Colorado Grouse & Rabbit Season 2026-27: Small Game Dates

Q: When does grouse season open in Colorado in 2026-27?

Grouse: Dusky (Blue): September 1, 2026 to November 22, 2026. Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes it under that name, and the zone table on this page was read from its own page on September 19, 2026.

Q: Does Colorado have a pheasant season?

Pheasant: November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027, varying by zone across 2 rows in the agency table. Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes it under that name, and the zone table on this page was read from its own page on September 19, 2026.

Q: Which small game zone am I in, in Colorado?

Colorado sets different dates by zone for at least one species, and the boundaries are the agency's own, drawn along interstates, highways and county lines. Your zone is determined from the agency's own map: Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes the official zone map and boundary descriptions, linked from this page.

Q: Where are the bag limits, legal methods and licence rules for Colorado small game?

At Colorado Parks and Wildlife, whose regulations page is linked on this page. Those rules are legally binding, change annually and vary by species, by zone and by land ownership. This page carries the season windows themselves, with source and read date attached.

Q: Can these Colorado small game dates change?

Yes. Agencies amend season orders, add or drop zones, and occasionally correct their own published tables mid season. This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 19, 2026, says so in the copy, and links the exact Colorado Parks and Wildlife page it read on September 19, 2026. Treat the agency page as the final word on the morning you hunt.

This page covers the 2026-27 season year. Dates were read from the agency sources linked below, last checked September 19, 2026. Seasons change annually and agencies correct their own pages; confirm against the linked agency page before you hunt.

November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027

Pheasant

published

November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027

Quail

published

September 1, 2026 to November 22, 2026

Grouse

published

October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027

Rabbit

published

October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027

Squirrel

published

3 zone rows

Zone structure

as the agency draws it

Five seasons, one state

Colorado small game seasons, 2026-27

“When does small game season open” is five questions wearing one coat. Colorado Parks and Wildlife dates pheasant; northern bobwhite, scaled and Gambel's quail; dusky (blue) grouse, mountain sharp-tailed grouse and greater sage-grouse; greater prairie-chicken; chukar partridge; white-tailed ptarmigan; cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare and jackrabbit; fox, pine and Abert's squirrel separately, so each species is below under the agency’s own name for it, with the zone rows exactly as the agency lists them.

Pheasant

published

Pheasant runs November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027 across all zones.

Colorado pheasant, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Season 1, east of I-25	November 14, 2026	January 31, 2027
Season 2, west of I-25	November 14, 2026	January 3, 2027

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Colorado opens pheasant statewide on the second Saturday of November; the brochure's Season 1 east of I-25 runs to January 31 and Season 2 west of I-25 closes January 3. The brochure dates no youth pheasant season.

Opening day, the daily limit and the full season calendar are on the Colorado pheasant season page.

Quail: Northern Bobwhite, Scaled, Gambel's

published

Quail: Northern Bobwhite, Scaled, Gambel's runs November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027 across all zones.

Colorado quail: northern bobwhite, scaled, gambel's, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Season 1	November 14, 2026	January 31, 2027	East of I-25 and south of I-70 from I-25 to Byers and Hwy. 36 from Byers to Kansas, and the parts of Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano, El Paso and Las Animas counties that are west of I-25
Season 2	November 14, 2026	January 3, 2027	East of I-25 and north of I-70 from I-25 east to Byers and Hwy. 36 from Byers to Kansas
Season 3	November 14, 2026	January 3, 2027	West of I-25 except those areas west of I-25 in Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano, El Paso and Las Animas counties

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

All three quail species are dated together in three seasons that all open November 14 and differ only in closing date and area: the southeastern plains and the five counties west of I-25 run to January 31, while the northeastern plains north of I-70 and the rest of the state west of I-25 close January 3.

Grouse: Dusky (Blue)

published

Grouse: Dusky (Blue) runs September 1, 2026 to November 22, 2026 across all zones.

Colorado grouse: dusky (blue), as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
West of I-25	September 1, 2026	November 22, 2026

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Colorado's forest grouse season is the dusky (blue) grouse, September 1 through November 22 west of I-25. Mountain sharp-tailed grouse and greater sage-grouse are short unit specific seasons recorded separately.

Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Jackrabbit: White-Tailed, Black-Tailed

published

Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Jackrabbit: White-Tailed, Black-Tailed runs October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 across all zones.

Colorado cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, jackrabbit: white-tailed, black-tailed, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	October 1, 2026	February 28, 2027

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

The brochure dates cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare and both jackrabbits in one row, October 1 through the end of February annually, statewide.

Squirrel: Fox, Pine

published

Squirrel: Fox, Pine runs October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 across all zones.

Colorado squirrel: fox, pine, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	October 1, 2026	February 28, 2027

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Fox and pine squirrel run October 1 through the end of February annually statewide. Abert's squirrel has its own shorter season, recorded separately.

Season 1: Nov. 14–Jan. 31, 2027

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, read September 19, 2026. Read it at the source

A rooster ring-necked pheasant with a red face, iridescent green head and white neck ring striding through dry pale crop stubble — A rooster in harvested crop stubble in North Dakota. Most pheasant openers land in October and November, once the fields are cut. Photo: Courtney Celley, USFWS. “Ring-necked pheasant (54120901581)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain

The rest of the calendar

Other Colorado small game seasons the agency names

Beyond the five main species, Colorado Parks and Wildlife dates 7 further seasons on the same small game pages. They are reproduced here under the agency’s own names, because a hunter reading a calendar needs to know which window a licence or stamp actually covers.

Grouse: Greater Sage

published

Grouse: Greater Sage runs September 12, 2026 to September 18, 2026 across all zones.

Colorado grouse: greater sage, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Season 1	September 12, 2026	September 18, 2026	GMUs 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 18 except east of Colo. 125 in Grand Co., 27, 28 except north and east of Grand CR 50 (Church Park Rd.) and U.S. 40, 37, 181, 201, 211, 301 and 441
Season 2	September 12, 2026	September 13, 2026	Only GMUs 6, 16, 17, 161 and 171 (North Park)

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Two short September sage-grouse seasons in listed game management units, a week in the regular units and a weekend in North Park.

Grouse: Mountain Sharp-Tailed

published

Grouse: Mountain Sharp-Tailed runs September 1, 2026 to September 20, 2026 across all zones.

Colorado grouse: mountain sharp-tailed, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Only GMUs 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 23, 131, 211, 214 and 441	September 1, 2026	September 20, 2026

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

A twenty day September season for mountain sharp-tailed grouse in ten northwestern game management units.

Greater Prairie-Chicken

published

Greater Prairie-Chicken runs October 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 across all zones.

Colorado greater prairie-chicken, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Only GMUs 93, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103 and 109, and all of Morgan Co., and those portions E of Colo. 71, and S of Colo. 14 and Hwy. 138.	October 1, 2026	January 31, 2027

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Greater prairie-chicken run October 1 through January 31 annually in the northeastern plains units the brochure lists.

Chukar Partridge

published

Chukar Partridge runs September 1, 2026 to November 30, 2026 across all zones.

Colorado chukar partridge, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	September 1, 2026	November 30, 2026

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Chukar run September 1 through November 30 annually statewide.

White-Tailed Ptarmigan

published

White-Tailed Ptarmigan runs September 12, 2026 to November 22, 2026 across all zones.

Colorado white-tailed ptarmigan, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Season 1	September 12, 2026	October 4, 2026	Statewide except GMUs 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74 to 81, 444 and 751
Season 2	September 12, 2026	November 22, 2026	Only GMUs 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74 to 81, 444 and 751

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Colorado is one of the few states with a ptarmigan season, split into a short statewide season and a longer season in the listed southwestern units.

Dove: Mourning, White-Winged

published

Dove: Mourning, White-Winged runs September 1, 2026 to November 29, 2026 across all zones.

Colorado dove: mourning, white-winged, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	September 1, 2026	November 29, 2026

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Dove sits on the brochure's Small-Game Birds page with the grouse and partridge, September 1 through November 29 annually.

Abert's Squirrel

published

Abert's Squirrel runs November 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027 across all zones.

Colorado abert's squirrel, as published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Zone	Opens	Closes	Notes
Statewide	November 15, 2026	January 15, 2027

Dates read from 2026 Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl Hunting Brochure, CPW, accessed 2026-09-19.

Abert's squirrel has its own two month season, November 15 through January 15 annually.

Rules

Colorado small game hunting regulations

Season windows are carried here with their source and read date attached. Everything else a hunter is bound by is set by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and its regulations page is linked below.

Current Colorado regulations

Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours, license and stamp requirements, and youth or special season rules for Colorado are set by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, are legally binding and change annually. Its current regulations page is linked here.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife: current regulations

Close view of an eastern cottontail rabbit in green grass, ears up, dark round eye and white chin catching the light — An eastern cottontail. Rabbit is usually the last small game season to close, running into February in most of the East and Midwest. Photo: Grayson Smith, USFWS. “Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (48935527872)”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Public domain

Small game season dates in other Rockies states

Every state’s pheasant, quail, grouse, rabbit and squirrel dates are on the national small game season page.

A pair of northern bobwhite quail standing together in a carpet of purple violets, the male with a bold white throat and eye stripe, the female buff faced — A bobwhite pair. Quail seasons run from late autumn into winter across the South and Midwest; several western states date scaled, Gambel's and California quail on the same row. Photo: Steve Maslowski, USFWS. “Colinus virginianus USFWS”, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Public domain

Colorado pheasant seasonOpening day, the daily limit and the full Colorado pheasant calendar, read from the same agency.Colorado deer seasonArchery, firearms, muzzleloader and youth deer dates for 2026-27, under the same sourcing rules.Colorado turkey seasonSpring and fall wild turkey windows for 2026-27, read from the same agency.Colorado duck seasonDuck and goose season dates by zone and flyway, read from the same agency.Colorado fall foliagePeak color and the first grouse and squirrel weeks overlap. Plan the same trip.

Colorado small game season questions

When does grouse season open in Colorado in 2026-27?

When is rabbit season in Colorado?

Does Colorado have a pheasant season?

Which small game zone am I in, in Colorado?

Where are the bag limits, legal methods and licence rules for Colorado small game?

Can these Colorado small game dates change?

A fox squirrel with a grey back and rust orange belly crouched on a lichen covered branch against bare winter trees and blue sky — A fox squirrel in bare winter woods in Ohio. Squirrel is the earliest small game opener in many states, from mid August or September, and runs to January or February. “Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger vulpinus) (13255025953)” by Andrew C, CC BY 2.0

This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 19, 2026. Every season window is republished from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife page linked beside it, read on September 19, 2026; windows the agency had not yet published are labelled not yet published. Bag and possession limits, legal methods, shooting hours and licence rules are set by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, whose page is the final word on the day you hunt. See also the national small game season guide.