Wednesday, September 2nd marks the archery opener for deer, elk, and bear west of I-25, which means the high country in Teller, Fremont, and El Paso counties is about to get busy in a new way.
Hunters will be out before dawn, glassing meadows and ridgelines. Hikers and mountain bikers will be out chasing fall colors and cooler temps. Same trails, same hours, different agendas so plan accordingly.
The practical stuff: wear bright colors, especially orange or pink. Don’t assume a hunter sees you the way you see them — they’re focused on movement at distance, not a rider coming up from behind. If you hear shots, stop, figure out where they came from, and make yourself visible. Most hunters are respectful and will wave you through, but a few words of acknowledgment go a long way.
Fall turkey season also opens September first and runs through the twenty-third, so lowland areas will see pressure too.
Bottom line: the mountains are big enough for everyone if everyone pays attention. Get out there, be visible, and have a good season.
The best link is the Colorado Hunting Atlas: https://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/index.html?app=HuntingAtlas
Turn on the GMU Boundary layer under Land and Access, then search for El Paso, Teller, or Fremont County. It shows the units right over aerials and topo maps.
The official descriptions for those counties are in the 2026 Big Game Brochure at https://cpw.state.co.us/big-game-brochure.
