Small Game Dates and Fees

Walk-In Access No Access Fee
Small game hunters are no longer required to purchase permits to hunt properties enrolled in the Walk-In Access program. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has eliminated the access fee to offer even greater opportunities for Colorado’s small game and waterfowl hunters.

License year change - Small game hunting, small game and fishing combination and furbearer licenses are available by Internet and phone. Purchase online or call the toll free TELEPHONE SALES number, 1(800) 244-5613. See the 2011-2012 brochure for more information. The license will be valid until March 31 of the following year. 2012-2013 season dates will be approved at the July Commission meeting and will be updated online soon afterwards. The new regulations brochure will be available late July.

*Click on species name for more information*

BIRDS	Dates	Units/Info
Band-tailed pigeon	Sept. 1 – 30	Statewide; *NOTE: permit required through HIP*. See Small Game brochure.
Chukar partridge	Sept. 1 - Nov. 30	Statewide
Crow	Oct. 1 - Jan. 31	Statewide; *NOTE: Recorded pr electronically amplified calls may be used during this season*. See Small Game brochure.
Doves: mourning dove and white-winged dove	Sept. 1 - Nov. 9	Statewide
Eurasian-collared dove ONLY	Year-round	Statewide See brochure for species ID transit instructions.
Dusky (Blue) grouse	Sept. 1 - Nov. 20	West of I-25 only
European starlings; English or house sparrows	Year-round	Statewide
Greater prairie-chicken	Oct.1 - Jan. 2	Units 93, 97, 98, 100, 101 and 102.
Greater sage-grouse	Sept. 10 – 11	Units 6, 16, 17, 161 and 171 (North Park). Daily bag limit = 2 birds Possession limit = 2 birds
	Sept. 10 - 16	Units 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 18 except east of Colo. 125 in Grand County, 27, 28 except north and east of Grand CR 50 (Church Park Rd), 37, 181, 211, and 301. Daily bag limit = 2 birds Possession limit = 4 birds
Gunnison sage-grouse	None	None
Mountain sharp-tailed grouse Also known as Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.	Sept. 1 - 18	Closed statewide except: Units 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 131, 211, 214, 441.
Pheasant	Nov. 12 - Jan. 31	Units east of I-25
Pheasant	Nov. 12 - Jan. 2	Units west of I-25
Quail: Northern bobwhite, Gambel's & scaled	Nov. 12 - Jan. 2	Units east of I-25 and north of I-70 from I-25 east to Byers and Hwy. 36 from Byers to Kansas.
	Nov. 12 - Jan. 2	Units west of I-25 except those areas west of I-25 in Pueblo, Fremont, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
	Nov. 12 - Jan. 31	Units east of I-25 and south of I-70 from I-25 to Byers and Hwy. 36 from Byers to the Kansas, and parts of the following counties that are west of I-25: Pueblo, Freemont, Huerfano and Las Animas.
Sandhill crane	Oct. 1 - Nov. 27	Areas east of the Continental Divide except North Park (Jackson County) and the San Luis Valley. *NOTE: permit required through HIP*. See Small Game brochure.
Sora and Virginia rail	Sept. 1 - Nov. 9	Statewide
Teal	Sept. 10 - 18	Lake and Chaffee counties and east of I-25
White-tailed ptarmigan	Sept. 10 - Oct. 2	Statewide except units 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74-81, 444, and 751
White-tailed ptarmigan	Sept. 10 - Nov. 20	Units 44, 45, 53, 54, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 74-81, 444, and 751
Wilson's snipe	Sept. 1 - Dec. 16	Statewide
MAMMALS	Dates	Units
Abert's squirrels	Nov. 15 - Jan. 15	Statewide
Cottontails, snowshoe hare, white-tailed & black-tailed jackrabbits	Oct. 1 - the end of Feb.	Statewide
Fox & pine squirrels	Oct. 1 - the end of Feb.	Statewide
Marmot	Aug. 10 - Oct. 15	Statewide
Black-tailed, white-tailed, and Gunnison prairie dogs	Jun. 15 - the end of Feb.	Public land
Black-tailed, white-tailed, and Gunnison prairie dogs	Year-round	Private land
Wyoming (Richardson's) ground squirrels;	Year-round	Statewide
OTHER GAME ANIMALS	Dates	Units
Common snapping turtle	Apr. 1 - Oct. 31	Statewide
Prairie rattlesnake	Jun. 15 - Aug. 15	Statewide
FURBEARERS	Dates	Units
Beaver	Oct. 1 - April 30	Statewide
Bobcat	Dec. 1 - the end of Feb.	Statewide See brochure for "bobcat seals" info.
Coyote	Year-round	Statewide
Mink, pine marten, badger, gray fox, red fox, swift fox, raccoon, ring-tailed cat, striped skunk, western spotted skunk, long-tailed weasal, short-tailed weasel, opossum and muskrat	Nov. 1 - the end of Feb.	Statewide
HAWKING/FALCONRY	Dates	Units
Cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares, white-tailed & black-tailed jackrabbits, fox & pine squirrels	Sept. 1 - Mar. 31	Statewide
Ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, Sora and Virginia rails, band-tailed pigeons, doves, Wilson's snipe, crows	Dates coincide with established seasons	Note: Falconry bag and possession limits are not in addition to gun bag limits.
European starling, English or house sparrow	Year-round	Statewide
Furbearers	Dates coincide with established seasons	Statewide
Greater prairie-chicken	Oct. 1 - Jan. 2	Units 97, 98, 100, 101 and 102.
Greater sage-grouse	Sept. 1 - Jan. 31	Units 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18 except east of Colo. 125 in Grand County; 27, 28 except north and east of Grand CR 50 (Church Park Rd.); 37, 161, 171, 181, 211, 301, and 441.
Pheasant, quail, dusky (or blue) grouse, Columbian (or mountain) sharp-tail grouse, chukar, white-tail ptarmigan	Sept. 1 - Mar. 31	Pheasant, quail, chuckar & ptarmigan - Statewide Dusky grouse – Areas west of I-25 Columbian/Mountain sharp-tail grouse – Closed statewide except for units 4, 5, 12-14, 131, 211, 214, 441

See the small game brochure for bag and possession limits and more information.

2011 - 2012 Fees

For individuals over 18 and under 65, a $10 Habitat Stamp is required with the first license purchase for the year (April 1 - March 31). For more information, read about the Habitat Stamp. If you are disabled, you may not need a Habitat Stamp. See disability information.

	Resident	Non-Resident
Small game	$21	$56
Small game - 1 day	$11	$11
Small game - additional day	$5	$5
Small game & fishing combination	$41
Small game - youth (under 18)	$1.75	$1.75
Furbearer	$21	$56
Greater prairie-chicken permit	$5	$5
Military with 60% or more disability	free	N/A
Fees include a .25 cent search & rescue fee, and a .75 cent PEAC charge. $10 Habitat Stamp will be added to 1st license purchase of the year (April 1 to March 31).

Options for purchasing licenses and a Habitat Stamp

Buy Online
Call 1(800) 244-5613
Buy in person at a Colorado Parks and Wildlife service center or license agent.

For more information on Habitat Stamp changes, see Habitat Stamp Basics .

Last Updated: 4/2/2012 10:02 PM