<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000788965-11-000044.txt : 20111220
<SEC-HEADER>0000788965-11-000044.hdr.sgml : 20111220
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20111220162647
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000788965-11-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20111216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20111220
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20111220

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bishop W Anderson
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001406144

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34743
		FILM NUMBER:		111272325

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6120 SOUTH YALE AVENUE, SUITE 700
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74136

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALLADOR ENERGY CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000788965
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE MINING [1220]
		IRS NUMBER:				841014610
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 LINCOLN ST STE 2700
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80264
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038395505

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1660 LINCOLN STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2700
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80264

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HALLADOR PETROLEUM CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KIMBARK OIL & GAS CO /CO/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900102

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KIMBARK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860624
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000788965</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HALLADOR ENERGY CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>hnrg</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001406144</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bishop W Anderson</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1660 LINCOLN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80264</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>142650</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.O1</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15540</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>127110</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were issued due to the vesting of Restricted Stock Units on December 16, 2011. Of the 50,000 shares that vested, 15,540 shares were withheld to pay federal and state taxes.  The recipient received 34,460 shares after taxes.  Closing stock price on the day of vesting and issuance was $10.15 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>W. Anderson Bishop</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
