Big-game season begins in Colorado

The first big-game hunt of the season begins this week in Colorado.

That means hunters, hikers and backpackers are sharing the forest.

The archery season begins Aug. 30 for deer and elk in part of the state ” west of Interstate 25 and in the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s unit 40). Archery seasons for plains deer (east of I-25 except unit 140), moose and pronghorns extend throughout the fall at various times.

The muzzleloading season for deer, elk and moose runs Sept. 13-21, followed by plains deer on Oct. 11-19 and pronghorn on Oct. 21-29.

Black bear season starts in September and runs into November.

The rifle season for pronghorn is Oct. 4-10.

The biggie ” rifle season for deer, elk and moose ” begins with moose from Oct. 1-9.

A rifle season for elk runs Oct. 11-15.

In addition, combined deer/elk seasons take place on Oct. 18-26, Nov. 1-7 and Nov. 12-16.

Rifle seasons for plains deer (east of I-25 except unit 140) take place Oct. 25-Nov. 4 and Dec. 1-14.

In most cases, licenses for Colorado’s big-game seasons have been allocated through a drawing, but some over-the-counter bull elk licenses are available during the second and third rifle seasons, as are pronghorn licenses, according to the DOW.

Resident licenses cost $46 this year for elk, $31 for deer, $251 for moose and $41 for bear. Nonresident licenses are $251 for an elk cow, $526 for an elk of either sex, $316 for deer, $1,761 for moose and $251 for bear.

For more on Colorado hunting season dates and fees, go to http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/SeasonDatesAndFees/ and click on Big Game Planner.