Changes to Colorado Elk & Deer Rifle Seasons

Did any other Colorado elk or mule deer hunters notice the changes to the length and timing of the rifle seasons that take effect starting in 2020? The biggest changes are that 3rd season rifle is now reduced from 9 to 7 days. Also, the length between 1st and 2nd seasons is significantly longer, which will result in the 4th season extending past Thanksgiving in some years. I can potentially see a shift in guys who like to hunt 3rd season moving up to 2nd season. And a likely drop in the non-resident hunters who might currently hunt 4th season.

On a related note to non-resident hunters, almost 70% of the entire Colorado hunting and fishing license revenue comes from non-resident elk hunters ($43mm out of $62mm total). That’s a pretty astonishing figure.

The fourth season is a huge blessing to the high point holder mule deer hunters. Be less weather dependent in a few units. More rut’ish action too


Did they break down what the Archery elk tag numbers where in total

Archery season will be a 29-day season and opening September 2nd and closing September 30th annually. As far as number of tags for archery, there was nothing mentioned.

Colorado has a bad habit of listening to whining idjuts and trying to fix stuff that isn’t broken. 3rd season reduction was the target due to tag volume vs later 4th.

all I know is 2nd rifle is crowded enough as it is

Lol, it’s nothing compared to third

all I know is its getting significantly more crowded.


I listened to a podcast yesterday where they were complaining how crowded archery and muzzleloader season was.


IMO this is the price we are paying for all the hype on T.V, internet, etc.


I'm gonna have to stop hunting Colorado if it gets any worse

" Roll Tide".......orange tide that is

Meat eater isn’t a great reference.

OTC pressure is like duck dynasty... comes and goes.

CO has always been a back up plan to my 9 other draw states. I think I’m the last 20 years I have hunted CO I’ve only been skunked opportunity wise twice.

Uh, well MeatEater is a great reference.


I see you are a subscriber Bobo.

I do know that in the last 3 years our unit has gotten significantly more crowded.

Yes sir, the 4th is getting better and also hardest to draw

txtrophy85, Did you hunt there in the 80's-90's? Was insane when everything was OTC, a lot of deer ended up hanging in the woods when they went with that 3 pnt rule as well. I see a lot of hunters, season dependent tho, but nothing like a few years ago, when it was cheaper and nearly all OTC.