Extended Youth Season Elk Hunts
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Take Advantage of Increased Youth Opportunity
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers youth many opportunities 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.
Does a hunter qualify for a license?
Know the Basics
Youth ages 12-17 have an opportunity to keep hunting if they don’t harvest an elk with their original cow or either-sex license. To participate in the extended season, youth must first purchase a limited license for an antlerless elk. Limited licenses can be purchased through the primary and secondary draws, the leftover (remaining) license list, and/or vouchers.
Youth can easily convert their unfilled limited either-sex elk (where the season has ended) to a female (antlerless) license through the new Youth Extended Hunt License Conversion Request form online. Licenses can also be taken into a CPW office in person to be converted.
Youth hunters must be accompanied by a mentor who is 18 or older and also meets hunter education requirements. Youths and mentors must be able to see and hear each other while hunting.
Choosing the Correct License
Youths can hunt the extended youth season with:
- Youths may hunt in only the seasons and units that are marked as open to hunting in the tables below. The dates youths may hunt are listed below. Pay close attention to these dates, they are different in each unit.
- Extended youth season licenses and converted licenses will not be transferable to hunt anywhere in the state. Youths must hunt within a designated group of units near where their original license was valid. See the map at the end of this list for details.
- Youths may only hunt during the rifle season in the units on the map that are a solid color. Striped or white colored units are closed to the extended youth season hunting.
Youths can not hunt the extended youth season with:
- Unfilled over-the-counter either-sex or cow archery tags
- Unfilled bull elk tags
- Unfilled either-sex plains rifle elk tags
Extended Youth Season hunting rules:
- The original license must be for an antlerless or either-sex elk hunt in the current hunting year that has a limited number of licenses available.
- Youth can convert their unfilled limited either-sex elk license (where the season has ended) to a female (antlerless) license through the new Youth Extended Hunt License Conversion Request form online at cpw.state.co.us/youthhunting, or in person at a CPW location. Cow licenses do not need to be converted; an original license is valid for a late hunt.
- The season including all season splits for which the original license was issued must have ended; this includes youth licenses for Ranching for Wildlife properties.
- Youths must follow all the rules of hunting during the rifle season, including wearing blaze orange and using a method of take allowed in the rifle season.
- Youths must follow the restrictions of the hunt they select in the table below, including season dates and geographic restrictions such as “private land only.” Permission is required before hunting on private land.
- Youths cannot choose a Ranching for Wildlife property to hunt in the extended youth season.
- A mentor who meets hunter education requirements must accompany youths 16 and younger.
- Mentors don’t have to hunt, but can do so with the youth only if the mentor’s license is valid for the same rifle season, unit and with the same hunt restrictions for which the youth will be hunting.
- Youths who obtained their original license at age 17 and later turn 18 can participate in these extended seasons. Youth hunting rules still apply, even though the hunter is 18 while hunting.
- At age 11, youths can buy or apply for a license if they turn 12 before the end of the season on their original license. Youths cannot hunt with the license until they turn 12.
Choose Where to Hunt
Extended season hunting is outlined on the map below. Youths may hunt during the extended season in any GMU within the red border that also contains the GMU where their original license was valid.
Eligible Hunts
Unfilled Cow Elk License Unit(s) |
Valid Extened Season GMUs |
Season Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
1 - private land only |
|
|
1 |
1 |
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2, 201 |
2, 201 |
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3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
3, 214, 301 |
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3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
3, 301 |
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3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
3, 4, 5, 301, 441 |
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3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
3, 4, 5, 301, 441 - private land only |
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3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
3, 4, 5, 214, 301, 441 |
|
|
3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
4, 5, 441 |
|
|
3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
14 |
|
|
3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441 |
14, 214 - private land only |
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6, 16, 17, 161, 171 |
6, 16, 17, 161, 171 - private land only |
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6, 16, 17, 161, 171 |
6, 16, 17, 161, 171 |
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7, 8, 9, 19, 191 |
9 |
|
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7, 8, 9, 19, 191 |
7, 8, 9, 19, 191 - private land only |
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7, 8, 9, 19, 191 |
7, 8, 9, 19, 191 |
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10 |
10 - private land only |
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10 |
10 |
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11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
11, 13, 211 |
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11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
23, 24 - private land only |
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11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 211 - private land only |
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|
11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
|
|
11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
25, 26, 34, 231 - private land only |
|
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11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
26 |
|
|
11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
33 - private land only |
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11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231 |
131 - private land only |
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15, 27 |
15, 27 - private land only |
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15, 27 |
15, 27 |
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15, 27 |
27 |
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18, 181 |
18, 181 - private land only |
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18, 181 |
18, 181 |
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20 |
20 - License only valid in small area of unit 20; landowner permission is strongly advisable before purchasing. Valid in area bounded on N by Little Thompson River; on E by U.S. 287; on S by Boulder CRs 34 (Niwot and Neva rds.), U.S. 36 and 94 (Lefthand Canyon Dr.); on W by Greer Canyon Dr., Boulder Co. Trails Wapiti, Ponderosa Loop (western loop), Wild Turkey and Picture Rock, Red Gulch Rd., Boulder CRs 84 (Old St. Vrain Rd.), Colo. 7, U.S. 36, Boulder CR 71N (Blue Mountain Rd.), Larimer CR 37E, Lonestar Rd., then Stagecoach Trail N at the intersection of Lonestar Rd. and Stagecoach Trail. |
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20 |
20 |
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|
20 |
20 - private land only |
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21, 22, 30, 31, 32 |
21, 22, 30, 31, 32 |
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21, 22, 30, 31, 32 |
22, 31, 32 - private land only |
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21, 22, 30, 31, 32 |
22 |
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21, 22, 30, 31, 32 |
30, 31 |
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28, 37, 371 |
28, 37, 371 - private land only |
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28, 37, 371 |
28, 37, 371 |
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29, 38 |
29, 38 - private land only |
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29, 38 |
38 - Jefferson County Portion Only |
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29, 38 |
29, 38 |
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35, 36, 361 |
35, 36, 361 - private land only |
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35, 36, 361 |
35, 36, 361 |
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39, 46, 391, 461; In Units 39 and 46 Closed to hunting within 1/4 mile of Guanella Pass Rd.; see brochure for more details. |
39, 46 - See “Land Closures & Use Restrictions,” page 68. |
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39, 46, 391, 461; In Units 39 and 46 Closed to hunting within 1/4 mile of Guanella Pass Rd.; see brochure for more details. |
461 |
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39, 46, 391, 461; In Units 39 and 46 Closed to hunting within 1/4 mile of Guanella Pass Rd.; see brochure for more details. |
39, 46, 391, 461 - private land only |
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40 |
40 - private land only |
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40 |
40 |
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41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521 |
41, 421 - private land only |
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41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521 |
41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521 |
|
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41, 42, 52, 411, 421, 521 |
42, 52, 411 - private land only |
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43, 431, 471 |
43, 431, 471 - private land only |
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43, 431, 471 |
43, 431, 471 |
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44, 45, 47, 444 |
444 - private land only |
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44, 45, 47, 444 |
44, 45, 47, 444 |
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48, 56, 481, 561 |
56, 481 - private land only |
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48, 56, 481, 561 |
48, 56, 481, 561 |
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49, 57, 58 |
57, 58 - private land only |
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49, 57, 58 |
57, 58 |
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49, 57, 58 |
49, 57, 58 |
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49, 57, 58 |
49 - Lake County Portion Only |
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50, 500, 501; Units 500 and 501 are closed to hunting year-round along Kenosha Pass; see brochure for more details. |
50, 500, 501 - private land only |
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50, 500, 501; Units 500 and 501 are closed to hunting year-round along Kenosha Pass; see brochure for more details. |
50 |
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50, 500, 501; Units 500 and 501 are closed to hunting year-round along Kenosha Pass; see brochure for more details. |
500, 501 - See “Land Closures & Use Restrictions,” page 68. |
|
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51, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111 |
104 - private land only |
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51, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111 |
51 |
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51, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111 |
Cannot hunt in units 105, 106, 110, 111 no antlerless rifle hunts available |
N/A |
Eligible Hunts Continued
Unfilled Cow Elk License Unit(s) |
Valid Extened Season GMUs |
Season Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
53, 54, 63 |
63 - private land only West of Hwy 92 |
|
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53, 54, 63 |
54 - private land only S of S Castle Creek, CR 730, Carbon Creek and Red Gulch; W of Colo. 135; N of U.S. 50; E of Gunnison River, Antelope Creek, CR 818, CR 727 and USFS Trail 438. |
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53, 54, 63 |
53, 54, 63 |
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53, 54, 63 |
53, 63 - private land only; In unit 63 in Delta Co. only |
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55, 551 |
55, 551 |
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59, 511, 512, 581, 591 |
59, 511, 581 - private land only |
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59, 511, 512, 581, 591 |
591 - Fort Carson; see Brochure |
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59, 511, 512, 581, 591 |
59, 511, 581 |
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59, 511, 512, 581, 591 |
No female rifle seasons hunts available in unit 512 |
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60 |
60 |
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60 |
60 - private land only |
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61 |
61 |
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61 |
61 - private land only |
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62 |
62 |
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62 |
62 - private land only |
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64, 65 |
64, 65 |
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64, 65 |
64, 65 - private land only |
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64, 65 |
64 - private land only |
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66, 67 |
66, 67 |
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68, 681 |
68 - private land only |
|
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68, 681 |
68, 681 |
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69, 84 |
69, 84 - private land only |
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69, 84 |
69, 84 |
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70, 71, 72, 73, 711 |
70, 71, 72, 73, 711 |
|
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70, 71, 72, 73, 711 |
70 - private land only |
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70, 71, 72, 73, 711 |
71, 72, 73, 711 - private land only |
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70, 71, 72, 73, 711 |
72, 711 - private land only |
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74, 741 |
74, 741 |
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74, 741 |
74, 741 - private land only |
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74, 741 |
741 - private land only |
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75, 77, 78, 751, 771 |
77, 78, 771 - private land only |
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75, 77, 78, 751, 771 |
75, 77, 78, 751, 771 |
|
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75, 77, 78, 751, 771 |
75, 77, 78, 751, 771 - private land only |
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75, 77, 78, 751, 771 |
751 - private land only, S of U.S. 160. |
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76, 79 |
79 - N and W of Colo Hwy 112 |
|
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76, 79 |
76 |
|
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80, 81 |
82 - Private land only; see map |
|
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82 |
82 - Public Lands Only; see brochure |
|
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83, 85, 140, 851 |
85, 140, 851 - private land only |
|
|
83, 85, 140, 851 |
85, 140, 851 - Except Bosque del Oso SWA |
|
|
83, 85, 140, 851 |
83 |
|
|
83, 85, 140, 851 |
851 - Bosque del Oso SWA Only |
|
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86, 691, 861 |
86, 691, 861 |
|
|
86, 691, 861 |
86, 691, 861 - private land only |
|
|
87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 109, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 136, 137, 138, 139, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 951 |
128 |
|
|
87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 109, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 136, 137, 138, 139, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 951 |
Cannot hunt in units 87-103, 107, 109, 112-127, 129-130, 132, 136-139, 143-147, 951 no antlerless rifle hunts available |
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133, 134, 135, 141, 142 |
133, 134, 135, 141, 142 |
|
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133, 134, 135, 141, 142 |
Cannot hunt in unit 135 no antlerless rifle hunts available |
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682, 791 |
682, 791 - private land only |
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