Welcome to the thrilling world of Colorado’s 2023–2024 duck season! This is the ideal time to be ready for an outstanding experience, whether you’re an avid waterfowl hunter or someone seeking a daring outdoor adventure. Colorado’s numerous beautiful landscapes and habitats draw an extensive range of duck species. You’ll get the chance to put your talents to the test, take in the majesty of nature, and make priceless memories during the forthcoming duck season. We’ll go into depth on Colorado’s duck hunting season on this page, including important dates, rules, and methods to improve your success. So grab all your gear and prepare to enter the exciting world of Colorado duck hunting!
Colorado Duck Season
The Colorado Duck Season is coming up, and hunters throughout the state are excited. Duck hunting is a beloved pastime because of its unique combination of adventure, skill, and respect for nature. Hunting may be a genuinely unique experience while also helping to conserve and preserve Colorado’s waterfowl legacy, provided ethical hunting techniques are used, wildlife is respected, and rules are followed.
| Species | Zones | Hunting Start Dates | Hunting End Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duck | Northeast Zone | 8-Oct | 27-Nov |
| 18-Dec | 31-Jan | ||
| Southeast Zone | 28-Oct | 31-Jan | |
| Mountain/Foothills Zone | 1-Oct | 27-Nov | |
| 25-Dec | 31-Jan | ||
| Coot | Central Flyway | ||
| Northeast Zone | 8-Oct | 27-Nov | |
| 18-Dec | 31-Jan | ||
| Southeast Zone | 28-Oct | 31-Jan | |
| Pacific Flyway | |||
| Western Zone | 1-Oct | 18-Oct | |
| 6-Nov | 31-Jan | ||
| Eastern Zone | 1-Oct | 13-Jan | |
| September Teal | |||
| 10-Sep | 18-Sep |
Goose Season
| Species | Zones | Type | Hunting Start Dates | Hunting End Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goose | Central Flyway | Regular Season | ||
| Dark Geese | 31-Oct | 12-Feb | ||
| Light Geese | 29-Oct | 12-Feb | ||
| San Luis Valley Season | Dark Geese | 1-Oct | 19-Oct | |
| 19-Nov | 12-Feb | |||
| Light Geese | 29-Oct | 12-Feb | ||
| South Park Season | Dark Geese | 1-Oct | 13-Jan | |
| Light Geese | 29-Oct | 12-Feb | ||
| North Park Season | Dark Geese | 1-Oct | 13-Jan | |
| Light Geese | 29-Oct | 12-Feb | ||
| Light Goose Order Season | Conservation | 13-Feb | 30-Apr | |
| Pacific Flyway | Early Canada | |||
| Goose Season | 1-Sep | 9-Sep | ||
| Regular Season | Western Zone | |||
| 1-Oct | 9-Oct | |||
| 6-Nov | 31-Jan | |||
| Eastern Zone | 1-Oct | 4-Jan |
Other Related Waterfowl Season
| Species | Zones | Type | Hunting Start Dates | Hunting End Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September Teal | Central Flyway | September Teal Season | 10-Sep | 18-Sep |
| Youth, Veteran & Active Military Hunt | Central Flyway | Northeast Zone | 1-Oct | 2-Oct |
| Southeast Zone | 22-Oct | 23-Oct | ||
| Youth, Veteran & Active Military Hunt | Pacific Flyway | Western Zone | 22-Oct | 23-Oct |
| Eastern Zone | 24-Sep | 25-Sep |
Colorado Duck regulations
- To improve their hunting experience and draw in ducks, hunters in Colorado are permitted to use dogs, fake decoys, duck calls, and goose calls. But it’s essential to abide by the law that forbids using cries or noises that have been recorded or electronically boosted unless you’re going for common crows. This limitation keeps duck hunting lawful and moral while enabling hunters to pursue their quarry with conventional techniques and equipment. According to these rules, hunters may interact with ducks throughout their hunting attempts reasonably and politely.
- Individuals in Colorado are not needed to seek a permit to possess or transport feathers or skins from migrating ducks for personal use. This legislation recognizes the importance of these feathers and skins as priceless resources and permits hunters and collectors to take pleasure in and use them without further limitations. People may enjoy and use migratory duck feathers and skins without requiring extra permissions or rules, whether for crafts, artwork, or personal collections. This clause provides flexibility and acknowledges the value of these organic elements in various artistic and private pursuits.
- It is not necessary to get permission to possess, dispose of, or transport feathers legitimately gathered from wild ducks and geese or from birds impounded and condemned by wildlife authorities. These feathers may create various commercial products, including pillows, beds, and fishing flies. It is crucial to remember that it is against the law to use feathers for millinery or ornamentation. This law acknowledges the practical applications for feathers and offers options for their commercial usage, but it also places limitations on several particular uses.
- It is legally forbidden to use live, tame, or captive ducks and geese as decoys while hunting in Colorado to preserve a fair and moral hunting environment. All domesticated and captive ducks and geese must be removed from hunting areas at least ten days before the opening of the hunting season. These birds must be housed in cages that adequately muffle their sounds and keep them hidden from wild waterfowl’s sight if they are there. This law protects wild ducks from being startled or confused by the presence of farmed birds, enabling a more realistic and natural hunting experience.
- There are several restrictions and laws in existence regarding the importing of ducks from other nations. More than ten ducks every week, starting on Sunday, may not be imported from abroad. Ducks imported from Canada and Mexico are exempt from this limitation, with the proviso that they must not exceed the export limits imposed by the respective nations. It is necessary to retain one completely feathered wing linked to the ducks while moving them between entrance points and either a person’s house or a facility for migratory birds. It is also important to remember that importing ducks that belong to someone else is prohibited.
- Ducks, especially mergansers, are among the migratory game birds protected by agreements between the United States and other nations. The conventions include these waterfowl species and geese (which includes brant). The conventions attempt to protect the population and control the bird shooting seasons. These accords also protect other migrating species, including crows, sandhill cranes, white-winged and mourning doves, American coots, sora, Virginia rail, Wilson’s snipe, and band-tailed pigeons. These methods ensure that these migratory species are conserved and that the proper hunting seasons are set up for sustainable management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening dates for duck hunting season in Colorado?
Depending on the particular hunting zone, the season’s start dates for duck hunting in Colorado vary. On September 16, 2023, the Central Flyway will open for duck hunting, allowing hunters to chase waterfowl there. The Mountain/Foothills Zone, on the other hand, will have a duck hunting season that starts on October 1, 2023, enabling hunters to go on their duck-hunting excursions in these beautiful regions.
Can I hunt ducks from a boat during the Colorado Duck Season?
In Colorado, duck hunting from a boat is legal if you follow the safety rules and regulations for boating and hunting. Maintaining a safe distance from other hunters and boats is crucial, as is having the required boating equipment and licenses.
Can non-residents participate in the Colorado Duck Season?
Yes, non-residents are welcome to take part in the Colorado Duck Season.
