-5:12 p.m. | 6:45-5:20 p.m. | 6:29-6:09 p.m. | 6:22-7:57 p.m. |
| Gunnison | 7:22 a.m. | 6:11-5:33 p.m. | 6:29-5:21 p.m. | 6:37-5:18 p.m. | 6:49-4:48 p.m. | 6:52-5:20 p.m. | 6:45-5:27 p.m. | 6:30-6:14 p.m. | 6:26-8:00 p.m. |
| Hinsdale | 7:21 a.m. | 6:11-5:36 p.m. | 6:28-5:25 p.m. | 6:36-5:22 p.m. | 6:48-4:52 p.m. | 6:51-5:24 p.m. | 6:45-5:30 p.m. | 6:31-6:17 p.m. | 6:28-8:00 p.m. |
| Huerfano | 7:11 a.m. | 6:01-5:27 p.m. | 6:18-5:15 p.m. | 6:26-5:12 p.m. | 6:37-4:42 p.m. | 6:41-5:14 p.m. | 6:35-5:21 p.m. | 6:21-6:08 p.m. | 6:18-7:51 p.m. |
| Jackson | 7:25 a.m. | 6:12-5:27 p.m. | 6:31-5:13 p.m. | 6:40-5:10 p.m. | 6:52-4:39 p.m. | 6:55-5:11 p.m. | 6:47-5:20 p.m. | 6:31-6:09 p.m. | 6:22-7:58 p.m. |
| Jefferson | 7:18 a.m. | 6:05-5:24 p.m. | 6:24-5:12 p.m. | 6:32-5:08 p.m. | 6:44-4:38 p.m. | 6:48-5:10 p.m. | 6:40-5:18 p.m. | 6:25-6:06 p.m. | 6:19-7:53 p.m. |
| Kiowa | 7:04 a.m. | 5:53-5:17 p.m. | 6:11-5:05 p.m. | 6:19-5:02 p.m. | 6:31-4:32 p.m. | 6:34-5:03 p.m. | 6:28-5:10 p.m. | 6:13-5:58 p.m. | 6:09-7:42 p.m. |
| Kit Carson | 7:06 a.m. | 5:54-5:14 p.m. | 6:12-5:02 p.m. | 6:21-4:59 p.m. | 6:33-4:28 p.m. | 6:36-5:00 p.m. | 6:29-5:08 p.m. | 6:14-5:56 p.m. | 6:08-7:42 p.m. |
| La Plata | 7:21 a.m. | 6:11-5:39 p.m. | 6:29-5:28 p.m. | 6:36-5:25 p.m. | 6:48-4:55 p.m. | 6:51-5:27 p.m. | 6:46-5:33 p.m. | 6:32-6:20 p.m. | 6:30-8:02 p.m. |
| Lake | 7:21 a.m. | 6:09-5:29 p.m. | 6:27-5:17 p.m. | 6:36-5:14 p.m. | 6:47-4:44 p.m. | 6:51-5:15 p.m. | 6:44-5:23 p.m. | 6:28-6:11 p.m. | 6:23-7:57 p.m. |
| Larimer | 7:22 a.m. | 6:08-5:23 p.m. | 6:27-5:10 p.m. | 6:36-5:06 p.m. | 6:48-4:36 p.m. | 6:52-5:08 p.m. | 6:43-5:16 p.m. | 6:27-6:05 p.m. | 6:19-7:54 p.m. |
| Las Animas | 7:06 a.m. | 5:56-5:24 p.m. | 6:13-5:12 p.m. | 6:21-5:10 p.m. | 6:33-4:40 p.m. | 6:36-5:12 p.m. | 6:31-5:18 p.m. | 6:16-6:04 p.m. | 6:15-7:47 p.m. |
| Lincoln | 7:09 a.m. | 5:57-5:19 p.m. | 6:15-5:06 p.m. | 6:24-5:03 p.m. | 6:35-4:33 p.m. | 6:39-5:05 p.m. | 6:32-5:12 p.m. | 6:17-6:00 p.m. | 6:12-7:46 p.m. |
| Logan | 7:13 a.m. | 5:59-5:13 p.m. | 6:18-5:00 p.m. | 6:27-4:57 p.m. | 6:39-4:26 p.m. | 6:43-4:58 p.m. | 6:34-5:07 p.m. | 6:18-5:56 p.m. | 6:09-7:45 p.m. |
| Mesa | 7:29 a.m. | 6:17-5:38 p.m. | 6:35-5:26 p.m. | 6:43-5:23 p.m. | 6:55-4:52 p.m. | 6:59-5:24 p.m. | 6:52-5:32 p.m. | 6:37-6:20 p.m. | 6:32-8:05 p.m. |
| Mineral | 7:19 a.m. | 6:09-5:35 p.m. | 6:26-5:24 p.m. | 6:34-5:21 p.m. | 6:45-4:51 p.m. | 6:49-5:23 p.m. | 6:43-5:29 p.m. | 6:29-6:16 p.m. | 6:27-7:59 p.m. |
| Moffat | 7:33 a.m. | 6:19-5:34 p.m. | 6:38-5:21 p.m. | 6:47-5:17 p.m. | 6:59-4:47 p.m. | 7:03-5:19 p.m. | 6:54-5:27 p.m. | 6:38-6:16 p.m. | 6:30-8:05 p.m. |
| Montezuma | 7:25 a.m. | 6:15-5:42 p.m. | 6:32-5:31 p.m. | 6:40-5:28 p.m. | 6:51-4:58 p.m. | 6:55-5:30 p.m. | 6:49-5:36 p.m. | 6:35-6:23 p.m. | 6:33-8:05 p.m. |
| Montrose | 7:26 a.m. | 6:15-5:39 p.m. | 6:33-5:27 p.m. | 6:41-5:24 p.m. | 6:53-4:54 p.m. | 6:56-5:25 p.m. | 6:50-5:32 p.m. | 6:35-6:20 p.m. | 6:31-8:04 p.m. |
| Morgan | 7:14 a.m. | 6:01-5:17 p.m. | 6:20-5:04 p.m. | 6:28-5:01 p.m. | 6:40-4:30 p.m. | 6:44-5:02 p.m. | 6:36-5:11 p.m. | 6:20-5:59 p.m. | 6:12-7:47 p.m. |
| Otero | 7:07 a.m. | 5:56-5:21 p.m. | 6:13-5:10 p.m. | 6:22-5:07 p.m. | 6:33-4:37 p.m. | 6:37-5:09 p.m. | 6:31-5:15 p.m. | 6:16-6:02 p.m. | 6:13-7:46 p.m. |
| Ouray | 7:24 a.m. | 6:13-5:37 p.m. | 6:30-5:25 p.m. | 6:39-5:22 p.m. | 6:50-4:52 p.m. | 6:54-5:24 p.m. | 6:47-5:31 p.m. | 6:33-6:18 p.m. | 6:29-8:02 p.m. |
| Park | 7:18 a.m. | 6:06-5:27 p.m. | 6:24-5:15 p.m. | 6:33-5:12 p.m. | 6:45-4:41 p.m. | 6:48-5:13 p.m. | 6:41-5:21 p.m. | 6:26-6:08 p.m. | 6:21-7:54 p.m. |
| Phillips | 7:09 a.m. | 5:56-5:11 p.m. | 6:15-4:58 p.m. | 6:23-4:54 p.m. | 6:36-4:23 p.m. | 6:39-4:55 p.m. | 6:31-5:04 p.m. | 6:15-5:53 p.m. | 6:06-7:42 p.m. |
| Pitkin | 7:23 a.m. | 6:11-5:32 p.m. | 6:29-5:19 p.m. | 6:38-5:16 p.m. | 6:50-4:46 p.m. | 6:53-5:18 p.m. | 6:46-5:25 p.m. | 6:31-6:13 p.m. | 6:25-7:59 p.m. |
| Prowers | 7:02 a.m. | 5:51-5:16 p.m. | 6:08-5:04 p.m. | 6:16-5:01 p.m. | 6:28-4:31 p.m. | 6:32-5:03 p.m. | 6:25-5:10 p.m. | 6:11-5:57 p.m. | 6:08-7:41 p.m. |
| Pueblo | 7:10 a.m. | 6:00-5:24 p.m. | 6:17-5:12 p.m. | 6:25-5:09 p.m. | 6:37-4:39 p.m. | 6:40-5:11 p.m. | 6:34-5:18 p.m. | 6:19-6:05 p.m. | 6:16-7:49 p.m. |
| Rio Blanco | 7:31 a.m. | 6:18-5:35 p.m. | 6:37-5:23 p.m. | 6:45-5:19 p.m. | 6:57-4:49 p.m. | 7:01-5:21 p.m. | 6:53-5:29 p.m. | 6:37-6:17 p.m. | 6:30-8:05 p.m. |
| Rio Grande | 7:16 a.m. | 6:06-5:33 p.m. | 6:23-5:22 p.m. | 6:31-5:19 p.m. | 6:43-4:49 p.m. | 6:46-5:21 p.m. | 6:41-5:27 p.m. | 6:26-6:14 p.m. | 6:24-7:57 p.m. |
| Routt | 7:27 a.m. | 6:14-5:30 p.m. | 6:33-5:16 p.m. | 6:42-5:13 p.m. | 6:54-4:42 p.m. | 6:57-5:14 p.m. | 6:49-5:23 p.m. | 6:33-6:11 p.m. | 6:25-8:00 p.m. |
| Saguache | 7:17 a.m. | 6:06-5:31 p.m. | 6:24-5:19 p.m. | 6:32-5:16 p.m. | 6:44-4:46 p.m. | 6:47-5:18 p.m. | 6:41-5:25 p.m. | 6:26-6:12 p.m. | 6:23-7:56 p.m. |
| San Juan | 7:22 a.m. | 6:12-5:37 p.m. | 6:29-5:26 p.m. | 6:37-5:23 p.m. | 6:49-4:53 p.m. | 6:52-5:25 p.m. | 6:46-5:31 p.m. | 6:32-6:18 p.m. | 6:29-8:02 p.m. |
| San Miguel | 7:26 a.m. | 6:15-5:40 p.m. | 6:33-5:28 p.m. | 6:41-5:25 p.m. | 6:52-4:55 p.m. | 6:56-5:27 p.m. | 6:50-5:34 p.m. | 6:35-6:21 p.m. | 6:32-8:05 p.m. |
| Sedgwick | 7:10 a.m. | 5:56-5:10 p.m. | 6:15-4:57 p.m. | 6:24-4:53 p.m. | 6:37-4:22 p.m. | 6:40-4:54 p.m. | 6:31-5:03 p.m. | 6:15-5:52 p.m. | 6:06-7:42 p.m. |
| Summit | 7:21 a.m. | 6:09-5:28 p.m. | 6:27-5:15 p.m. | 6:36-5:12 p.m. | 6:48-4:41 p.m. | 6:51-5:13 p.m. | 6:44-5:21 p.m. | 6:28-6:09 p.m. | 6:22-7:56 p.m. |
| Teller | 7:15 a.m. | 6:04-5:25 p.m. | 6:22-5:13 p.m. | 6:30-5:10 p.m. | 6:42-4:40 p.m. | 6:45-5:12 p.m. | 6:38-5:19 p.m. | 6:23-6:07 p.m. | 6:19-7:52 p.m. |
| Washington | 7:11 a.m. | 5:58-5:15 p.m. | 6:17-5:03 p.m. | 6:25-4:59 p.m. | 6:37-4:29 p.m. | 6:41-5:01 p.m. | 6:33-5:09 p.m. | 6:17-5:57 p.m. | 6:10-7:45 p.m. |
| Weld | 7:17 a.m. | 6:04-5:19 p.m. | 6:23-5:06 p.m. | 6:31-5:02 p.m. | 6:44-4:32 p.m. | 6:47-5:03 p.m. | 6:39-5:12 p.m. | 6:23-6:01 p.m. | 6:15-7:50 p.m. |
| Yuma | 7:08 a.m. | 5:55-5:12 p.m. | 6:13-4:59 p.m. | 6:22-4:56 p.m. | 6:34-4:25 p.m. | 6:38-4:57 p.m. | 6:30-5:06 p.m. | 6:14-5:54 p.m. | 6:07-7:42 p.m. |
Worked out with the NOAA solar formula for each county centre, Mountain Time. Rifle and lion columns end 30 minutes after sunset, the turkey and duck columns at sunset, and the light goose order 30 minutes after sunset. Sources: 2026 Big Game brochure, p. 13; 2026 Turkey brochure, p. 3; Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, p. 4. Checked: rows matched to the sources November 5, 2026.
Colorado hunting after sunset
Raccoon, coyote, bobcat, striped skunk, beaver and the three foxes may be hunted at night under the artificial light rules: landowner permission on private ground, a CPW permit on public ground. Lights and thermal optics are otherwise off limits as hunting aids.
Furbearers at night
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; raccoon, coyote, bobcat, striped skunk, beaver and red/gray/swift fox may be hunted at night (artificial light rules).
Lights and thermal optics
Illegal as a hunting aid except furbearer night hunting with landowner permission (private) or a CPW permit (public).
The penalty for lights
Artificial light $200 and 20 points; night vision or thermal devices $2,000 and 20 points.
Walk-In Access hours
WIA properties open 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset (2 hours for waterfowl, deer, elk, pronghorn).
Sources: Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, p. 4; Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, p. 5; C.R.S. Title 33 (2024 printout); 2026 Turkey brochure, p. 3. Checked: rows matched to the sources November 5, 2026.
Colorado shooting hours questions
Do turkey hunters get the half hour after sunset?
No. Turkey hours run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset, spring and fall.
Where does CPW publish sunrise and sunset times?
Yes. The brochures print Denver sunrise and sunset tables with town offsets, for example +13 minutes for Grand Junction and -10 for Burlington. Those tables were not transcribed here, so the county times are worked out with the NOAA solar formula.
What are the Denver big game hours on December 21, 2026?
Legal light for elk and deer near Denver that day: 6:47 a.m. until 5:08 p.m. (sunrise 7:17 a.m., sunset 4:38 p.m.).
How much does sunrise vary across Colorado?
On December 21, 2026 the gap is 33 minutes: sunrise reaches Baca County first and Moffat County last.
Is night coyote hunting allowed in Colorado, and on what terms?
Yes, under the artificial light rules: with landowner permission on private land or a CPW permit on public land.
What are the hours on Walk-In Access land?
WIA properties open 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset (2 hours for waterfowl, deer, elk, pronghorn).
Do the light goose order hours differ?
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
When can I start elk hunting in the morning in Colorado?
Half an hour before sunrise; big game hours run to half an hour after sunset.
What time do Colorado duck hunters have to stop shooting?
At sunset, for ducks, geese, doves and the other migratory birds and small game.
Straight from CPW
Each fee, date and count on this page was read from a CPW brochure page, a CPW web page, a CPW report or C.R.S. Title 33 and rechecked on November 5, 2026; where two CPW sources disagree the page follows the one the brochure prints.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).