Lone Mesa State Park
State Park in Mancos, CO
Hours:
Visitor Center at Mancos State Park: Tues. - Sat. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Hunting Access By Permit
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
42545 Road N
Mancos, CO 81328
United States
Lone Mesa State Park
State Park in Mancos, CO
Hours:
Visitor Center at Mancos State Park: Tues. - Sat. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Hunting Access By Permit
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
42545 Road N
Mancos, CO 81328
United States
Navigate to:
The green landscape with trees, meadows, and ponds at Lone Mesa
Park Highlight
Hunting at Lone Mesa
Elk, deer and black bear hunting is permitted on Lone Mesa by a limited number of special use permits. Lone Mesa hunting access permits are issued by an annual draw held in June of each year. Hunters must also possess a valid hunting license.
The park can now be accessed for spring turkey hunting season with a valid over-the-counter (OTC) license and as conditions allow. No permit is necessary for spring OTC turkey hunting.
Please contact Mancos State Park at 970-533-7065 for the status of road conditions.
Available Big Game Permits for 2026
Hunt Type |
Available Permits |
Season |
Fee Due |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Archery |
Up to 20 |
September 2–30 |
August 2 |
|
Muzzleloader |
Up to 12 |
September 12–20 |
August 13 |
|
1st Rifle |
Up to 15 |
October 14–18 |
September 14 |
|
2nd Rifle |
Up to 25 |
October 24–November 3 |
September 24 |
|
3rd Rifle |
Up to 25 |
November 7–15 |
October 8 |
|
4th Rifle |
Up to 25 |
November 18–22 |
October 19 |
|
Tribal |
10% of the total available permits will be offered to the combined Ute Tribes and Bands and their members who are provided access to historic area hunting grounds under the Brunot Agreement of 1873. |
Apply for a Big Game Permit
How to Apply
The Lone Mesa State Park Hunting Permit application period will run from 9 a.m. on May 26, 2026 until 4 p.m. on June 25, 2026. A link to the application will go live on May 26.
Hunters interested in applying for the draw must have an eligible limited big game license valid for Game Management Unit (GMU) 711 (PDF) from the primary draw, or plan to hunt with an Over-the-Counter bull elk license for 2nd or 3rd rifle season. September Rifle bear licenses and Private Land Only licenses are not valid at Lone Mesa State Park.
Exceptions are made for youth hunters 12-17 years old who receive priority in the secondary draw. We are unable to wait for all adult applicants for the secondary draw because the hunting regulation for Lone Mesa State Park states that the draw must occur 60 days prior to the beginning of the first big game hunting season. Historically a large number of adults applied for permits that did not have valid licenses, which resulted in time-consuming delays in notification to successful hunters. The low number of youth hunters who apply does not result in delays.
If you need assistance with the permit application form, please call Mancos State Park at 970-533-7065.
Annual Draw
Lone Mesa big game hunting access permits will be issued by an annual draw, which will be held at the Mancos State Park Visitor Center on June 26, 2026 at 5 p.m. The draw will be live streamed, and a link will be provided to watch.
Prior to the draw, every hunter is assigned a number for each hunt they apply for. These numbers are drawn for each season until all of the numbers have been drawn. The order the numbers were drawn in results in the hunter’s draw order for each season. If the hunter is high enough in the draw order they are offered a permit. If they decline the permit, the next hunter on the list is offered it. If all eligible hunters decline a permit, it goes up for sale first come, first served. If a hunter is interested in a permit and they miss the draw application and draw, they are added to the bottom of the draw order. Tribal permits unissued prior to the June annual draw will be added back to the general allocation.
Successful Applicants
After the draw, all successful hunters will be notified by email and will need to pay the permit fee no later than 30 days prior to the first day of the hunt. For details on hunt fees refer to section b.5 in the hunter protocol (PDF).
The email to successful hunters will contain all information needed to hunt including directions, an online orientation, instructions on how to pay the fee, and a link to an orientation quiz. When all required information is obtained by staff, permits will be emailed to successful hunters. Successful applicants are allowed to bring one non-hunting companion with them into Lone Mesa State Park. No camping is allowed at Lone Mesa State Park but there is dispersed forest service camping in the area.
Unsuccessful Applicants
Unsuccessful hunters are put on a waiting list in the order of their draw number. When cancellations occur, the next hunter on the list will be notified to see if they are interested in a hunting opportunity at Lone Mesa State Park.
Know Before You Go
Dogs
Dogs are welcome in the park as long as they are on a six-foot or shorter leash at all times and their waste is properly disposed of. They are not allowed to engage in hunting.
Off-highway Vehicles
Hunters accessing the park with a permit may use off-highway vehicles (aka ATVs, four-wheelers, etc.). Off-highway vehicles are restricted to established motor vehicle routes and must be currently registered.
Horseback Riding
Hunters accessing Lone Mesa with a permit may use horses. No overnight facilities are currently available on the park, but staff can assist with finding good horse camping on Forest Service Lands just off-park. All hay brought into the park is required to be certified weed free.
Clean Your Gear: Hiking with a Dog
Invasive Species
Help Protect Colorado's Lands
Learn how to clean, drain and dry hiking gear used by your dog to help prevent the spread of noxious weeds in Colorado and protect forests from invasive species.