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National forest · federal ground
Hunt San Juan National Forest: units, rules and dates
National forest in Archuleta County and 8 more counties, 1,866,191 acres.
Photo: daveynin (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to San Juan National Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near San Juan National Forest
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Burnt TimberTrailhead · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 3.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 6.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Haviland Lake TrailheadParking · 6.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Haviland Lake TrailheadParking · 6.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.2 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.
San Juan National Forest by the numbers
San Juan National Forest takes in 1,866,191 acres according to the USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics. Size places it 2nd out of 12 national forests in Colorado. 2 national forests touch Archuleta County, and San Juan National Forest is one of the set.
Hunting opportunities on record: Elk, Deer, Moose, Bighorn sheep, Mountain goat, Black bear, Mountain lion, Wild turkey, Waterfowl, Doves, Sage-grouse, Dusky grouse, Upland birds.
From the agency page (USDA Forest Service); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around San Juan National Forest
What San Juan National Forest allows and forbids
State licenses and CPW seasons govern hunting on the federal land of San Juan National Forest. 36 CFR 261.10(d) sets a 150-yard buffer around dwellings, camps and developed sites and forbids shooting across roads or water. Check the Motor Vehicle Use Map before driving any forest road or trail.
The USFS page says: The San Juan National Forest provides millions of acres of habitat, thousands of miles of streams and a variety of lakes and ponds. These beautiful places provide a backdrop for hunting, fishing and recreational shooting.
Interested in a tour? Fly fishing lessons? Hunting guide? Check out our list of current, permitted Outfitters and Guides .
Big game hunting attracts hunters from just about every state to southwestern Colorado and to the San Juan National Forest. The major big-game species that live in the San Juan National Forest are mule deer, elk, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear, and mountain lion. Game bird species that are hunted include turkey, blue grouse, sage grouse, rock and morning dove, and various waterfowl species.
While the Forest Service does not sell hunting licenses, a license is required to hunt in Colorado. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Offices and local retailers sell licenses. An annual Hunting Handbook lists hunting regulations. Fore more information, visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website or give the local office a call at 970-247-0855.
From the agency source; checked November 5, 2026.
Where San Juan National Forest is and how to get in
San Juan National Forest is plotted at 37.5143, -107.6830 on the statewide map.
point from CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) Forest Service polygons inside the USFS EDW proclaimed boundary (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 5, 2026.
GMUs and unit rules on San Juan National Forest
Big game licenses here are sold by unit, and San Juan National Forest touches 10 GMUs: GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 73, GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77, GMU 78, GMU 711, GMU 751, GMU 771.
Elk antler point restrictions apply in GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 73, GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77 and 4 more. Mandatory free CWD testing applies to listed rifle elk hunt codes in GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 73 and GMU 711. For lions, the units fall in harvest-limit groups 12, 16 and 17. Inside the lynx area: GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77, GMU 78 and 2 more.
| Unit | Where | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| GMU 70 | San Miguel, Montrose, Dolores | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 12 |
| GMU 71 | Dolores, Montezuma | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 16 |
| GMU 73 | Montezuma | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 16 |
| GMU 74 | La Plata, San Juan | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 75 | La Plata, San Juan | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 77 | Archuleta, Hinsdale, Mineral | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 78 | Archuleta, Mineral, Conejos | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 711 | Dolores, Montezuma, San Miguel | elk antler point rule, elk CWD testing, lion group 16 |
| GMU 751 | La Plata, Hinsdale, Archuleta | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
| GMU 771 | Archuleta, La Plata | elk antler point rule, lion group 17, spring turkey OTC |
CPW publishes harvest by GMU, not by property. In 2024, GMU 70 led these units with 1,275 elk taken.
| GMU | Game | Animals taken | Hunters | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 70 | Elk | 1,275 | 3,448 | 37% |
| GMU 70 | Deer | 859 | 1,249 | 69% |
| GMU 70 | Black bear | 58 | – | – |
| GMU 71 | Elk | 467 | 2,529 | 18% |
| GMU 71 | Deer | 222 | 506 | 44% |
| GMU 71 | Pronghorn | 2 | 4 | 55% |
| GMU 71 | Black bear | 34 | – | – |
| GMU 73 | Elk | 105 | 639 | 16% |
| GMU 73 | Deer | 302 | 622 | 49% |
| GMU 73 | Black bear | 19 | – | – |
| GMU 74 | Elk | 329 | 1,537 | 21% |
| GMU 74 | Deer | 130 | 304 | 43% |
| GMU 74 | Black bear | 24 | – | – |
| GMU 75 | Elk | 308 | 1,337 | 23% |
| GMU 75 | Deer | 617 | 1,131 | 55% |
| GMU 75 | Black bear | 26 | – | – |
| GMU 77 | Elk | 683 | 3,299 | 21% |
| GMU 77 | Deer | 612 | 1,356 | 45% |
| GMU 77 | Black bear | 32 | – | – |
| GMU 78 | Elk | 731 | 2,754 | 27% |
| GMU 78 | Deer | 567 | 1,138 | 50% |
| GMU 78 | Black bear | 50 | – | – |
| GMU 711 | Elk | 366 | 1,764 | 21% |
| GMU 711 | Deer | 331 | 652 | 51% |
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.
San Juan National Forest season calendar by GMU
The units of San Juan National Forest carry 40 big game seasons this year. You can buy an OTC license for black bear, elk and wild turkey here; other rows are limited. We dropped 22 rows valid only on private land or enrolled ranches. Spring 2027 turkey dates are not published yet, so the spring row is last year's.
| Species | Season | Sex | Kind | From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Archery | bull | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Archery | cow | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 71, 73, 74, 75 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 71, 73, 74, 75 + |
| Elk | Second rifle | bull | OTC | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 71, 73, 74, 75 + |
| Elk | Third rifle | bull | OTC | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 71, 73, 74, 75 + |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 71, 75, 77, 78 + |
| Deer | Archery | buck | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 75, 77, 78, 751 + |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, early | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 74 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 75, 77, 78, 751 + |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 70, 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 75, 77 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 77, 78, 771 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 77, 78, 771 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, late | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 77, 78, 771 |
| Moose | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited, split | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 77, 751 |
| Moose | Season choice | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 74, 75 |
| Moose | Season choice | bull | Limited, split | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 77, 751 |
| Moose | Rifle | cow | Limited, split | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 77, 751 |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | OTC | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | OTC | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | OTC | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Mountain lion | All methods | – | Group harvest limit | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 70 |
| Wild turkey | Spring | – | OTC | Apr 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Wild turkey | Fall | – | OTC | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
Seasons for the smaller game on the list
| Species | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Dusky grouse | Season | West of I-25 | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
| Mourning dove | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
| 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 season (split) | Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla | Oct 3, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 |
| Dark geese | Season | except zone | Nov 2, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 |
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.
San Juan National Forest acreage breakdown
The Forest Service runs San Juan National Forest through 3 districts.
| District | Forest acres | County | GMUs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbine Ranger District | 687,144 | La Plata, San Juan, Hinsdale | 71, 74, 75, 77 + |
| Mancos/Dolores Ranger District | 597,178 | Dolores, Montezuma, La Plata | 70, 71, 73, 74 + |
| Pagosa Ranger District | 581,869 | Archuleta, Mineral, Hinsdale | 77, 78, 771 |
| County | NFS acres |
|---|---|
| Archuleta County | 400,630 |
| La Plata County | 400,579 |
| Dolores County | 330,520 |
| Montezuma County | 256,678 |
| Hinsdale County | 183,179 |
| San Juan County | 152,650 |
| Mineral County | 131,799 |
| Conejos County | 5,316 |
| Rio Grande County | 4,839 |
From the agency source, USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics; checked November 5, 2026.
Mapped neighbours of San Juan National Forest
Haviland Lake SWA sits 7 miles west of the San Juan National Forest point. Nearby public places include 4 SWAs and 2 trust land parcels. Neighbours closed to hunting: Andrews Lake State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting) and Bayfield Lions Club Shooting Range (CPW lists no hunting).
| Nearby | Type | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haviland Lake SWA | SWA | 208 | La Plata | 7 miles | west |
| West Lime Creek STL | State trust land | 640 | San Juan | 16 miles | north |
| Sultan Creek STL | State trust land | 640 | San Juan | 17 miles | north |
| Perins Peak SWA | SWA | 7,720 | La Plata | 20 miles | southwest |
| Bodo SWA | SWA | 2,942 | La Plata | 22 miles | southwest |
| Pastorius Reservoir SWA | SWA | 83 | La Plata | 23 miles | south |
Point: CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) Forest Service polygons inside the USFS EDW proclaimed boundary (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
San Juan National Forest: nearby towns, shops and the CPW office
Measured in a straight line, Bayfield is 20 miles from San Juan National Forest. For a full-size grocery run, Durango (19,811 people) is the pick. You can reach the Durango CPW office in about 22 miles of straight line.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield | La Plata | 2,923 | 20 miles | south |
| Durango | La Plata | 19,811 | 20 miles | southwest |
| Silverton | San Juan | 731 | 21 miles | north |
| Telluride | San Miguel | 2,486 | 30 miles | north |
| Ouray | Ouray | 912 | 35 miles | north |
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.
San Juan National Forest sunrise, sunset and shooting times
Big game light near San Juan National Forest starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; turkeys, small game and ducks end at sunset.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Elk and deer | Turkey and ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:24 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:39 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:47 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:04 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:23 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:55 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:18 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:54 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.
Landscape and game around San Juan National Forest
Public and private ranges before San Juan National Forest
La Plata County holds the CPW-listed range nearest San Juan National Forest: Bayfield Lions Club Shooting Range (19 miles). Beside it sit the closest club ranges inside 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
San Juan National Forest FAQ from the agency sources
When does big game light begin and end on San Juan National Forest?
Big game 6:08 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. on November 7, 2026 at the Archuleta County centre; turkey, small game and ducks stop at sunset.
Which agency page should I check for San Juan National Forest?
The USDA Forest Service page has the current rules.
What does it take to hunt San Juan National Forest legally?
No extra permit; buy the Colorado license for the GMU and season.
What acreage does the record give for San Juan National Forest?
All told it takes in 1,866,191 acres.
Which county sheriff and county roads serve San Juan National Forest?
GIS puts it in Archuleta County, La Plata County, Dolores County, Montezuma County, Hinsdale County, San Juan County and 3 more.
What hunt code unit applies to San Juan National Forest?
It overlaps GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 73, GMU 74, GMU 75, GMU 77, GMU 78, GMU 711 and 2 more.
What game can be hunted on San Juan National Forest?
The agency lists elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, mountain lion, wild turkey, waterfowl and doves.
Is elk on San Juan National Forest draw only?
Yes, for part of the elk calendar: 2 rows, including second rifle (OTC). Leftover licenses went on sale August 4.
Which special elk rules cover San Juan National Forest?
Free mandatory CWD tests apply to some rifle elk codes in GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 73 and GMU 711. GMU 70, GMU 71, GMU 73, GMU 74, GMU 75 and 5 more carry the elk antler point restriction.
Where should I stay when hunting San Juan National Forest?
Bayfield is your nearest base, 20 miles off.
Where do I report trouble on San Juan National Forest?
CPW Durango Office in Durango, (970) 247-0855 (22 miles away); CPW offices close on state holidays.
Must I wear blaze orange or pink on San Juan National Forest?
Yes for firearm big game: 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink on the upper body and a matching head covering. Camo orange does not count.
Can I set out bait, salt or grain on San Juan National Forest?
No bait for big game, turkey, small game or birds; normal agricultural salt and mineral blocks are the only exception for big game.
One last look at San Juan National Forest
Property rules, closures and reservation needs on San Juan National Forest can change mid-season; posted signs and the agency page have the last word.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; seasons from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Michael Kwok (CC BY 2.0); Craig Mirkin (CC BY-SA 2.0); lostinfog (CC BY-SA 2.0).