Hunting Bear
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A black bear in a field.
Hunting
Hunting Bear in Colorado
Bear hunting is not easy. Pursuing and harvesting a bear takes an understanding of both bear behavior and habitat.
Need a Colorado Big Game Hunting License?
There are still opportunities available to purchase a Colorado big-game hunting license.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) licenses
- Remaining (leftover and reissued) limited licenses. Learn more about leftover licenses and the license reissue process.
Note: Always check your physical license and the Colorado Big Game Brochure for specific hunting dates and legal hunting hours.
Bear Hunting License Fees
License |
Hunter |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Resident and Nonresident |
$12.15 |
|
|
Application Fee |
Resident |
$8.00 |
|
Application Fee |
Nonresident |
$10.00 |
|
Bear |
Resident |
$60.05 |
|
Bear |
Resident Youth |
$17.85 |
|
Bear/fishing combo* |
Nonresident |
$251.75 |
|
Bear/fishing combo* |
Nonresident Youth |
$59.89 |
- All prices include a 25-cent search-and-rescue fee, a $1.50 for the Wildlife Council surcharge.
- All nonresident big-game licenses are a big-game and annual fishing combination license: Fishing licenses are va through March 31.
Bear Season Dates
Season |
Notes |
Start Date |
End Date |
Add to Calendar |
Maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Archery |
(over-the-counter and/or limited) |
September 02, 2024 |
September 30, 2024 |
See brochure | |
|
Muzzleloader (by draw only) |
(over-the-counter and/or limited) |
September 14, 2024 |
September 22, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle Bear September |
(limited) |
September 02, 2024 |
September 30, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle Bear 1st Season |
(over-the-counter and/or limited) |
October 12, 2024 |
October 16, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle Bear 2nd Season |
(over-the-counter and/or limited) |
October 26, 2024 |
November 03, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle Bear 3rd Season |
(over-the-counter and/or limited) |
November 09, 2024 |
November 15, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle Bear 4th Season |
(over-the-counter and/or limited) |
November 20, 2024 |
November 24, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Bear Private Land Only |
(over-the-counter) |
September 02, 2024 |
November 24, 2024 |
See Brochure |
Season end dates for bear private-land-only and bear September season end dates are as listed unless otherwise noted in the brochure tables.
License Options
Limited Licenses
What are limited licenses?
Each year, a set (limited) number of licenses is allotted to each game management unit (GMU). Huntable areas are broken down into units called “game management units.” These units help you decide where you'd like to hunt. A GMU map is available on the inside back cover of the Big Game Brochure.
You can apply for the big game draw(s) to get one of these limited licenses, or after the draws are over, you can purchase a remaining (leftover) limited license when they go on sale.
Big Game Draws
- Primary Draw (application period closed on April 2, 2024 )
- Secondary Draw (application period closed on June 28, 2024)
A qualifying license is required prior to applying for limited licenses through the big game draw(s).
Hunters can submit one application per species to participate in the draw. Applications can include up to four hunt choices to maximize your opportunity to draw a license and hunt.
Types of Limited Licenses
Limited licenses include public-land, private-land-only, Ranching for Wildlife (RFW), Bighorn Sheep Access Program (BSAP), season choice and leftover limited licenses.
Preference Points
Preference points help hunters to be successful in future primary draws because points add up per species until an applicant draws a first-choice license. One preference point is awarded to each applicant who qualifies for and does not draw their first-choice limited license for deer, elk, pronghorn or bear in the primary draw, or who applies using a specific preference-point hunt code that gets them a preference point only as their first choice.
Preference points are available on the primary draw application only.
Tip: If you can’t hunt this year, but intend to in the future, apply for a preference point by entering the “preference point only” hunt code in the “first choice hunt code” on the application. See pages 3 and 9 in the Big Game Brochure for details.
Refunds
For information on license refunds, please visit the Hunting License Refunds, Reversals and Exchanges page.
Leftover (Remaining) Limited Licenses
What are leftover licenses?
Leftover licenses are the remaining limited licenses available after the primary and secondary draws are completed. If you purchase one of these licenses, you will not use any of your preference points.
Leftover Licenses can Include Reissued Big Game Licenses
What are reissued licenses?
Reissued licenses are limited licenses that were returned for a refund or preference points, as well as those that were not paid for - and are listed on the leftover list. For more information on reissued licenses, visit the Leftover License and Reissue page.
The Reissue Preview List will be posted online every Tuesday at 11 a.m. MT, and hunt codes will be available for purchase every Wednesday starting at 11 a.m. MT. All hunt codes will be released from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT on Wednesday of every week, starting the week after leftover licenses go on sale. No new hunt codes will be added to the list after 1 p.m. MT each Wednesday.
Leftover (remaining) limited licenses are available in person at sales agents, by phone at 1-800-244- 5613 or online.
For information on license refunds, please visit the Hunting License Refunds, Reversals and Exchanges page.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Licenses
What are over-the-counter licenses?
OTC licenses are not restricted in quantity but are restricted to certain units, seasons and manners of take. Although they are considered "unlimited licenses," they are still subject to purchase limits for each individual.
OTC licenses do not require buying/having a qualifying license, do not use preference points and may be purchased any time before and during a season.
For sale online, by phone (1-800-244-5613) and at sales agents around the state.
OTC License Benefits
- can be purchased without applying through the draw(s)
- do not require buying/having a qualifying license
- provide you the flexibility to discover new units,
- allow you to scout different habitat, and
- potentially combine your hunt with the opportunity to hunt another species.
Some licenses for elk, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and bear are available without needing to enter the draw(s) and are not restricted in quantity (unlimited). Find more information on over-the-counter licenses in the Big Game brochure.
For information on license refunds, please visit the Hunting License Refunds, Reversals and Exchanges page.
Landowner Preference Program (LPP) Vouchers
The LPP encourages private landowners to provide habitat for the benefit of wildlife populations and to relieve hunting pressure on public lands. Deer, elk and pronghorn vouchers are allocated to landowners who meet certain qualifications. Applications are drawn during the primary draw, and successful landowners receive a voucher for each winning hunt code. The voucher is transferred directly to a hunter, who then purchases a license to hunt. Vouchers are not available for purchase from CPW.
For Hunters
- Landowner vouchers may be transferred one time only. The transfer of the voucher occurs when the hunter’s name is written on the voucher, or the landowner or designated land manager hands (or mails) the voucher to the hunter.
- The landowner or designated land manager must transfer the voucher directly to the hunter. A voucher that has been transferred by any person who is not the landowner or designated land manager is VOID. A voucher that is brokered for another person is VOID. A hunting license obtained for use with a VOID voucher is also VOID. No person shall broker a voucher on behalf of any landowner or person, or use or possess any brokered voucher.
- If a hunter cannot use a voucher, the voucher becomes VOID. The voucher CANNOT be reprinted or transferred to another hunter, even if the voucher has not been redeemed for a license.
- Annual bag limits still apply. Be sure you can legally have the license before acquiring a landowner voucher. List A, B or C is printed on the voucher. See the Big Game Brochure for details.
- The transfer of a voucher by a landowner or designated land manager includes permission to access and hunt all of the registered land for which the voucher was awarded, and for the entire season for which the voucher was awarded, without discrimination among hunters entering the land. Restrictions are not allowed, except for manner of access (i.e. foot, horseback, vehicle) reasonably necessary to prevent damage to land.
- The hunter must take the voucher in person to a sales agent or CPW location to be redeemed for a proper and valid license PRIOR to hunting. The appropriate license fees are paid at that time.
- A list of landowners is NOT available from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Definitions
- Broker: for a third party to transfer a voucher for compensation for any other consideration, or otherwise arrange for such transfer, on behalf of the landowner or land manager, or on behalf of any individual.
- Transfer: to buy, sell, assign, trade, exchange, acquire or otherwise arrange to buy, sell, assign, trade, exchange, acquire or dispose of a voucher.
- Immediate Family: the landowner’s spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, and sibling including in-law and step relations.
Auction and Raffle Licenses
CPW issues special Auction and Raffle Program big game licenses to nonprofit organizations focused on conserving wildlife in Colorado. The funds generated from the sale of these licenses are used for big game habitat enhancement, research, management, and education.
Opportunities for Everyone
Youth Hunters
Youth hunters have youth-only hunting opportunities including small game, extended seasons for deer, elk, and pronghorn, and hunter outreach opportunities for big game (including moose), small game, waterfowl, and turkey hunting experiences.
Nonresident Hunters
Nonresident hunters have a percentage of deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat licenses set aside for them. They can also participate in group hunts and are eligible for a combo hunting and fishing license.
Resident Hunters
Residents have the option to participate in both big game draws, and apply for or purchase hybrid draw licenses, leftover licenses, reissued licenses, over-the-counter licenses, fishing and hunting combo licenses, raffle licenses, group hunts, and ranching for wildlife hunts.
Hunters Experiencing Disabilities
Resident hunters experiencing disabilities can request accommodations for visual and physical disabilities to assist with their hunts.
New Hunters
New hunters can apply to go on mentored big game, small game, waterfowl, pheasant, and turkey hunts with the hunter outreach program, participate in a year long hunting experience with the rookie sportsperson program, and continue to broaden their skills past their initial hunter education course with regularly offered hunting classes to practice and hone techniques. Specific classes are also offered for women to learn in a comfortable environment.
Hunters in the Military
Colorado residents who are deployed active duty military can apply to purchase leftover hunting licenses or receive a preference point in advance, or apply for a refund if deployed after their purchase. Veterans experiencing disabilities can apply for a lifetime combo fishing hunting license, and apply for accommodation while hunting. Veterans may also apply for big game licenses through the Wounded Warrior program.
Have you completed your hunter education course?
Colorado law requires that individuals born on or after January 1, 1949, must complete an approved hunter education course before applying for or purchasing a Colorado hunting license.
Already taken a hunter education course? Learn more about how to provide proof of completion.
Take a Hunter Education Class
Hunter education classes are available in-person in a classroom setting or online with an in-person completion exam.
Find a Hunter Education ClassGrow Your Archery Skills
Hunters that chose archery as their method of take can grow their skills prior to hunting season by taking a bowhunter education class.
Find a Bowhunter Education ClassBrochures
Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure
Be sure to read the “What’s New” pages to see a full list of changes on tap for the upcoming hunting seasons.
Download the Brochure