The Dates You Need to Know About Colorado’s 2022 Hunting Season
Elk, Pronghorn, Bears, Oh My! It's time to fill out your applications for the 2022 Colorado Big Game Hunting Season.
While many of the hunts don't happen until the fall it's time to get those applications in. Elk, Deer, Moose, Mountain Lion, and Bear licenses will all require an application to be submitted prior to the April deadline. While you don't have to pay the application fee until you draw, you do have to have everything submitted by an important deadline coming up next month.
The Dates You Need to Know About Colorado's 2022 Hunting Season
Find out all the important dates you need to know for the 2022 Colorado hunting season by scrolling through the updates below.
We have the deadline for your application, the 2022 hunting license prices for Colorado residents and non-residents, plus we'll take a look at the window for each hunt and what the legal hunting hours are in Colorado for Big Game Season.
Colorado's 2022 Elk Hunt
- Permit Submission Due Date: Permit applications are already being accepted for the 2022 hunting season. The deadline is 8 PM on April 5th, 2022. Colorado Big Game license applications will only be accepted online at cpw.state.co.us, or by phone: 1-800-244-5613 (24/7) Paper applications will no longer be accepted.
- 2022 License Fee: Colorado residents will pay $57.90 for an Elk license while non-residents will pay $525-$700.
- Hunting Season: In 2022, Archers can begin September 2nd to the 30th, Muzzleloaders can begin September 10th through the 18th, and anyone hunting Elk with a rifle can start October 15th to the 19th.
- Hunting Hours: The legal beg game hunting hours in Colorado begin one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset unless specifically restricted by the state. Go to cpw.state.co.us/huntingresources to see the sunrise and sunset info for the state.
Colorado's 2022 Deer Hunt
- Permit Submission Due Date: Permit applications are already being accepted for the 2022 hunting season. The deadline is 8 PM on April 5th, 2022. The cost of the application is not due until you draw.
- 2022 License Fee: A Deer hunting license for a Colorado resident in 2022 will cost just over $42 this year. Non-residents will be asked for $420.23 to come to Colorado to hunt our deer.
- Hunting Season: (See Below)
- Archers can hunt Plains deer east of I-25 from 10/1 to 10/28, again from 11/9 to 11/30, and a third time from 12/15 to 12/31. Whitetail hunts begin 10/1 to 10/28, 11/9 to 11/30, and 12/15 to 12/31.
- Muzzleloader (Draw Only) can hunt Plains deer and Whitetail from 10/8 to 10/16
- Rifle hunters can begin hunting Plains deer and Whitetail from 10/29 to 11/8. A late Plains and Whitetail deer season will open from 12/1 to 12/14.
- Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset unless specifically restricted by the state. Go to cpw.state.co.us/huntingresources to see the sunrise and sunset info for the state.
Colorado's 2022 Deer/Elk Hunt Combined
- Permit Submission Due Date: The deadline is 8 PM on April 5th, 2022. The cost of the application is not due until you draw.
- 2022 License Fee:
- A Deer hunting license for a Colorado resident in 2022 will cost just over $42 this year. Non-residents will be asked for $420.23 to come to Colorado to hunt our deer.
- Colorado residents will pay $57.90 for an Elk license while non-residents will pay $525-$700.
- Hunting Season: The Second Season of the combined Deer/Elk hunt happens 10/29 to 11/6. The 3rd Season gets underway from 11/12 to 11/18. A combined limited 4th Season happens from 11/23 to 11/27.
- Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset unless specifically restricted by the state. Go to cpw.state.co.us/huntingresources to see the sunrise and sunset info for the state.
Colorado's 2022 Pronghorn Hunt
- Permit Submission Due Date: Permit applications are already being accepted for the 2022 hunting season. The deadline is 8 PM on April 5th, 2022. The cost of the application is not due until you draw.
- 2022 License Fee: Colorado residents will pay $42.01 this year while out-of-state residents will pay $423.23.
- Hunting Season: Pronghorn Bucks 8/15 to 8/31, Pronghorn either sex 9/1 to 9/20
- Archers can hunt 8/15 to 8/31 or select a split season from 8/15 to 8/31 & 9/1 to 9/20.
- Muzzleloader (Draw Only) can hunt Pronghorn 9/21 to 9/29
- Rifle hunts can begin 10/1 to 10/9.
- Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset unless specifically restricted by the state. Go to cpw.state.co.us/huntingresources to see the sunrise and sunset info for the state.
Colorado's 2022 Mountain Lion Hunt
- It is illegal to obtain a Mountain Lion license or to hunt Mountain Lions in the state of Colorado without first obtaining a Mountain Lion Education Certificate issued only by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Safe to say this one is off the table unless you have said credentials. To find out more about the Colorado Mountain Lion Education and Identification courses click here. Once you have the certification you will still have to get a hunting license.
- 2022 License Fee: For those who qualify the Mountain Lion License will cost Colorado residents $56.20, non-residents will pay $358.23
- Hunting Season: The Spring season happens from 4/1 to 4/30
Colorado's 2022 Moose Hunt
- Permit Submission Due Date: The deadline is 8 PM on April 5th, 2022. The cost of the application is not due until you draw.
- 2022 License Fee: A Moose license will cost a Colorado resident $319.58 and a non-resident $2,343.
- Hunting Season: Archers can hunt Moose from 9/10 to 9/30. Muzzleloader (Draw Only) must hunt Moose during the deer and elk season from 9/10 to 9/19. Rifles can be used to hunt Moose in Colorado from 10/1 to 10/14.
- Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset unless specifically restricted by the state. Go to cpw.state.co.us/huntingresources to see the sunrise and sunset info for the state.
Colorado's 2022 Bear Hunt
- Permit Submission Due Date: The deadline is 8 PM on April 5th, 2022. The cost of the application is not due until you draw.
- 2022 License Fee: A Colorado resident will pay $40.45 for a bear hunting license, a non-resident will pay $103.60.
- Hunting Season:
- Archers can hunt bears from 9/2 to 9/30.
- Muzzleloader (Draw Only) hunters can hunt for bears from 9/10 to 9/18.
- Rifle season works a little differently with bears in Colorado. The Bear hunt in September is limited from 9/2 to 9/30. 1st Season for Bear hunting with a rifle runs from 10/15 to 10/19. The second season runs from 10/29 to 11/6. The 3rd Season happens from 11/12 to 11/18, and the 4th Season occurs from 11/23 to 11/27. Bear hunting with a rifle on private land is allowed 9/2 to 11/17 unless otherwise noted.
- Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset unless specifically restricted by the state. Go to cpw.state.co.us/huntingresources to see the sunrise and sunset info for the state.
Colorado Fishing
- Permit Submission Due Date: There is no due date. Just make sure you have a valid license the day of your fishing trip.
- 2022 License Fee: An Annual Fishing License for a Colorado resident will run about $36 and will be good for 1 year. If you purchase a license in March of 2022. It will expire in March of 2023. Click here for more info on purchasing a fishing license online. Residents and Non-residents alike will need a fishing license.
- Fishing Season: All waters of the state shall be open to fishing using all manners of taking day and night, year-round.
- Fishing Hours: Permitted any time with the proper fishing license.