Youth Hunting
Youth Hunting in Colorado
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Age
Youth hunting small game, waterfowl, and turkey: People under age 18 must have a license to hunt small game. A youth small game license is for hunters 17 and younger. If a youth plans on hunting with a youth small-game license, they must be accompanied by a mentor and must meet hunter education requirements. A mentor must be 18 or older and must meet hunter education requirements; mentors aren't required to hunt. While hunting, youths and mentors must be able to see and hear each other without binoculars, radios, or other aids. Youths also have the option to purchase an adult small-game license, which allows them to hunt without a mentor, as long as they meet hunter education requirements.
Youth hunting big game: Youth must be ages 12 to 17 to hunt big game in Colorado. Starting at age 11, hunters can purchase or apply for a license if they will reach the age of 12 before the season's end. Youth cannot hunt with the license until they turn 12. Youth who meet hunter education requirements have the opportunity to hunt big game in several ways: through the draw(s) or over the counter for regular seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn and bear; during the youth extended season for female deer, elk or pronghorn; and through youth outreach licenses.
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Residency
Children under the age of 18 have the same residency status as their parent, legal guardian or person with whom they live the majority of the time per court order.
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Hunter Education
To hunt, youth must complete a hunter education course or already have a hunting education card. Get started by taking a Hunter Education Class!
Youth Hunting Opportunities
Hunt Small Game, Waterfowl, Furbearers and Migratory Birds
Resident and nonresident licenses can be purchased for $1.40
People under age 18 must have a license to hunt small game. A youth small game license is for hunters 17 and younger. If a youth plans on hunting with a youth small-game license, they must be accompanied by a mentor and must meet hunter education requirements. A mentor must be 18 or older and must meet hunter education requirements; mentors aren't required to hunt. While hunting, youths and mentors must be able to see and hear each other without binoculars, radios, or other aids.
Additional Youth Hunting Opportunities
Waterfowl Youth Season
Hunting in youth seasons is restricted to youth ages 17 and younger with a mentor. Mentors cannot hunt during youth waterfowl seasons. Check the Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl brochure for specific dates for youth hunting opportunities.
Special Access on Public Lands
Check the "Land-Uses Rules" section of the Colorado Small Game and Waterfowl brochure to find youth hunting opportunities on Colorado's State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Land properties.
Youth Hunter Outreach
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Youth Hunter Outreach Program offers free educational hunting opportunities for youth to ensure their first experiences in the field are safe and ethical. Trained and experienced staff and/or volunteers lead youth participants through clinics, seminars, and actual hunts in the field.
Hunts Offered
Small Game, Ages 12-17
These hunts provide education on firearm safety and skills, field skills, and habitat and biology of small game. Hunts are day trips that start early! Youth will be expected to use 20 or 12 gauge shotguns. Shotguns can be provided to those who cannot obtain a youth size firearm. Visit the Education and Outreach page to learn more.
Small Game
Learn more about small game hunting.Hunt Turkey
Youth under age 18 can buy or apply for a reduced-cost turkey license. All hunters, including those younger than 18, must meet hunter education requirements. Those under 16 must also be accompanied by a mentor while hunting. There is no minimum age to hunt turkey, as long as these requirements are met. A mentor must be 18 or older and must meet hunter education requirements. Mentors aren’t required to hunt. While hunting, youth and mentors must be able to see and hear each other without binoculars, radios or other aids. Youth younger than 18 can buy an adult license as long as they meet hunter education requirements. At age 18, youth must buy an adult license. Visit the Turkey Hunting page for more information.
Additional Youth Hunting Opportunities
Spring and Fall Turkey
Check the Colorado Turkey Brochure for "youth only" hunt codes. These limited license hunts offer youth hunters an increased opportunity to draw a limited license.
Youth Extended Fall Season
Youth under 18 with an unfilled fall turkey license can hunt turkey from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after Thanksgiving in the units listed on their original fall license. All hunters must follow all applicable regulations and must be accompanied by a mentor, who cannot hunt. Youth turkey hunters should be aware that big-game hunters may also be in the field during this season.
Youth Hunter Outreach
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Youth Hunter Outreach Program offers free educational hunting opportunities for youth to ensure their first experiences in the field are safe and ethical. Trained and experienced staff and/or volunteers lead youth participants through clinics, seminars, and actual hunts in the field.
Hunts Offered
Turkey, Ages 12-17
Turkey biology, habitat, and tactics are taught in the field during the Spring turkey hunting season. The program is designed to provide the novice hunter with basic education in turkey hunting. Visit the Education and Outreach page to learn more.
Turkey
Learn more about turkey hunting.Hunt Deer, Elk and Pronghorn
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers youth more opportunities than ever before to head into the field to harvest a big-game animal. One of the foremost goals at CPW is to expand youth opportunities and turn first-time hunters into lifelong sportspeople. Offering more chances at success builds the foundation of solid hunting skills and passes down the appreciation of the outdoor lifestyle we cherish. Discounted licenses are available for deer, elk, and pronghorn for youth ages 12 to 17 who fulfill the hunter education requirements.
The Draw(S): Youth Draw Preference
A minimum of 15 percent of limited licenses for doe pronghorn, antlerless and either-sex deer, and antlerless elk for each GMU shall be available for youth ages 12–17 who meet hunter education requirements. These licenses are available by draw for all seasons and methods of take, including early and late rifle seasons. Licenses not drawn by youth are available to the public. The Air Force Academy unit and Ranching for Wildlife hunts are excluded from this.
- Group applications are not accepted.
- GMUs 54, 55, 66, 67 and 551 have youth preference set at 50 percent for all antlerless deer licenses in those GMUs, if applicable.
- A new private-land-only antlerless white-tailed deer hunt code D-F-006-P5-R will have a youth preference set at 50%.
- If youth enter more than one hunt code on their application, ALL HUNT CODES must be youth preference-eligible hunt codes (doe pronghorn, antlerless or either-sex deer, and antlerless elk) and/or youth-only hunt codes (such as D-F- 043-K2-R or E-E-851-K2-R).
- Youth receive preference on all hunt codes available in the secondary draw.
Youth Extended Seasons
Deer and Elk
Youth can continue hunting deer or elk during an antlerless hunt in any regular rifle season, with a few exceptions. Youth may choose to hunt in multiple antlerless rifle hunts to take full advantage of the extended season. If a youth doesn’t harvest with the original license, they have the potential to continue hunting the first-rifle season, second-rifle season, third-rifle season and fourth-rifle season (as long as there are eligible hunts available) until they harvest an animal.
Here’s how to get the most out of the extended season:
Choose your species. Decide before you buy your original limited license what species you want to hunt in the extended season. If you buy an elk tag, you can only hunt elk in the extended season. If you buy a deer tag, you’ll hunt deer in the extended season.
Learn more about Youth Extended Deer and Elk Seasons
Pronghorn
Youth must have an unfilled limited pronghorn doe or either-sex license for a season anywhere in the state that has ended. If so, then they may participate in any December pronghorn doe season in the state.
Hunt Bear
For youths aged 12 to 17 who fulfill the hunter education requirements, discounted licenses are available for bear.
Bear
View Bear DetailsHunt Bighorn Sheep
Youth hunters who want to hunt bighorn sheep can apply for a limited sheep license through the primary draw. Hunters may only apply for one sheep license (Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep or desert bighorn sheep) per year. All sheep licenses are on the A license list. Hunters may be eligible to purchase other additional B or C list licenses.
Qualifying Licenses
A qualifying license for the current year is required in order to apply for any of the big game draws (first, second, hybrid).
Primary Draw
The primary draw is closed for the 2024 hunting season. Youth are not given preference or reduced cost licenses for bighorn sheep licenses. However, the $50 preference point fee for residents or $100 preference point fee for nonresidents is waived for youth applicants. Primary draw applications are due in early April. Preference points can be spent or earned through the primary draw only.
Leftover and Reissued Licenses
Youth must be 12–17 at time of purchase to buy a youth leftover license. Leftover licenses are the remaining limited licenses available after the primary (sheep licenses are primary draw only) and secondary draws are completed. Reissued licenses are limited licenses that were returned for a refund. Any leftover and any currently reissued licenses will go on sale in early August. Any additional reissued licenses will be posted weekly.
Bighorn Sheep
View Bighorn Sheep DetailsHunt Mountain Goat
Youth hunters who want to hunt mountain goat can apply for a limited goat license through the primary draw. All goat licenses are on the A license list. Hunters may be eligible to purchase other additional B or C list licenses.
Qualifying Licenses
A qualifying license for the current year is required in order to apply for any of the big game draws (first, second, hybrid).
Primary Draw
The primary draw is closed for the 2024 hunting season. Youth are not given preference or reduced cost licenses for mountain goat licenses. However, the $50 preference point fee for residents or $100 preference point fee for nonresidents is waived for youth applicants. You can only submit one application per species, per draw, per year. A limited number of limited licenses are available for specific units and dates for goat are issued through the primary draw, and occasionally on the leftover list or reissue list. Primary draw applications are due in early April. Preference points can be spent or earned through the primary draw only.
Leftover and Reissued Licenses
Youth must be 12–17 at time of purchase to buy a youth leftover license. Leftover licenses are the remaining limited licenses available after the primary (goat licenses are primary draw only) and secondary draws are completed. Reissued licenses are limited licenses that were returned for a refund. Any leftover and any currently reissued licenses will go on sale in early August. Any additional reissued licenses will be posted weekly.
Mountain Goat
View Mountain Goat DetailsHunt Moose
Youth who want to hunt moose can apply for a limited moose license through the primary draw. All moose licenses are on the A license list. Hunters may be eligible to purchase other additional B or C list licenses.
Qualifying Licenses
A qualifying license for the current year is required in order to apply for any of the big game draws (first, second, hybrid).
Primary Draw
The primary draw is closed for the 2024 hunting season. Youth are not given preference or reduced cost licenses for moose licenses. However, the $50 preference point fee for residents or $100 preference point fee for nonresidents is waived for youth applicants. You can only submit one application per species, per draw, per year. A limited number of limited licenses are available for specific units and dates for moose are issued through the primary draw, and occasionally on the leftover list or reissue list. Primary draw applications are due in early April. Preference points can be spent or earned through the primary draw only.
Season Choice Licenses
Season choice licenses are available to residents and nonresidents for moose in the units specified. Hunters may use these licenses to hunt in any or all of the seasons, following the correct method of take and following the season dates in the specified units until their tag is filled. All other season restrictions also apply. Season choice licenses for moose are available through the primary draw, and sometimes as leftover or reissued licenses.
Moose
View Moose DetailsHunt Mountain Lion
Youth hunters who want to hunt mountain lion must purchase an over the counter license.
Over the Counter
Youth must be 12 to 17 at the time of purchase for a youth over the counter license. Hunters who want to hunt mountain lion can purchase an over-the-counter (OTC) mountain lion license when lion licenses go on sale in March. Hunters can only harvest one lion per license year.
Mountain Lion
View Mountain Lion DetailsYouth Hunting License Fees
License |
Residents |
Non-Residents |
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Youth Bear License |
$17.85 |
$59.89 |
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Youth Deer License |
$18.45 |
$122.91 |
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Youth Elk License |
$18.45 |
$122.91 |
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Youth Pronghorn License |
$18.45 |
$122.91 |
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Youth Small Game and Furbearer (under 18) |
$1.40 |
$1.40 |
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Turkey Limited Youth and Over-the-Counter Youth |
$18.75 |
$123.21 |
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Mountain Lion License |
$60.05 |
$501.75 |
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Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Mountain Goat License |
$366.13 |
$2,686.04 |
Grow Your Skills with Mentored Hunting Opportunites
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Youth Hunter Outreach Program offers free educational hunting opportunities for youth to ensure their first experiences in the field are safe and ethical. Trained and experienced staff and/or volunteers lead youth participants through clinics, seminars, and actual hunts in the field.