Hunting at Red Mountain Open Space

Hunting on Red Mountain Open Space and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is managed by Larimer County Natural Resources and City of Fort Collins Natural Areas. The Special Access Hunting Permit Application is available online annually in February, with the drawing in the first week of March.

Big game hunting opportunities will occur during the weekdays of the second, third, fourth and late cow seasons. Late-season doe pronghorn hunting will occur on both weekdays and weekends after December 1 when Red Mountain and Soapstone close to the general public. You must have a Larimer County/City of Fort Collins special access hunting permit to hunt. Permits can be obtained via Larimer County's website through the Larimer County special access hunting permit application process in February.

Once you have successfully drawn a special access permit for a species (bull elk, cow elk, buck deer or doe pronghorn), you cannot submit an application for that species in future years. For example, if you drew a special access permit for bull elk in 2020, you will not be allowed to submit an application for bull elk in future years, but you may submit applications for cow elk, buck deer or doe pronghorn.

Hunting Access Permit Application Process

Applications must be completed in February to qualify for the drawing, with the drawing occurring the first week of March. A $10.00 non-refundable application fee will be charged to cover administrative costs. Successful hunters will be notified by phone and email immediately after the drawing has occurred. Unsuccessful applicants will only be notified by email. If you do not receive a phone call, you were not successful.

The drawing will be conducted by a Notary Public using a random number generator program for 4 bull elk special access hunting permits, 3 cow elk special access hunting permits and 6 buck deer special access hunting permits for Red Mountain Open Space; and 10 doe pronghorn special access permits for Red Mountain Open Space and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Hunters need to submit only one application for each of the four drawings. These special access hunting permits will only be valid for hunting on Red Mountain Open Space or Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.

Learn More About How the Drawing Works

Please, submit one application per person. Applicants do not accumulate preference points for this local drawing. You do not need a separate application for each animal type.

Hunting License Information

Successful applicants who receive a special access hunting permit will then have to apply for their license in the Colorado Limited Big Game draw process.

Below are Colorado Parks and Wildlife big game drawing statistics that may help applicants evaluate odds of drawing a particular license that will allow them to exercise their special access permit. Remember, CPW license levels change yearly, as do applications rates for each hunt, so the information below is intended to help guide applicant expectations, not as a guarantee of future CPW drawing odds.

For Buck Deer:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunt codes DM009O2R, DM009O3R and DM009O4R are now a single hunt code DM009L1R, which is a list B. The opening date coincides with the opening of the second rifle deer season and runs through November 30. Applicants should put in for a LIMITED DRAW FIRST CHOICE to have the best odds of drawing a DM009 license. In 2023, 96% of FIRST CHOICE zero point adult resident applicants drew the license. If you successfully acquire a Larimer County special access hunting permit for buck deer, you are advised to apply for that hunting license in the CPW draw with a FIRST CHOICE to stand the best odds of acquiring the necessary CPW big game hunting license.

View CPW deer hunting statistics.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunt codes EM009O2R, EM009O3R, EM009O4R and EF009L1R. Historically, GMU 9 has been an under-subscribed unit for bull and cow elk since it is almost entirely private land. That means that historical odds of drawing a GMU 9 bull or cow license with any choice in the CPW big game license draw have been 100%. In years past there have been licenses leftover after the primary draw. 

View CPW elk hunting statistics.

For Pronghorn Doe:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunt code AF009L1R. Based on 2023 application levels, this CPW hunt required a LIMITED DRAW FIRST CHOICE with ONE PREFERENCE POINT to have the best odds of drawing an AF009L1R license. One hundred percent (100%) of first choice, one preference point adult resident applicants drew the license in 2023. Only thirteen (13%) of first choice, zero preference point applicants drew the license. If you successfully acquire a Larimer County/City of Fort Collins special access hunting permit for doe pronghorn, you are advised to apply for that hunting license in the CPW draw as a FIRST CHOICE  AND POSSESS ONE PREFERENCE POINT to stand the best odds of acquiring the necessary CPW big game hunting license.  

View CPW pronghorn hunting statistics.

Special access hunting permits are not transferable. Hunting will occur during portions of the second, third and fourth rifle seasons. The cow elk hunt will occur on weekdays during the late season. The doe pronghorn will occur in the late season from December 1-15 on weekdays and weekends. You must pick which season you wish to hunt when applying for your license during the CPW draw process. Hunters must attend a mandatory orientation meeting with Larimer County Natural Resources and City of Fort Collins Natural Areas staff prior to the hunt. The mandatory orientation meeting will be in September. Hunters must have a valid CPW license for the unit and season. These licenses are available only through the CPW draw process. There will be no hunting allowed at Red Mountain Open Space on weekends, except for the late season doe pronghorn. There is no camping allowed on-site. Hunters using horses are allowed off trail. There is no vehicle access to the open space beyond the trailhead for hunting or animal retrieval.


FAQs

  Expand All   Collapse All
  1. When will I be able to apply for a Special Access Hunting Permit?

    You can apply for a Special Access Hunting Permit through our online application process during the month of February.

  2. When will the drawing be held to determine who the successful applicants are?

    The drawing will be held in the first week of March.

  3. How will I know if I am a successful applicant?

    Staff will notify you via phone and/or email. You will then be required to attend a pre-hunt meeting in September.

  4. How much does it cost to apply for a Special Access Hunting Permit?

    The cost to apply is $10 per species/sex that you wish to apply for.

  5. How many Special Access Hunting Permits will be given out each year?

    The number of Special Access Hunting Permits given out each year fluctuates depending on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommendation.

  6. Do you allow camping at Red Mountain Open Space or Soapstone Prairie Natural Area?

    Camping is not allowed at Red Mountain Open Space or Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Hunters will be allowed to access one hour prior to sunrise and will be allowed to depart as late as one hour after sunset.

  7. Can I drive my vehicle into Red Mountain Open Space/Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in order to get closer to the area I want to hunt or to collect an animal?

    Vehicles may only drive on the entry road that leads to the trailhead, and may only park at the trailhead. Harvested animals must be packed out, or you may use a game cart.

  8. May I use horses on my hunt, either to reach my destination or to pack out a taken animal?

    Horses may be used on the hunt.

  9. Where are Red Mountain Open Space and Soapstone Praire Natural Area located and how many acres are they?

    Red Mountain Open Space and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area are located approximately 25 miles north of Fort Collins, Colorado. Red Mountain is approximately 15,000 acres of open space and Soapstone Prairie is approximately 22,000 acres.

  10. In addition to the Special Access Hunting Permit, do I need to apply for a Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunting license?

    Yes, in addition to the Special Access Hunting Permit, you do need to apply for a Colorado Parks and Wildlife big game hunting license for the species/sex and season you wish to hunt for in Game Management Unit 9.

  11. What seasons can I hunt at Red Mountain?

    You will have the option to choose from four elk seasons (Elk - EM00902R, EM00903R, EM00904R, EF009L1R), one deer season (DM009L1R), and one pronghorn late season (AF009L1R).

  12. May I hunt the whole week, including the weekend?

    Deer (buck) and elk (cow and bull) hunting at Red Mountain Open Space is only allowed on weekdays, and there is no hunting on Saturday or Sunday. Pronghorn hunting is allowed every day of the week from December 1-15.

  13. Are you allowed to hunt by archery or muzzle loading?

    Hunting opportunities occur only during the rifle seasons, but you may choose to hunt with a bow or muzzleloader during the rifle season.

  14. What have the success rates been for the Red Mountain Open Space hunting program?
    • Bull elk: near 50%
    • Cow elk: less than 15%
    • Buck deer: near 80%
    • Doe pronghorn: near 70%