Fishing During Hunting Season on the Western Slope: Stay Visible, Beat the Dark
October is one of the best months to fish the Western Slope. It is also big game season. On Grand Mesa, up Kannah Creek, and across a lot of national forest and BLM ground around Grand Junction, you may share the trail and the parking lot with hunters. The days also get short fast. A little planning keeps the trip easy and safe.
Who has to wear orange in Colorado
Colorado law requires people hunting deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, or bear with a firearm license to wear at least 500 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink above the waist, plus an orange or pink hat visible from all directions. That rule is for hunters. Anglers and hikers are not required to wear it.
CPW recommends wearing fluorescent orange or pink in the field during hunting seasons, even if you are not hunting. We agree. It costs almost nothing and makes you easy to spot in timber, willows, and oak brush.
Make yourself easy to see
- Orange on top: a fluorescent orange or pink hat or beanie is the easiest piece to add. A vest over your jacket covers the rest.
- Cover the earth tones: brown, olive, and camo layers blend into fall brush. Put something bright over them for the walk in and out.
- Dogs too: give a dog that ranges off the trail an orange vest or collar.
- Be heard: if you see a hunter, a wave or a normal hello lets them know where you are. If shots sound close, call out in a clear voice.
Plan around the daylight
Grand Junction loses daylight quickly in fall. Sunrise and sunset tables show sunset around 6:56 pm on October 1 and about 6:14 pm on October 31. When daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, sunset jumps to about 5:13 pm. Canyon and mesa water falls into shade before that.
- Pick a walk-out time before you leave, and set it well before sunset.
- Carry a headlamp with fresh batteries, even on a short day trip.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Cell service is spotty in a lot of mesa and canyon country.
- Hunters move at first and last light too. Dawn and dusk walks are when being visible matters most.
Trailheads and forest roads
Hunting season can fill forest roads and trailhead lots, especially on opening weekends. Park so you do not block gates or other vehicles, and expect more traffic on dirt roads early in the morning. If the mesa lots look packed, the Colorado River near town can be the easier call. Our guide to public access versus private bank on the Colorado River covers where you can fish in the valley.
Safety
Fall water is cold, and a short day leaves less time to warm up if something goes wrong.
- Wear a fitted life jacket on any boat, float tube, kayak, or paddleboard. Our Colorado life jacket guide covers fit and habits.
- Keep a full dry change of clothes in a dry bag in the truck.
- Head out early if anyone is shivering, fumbling knots, or getting quiet.
For more, see our cold water safety checklist and how to layer for a Grand Mesa to valley day.
Verify dates and rules
Season dates, units, and rules change every year. Check the current big game brochure on CPW Big Game or the Colorado big game regulations on eRegulations before you head into hunting country. For fishing rules, read the Colorado fishing regulations and CPW Fishing. Always confirm with CPW before you go.
Current conditions
Read the latest Western Slope fishing reports for Grand Mesa, Kannah Creek, and the Colorado River at James M. Robb before you pick your water.
Shop related
Bring a warm drink for the trailhead. Our VCO Tumbler and trucker hat are made for early starts. The VCO Safety Kit is waitlist only, with nothing to pay today.
Plan with Trip Builder
Use Trip Builder to pick your water and map the day, then set a walk-out time that leaves daylight to spare.
Frequently asked questions
Do anglers have to wear hunter orange in Colorado?
No. Colorado's orange or pink requirement applies to people hunting deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, or bear with a firearm license. CPW recommends that everyone else in the field during hunting seasons wear fluorescent orange or pink anyway.
When does it get dark in Grand Junction in the fall?
Sunset in Grand Junction is around 6:56 pm on October 1 and about 6:14 pm on October 31. After daylight saving time ends on November 1, it is about 5:13 pm.