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Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's) hunting in Colorado: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt
The 2026-27 CPW rules for snow, blue and Ross's geese, with public land and computed legal light.
Photo: Larry Lamsa (CC BY 2.0)
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's) at a glance
This guide lists all 4 CPW rows for snow, blue and Ross's geese in 2026-27, from the first opener to the last close (October 3, 2026 to April 30, 2027). Right now: open now (3/4 rows). For snow, blue and Ross's geese the usual row limit reads: dark geese daily 5/possession 15; light geese daily 10/possession 30.
- What the limit is (light goose): Daily 50, possession unlimited; Unlimited. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed; shooting to 1/2 hour after sunset; no federal duck stamp needed (state stamp required).
- Calendar in brief (light goose): Regular season: October 31, 2026 to February 14, 2027 (Central Flyway (including North Park, San Luis Valley, South Par); Light Goose Conservation Order: February 15, 2027 to April 30, 2027 (East of I-25)
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 18 and CPW website, checked November 5, 2026.
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All 4 rows for snow, blue and Ross's geese
The Today column checks each light goose row against the current date in your browser.
| Hunt | Type | Where | Calendar | Limit | Code(s) | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Small game + stamps | Pacific Flyway Eastern Zone | Oct 3–Jan 6, 2027 | Dark geese daily 5/possession 15; light geese daily 10/possession 30 | – | |
| Season (split) | Small game + stamps | Pacific Flyway Western Zone | Oct 3–Oct 11, 2026; Nov 6–Jan 31, 2027 | Dark geese daily 5/possession 15; light geese daily 10/possession 30 | – | |
| Season | Small game + stamps | Central Flyway (including North Park, San Luis Valley, South Park) | Oct 31–Feb 14, 2027 | Daily 50, possession unlimited | – | |
| Light Goose Conservation Order | Small game + stamps | East of I-25 | Feb 15–Apr 30, 2027 | Unlimited. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed; shooting to 1/2 hour after sunset; no federal duck stamp needed (state stamp required) | – |
- Season (light goose, Pacific Flyway Eastern Zone): Small-game license, HIP, Colorado waterfowl stamp ($12.76) and federal duck stamp (16+, $33).
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 18, checked November 5, 2026.
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's): where the dates apply
| Zone | County count | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Western Zone | 17 | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 |
| Pacific Eastern Zone | 11 | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 |
- Season (light goose): Central Flyway (including North Park, San Luis Valley, South Park), October 31, 2026 to February 14, 2027.
- Light Goose Conservation Order (light goose): East of I-25, February 15 to April 30, 2027.
Each zone keeps its own light goose splits; CPW defines the lines by highways and the Divide, not by county.
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 18 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's) limits by row
- Dark geese daily 5/possession 15; light geese daily 10/possession 30 (light goose, 2 rows)
- Daily 50, possession unlimited (light goose, 1 row)
- Unlimited. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls allowed; shooting to 1/2 hour after sunset; no federal duck stamp needed (state stamp required) (light goose, 1 row)
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 18, checked November 5, 2026.
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's): what the licenses cost
License prices for snow, blue and Ross's geese, with the CPW surcharges already added. Add the $12.76 Habitat Stamp if you are 18 to 64; CPW puts it on the first light goose or other license you buy.
| License | Who | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small game (annual) | Resident | $38.49 | 13 months |
| Small game (annual) | Nonresident | $104.86 | 13 months |
| Youth small game | Anyone | $2.53 | 13 months |
| Colorado waterfowl stamp | Anyone | $12.76 | 13 months |
| Federal duck stamp | Anyone | $33.00 | E-stamp valid to the following June 30 |
| 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.
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's) legal methods
- Migratory birds (light goose), allowed: Shotguns 10 ga max, plugged to 3 shells, fired from the shoulder; hand-held bows; hawking.
- Migratory birds (light goose), banned: Rifles, pistols, slugs, traps, nets; unplugged guns except light-goose conservation order.
- Season (light goose method text): Shotguns 10 ga max, 3 shells max (plugged), fired from shoulder, no slugs; hand-held bows; hawking; Nontoxic shot rules per federal law; No bait; no recorded/electronic calls (except crows and light geese in the conservation order).
From 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 10 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 18, checked November 5, 2026.
Field rules for snow, blue and Ross's geese
- Hunter orange (light goose): Not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged).
- Light rules (light goose): One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Conservation order hours (light goose): One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
- Baiting (light goose): No hunting big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait; furbearer bait allowed; bear luring prohibited (CRS 33-6-131).
- Electronic calls (light goose): Prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
- Dogs (light goose): 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.
- Trespass (light goose): Permission required on private land whether or not posted; State Land Board lands only where leased/signed by CPW.
- WIA ground (light goose): 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 (light goose): 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 (light goose): Everyone 16+ needs a hunting or fishing license (or State Wildlife Area Pass) on state wildlife areas and state trust lands.
- Hunter safety (light goose): 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 places for light goose hunting
By type, the 188 places naming snow, blue and Ross's geese are SWA 132, State Trust Land 28, Ranger district 8, State park 7. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | National forest | Archuleta +8 | 1,866,191 | Southwest |
| Gunnison | National forest | Delta +4 | 1,666,609 | Southwest |
| Gunnison | Ranger district | Gunnison +2 | 1,284,166 | Southwest |
| Colorado State Trust Lands Hunting and Fishing Access Program | Access program | Adams +41 | 973,000 | – |
| Uncompahgre | National forest | Delta +7 | 952,961 | Southwest |
| Columbine | Ranger district | Archuleta +3 | 687,144 | Southwest |
| Hot Creek | SWA | Conejos | 9,485 | Southwest |
| Russell Lakes | SWA | Saguache | 4,739 | Southwest |
| Jumbo Reservoir | SWA | Logan +1 | 1,703 | Northeast |
| Teter-Michigan Creek | SWA | Park | 950 | Northeast |
| Werner Arroyo | State Trust Land | Saguache | 640 | Southwest |
| Nakagawa | SWA | Weld | 159 | Northeast |
From CPW website, CPW website and 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 16, checked November 5, 2026.
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's): shooting hours on key dates
CPW rule for snow, blue and Ross's geese: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. 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 4:55 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Jan 6, 2027 | Season closes | 6:51 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Light Goose Conservation Ord opens | 6:23 a.m. to 6:04 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. |
From 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, PDF p. 23 and 2026 Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, PDF p. 8, checked November 5, 2026.
Pair of mallards flying low over blue water, Broomfield County. Photo: Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Flock of Canada geese on a calm blue lake in Denver. Photo: Jesse James (CC BY 2.0)
Gadwall drake swimming on dark water, Jefferson County. Photo: Paul Hurtado (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross's) FAQ
What stamps and permits go with snow, blue and Ross's geese?
For snow, blue and Ross’s geese: Required for small game, coyote and migratory bird hunters, including falconers; not for turkey. Waterfowl stamps: Colorado $12.76, federal $33.00 (16 and older).
Which dates does CPW set for snow, blue and Ross's geese this season?
Snow, blue and Ross’s geese open first with season: October 3, 2026 to January 6, 2027; the season calendar ends April 30, 2027. The next opener after November 5, 2026 is February 15, 2027 (light Goose Conservation Order).
Is there a daily or season limit on snow, blue and Ross's geese?
The usual light goose row reads: Dark geese daily 5/possession 15; light geese daily 10/possession 30.
What license does a light goose hunter buy?
For snow, blue and Ross’s geese: Small game (annual) (resident) $38.49; Small game (annual) (nonresident) $104.86; Youth small game & furbearer (under 18) (anyone) $2.53; Colorado waterfowl stamp (anyone) $12.76.
What weapons are legal for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Legal for snow, blue and Ross’s geese (migratory birds): Shotguns 10 ga max, plugged to 3 shells, fired from the shoulder; hand-held bows; hawking; banned for snow, blue and Ross’s geese: rifles, pistols, slugs, traps, nets; unplugged guns except light-goose conservation order.
Does the Colorado orange rule cover snow, blue and Ross's geese?
For snow, blue and Ross’s geese, orange is optional (not required for small game, migratory birds, turkey or lion (encouraged)).
What hours does CPW set for light goose hunting?
CPW hours for snow, blue and Ross’s geese: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; Conservation order: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Example, Denver, November 5, 2026: 6:02 am to 4:55 pm (NOAA solar formula).
What public ground holds snow, blue and Ross's geese?
San Juan National Forest, Gunnison National Forest and Gunnison Ranger District (Gunnison National Forest, Uncompahgre National Forest) top the 188 public places where snow, blue and Ross’s geese are a listed species.
What is the latest light goose harvest figure?
None of the CPW harvest reports read gives a light goose number; there is no CPW records book either.
Are e-calls allowed on snow, blue and Ross's geese?
For snow, blue and Ross’s geese, bait: no bait for small-game mammals, game birds or migratory birds; federal baited-area rule (10 days after removal) for migratory birds; electronic calls for snow, blue and Ross’s geese: prohibited for big game, lion, turkey, small game and waterfowl; allowed for furbearers, crows and light geese in the conservation order.
Other photos on this page: Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0); Jesse James (CC BY 2.0); Paul Hurtado (CC BY-SA 2.0).