Arapahoe County · GMU 104 · Area 5
Hunting Near Aurora
City within Arapahoe County. Drive 14 miles to the first public hunting ground, Whitehorse SWA.
Photo: Bob Denaro (CC BY 2.0)
Aurora in brief for hunters
More than 25,000 people live in Aurora, a Arapahoe County city that CPW serves from its CPW Northeast Region. Aurora counted 403,130 residents in the 2024 Census population estimates. Aurora and everything within 10 miles of it lie in GMU 104. Aurora is one of 13 Colorado towns here with no public hunting ground inside 10 miles. Plan on driving to Whitehorse SWA, 14 miles away. The area office for Aurora is the CPW Denver Office ((303) 291-7227).
Town point, population and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; GMUs from the CPW GMU layer; public land rings from lands.json boundaries (GIS acres). Checked November 5, 2026.
GMUs and licenses around Aurora
The town point for Aurora is in GMU 104; the table adds every unit inside 10 miles.
GMU 104, the unit around Aurora, covers 1,453 square miles across Adams, Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and Denver. The 11 elk codes valid in GMU 104 are limited licenses only. Mountain lion harvest in GMU 104 is pooled in group 20, limit 22. Herd estimates after the 2025 hunts: elk herd E-51 at about 3,480, deer herd D-49 at about 5,250 and pronghorn herd A-35 at about 3,800. Elk success in GMU 104 ran 53% in 2024 (230 elk for 432 hunters).
| GMU | Where | Elk codes | Deer codes | Pronghorn codes | Point rule | CWD | Lion group | Spring birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 104 (town) | Adams, Douglas + | 11 / 0 | 15 / 0 | 6 / 0 | No | No | Group 20 (22) | OTC |
Whole-unit 2024 harvest estimates, all seasons and methods, for the GMUs near Aurora.
| Unit | Elk (success %) | Deer (success %) | Antelope | Bear | Elk hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 104 | 230 (53%) | 512 (50%) | 292 (70%) | 1 | 432 |
Hunt codes and valid GMUs from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure; elk antler point GMUs (CPW), CWD testing GMUs (CPW), lion groups (2026-2027 Mountain Lion brochure), turkey units (2026 Turkey brochure); 2024 harvest (CPW harvest statistics); 2025 herd estimates (CPW); GMU areas from the CPW GMU layer. Checked November 5, 2026.
Public acres around Aurora, nearest first
Boundary distances from Aurora are GIS straight lines; check the CPW or agency map before you drive. Counting everything to 25 miles from Aurora: 2 state wildlife areas, 1 state park and 1 state trust land parcel. Rows marked centre are beyond the 25-mile ring and measured to the mapped middle of the property.
| Hunting ground | Kind | From town | Size (ac) | GMU | Hunted for | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehorse SWA | SWA | 14 mi | 400 | 104 | waterfowl | License or SWA pass |
| Barr Lake State Park | State park | 15 mi | 1,164 | 104 | waterfowl, dove | Park pass, set areas |
| Prospect STL | State trust land | 24 mi | 140 | 99 | waterfowl, dove + | License, STL dates |
| Sharptail Ridge SWA | SWA | 24 mi | 699 | 51 | deer, elk | License or SWA pass |
| Banner Lakes SWA | SWA | 27 mi (centre) | 934 | 99 | waterfowl, dove + | License or SWA pass |
| Rocky Flats NWR | Wildlife refuge | 28 mi (centre) | 6,560 | 38 | elk | Refuge hunt rules |
| Lost Creek STL | State trust land | 33 mi (centre) | 640 | 99 | deer, pheasant + | License, STL dates |
| Ralston Creek SWA | SWA | 35 mi (centre) | 2,100 | 38 | waterfowl, furbearers + | License or SWA pass |
| Eldorado Canyon State Park | State park | 36 mi (centre) | 1,441 | 29 | big game | Park pass, set areas |
| Bergen Peak SWA | SWA | 36 mi (centre) | 1,093 | 39 | deer, elk + | License or SWA pass |
Distances and acres from places.json and lands.json (CPW Managed Properties layer, PAD-US 4.1, BLM and USFS layers; GIS measures, not surveyed acreage), CPW SWA finder and STL finder. Checked November 5, 2026.
Three areas close to Aurora
Whitehorse SWA
CPW lists: waterfowl. Open only for youth/mentors who have received certification to use the property as participants in the youth hunting program; access limited to dates specified by the program. CPW route note for this one, take I-76 E toward Barr Lake. Part of the hunting here runs by reservation or draw.
Barr Lake State Park
CPW lists: waterfowl, dove. Dogs or other pets, fishing or boating in wildlife refuge area prohibited. Part of the hunting here runs by reservation or draw.
Prospect STL
CPW lists: waterfowl, dove, pheasant, rabbit, coyote, small game. Access through designated parking only. CPW route note for this one, from Hudson, go E on Hwy. 52 approx. 7 miles to CR 59.
Species, restrictions and directions from each area’s CPW page and the 2026 Colorado State Recreation Lands brochure, or the agency page linked on the area page (lands.json). Checked November 5, 2026.
What is open near Aurora and when
Filter by species or GMU; the last column checks each of the 77 rows against today’s date.
| Game | Weapon and sex | License | Coverage | From | To | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery either sex | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe | Limited late | GMU 104 | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader buck | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader doe | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader either sex | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle buck | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle either sex | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe | RFW resident | GMU 104 | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle either sex | RFW resident | GMU 104 | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle doe | Limited late | GMU 104 | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Deer | Rifle either sex | Limited late | GMU 104 | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow | Limited private | GMU 104 | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Elk | Archery either sex | Limited | GMU 104 | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader bull | Limited | GMU 104 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Elk | Muzzleloader cow | Limited | GMU 104 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull | Limited | GMU 104 | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle bull | Limited | GMU 104 | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle either sex | RFW resident | GMU 104 | Nov 20, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow | RFW resident | GMU 104 | Dec 3, 2026 | Dec 7, 2026 | |
| Elk | Rifle cow | RFW resident | GMU 104 | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe | RFW resident | GMU 104 | Aug 15, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle either sex | RFW resident | GMU 104 | Aug 15, 2026 | Aug 21, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader buck | Limited | GMU 104 | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Muzzleloader doe | Limited | GMU 104 | Sep 21, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle buck | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Rifle doe | Limited | GMU 104 | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Plains rifle | OTC | GMU 104 | Sep 2, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle either sex | Limited private | GMU 104 | Sep 2, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Mountain lion | Lion season | Small game lic. | GMU 104 | Nov 23, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | OTC | GMU 104 | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth extended fall season | Small game lic. | Units on the youth's | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Abert's squirrel | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Collared-dove | Year-round | Year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Starling and sparrow | Year-round | Year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Ground squirrel | Year-round | Year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Band-tailed pigeon | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | |
| Beaver | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Dec 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| Snapping turtle | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Year-round | Year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Crow | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dark geese | Regular season | Small game lic. | except zone | Nov 2, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth | Small game lic. | Mountain zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth | Small game lic. | Northeast zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth | Small game lic. | Southeast zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular season | Small game lic. | Mountain zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular season | Small game lic. | Northeast zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular season | Small game lic. | Southeast zone | Oct 28, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Dusky grouse | Regular season | Small game lic. | West of I-25 | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Fox squirrel | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Other furbearers | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Jackrabbits | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Small game lic. | Central Flyway (incl. Nort | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Light Goose Conservation Order | Small game lic. | East of I-25 | Feb 15, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Marmot | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Aug 10, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Pine squirrel | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Prairie dogs | Private land | Year-round | Statewide | Apr 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Prairie dogs | Public land season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Jun 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rattlesnake | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Jun 15, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 | |
| Quail | Season 1 | Small game lic. | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season 2 | Small game lic. | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season 3 | Small game lic. | West of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Rails | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Season 1 | Small game lic. | East of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Season 2 | Small game lic. | West of I-25 | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular season | Small game lic. | East of the Continental | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal season | Small game lic. | Lake and Chaffee counties | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ptarmigan | Season 1 | Small game lic. | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| White-winged dove | Regular season | Small game lic. | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 |
From the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the 2026 Turkey brochure and the 2026-2027 Mountain Lion brochure; hunt codes and exact GMU lists are in the brochure tables. Checked November 5, 2026.
Arapahoe County rules that reach Aurora
Waterfowl seasons around Aurora follow the Northeast Zone, Southeast Zone and Mountain/Foothills Zone. CPW lists Arapahoe County among the counties east of I-25, the side of the state with plains seasons and the light goose conservation order.
Zones from the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; shed antler rule from the 2026 Big Game brochure; sheep and goat units from the 2026 Sheep and Goat brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
CPW and land offices for Aurora
Aurora is in CPW Area 5 of the CPW Northeast Region; the nearest CPW office is CPW Denver Office, about 16 miles away.
CPW offices and areas from the CPW Contact Us page and the CPW Area Boundary layer; ranger district and BLM office towns from the USFS and BLM office layers (places.json). Checked November 5, 2026.
Gear stores and taxidermists by Aurora
Hunters based in Aurora have 121 stores for gear and 28 taxidermists inside 25 miles.
Mailing towns for DORA-registered outfitters; call or search the name for contact details.
| Business | Mailing town | From town |
|---|---|---|
| Base Camp Outfitters LLC | Denver | 9 mi |
| Blue River Outfitters, LLC | Denver | 9 mi |
| Esquire Adventures & Guide Co., LLC | Denver | 9 mi |
| Goose Getters Guide Service LLC | Denver | 9 mi |
| Matschee Guide Service, Llc | Denver | 9 mi |
| Middle Creek Outfitters LLC | Denver | 9 mi |
| Sopris Fishing Outfitters | Denver | 9 mi |
| Sunn Ranch, LLC | Denver | 9 mi |
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators, the DORA outfitter registry and the CPW Contact Us page (services.json); not every listing was checked as open, so call first. Checked November 5, 2026.
What is on close to Aurora
Types within 30 miles: NWTF banquet, RMEF banquet, Sportsmen’s show, hunter education course, online-course conclusion class, pheasant hunting clinic and youth waterfowl orientation. In all, 12 listings ahead; next up is CPW Hunter Education Course. Expect a wait list: 6 classes were full or closed.
| On | Listing | How far | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | CPW Hunter Education Course · hunter education course in Aurora | 0 | Cherry Creek State Park (Swim Beach Education Room) in Aurora, Arapahoe County | Check registration | Source |
| Nov 5, 2026 | CPW Hunter Education Course · hunter education course in Denver | 9 | Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Bldg in Denver, Denver County | Check registration | Source |
| Nov 7, 2026 | CPW Whitehorse SWA Youth Waterfowl Orientation · youth waterfowl orientation in Brighton | 16 | Barr Lake State Park in Brighton, Adams County | Register | Source |
| Nov 8, 2026 | CPW Hunter Education Internet Conclusion Course · online-course conclusion class in Denver | 9 | Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Bldg in Denver, Denver County | Check registration | Source |
| Nov 14, 2026 | CPW Hunter Education Internet Conclusion Course · online-course conclusion class in Littleton | 18 | Skyline Hunting and Fishing Club in Littleton, Arapahoe County | Check registration | Source |
| Nov 21, 2026 | CPW Hunter Education Internet Conclusion Course · online-course conclusion class in Denver | 9 | Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Bldg in Denver, Denver County | Check registration | Source |
| Dec 5, 2026 | CPW Hunter Education Internet Conclusion Course · online-course conclusion class in Denver | 9 | Cherry Creek Gun Club in Denver, Denver County | Check registration | Source |
| Dec 17, 2026 | CPW Pheasant Hunting 201: Late Season Tactics · pheasant hunting clinic in Denver | 9 | Northeast Region Hunter Education Building in Denver, Denver County | Register | Source |
| Jan 7–10, 2027 | Denver Sportsmen's Show 2027 (International Sportsmen's Expo) · Sportsmen’s show in Denver | 9 | Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Denver County | Event details | Source |
| Feb 20, 2027 | Front Range Chapter Banquet · NWTF banquet in Greenwood Village | 12 | Greenwood Village, Arapahoe County | Event details | Source |
| Feb 27, 2027 | RMEF Denver Mile High Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet in Denver | 9 | Denver, Denver County | Buy tickets | Source |
| Jun 5, 2027 | RMEF Castle Rock Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet in Castle Rock | 24 | Castle Rock, Douglas County | Buy tickets | Source |
Aurora shooters: the three nearest ranges
Every card gives the entry rule for Aurora shooters.
No dues at Family Shooting Center at Cherry Creek State Park, 9 miles from Aurora; entry is a state parks pass. Hours
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 5, 2026.
Shooting light at Aurora, date by date
Big game hunters at Aurora may start half an hour before sunrise and stop half an hour after sunset; turkey, small game and waterfowl hunters stop at sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game | Turkey, small game, ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opens | 6:27 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 5:57 a.m.–8:01 p.m. | 5:57 a.m.–7:31 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:36 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–7:45 p.m. | 6:06 a.m.–7:15 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Duck opener | 7:10 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 6:40 a.m.–6:48 p.m. | 6:40 a.m.–6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:22 a.m.–5:09 p.m. | 6:22 a.m.–4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:16 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:46 a.m.–5:07 p.m. | 6:46 a.m.–4:37 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sun times worked out for the town point with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time). Checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Asked and answered for Aurora hunters
What time can I start hunting at Aurora?
Thirty minutes before sunrise for big game and birds; on November 5, 2026 sunrise at Aurora was 6:31 a.m.
What lion harvest group is Aurora in?
Group 20, harvest limit 22, covers GMU 104.
Which hunting area is nearest Aurora?
Measured to the boundary, Whitehorse SWA is nearest at 14 mi. The 10-mile ring holds none.
Who mounts trophies near Aurora?
The services band lists 28 taxidermists within 25 miles of Aurora; call before you drop off a cape.
Which elk licenses work near Aurora?
See the GMU table above: it counts limited and OTC elk codes for every unit within 10 miles of Aurora.
What unit do I put on a license for Aurora?
Use GMU 104 for the town itself.
Is a license enough for state land near Aurora?
For CPW land, yes, a license or the SWA Pass covers entry (16 and up). Each property also has its own dates and limits; 3 such areas lie within 25 miles of Aurora.
Which seasons are open around Aurora today?
Deer, Elk, Black bear, Chukar and Dusky grouse seasons were open in Arapahoe County on November 5, 2026. Next: Deer (Rifle buck, limited) opens November 7.
Which CPW duck zone applies at Aurora?
The Northeast Zone, Southeast Zone and Mountain/Foothills Zone; CPW draws its duck zone lines along I-25, I-70 and the Continental Divide, so a hunt near one needs a map check.
Are there elk antler point rules near Aurora?
Neither rule reaches the units around Aurora in 2026; voluntary CWD testing is still offered.
Where can I get CPW help near Aurora?
CPW Denver Office is 16 miles from Aurora; call (303) 291-7227 before visiting.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, regs.json and services.json, and the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Beyond Aurora
Plan the Aurora trip: unit first, then license, then the land page for access rules.
Other photos on this page: Max and Dee Bernt (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain Mark 1.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0).