Furbearer
Beaver in Colorado: 2026-27 hunting, trapping and limits
The 2026-27 CPW rules for beavers, with public land and computed legal light.
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Beaver in Colorado, 2026-27
This guide lists all 1 CPW row for beavers in 2026-27, from the first opener to the last close (October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Right now: open now. For beavers the usual row limit reads: daily 2 (new), possession unlimited.
- What the limit is (beaver): Daily 2 (new), possession unlimited
- Calendar in brief (beaver): Regular season: October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (Statewide)
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13 and CPW website, checked November 5, 2026.
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All 1 rows for beavers
The Today column checks each beaver row against the current date in your browser.
| Hunt | Type | Where | Calendar | Limit | Code(s) | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Small game or furbearer | Statewide | Oct 1–Mar 31, 2027 | Daily 2 (new), possession unlimited | – |
- Season (beaver, Statewide): New season October 1-March 31 (formerly to April 30); Mandatory sealing of hides from October 1, 2026 (within 30 days of take or 5 days after season).
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13, checked November 5, 2026.
Beaver: where the dates apply
- Season (beaver): Statewide; October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
One statewide row set covers beavers; county does not change the dates. All counties
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13, checked November 5, 2026.
Beaver limits by row
- Daily 2 (new), possession unlimited (beaver, 1 row)
- Per-year rule (beaver): See the season rows (daily/possession limits); Furbearers including coyote, beaver and bobcat now daily 2 (new); possession unlimited.
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13, checked November 5, 2026.
Beaver: what the licenses cost
License prices for beavers, with the CPW surcharges already added. Add the $12.76 Habitat Stamp if you are 18 to 64; CPW puts it on the first beaver or other license you buy.
| License | Who | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furbearer-only license | Resident | $38.49 | 13 months |
| Furbearer-only license | Nonresident | $104.86 | 13 months |
| Furbearer harvest permit | Anyone | $10.00 | 13 months |
| Small game (annual) | Resident | $38.49 | 13 months |
| Small game (annual) | Nonresident | $104.86 | 13 months |
| HIP registration | Anyone | free | from March 1 |
| Habitat Stamp (annual) | Anyone | $12.76 | 13 months |
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 15, 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 5 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 7, checked November 5, 2026.
Methods of take for beavers
- Small game and furbearers (beaver), allowed: Rifles, handguns, shotguns 10 ga max (3 shells), hand-held bows, crossbows, air guns, slingshots, hawking; live traps for furbearers.
- Small game and furbearers (beaver), banned: Body-grip, foothold, snare/cable devices and poisons (except under W-17/Department of Agriculture permits); centerfire rifles larger than .23 cal west of I-25 during regular deer/elk rifle seasons without an unfilled deer/elk license.
- Season (beaver method text): Any rifle, handgun, shotgun, hand-held bow, crossbow, air gun (pre-charged .25 cal+ for coyote and bobcat); live (cage/box) traps only; electronic calls legal; bait of plant/animal matter legal; night hunting with artificial light for beaver, raccoon, coyote, bobcat, striped skunk and red/gray/swift fox on private land with written landowner permission or on public land with a CPW permit; Contests prohibited.
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 9 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13, checked November 5, 2026.
Field rules for beavers
- Hunter orange (beaver): Not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged).
- Light rules (beaver): 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).
- Baiting (beaver): No hunting big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait; furbearer bait allowed; bear luring prohibited (CRS 33-6-131).
- Electronic calls (beaver): Prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
- Artificial light and night vision (beaver): Illegal as a hunting aid except furbearer night hunting with landowner permission (private) or a CPW permit (public).
- Dogs (beaver): No dogs for big game except a leashed tracking dog (annual permit) to recover wounded deer/elk and others (not bear); dogs allowed for lion (max 8), small game, waterfowl and furbearers.
- Vehicles and roads (beaver): No shooting from a vehicle or within 50 ft of a public road centerline; firearms unloaded in the chamber in vehicles; firearms (except handguns) unloaded and cased on OHVs during deer, elk, pronghorn and bear seasons.
- Trespass (beaver): Permission required on private land whether or not posted; State Land Board lands only where leased/signed by CPW.
- Mandatory check (beaver): Present pelts for sealing within 30 days of take or 5 days after season close (beaver new from October 1, 2026).
- WIA ground (beaver): Walk-In Access: small game September 1-February 28, 2027 (regular), late cropland from pheasant opener; extended properties to March 31; big game on some properties September 1-December 31; small-game license and Habitat Stamp required; foot access only.
- Sundays (beaver): No statewide Sunday restriction appears in the 2026 brochures, CPW regulation chapters read or CRS Title 33; seasons run every day; Some State Wildlife Areas limit hunting to certain days (Chapter W-5/W-9 property rules, for example waterfowl only on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays on some SWAs).
- State-owned ground (beaver): Everyone 16+ needs a hunting or fishing license (or State Wildlife Area Pass) on state wildlife areas and state trust lands.
- Hunter safety (beaver): Anyone born on or after January 1, 1949 needs a hunter education card to buy or apply for a hunting license; carry it (or have it verified "V" on the license); Other states' cards honored.
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 25, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 24, 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 9, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 26, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 22, 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 23 and 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.
Beaver on SWAs, forests and BLM
By type, the 28 places naming beavers are State Trust Land 23, Walk-In Access 2, SWA 2, Access program 1. Each record's own access rules win; SWAs and State Trust Lands need a Colorado hunting or fishing license or SWA pass for anyone 16+.
| Place | Land type | In | Acres | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State Trust Lands Hunting and Fishing Access Program | Access program | Adams +41 | 973,000 | – |
| Colorado Walk-In Access Program | Walk-In Access | Baca +18 | 173,601 | Southeast |
| Colorado Big Game Walk-In Access Program | Walk-In Access | Baca +16 | 157,394 | Southeast |
| Brett Gray Ranch | State Trust Land | Lincoln | 49,596 | Southeast |
| Sikes Ranch | SWA | Baca +1 | 7,139 | Southeast |
| Poudre River | State Trust Land | Larimer | 4,694 | Northeast |
| Ralston Creek | SWA | Gilpin +1 | 2,100 | Northeast |
| Sand Canyon | State Trust Land | Baca | 640 | Southeast |
| Burchfield | State Trust Land | Baca | 640 | Southeast |
| Antelope Tank | State Trust Land | Las Animas | 640 | Southeast |
| Kirkwell | State Trust Land | Baca | 640 | Southeast |
| Tobe Creek | State Trust Land | Las Animas | 640 | Southeast |
From CPW website, CPW website and 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.
Beaver: shooting hours on key dates
CPW rule for beavers: 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). The table applies it to sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula.
| Day | Marker | Denver | Grand Junction area | Lamar area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Page checked | 6:02 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 6:47 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Season closes | 6:17 a.m. to 7:51 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. |
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 23 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 8, checked November 5, 2026.
Snow-covered Rocky Mountain peaks rising above a line of pines in Colorado. Photo: Bob Denaro (CC BY 2.0)
Black bear walking through a green meadow beside a fallen log. Photo: Ben & Gab (CC BY 2.0)
Ruffed grouse on the forest floor. Photo: GlacierNPS (Public domain)
Answers about beavers
Public land for beavers: where to start?
Colorado State Trust Lands Hunting and Fishing Access Program, Colorado Walk-In Access Program and Colorado Big Game Walk-In Access Program top the 28 public places where beavers are a listed species.
What is the latest beaver harvest figure?
None of the CPW harvest reports read gives a beaver number; there is no CPW records book either.
Are e-calls allowed on beavers?
For beavers, bait: bait of plant or animal matter is legal for furbearers (no metal, glass, plastic, paper); no fresh meat, fish oil or anise lures for felids in lynx areas; electronic calls for beavers: prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
Does CPW require a beaver inspection?
After a beaver is taken: Present pelts for sealing within 30 days of take or 5 days after season close (beaver new from October 1, 2026).
Can a new hunter go after beavers without a course?
Yes, for beavers as for all hunting: anyone born on or after January 1, 1949 needs a hunter education card to buy or apply for a hunting license; carry it (or have it verified “V” on the license); Other states’ cards honored.
What is the beaver calendar for 2026-27?
Beavers open first with season: October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027; the season calendar ends March 31, 2027.
Is there a daily or season limit on beavers?
The usual beaver row reads: Daily 2 (new), possession unlimited.
What license does a beaver hunter buy?
For beavers: Furbearer-only license (resident) $38.49; Furbearer-only license (nonresident) $104.86; Furbearer harvest permit (anyone) $10.00; Small game (annual) (resident) $38.49.
What equipment rules apply to beavers?
Legal for beavers (small game and furbearers): Rifles, handguns, shotguns 10 ga max (3 shells), hand-held bows, crossbows, air guns, slingshots, hawking; live traps for furbearers; banned for beavers: body-grip, foothold, snare/cable devices and poisons (except under W-17/Department of Agriculture permits); centerfire rifles larger than .23 cal west of I-25 during regular deer/elk rifle seasons without an unfilled deer/elk license.
Orange or pink for beavers: required?
For beavers, orange is optional (not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged)).
What hours does CPW set for beaver hunting?
For beavers: 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). Denver on November 5, 2026: 6:02 am to 5:25 pm, worked out with the NOAA solar formula.
Other photos on this page: Bob Denaro (CC BY 2.0); Ben & Gab (CC BY 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public domain).