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Fox squirrel hunting in Colorado: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt
2026-27: Open now. Every CPW row, limits, licenses, public land and legal hours.
Photo: jamieotterbein (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fox squirrel at a glance
Every fox squirrel row CPW published for 2026-27 is below: 1 row, October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027. On November 5, 2026 the status is open now. The limit you will see most for fox squirrels: daily 5 of each species, possession 10.
- CPW bag summary (fox squirrel): Daily 5 of each species, possession 10
- How and when (fox squirrel): Regular season: October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 (Statewide)
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13 and CPW website, checked November 5, 2026.
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Fox squirrel season rows with limits
Rows come from the 2026-27 brochures; codes are listed where a row holds one or two, otherwise counted.
| Season | License | GMUs or zone | Dates | Limit | Hunt codes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falconry season | Falconry license | Statewide (or as listed) | Sep 1–Mar 31, 2027 | Daily 5 of each, possession 10 | – | |
| Season | Small game | Statewide | Oct 1–Feb 28, 2027 | Daily 5 of each species, possession 10 | – |
- Falconry season (fox squirrel, Statewide (or as listed)): Falconry bag and possession limits are not in addition to gun limits; Migratory falconry dates coincide with the established seasons (end date shown is the latest regular migratory close in the brochure).
- Season (fox squirrel, Statewide): Fox and pine squirrel: October 1-end of February, annually.
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 20, checked November 5, 2026.
Where fox squirrels rows apply
- Season (fox squirrel): Statewide; October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
The fox squirrel rows cover all 64 counties; land rules (State Wildlife Area, State Trust Land, private permission) decide where you can stand. 64 county guides
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13, checked November 5, 2026.
The fox squirrel limit rules
- Daily 5 of each, possession 10 (fox squirrel, 1 row)
- Daily 5 of each species, possession 10 (fox squirrel, 1 row)
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 13, checked November 5, 2026.
Colorado fox squirrel license prices
Prices for fox squirrels include the $1.25 search-and-rescue surcharge and the $1.50 Wildlife Education Fund fee, per CPW. A $12.76 Habitat Stamp rides on the first purchase of the year (ages 18-64), fox squirrel licenses included.
| License or fee | For | Cost | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game (annual) | Resident | $38.49 | 13 months |
| Small game (annual) | Nonresident | $104.86 | 13 months |
| Small game (one-day) | Resident | $18.07 | 1 day |
| Small game (one-day) | Nonresident | $21.90 | 1 day |
| Small game (additional day) | Anyone | $9.13 | 1 day |
| Youth small game | Anyone | $2.53 | 13 months |
| Small game/fishing combo | Resident | $64.02 | 13 months |
| Senior combo (64+) | Resident | $38.03 | 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.
Firearms, bows and gear rules for fox squirrels
- Small game and furbearers (fox squirrel), permitted: Rifles, handguns, shotguns 10 ga max (3 shells), hand-held bows, crossbows, air guns, slingshots, hawking; live traps for furbearers.
- Small game and furbearers (fox squirrel), not allowed: 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.
- Falconry season (fox squirrel method text): Hawking/falconry only; falconry license required.
- Season (fox squirrel method text): Rifles or handguns, shotguns 10 ga max (3 shells), hand-held bows, crossbows, air guns, slingshots, hawking; No electronic calls; no bait; dogs may pursue, flush, point and retrieve (not for rabbits/hares/tree squirrels where a regular deer, elk, pronghorn or moose season is open).
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 9 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 20, checked November 5, 2026.
Fox squirrel: orange, hours, bait and checks
- Blaze rule (fox squirrel): Not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged).
- Legal hours (fox squirrel): One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Baiting (fox squirrel): No hunting big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait; furbearer bait allowed; bear luring prohibited (CRS 33-6-131).
- Dogs (fox squirrel): 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.
- Electronic calls (fox squirrel): Prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
- Vehicles and roads (fox squirrel): 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 (fox squirrel): Permission required on private land whether or not posted; State Land Board lands only where leased/signed by CPW.
- Wanton waste (fox squirrel): Must care for and prepare edible meat (four quarters, tenderloins, backstraps); must reasonably track wounded game; landowner permission needed to follow onto private land.
- Walk-In properties (fox squirrel): 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.
- Sunday hunting (fox squirrel): 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).
- SWA and STL rule (fox squirrel): Everyone 16+ needs a hunting or fishing license (or State Wildlife Area Pass) on state wildlife areas and state trust lands.
- Hunter education (fox squirrel): 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 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.
Public land for fox squirrels
Public land listing fox squirrels: 270 places; by CPW region Northwest 112, Southeast 63, Northeast 59, Southwest 35. Read the land page before you go: State Trust Lands usually open September 1 to the end of February, and SWAs post their own dates.
| Name | Type | County | Acres | CPW region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State Trust Lands Hunting and Fishing Access Program | Access program | Adams +41 | 973,000 | – |
| Cherokee | SWA | Larimer | 25,497 | Northeast |
| South Republican | SWA | Kit Carson +1 | 18,365 | Southeast |
| Queens | SWA | Kiowa +1 | 13,886 | Southeast |
| Tamarack Ranch | SWA | Logan | 10,695 | Northeast |
| Perins Peak | SWA | La Plata | 7,720 | Southwest |
| Triangle | State Trust Land | Moffat | 1,122 | Northwest |
| Agua Ramon | State Trust Land | Rio Grande | 640 | Southwest |
| Florence | State Trust Land | Fremont | 640 | Southeast |
| Steinhoff Hill | State Trust Land | Larimer | 480 | Northeast |
| Prospect | State Trust Land | Weld | 140 | Northeast |
| Brower | SWA | Weld | 65 | Northeast |
From CPW website, CPW website and 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.
When fox squirrel hunting light starts and ends
Legal hours for fox squirrels worked out for county centres with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); CPW prints Denver tables with town offsets in the brochures.
| Date | Why | Denver | Grand Junction area | Lamar area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Checked on | 6:02 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | December solstice | 6:47 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Season closes | 6:06 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. |
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 23 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 8, checked November 5, 2026.
Eastern gray squirrel. Photo: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fox squirrel on a tree trunk. Photo: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Eastern gray squirrel on the ground. Photo: PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0)
Fox squirrel, answered
Which firearms and bows are legal for fox squirrel hunting?
CPW allows these for fox squirrels: Rifles, handguns, shotguns 10 ga max (3 shells), hand-held bows, crossbows, air guns, slingshots, hawking; live traps for furbearers; it bars these for fox squirrels: 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.
How much is a license for fox squirrels in Colorado?
CPW prices that apply to fox squirrels: Small game (annual) (resident) $38.49; Small game (annual) (nonresident) $104.86; Small game (one-day) (resident) $18.07; Small game (one-day) (nonresident) $21.90.
How early can I shoot fox squirrels in the morning?
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset for fox squirrels. On November 5, 2026 in Denver that works out to 6:02 am to 4:55 pm (NOAA solar formula).
Is fluorescent orange or pink required on a fox squirrel hunt?
CPW does not require orange for fox squirrels: not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged).
How many fox squirrels are taken in Colorado each year?
No harvest figure for fox squirrels is in the CPW reports read for this page.
Where can I hunt fox squirrels on public land in Colorado?
270 lands list fox squirrels. Biggest: Colorado State Trust Lands Hunting and Fishing Access Program, Cherokee State Wildlife Area (All units) and South Republican State Wildlife Area.
What training does CPW require before hunting fox squirrels?
Yes, for fox squirrels 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 are the bait and call rules for fox squirrels?
Fox squirrels and bait: no bait for small-game mammals, game birds or migratory birds; federal baited-area rule (10 days after removal) for migratory birds; fox squirrels and calls: prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
How many fox squirrel can one hunter keep?
Most rows for fox squirrels say: Daily 5 of each species, possession 10.
When does the Colorado fox squirrel season open and close?
First fox squirrel window: Season: October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Final close: February 28, 2027.
Other photos on this page: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); PierreSelim (CC BY 3.0).