Colorado Shooting Hours
30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset under Colorado default rule, plus 4 species-specific exceptions.
Colorado Shooting Hours
4 Colorado species (Elk, Deer, Waterfowl, Turkey) carry rules that depart from the statewide default.
Colorado shooting-hours quirks
The CO-specific timing details that the standard half-hour rule doesn't capture
Mountain shadow extends visible light past printed sunrise/sunset times in deep drainages — but the regulation runs off astronomical sun position, not visible light. A bull stepping out at "11 minutes before printed sunrise" is still 11 minutes early.
Colorado Shooting Hours Rules
Codified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
- Default Shooting Hours
- 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
- Species with Special Rules
-
- Elk: 30min before to 30min after
- Deer: 30min before to 30min after
- Waterfowl: 0min before to 0min after
- Turkey: 30min before to 0min after
- Wildlife Agency
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Confirm with Colorado Parks and Wildlife before each hunt — CO reissues regulations annually.
Last verified: January 2026
Run the Colorado shooting hours calculator
The interactive calculator lives on the main tool page. It will pre-load with Colorado (CO) and apply the 30 minutes/30 minutes default rule plus any species exceptions.
Colorado species exceptions
4 species depart from the default rule
| Species | Legal Start | Legal End | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default (Most Game) | 30 minutes before sunrise | 30 minutes after sunset | Standard rule |
| Elk | 30 minutes before sunrise | 30 minutes after sunset | - |
| Deer | 30 minutes before sunrise | 30 minutes after sunset | - |
| Waterfowl | Sunrise | Sunset | Sunrise to sunset |
| Turkey | 30 minutes before sunrise | Sunset | Spring: ends at sunset |
Colorado Shooting Hours FAQ
Specific questions about legal hunting times in Colorado.
What are the legal shooting hours in Colorado?
In Colorado, legal shooting hours for most game are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. However, specific species may have different rules - always check the species-specific regulations before hunting.
Do shooting hours vary by species in Colorado?
Yes, Colorado has different shooting hours for certain species. For example: Elk (30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset); Deer (30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset); Waterfowl (0 min before sunrise to 0 min after sunset). Always verify specific rules for your target species.
Where can I find official Colorado hunting regulations?
Official hunting regulations for Colorado can be found at the state wildlife agency website. Visit the official source for the most up-to-date information on shooting hours, seasons, and bag limits.
Do I need to adjust shooting hours for Daylight Saving Time in Colorado?
No, our calculator automatically accounts for Daylight Saving Time based on your selected date. The times shown are in Colorado's local time zone.
Are there special considerations for hunting in Colorado?
Mountain shadow extends visible light past printed sunrise/sunset times in deep drainages — but the regulation runs off astronomical sun position, not visible light. A bull stepping out at "11 minutes before printed sunrise" is still 11 minutes early.
Background reading: how shooting hours are defined · general FAQ.
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