Hunting season is underway, prompting Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s annual reminders.

It’s not just the busy season for sportsmen and women, CPW recognized in a news release, which called for “the shared responsibility of safety among hunters, hikers, bikers, leaf peepers, wildlife viewers and OHV users.”

Archery and muzzleloader hunting gets underway this month in Colorado, with big game rifle seasons starting in mid-October. Those carrying firearms must wear fluorescent orange or pink in the field, CPW reminds, adding: “While not required, it is recommended that other recreation users wear bright colors as well, especially during the muzzleloader and rifle seasons.”

The first rifle season runs Oct. 15-19, followed by the second season from Oct. 25-Nov. 2. The third and fourth seasons are Nov. 8-16 and Nov. 19-23.

In a change this year, some deer hunts will open during the first rifle season, which has typically been reserved for elk hunting. CPW has said that’s in an effort to spread out hunters during later seasons.

Also this year, breaks are shorter between seasons — “which results in seasons not going as late into the year and overlapping with Thanksgiving,” a senior wildlife biologist explained in a previous agency publication. “We heard from hunters that seasons were too late in some geographic areas and people had issues with the Thanksgiving overlap. Some folks liked that, but the majority of input was that season dates were too late and there was more interest in season dates not going quite so late.”

Another change: Hunters can no longer take coyotes with an unfilled big game tag. CPW previously stated this “in an effort to improve coyote harvest estimates.”

CPW’s recent news release reminded “coyotes and gray wolves can look similar from a distance,” and that the state’s wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Limited licenses for deer, elk, pronghorn and bear were still available for purchase over the counter, the release added. One could also check the “leftover list” for tags not issued during past draws. Additionally, returned licenses will appear on a “reissue preview list” posted online on Tuesdays, with sales going live on Wednesdays.