Hunting Mountain Goat

Apply as a Group

A group of hunters can apply together for licenses in the primary draw only. Group applications are not accepted for moose, desert bighorn sheep or hybrid draw licenses. Party hunting, or group members taking animals under a different group member’s license, is illegal in Colorado. Group applications do not receive youth preference.

Group Sizes

The following are the allowed sizes for group hunts:

• Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Bear and Turkey: any number of people.
• Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: 2 individuals. Residents and nonresidents may not apply together.
• Mountain Goat: 2 individuals. Residents and nonresidents may not apply together.

How to Apply

Group applications do not increase the probability of drawing licenses. Only submit a group application if everyone in your hunting party is committed to only go hunting if everyone draws. If members of the group plan to hunt anyway if their group application is unsuccessful, please submit individual hunting applications. 

Group Leader

One person must be designated as the group leader, and all applications in that group are linked together with the group leader’s CID (customer identification number). If the leader has no CID, they must set up an account with CPW online at CPWShop.com, or by calling CPW to get one.

The group leader must apply first so that the group members’ hunt code choices can be validated. If you are the group leader, select “I am a group leader.”

Group Members

All group members must use the same person as the leader in order to go through the draw as a group. All other group members will select “I am hunting in a group” and enter the group leader’s CID. Group members must apply for the same species, hunt code, unit, geographic restrictions, season and method of take for each choice, but may apply for a different sex. Each member must list the same first-choice hunt code and the same second-, third-, and/or fourth-choice hunt codes. These choices must be in the same order on all group applications.

• Use the same person as the leader in order to go through the draw as a group.
• All group members will select “I am hunting in a group” and enter the group leader’s CID.
• Group members must apply for the same species, hunt code, unit, geographic restrictions, season and method of take for each choice, but may apply for a different sex.
• Each member must list the same first-choice hunt code and the same second-, third-, and/or fourth-choice hunt codes. These choices must be in the same order on all group applications.

Submitting Group Applications

The group leader submits their application first, then each hunter submits their application separately under their individual account, putting the group leader’s CID in the appropriate field. When the system validates the group hunt code choices, if there are differences in the number or order of hunt codes on the applications, the leader’s choices will be used instead. If the group leader makes a correction to their application and changes their hunt codes or hunt code order, their changes will override the choices of their group members.

If anyone in the group makes an application error, everyone in the group is disqualified. Common errors include (but are not limited to): 

• invalid hunter education information
• invalid residency information 
• hunting privilege suspensions

How Licenses are Awarded

Each individual application is assigned a six-digit number. Groups are assigned a group number based on the lowest application number in the group and go through the draw based on the group member with the lowest number of preference points. After the group number is randomized, if that number is selected in the draw, and there are enough licenses left for the entire group, everyone in the group gets a license.

If the group includes resident and nonresident applicants and the nonresident cap has been met, the group will not be awarded licenses.

If the group is successful for their first choice, each group member will get a license and their preference points drop to zero. If unsuccessful for their first choice, everyone gets a point. Applying for more than one choice gives the group additional chances at hunting together.

How Group Applicants are Notified

Awarded licenses and draw results are sent to each individual based on the contact information in their profile on CPWShop.com.

Group Applications and License Payment 

Applicants are only considered a group for the draw. After the draw, if a group member fails to pay for their license or chooses to return it, it does not affect any of the other group members.