Colorado Parks And Wildlife Reissue List (2024)

FAQs

How to get over-the-counter tags in Colorado? ›

Purchase options include: on​line, by phone at 1-800-244-5613 or at CPW locations and authorized sales agents​. Active military personnel. see the Military Benefits page for related opportunities.

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.

The Colorado big game application period begins around March 1, 2024, and ends April 2, 2024 with draw results available by mid-May (elk, deer, antelope, moose). Draw results for sheep and goat are released mid-April. Hunters may apply for tags with Colorado Parks and Wildlife here.

Landowners who draw will receive vouchers for licenses that they can transfer/sell to eligible hunters of their choice. A landowner voucher can be sold directly to a hunter by the landowner or the designated land manager. A third party cannot sell a Colorado landowner voucher.

After nearly a decade of debate and rising tensions, Colorado wildlife commissioners have voted to eliminate nonresident OTC archery elk tags.

non-resident controversy, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to end OTC elk tags for archery hunting in 2025. The number of non-resident archery elk hunters now exceeds the number of resident hunters in Colorado.

OTC tags include archery and second and third rifle seasons. Limited licenses (lottery) are needed for muzzleloader and first & fourth rifle seasons.

Colorado doesn't have OTC mule deer tags. All tags are draw, but you can buy the leftovers in August. Go to the CPW site and check out the hunting statistics. There are ~ 150 deer units in CO.

Whitetail Deer

Fortunately, there's no shortage of whitetail states that sell over-the-counter tags. Some states with good public land opportunities to check out include Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. Many states also allow hunters to buy multiple inexpensive doe tags.

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.

How many non resident elk tags sold in Colorado? ›

Colorado sells about 4 times as many elk tags as Wyoming and Utah. 5. Around 94,000 of Colorado elk tags sold, are unlimited OTC tags. Colorado sells 20-35% of its limited elk tags to Nonresidents, the average western state only sell 10% of its limited tags to Nonresidents.

Colorado elk hunting is widely known for its over-the-counter (OTC) hunting opportunities. These unlimited elk tags are available for purchase at over 650 approved vendors including Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices, online, or by phone.

In order to register in any GMU, you must have at least 160 contiguous acres in each GMU.

HUNTING ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND

Much of the land in Colorado is privately owned. Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property.

You may carry a handgun with you during the act of hunting for personal protection but that is the purpose. There is no specific requirement for a legal handgun for personal protection (barrel length or caliber)except that it is in legal possession of the person under Colorado Law.

Leftover (Remaining) Limited License

You can purchase licenses online at CPWShop.com, by phone at 1-800-244-5613 and at sales agents around the state. These returned limited licenses (excluding Ranching for Wildlife) will be available on the leftover list.

The $8.00 resident and $10.00 nonresident application fees apply. The secondary draw does not use preference points, and you cannot apply for preference points. Applications are for individuals only, not groups. Youth receive preference for all hunt codes in the secondary draw.

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.

Colorado. Colorado is a popular state among western hunters, but it also has a pile of opportunities for turkey hunters. The state offers a spring OTC license that is valid in many units across the state.