Bison in Colorado in September

Yes, September is a good month to see bison in Colorado. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 548 of the 6,179 sightings logged across the year (8.9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Mountain Goat photographed in ColoradoMountain Goat photographed in ColoradoMountain Goat photographed in Colorado
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bison in Colorado

8.9%

of yearly sightings

548

records in September

#4

busiest month of 12

6,179

verified records a year

August 16.8%, September 8.9%, October 7.2%. Busiest month is July at 21.4%.

Best months: July, August, JunePeak season right now

6,179 verified observations of bison in Colorado, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bison are recorded in Colorado

Peak month

July

1,322 records (21.4% of the year)

Quietest month

January

138 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1382.2%
February1682.7%
March2914.7%
April4216.8%
May4637.5%
Junepeak90114.6%
Julypeak1,32221.4%
Augustpeak1,04016.8%
September5488.9%
October4477.2%
November2694.4%
December1712.8%

Bison you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Bighorn Sheep4,319
Mountain Goat1,423
American Bison282
Domestic Sheep70
Domestic Cattle53
Domestic Goat7

In Colorado, September carries 8.9% of the year's bison sightings, about 0.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from August (16.8%) into September, and it heads toward October (7.2%) after. The busiest month is July (21.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The bison most often recorded in Colorado are Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and American Bison. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.

Which bison you are most likely to see

  • Bighorn Sheep4,319 records
  • Mountain Goat1,423 records
  • American Bison282 records
  • Domestic Sheep70 records
  • Domestic Cattle53 records
  • Domestic Goat7 records
Plan your tripBent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Plan your bison trip in Colorado

Start with live tours near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bison in Colorado in September?+

Yes. September accounts for 548 of the 6,179 verified bison sightings logged in Colorado across the year, which is 8.9% of the annual total.

Is September a good time to see bison in Colorado?+

September is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though July and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for bison in Colorado?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 6,179 verified observations.

Which bison are you most likely to see in Colorado?+

The most-recorded species in Colorado are Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and American Bison, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.