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Hunt Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande NF: units, rules and dates
National forest ranger district in Conejos County and 3 more counties (378,403 acres).
Photo: Alan Levine (CC0 1.0)
Getting to Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande NF
Parking, trailheads and gates near Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande NF
- TrailheadTrailhead · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Entry requirements for Conejos Peak Ranger District
On Conejos Peak Ranger District, CPW sets seasons and sells licenses while USFS manages habitat and roads. Federal rule 36 CFR 261.10(d) bars firing a gun within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed site or occupied area, and across or on a forest road or a body of water. Road and trail access for vehicles is set by the Motor Vehicle Use Map.
Forest Service wording: Our national forest offers many types of hunting opportunities for hunters of all ages and experience levels. Each year visitors enjoy hunting high in the mountains in thick timber stands, in open ground above timber and in the sagebrush lowlands. We have some of the best big game hunting in Colorado including GMU 76.
State laws apply to hunting laws and regulations on all national forests. Colorado hunting regulations.
Shooting is allowed. Gun safety and courtesy are a must. For recommended areas and additional information, contact the local ranger district offices.
According to Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, recreational shooting can take place on the National Forests and Grasslands under these conditions: You are at least 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area You are not shooting across or on a National Forest System Road or an adjacent body of water.
From the agency source; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande NF
What the agency says about Conejos Peak Ranger District
Going by the USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics, Conejos Peak Ranger District covers 378,403 acres. 32 ranger districts appear on this site, and by acres Conejos Peak Ranger District comes 18th. Within Conejos County there are 2 ranger districts on file.
Species are not listed for Conejos Peak Ranger District; any game in season in its GMUs may be hunted where the rules allow.
From the agency page (USDA Forest Service); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Open seasons by unit on Conejos Peak Ranger District
In all, 50 public-land season rows apply in these GMUs. OTC options in these units: black bear, elk and wild turkey. Private-land-only and ranch rows (11) are not shown. Note: spring turkey shows 2026 dates until CPW prints 2027.
| Game | Method | Sex | Sale | Opens | Closes | GMUs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Archery | bull | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 78 |
| Elk | Archery | cow | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 78 |
| Elk | Archery | cow | Limited, nonresident | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Archery | cow | OTC, residents | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 80, 81 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | Limited, nonresident | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | OTC, residents | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 78, 80, 81 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 78, 80, 81 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 78, 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Elk | Second rifle | bull | OTC | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Elk | Third rifle | bull | OTC | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 78, 80, 81 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Elk | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Archery | buck | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 80, 81, 82 |
| Deer | Archery | doe | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 80, 81 |
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 78 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 78, 80, 81 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, early | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 80, 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 80 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 80, 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 80 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 80, 82 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 78 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 78, 80, 81 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 78, 80, 81 |
| Pronghorn | Archery | buck | Limited draw | Aug 15, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 80, 81, 82 |
| Pronghorn | Archery | doe | Limited draw | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 82 |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | 80, 81, 82 |
| Pronghorn | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 80, 81, 82 |
| Pronghorn | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 82 |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | OTC | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 78 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 78, 80, 81, 82 |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | OTC | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 78 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 80, 81, 82 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | OTC | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 78 |
| Mountain lion | All methods | – | Group harvest limit | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 82 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | Limited draw | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 80, 81 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | OTC | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 78, 82 |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | OTC | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 78, 82 |
Season rows and hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; property access dates still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
Which units cover Conejos Peak Ranger District
The CPW unit layer puts Conejos Peak Ranger District in 4 GMUs: GMU 78, GMU 80, GMU 81, GMU 82.
In GMU 78, GMU 80 and GMU 81 a legal bull elk must meet the antler point rule. Lion hunters check the quota for group 14, 17 and 18 before going out. GMU 78, GMU 80 and GMU 81 lie in the lynx recovery area, with extra trapping and lure rules.
| GMU | Counties | Flags |
|---|---|---|
| GMU 78 | Archuleta, Mineral, Conejos | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 80 | Rio Grande, Conejos, Alamosa | elk antler point rule, lion group 18, lynx area |
| GMU 81 | Conejos, Archuleta, Alamosa | elk antler point rule, lion group 18, lynx area |
| GMU 82 | Saguache, Alamosa | lion group 14, spring turkey OTC |
Read these as whole-unit numbers: the biggest 2024 total among them was 882 elk in GMU 81.
| GMU | Game | Animals taken | Hunters | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 78 | Elk | 731 | 2,754 | 27% |
| GMU 78 | Deer | 567 | 1,138 | 50% |
| GMU 78 | Black bear | 50 | – | – |
| GMU 80 | Elk | 673 | 3,213 | 21% |
| GMU 80 | Deer | 304 | 633 | 48% |
| GMU 80 | Pronghorn | 21 | 36 | 59% |
| GMU 80 | Black bear | 9 | – | – |
| GMU 81 | Elk | 882 | 3,726 | 24% |
| GMU 81 | Deer | 295 | 585 | 50% |
| GMU 81 | Pronghorn | 47 | 61 | 77% |
| GMU 81 | Black bear | 13 | – | – |
| GMU 82 | Elk | 521 | 2,297 | 23% |
| GMU 82 | Deer | 210 | 419 | 50% |
| GMU 82 | Pronghorn | 98 | 119 | 82% |
| GMU 82 | Black bear | 4 | – | – |
GMU overlay from the CPW Big Game GMU layer; unit rules from the 2026 Big Game brochure; 2024 elk harvest by GMU, 2024 deer harvest by GMU, 2024 pronghorn harvest by GMU, 2024 bear harvest by GMU; checked November 5, 2026.
The ground of Conejos Peak Ranger District by county
It is one district of Rio Grande National Forest.
| County | Forest acres |
|---|---|
| Conejos County | 296,113 |
| Rio Grande County | 37,863 |
| Archuleta County | 23,052 |
| Alamosa County | 21,375 |
From the agency source, USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics; checked November 5, 2026.
Where Conejos Peak Ranger District is and how to get in
Its map point, 37.2257, -106.4566, comes from the boundary layer.
point from CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) Forest Service polygons inside the USFS EDW Ranger Districts boundary (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 5, 2026.
Towns and outfitters within reach of Conejos Peak Ranger District
Count on Capulin, about 20 miles out, as the first town for supplies. Census 2024 counts 4,030 people in Monte Vista, the largest nearby. The nearest CPW office is in Monte Vista, 30 miles away.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capulin | Conejos | – | 20 miles | east |
| Conejos | Conejos | – | 26 miles | east |
| La Jara | Conejos | 706 | 28 miles | east |
| Monte Vista | Rio Grande | 4,030 | 30 miles | northeast |
| Pagosa Springs | Archuleta | 1,793 | 30 miles | west |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); CPW offices from the CPW Contact Us page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 5, 2026.
Public places a short drive from Conejos Peak Ranger District
The closest other public ground is La Jara Reservoir SWA, 6 miles to the northeast. Within the six nearest places are 4 trust land parcels and 2 SWAs. Closed to hunting nearby: Trujillo Meadows State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting), Terrace Reservoir State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting) and Alberta Park Reservoir State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting).
| Nearby | Type | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Jara Reservoir SWA | SWA | 635 | Conejos | 6 miles | northeast |
| La Jara STL | State trust land | 42,881 | Conejos | 7 miles | east |
| Rajadero Canyon STL | State trust land | 673 | Conejos | 11 miles | east |
| Alamaditas Mesa STL | State trust land | 640 | Conejos | 12 miles | southeast |
| Alamosa Canyon STL | State trust land | 240 | Conejos | 12 miles | northeast |
| Hot Creek SWA | SWA | 9,485 | Conejos | 12 miles | east |
Point: CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) Forest Service polygons inside the USFS EDW Ranger Districts boundary (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
A look at the country near Conejos Peak Ranger District
Conejos Peak Ranger District sunrise, sunset and shooting times
In Conejos Peak Ranger District, the light goose conservation order and furbearer hunting both run to half an hour after sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:21 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 8:29 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:43 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:00 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:20 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:52 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:15 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:51 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.
Conejos Peak Ranger District (Rio Grande National Forest): the nearest public range, then clubs
The closest CPW-listed range to Conejos Peak Ranger District (Rio Grande National Forest) is Conejos County Public Shooting Range, roughly 25 miles off as the crow flies. After the public range come the nearest clubs within 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Conejos Peak Ranger District FAQ from the agency sources
Who can answer a question about conditions on Conejos Peak Ranger District?
Phone CPW Monte Vista Office in Monte Vista, (719) 587-6900 (30 miles away).
Where should I stay when hunting Conejos Peak Ranger District?
Capulin is your nearest base, 20 miles off.
Can I set out bait, salt or grain on Conejos Peak Ranger District?
No bait for big game, turkey, small game or birds; normal agricultural salt and mineral blocks are the only exception for big game.
What blaze orange rule applies on Conejos Peak Ranger District?
With any firearm license for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear: 500 square inches of solid orange or pink above the waist plus an orange or pink hat.
Where do I confirm the rules for Conejos Peak Ranger District?
Check the agency page run by USDA Forest Service.
What clock times bound legal hunting on Conejos Peak Ranger District?
Half an hour either side of the sun for big game, which on November 7, 2026 means 6:05 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. in Conejos County.
How much room is there to roam on Conejos Peak Ranger District?
Listed size: 378,403 acres.
What license or pass gets me onto Conejos Peak Ranger District?
No federal hunting permit: a Colorado license for the GMU, species and season is what you need.
Which GMUs does Conejos Peak Ranger District overlap?
Units on the CPW layer: GMU 78, GMU 80, GMU 81 and GMU 82.
Which county lines does Conejos Peak Ranger District cross?
Conejos County, Rio Grande County, Archuleta County and Alamosa County; the county page lists the nearby ground.
Do I need to draw for elk on Conejos Peak Ranger District?
Buy over the counter for 4 rows (archery, OTC, residents is one); the other elk hunts need the April draw.
Is there a species list for Conejos Peak Ranger District?
No list is published; Colorado seasons for the units apply.
CWD and antler rules for Conejos Peak Ranger District?
The point restriction on bull elk covers GMU 78, GMU 80 and GMU 81. No mandatory CWD testing GMU here; deer testing is not mandatory in 2026.
One last look at Conejos Peak Ranger District
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Conejos Peak Ranger District the week before the trip.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain).