Rut phase dates by species and region for the 2026 season. Dates are typical windows based on latitude and historical patterns — weather and pressure shift them year to year.
Broken out by region — northern areas typically run several days earlier than southern.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Seeking | Peak Rut | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast (Whitetail) | Oct 28 – Nov 8 | Nov 8 – Nov 15 | Nov 15 – Nov 25 | Nov 25 – Dec 5 |
| Eastern Plains | Oct 25 – Nov 5 | Nov 5 – Nov 12 | Nov 12 – Nov 22 | Nov 22 – Dec 3 |
Statewide timing.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Seeking | Peak Rut | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn | Oct 15 – Nov 1 | Nov 1 – Nov 12 | Nov 12 – Nov 25 | Nov 25 – Dec 12 |
Statewide timing.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Bugling | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Aug 22 – Sep 3 | Sep 3 – Sep 22 | Sep 22 – Oct 8 |
Statewide timing.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Seeking | Peak Rut | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Park / NW CO | Sep 12 – Sep 28 | Sep 28 – Oct 8 | Oct 8 – Oct 22 | Oct 22 – Nov 5 |
Broken out by region — northern areas typically run several days earlier than southern.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Seeking | Peak Rut | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern CO | Nov 5 – Nov 16 | Nov 16 – Nov 24 | Nov 24 – Dec 5 | Dec 5 – Dec 18 |
| Southern CO | Nov 8 – Nov 20 | Nov 20 – Nov 28 | Nov 28 – Dec 8 | Dec 8 – Dec 20 |
Statewide timing.
| Region | Pre-Rut | Seeking | Peak Rut | Post-Rut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Plains/SE | Aug 25 – Sep 8 | Sep 8 – Sep 18 | Sep 18 – Sep 28 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
Statewide timing.
| Region | Peak Strut |
|---|---|
| Statewide | Apr 15 – May 15 |