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Legal weapons & calibers
For most Colorado big game, a legal centerfire rifle is at least .24 caliber, firing an expanding bullet of at least 70 grains (85 grains for elk and moose) rated at 1,000 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards; muzzleloaders need at least .50 caliber for elk and moose; and bows need at least a 35-pound draw weight with a 7/8-inch, two-edge broadhead. Semiautomatic rifles are capped at six rounds total between magazine and chamber. These come from the Code of Colorado Regulations' manner-of-take rule, not the brochure alone — see the tables below for the full breakdown. 2 CCR 406-2 §203 · Manner of Take
Colorado's equipment rules for big game sit in the regulations chapter of the Code of Colorado Regulations — specifically 2 CCR 406-2 §203, Manner of Take — not just the brochure. The brochure restates these numbers every season, so it's the fastest place to double-check them, but the regulation is the actual law. Get any of it wrong and you risk an illegal harvest, not just a fine.
Centerfire rifles and handguns
| Weapon | Minimum caliber | Bullet weight | Minimum energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centerfire rifle — most big game | .24 cal. | 70 gr. | 1,000 ft-lb @ 100 yd |
| Centerfire rifle — elk & moose | .24 cal. | 85 gr. | 1,000 ft-lb @ 100 yd |
| Handgun (4 in. barrel min.) | .24 cal. | expanding bullet | 550 ft-lb @ 50 yd |
The energy figure is the manufacturer's rated impact energy at the stated distance, not something you measure yourself — factory ammunition boxes and load data list it. Practically, this rules out true varmint calibers (like .223) for big game and sets a real floor on bullet construction, not just bore diameter. 2 CCR 406-2 §203
Muzzleloaders
The minimum caliber depends on both the species and the projectile you're shooting — a round ball has to be larger than a conical bullet to be legal on the same animal:
| Species | Conical bullet | Round ball |
|---|---|---|
| Deer, pronghorn, black bear | .40 cal. | .50 cal. |
| Elk & moose | .50 cal. | .54 cal. |
Bullet weight then scales with caliber, whatever you're hunting:
| Muzzleloader caliber | Minimum bullet weight |
|---|---|
| .40 – .50 caliber | 170 gr. |
| Over .50 caliber | 210 gr. |
Equipment restrictions matter as much as caliber: pelletized powder and smokeless powder are prohibited, sabots are prohibited, breech-loading muzzleloaders are prohibited (the rule's own words: "firearms which can be loaded from the breech are prohibited"), and sights are limited to open or "iron" sights — no electronic or battery-powered optics. 2 CCR 406-2 §203 The muzzleloader seasons page covers the dates this equipment applies to.
Shotguns
A shotgun is a legal big-game weapon in Colorado, and the regulation is short: "Shotguns, no smaller than twenty (20) gauge and firing a single slug." 2 CCR 406-2 §203 That "single slug" clause is the whole rule — buckshot is not legal for big game, which is the point most often gotten wrong.
CPW's brochure adds dimensions the manner-of-take regulation itself doesn't state: a shotgun barrel of at least 18 inches and an overall length of at least 26 inches, and for centerfire rifles a barrel of at least 16 inches and 26 inches overall. 2026 Big Game Brochure · Legal Methods of Take Those numbers are the federal minimums for an unregistered long gun rather than anything specific to hunting, which is why they appear in CPW's summary but not in the wildlife code — an off-the-shelf shotgun or rifle clears them without you thinking about it.
Archery equipment
| Equipment | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bow (compound, recurve, longbow) | 35 lb draw weight |
| Broadhead | 7/8 in. width, 2+ steel cutting edges |
| Crossbow (disability permit only, archery season) | 125 lb draw · 14 in. draw length · 16 in. bolt |
Crossbows are not legal during archery-only seasons for most hunters — they're treated as a firearm-season weapon. The exception is CPW's ADA-qualified disability accommodation permit, which allows a crossbow meeting the specs above during archery season for hunters with a qualifying documented disability. CPW · Hunters with Disabilities Outside archery-only seasons (i.e., during rifle season), any hunter can use a crossbow that otherwise meets the state's crossbow specs.
Scopes and electronic or battery-powered devices can't be built into or attached to the bow or arrow, with two named exceptions: lighted nocks on arrows are explicitly legal, as are recording devices on bows — so long as the camera doesn't cast light toward the target or help with ranging, sighting or shooting. 2 CCR 406-2 §203
Prohibited outright
- Fully automatic rifles. 2 CCR 406-2 §203
- Electronic calls — amplified audio players and smartphone calling apps — are prohibited for big game. Mechanical and mouth calls are fine.
- "Smart" rifles: firearms with a target-tracking system, electronically controlled trigger, or computer-linked scope.
The last two are stated in CPW's brochure rather than in the manner-of-take regulation quoted above, so they're cited here to the brochure. 2026 Big Game Brochure · Legal Methods of Take
Confirm before you hunt
The Commission can amend manner-of-take rules, and species-specific carve-outs (mountain lion, for instance, allows lighter rifle and handgun loads than other big game) exist outside the numbers above. Cross-check your exact species and method against the current Big Game Brochure before opening day — it's free, and it's the document a wildlife officer will be working from. See also the blaze-orange rule and archery seasons for how equipment interacts with season dates and clothing requirements.
Gear this season actually calls for
Whatever weapon your season allows, these are the categories the rules on this page assume you already have.
- Laser rangefinder on AmazonEnergy minimums and draw weights mean nothing if you misjudge the range.
- Rifle scope on AmazonColorado allows scopes on rifles; know the rules for muzzleloader and archery before you mount one.
- Hard gun case on AmazonRequired for airline travel and useful on rough roads.
- Blaze orange vest and hat on AmazonRequired for rifle and muzzleloader seasons.
Gear links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we list. More.
Common questions
What's the minimum legal rifle caliber for elk in Colorado?
A centerfire rifle at least .24 caliber, firing an expanding bullet of at least 85 grains, rated at a minimum of 1,000 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards. That 85-grain bullet-weight floor is higher than the 70-grain minimum for deer, pronghorn, and bear.
How many rounds can a hunting rifle magazine hold in Colorado?
For a semiautomatic rifle, no more than six rounds total between the magazine and the chamber. There's no magazine-capacity limit stated for bolt-action, lever-action, or other non-semiautomatic rifles under this rule.
Can you hunt big game with a shotgun in Colorado?
Yes. The regulation requires a shotgun no smaller than 20 gauge, firing a single slug. Buckshot is not legal for big game in Colorado — the "single slug" requirement is the whole rule, and it is the part most often gotten wrong.
What caliber muzzleloader do you need in Colorado?
For deer, pronghorn, and black bear: at least .40 caliber shooting a conical bullet, or .50 caliber shooting a round ball. For elk and moose: at least .50 caliber conical, or .54 caliber round ball. Bullets must weigh at least 170 grains up to .50 caliber, and at least 210 grains above that. Sabots, pelletized powder, smokeless powder, breech-loading actions, and any sight other than open or "iron" sights are all prohibited.
What's the minimum draw weight to bowhunt in Colorado?
35 pounds for a compound, recurve, or longbow, with a broadhead at least 7/8 of an inch wide carrying two or more steel cutting edges. A qualifying crossbow requires at least a 125-pound draw weight.
Can I use a crossbow during archery season in Colorado?
Only with an ADA-qualified disability accommodation permit from CPW. Without one, crossbows are treated as rifle-season equipment — legal during rifle seasons for any hunter, but not during archery-only seasons.