Colorado Parks And Wildlife Reissue List (2024)

FAQs

Can you buy over the counter cow elk tags in Colorado? ›

Elk tags can be bought over the counter (OTC) or acquired by drawing through the lottery tag system. Both bull and cow elk licenses/tags are $66.12 for residents, and non-residents will pay $803.39 for both a bull or cow tag (prices subject to change annually).

BEFORE applying for the big game draw, all adult & youth applicants MUST first purchase a qualifying license before they can apply for the draw. 2024 DRAW INFORMATION: The primary draw application deadline is 4/2/2024 at 8 p.m. MT. The secondary draw application deadline is 6/28/2024 at 8 p.m. MT.

But even if you're a nonresident, there are many good mule deer hunts that can be drawn with very few points. Unlike elk in Colorado, there are no over-the-counter licenses for mule deer. All mule deer tags are issued in the annual big game draw. The application deadline is the first Tuesday in April.

Applicants may apply for Preference Points only during the primary application window that begins in early March, but you must first buy a qualifying license. Preference Points are considered for your first choice only.

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) - As part of the new Big-Game Season Structure, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission has voted to eliminate over-the-counter archery elk tags for non-residents.

The "Trophy” Units

Ask any elk hunter worth his weight in lead what the top hunting units are in Colorado, and GMUs 1, 2, 10 and 201 in the far northwest corner of the state rise to the top of the list like smoke from a muzzleloader. Bulls in the 300-plus size are common and elk tend to stay put over the seasons.

At the same time, if you just want to hunt elk and aren't worried about the record books, Colorado and Idaho are your best states for a tag. The increased opportunity often comes at a price, though. In many units, you're more likely to see other hunters and less likely to see big bulls.

Meanwhile all combined OTC elk hunts (rifle + archery) in Colorado have seen an increase of over 24% by Nonresidents, from 35,818 in 2014 to 44,409 in 2021.

Colorado limits elk tags for each hunter by classifying licenses as either List A, B or C. As a general rule you can get two tags: either one List A and one List B tag or two List B tags. You cannot get two List A tags, nor can you get one List A and two List B.

Colorado Eliminates Over-the-Counter Archery Elk Tags for Nonresidents. On Wednesday the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted 9-1 in favor of ending over-the-counter archery elk tags for nonresident hunters.

Are bear tags OTC in Colorado? ›

Over-the-Counter and Add-on Bear Licenses

These are sold online, by phone, at sales agents and CPW locations for rifle, archery and muzzleloader seasons. OTC archery and muzzleloader bear licenses are add-on only licenses.

The Colorado Hunter Education Test-Out Exam is a 50-question, timed exam. The exam is $29.50. You have one opportunity to pass the exam with 90% or better in 30 minutes or less.

If you do not apply or hold a license for a species at least once within 10 consecutive years for a bear, elk, deer, pronghorn, moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep, your preference points for that species will be lost. Applying for a preference point for the species keeps your file active.

The rest of Colorado as a whole is doing well. It is still the king of opportunity elk hunting with a plethora of hunts available from 0-6 points. This primarily comes from muzzleloader, first, and fourth rifle hunts on units that have OTC hunts for archery, second, and third rifle hunting.

General Elk Tags for Non-Residents in Five Western States for 2022 Elk Hunting Season. Colorado tags are called OTC (Over-the-Counter). In Idaho, Utah, Oregon and Washington they are called General Season Tags/Permits/Licenses. All can be bought over the counter as long as the limit has not sold out.

At the same time, if you just want to hunt elk and aren't worried about the record books, Colorado and Idaho are your best states for a tag. The increased opportunity often comes at a price, though. In many units, you're more likely to see other hunters and less likely to see big bulls.

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 1313 Sherman St. Room 618, Denver, CO 80203 • 303-297-1192 • cpw.state.co.us. ANTLER-POINT RESTRICTIONS: In most units, bull elk taken must have 4 points* or more on 1 antler OR must have a brow tine** at least 5 inches long.

Elk — General

Residents can purchase over the counter. Most nonresidents cannot purchase over the counter; to get a General Elk License, nonresidents must draw a Big Game Combination License or Elk Combination License through a random lottery drawing.