Colorado fox squirrel season 2026-27: dates, units and bag limits
Fox squirrel is open in Colorado from October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027, statewide. This page has the 2026-27 dates, the daily bag and possession limits, the licences you need and the rules that apply, read from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife brochure.
2026-27 season dates and limits
| Season | Dates | Where | Daily bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox squirrel season | October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 | statewide | 5 | 10 |
Shooting hours: Half an hour before sunrise to sunset.
Licences and stamps
- Colorado small game licence
- Colorado Habitat Stamp
- Harvest Information Program (HIP) number for this season
Rules for fox squirrel
- Any rifle or handgun, a shotgun holding no more than three shells, bow, crossbow, air gun or slingshot.
- West of I-25 during the regular rifle deer and elk seasons, no centerfire rifle larger than .23 calibre for small game unless you hold an unfilled deer or elk licence for that season.
- No dogs for this animal while a regular deer, elk, pronghorn or moose season is open on that land.
- Do not shoot from, on or across a public road. No rifle, handgun or bow within 50 feet of the road centre line.
- Orange or pink is not required for small game, but big game seasons are open around you. Wear it.
Do not mistake these for fox squirrel
- Abert's squirrel (different season or permit): Tufted ears, in ponderosa pine. Open only 15 November to 15 January, limit 2.
- Pine squirrel (different season or permit): Small, in mountain conifers. Its own limit of 5.
How to hunt fox squirrel
- Sit quietly in river-bottom timber early and late, and watch for movement in the crowns and on the ground.
- Shots are upward into trees. A shotgun is the safe choice near trails, roads and houses.
Where to walk for fox squirrel in your unit
FilledTag finds the patches of the right habitat for your date on public land in the unit you choose, each with legal parking and the walk from the truck.
Check my hunt See a sample planWhat a map cannot tell you
- Many fox squirrels live in towns, which are closed. the planner offers only public river bottom.
- Walk-In Access parcels and private land are not in the planner.
Source
CPW regulations chapter W-3, Furbearers and Small Game (07/16/2026, effective 1 Sept 2026); 2026 Colorado Small Game & Waterfowl brochure, pages 3 to 5 and 9: https://cpw.widen.net/s/kmpdszcx6j/ch03. Read October 2, 2026. Rules change every year, and corrections are issued during the season: read the current brochure before you hunt.