Hunting Elk
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Video: Livin' the Wildlife: Rocky Mountain Elk
An Introduction to Elk
Colorado boasts the largest elk herd in North America. But elk were near extinction in the early 1900s. Thanks to conservation programs and sportsmen, elk populations have soared in the last 50 years.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other conservation groups, conducts research, protects key winter range and migration corridors, and improves habitat to ensure Colorado’s elk herds remain abundant for future generations. Hunters fund conservation programs for elk and other species throughout Colorado.
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.
Elk Hunting License Fees
License |
Hunter |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Application Processing Fee (limited licenses, nonrefundable) |
Resident |
$8.00 |
|
Application Processing Fee (limited licenses, nonrefundable) |
Nonresident |
$10.00 |
|
Resident and Nonresident |
$12.15 |
|
|
Elk Cow, Bull or Either Sex |
Resident |
$66.12 |
|
Elk Cow, Bull or Either Sex |
Resident Youth |
$18.45 |
|
Elk Bull/Fishing Combo* |
Nonresident |
$803.39 |
|
Elk Either-Sex/Fishing Combo* |
Nonresident |
$803.39 |
|
Elk Cow/Fishing Combo* |
Nonresident |
$803.39 |
|
Elk Youth/Fishing Combo* |
Nonresident |
$122.91 |
- All license fees include a 25-cent search-and-rescue fee and a $1.50 fee for the Wildlife Education Fund, if applicable.
- Resident and nonresident youth: ages 12–17
*Fishing portion of nonresident big game/fishing combo licenses is good through March 31, 2025.
Elk Season Dates
Season |
Notes |
Start Date |
End Date |
Add to Calendar |
More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Archery |
(west of I-25 and Unit 140) |
September 02, 2024 |
September 30, 2024 |
See brochure | |
|
Muzzleloader (by draw only) |
September 14, 2024 |
September 22, 2024 |
See Brochure | ||
|
Rifle |
Separate limited elk (1st season) |
October 12, 2024 |
October 16, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle |
Combined deer/elk (2nd season) |
October 26, 2024 |
November 03, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle |
Combined deer/elk (3rd season) |
November 09, 2024 |
November 15, 2024 |
See Brochure | |
|
Rifle |
Combined limited deer/elk (4th season) |
November 20, 2024 |
November 24, 2024 |
See Brochure |
Season end dates for deer/elk archery west of 1-25 and deer/elk/moose muzzleloader end dates are as listed unless otherwise noted in the brochure tables. Note: Always check your physical license and the Colorado Big Game Brochure for specific hunting dates.
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.
Available Elk OTC Licenses
- License types
Maps...
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
New Hunters
New hunters can find many different learning resources through the Hunter Outreach Program. Explore hunting tips through videos, review past Learn to Hunt Webinars, listen to the local wildlife officers share tips and insights from the districts they manage, register for seminars, webinars, and skills clinics. The program even has opportunities to apply for limited mentored small game, waterfowl, turkey, and big game hunts!
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.
Hunters Experiencing Disabilities
Resident hunters experiencing disabilities can request accommodations for visual and physical disabilities to assist with their hunts.
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
Attention Hunters
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the brains of deer, elk and moose. It causes animals to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior and eventually die. Infected animals often show no signs of illness.
In 2024, CPW will require mandatory submission of CWD test samples (heads) from all deer harvested during rifle seasons from specific hunt codes to better evaluate the prevalence of CWD in herds. There will be no charge for mandatory testing. If a hunter is not selected for mandatory testing but wants to know whether their harvested deer or elk has CWD, they can submit their animal's head and pay a testing fee of $25.