Hunt Big Game

Bull Elk Bugling with cows in background

Hunt Big Game

Hunter Education

Hunter Education courses are offered throughout the year and throughout the state. Find a course at a place and time to fit your schedule.

Youth Expands!

One of the foremost goals at CPW is to expand youth opportunity and turn first-time hunters into lifelong sportspersons. Read more.

Habitat Stamp

Anyone aged 18 through 64 must buy a habitat stamp in order to buy or apply for a hunting or fishing license. Read more.

Hunters: Know BEFORE You Go

Closures of areas can change quickly (even daily or hourly) and your hunting destination or access route may be affected. Prior to license purchase, scouting or hunting, it is your responsibility to learn about fires, closures alerts. Plan alternative routes & areas to hunt. Check with local land management agencies before heading out.

For more information, including contact numbers, visit the Fire, Road Closures and Alerts page.

Big Game Hunting Planner

The Big Game Hunting Planner is an easy-to-read, two-page summary of dates, fees, application dates & deadlines. Print for an easy reference.

Harvest Survey

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin its annual big game harvest surveys mid-October. Each year from Oct. through mid-Feb. CPW contracts with an outside firm to collect hunt and harvest information from deer, elk and pronghorn hunters. Individual hunters are asked a series of questions related to their experience.

Not all hunters are eligible to take the survey; only those hunters who have been randomly selected and notified by CPW.

What's New for the 2020 Colorado Seasons

Watch the video to see an overview of some of the major changes affecting the 2020 big game seasons.

Hunting Regulations Brochures

Be sure to read the entire "what's new" page in the brochures before purchasing a license or hunting this fall.

Sheep & Goat

Big Game

Qualifying License, Draw Results, Payment Deadlines

All applicants (resident and nonresident), including youth ages 12-17, must purchase a qualifying license prior to applying for the big game primary draw or new secondary draw.

Primary Draw

Big Game Draw

Results posted
between June 1-5
Payments due by June 19

Successful licenses will be mailed after payment is received.

Secondary Draw

NEW Secondary Draw

The secondary draw replaces the leftover draw.

Secondary draw applications are accepted June 5 - July 7, 8 PM MT.

2020 Leftover & Over-the-Counter Licenses

Leftover Limited Licenses

Now Available - Customers are strongly encouraged to purchase leftover licenses online or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.

See the Leftover and OTC licenses page for more information.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Unlimited Licenses

Now Available - Find details on the Leftover and OTC licenses page.

Colorado Wildfires and Impacts on Big Game Seasons

For hunters whose hunting opportunity will be impacted by the Pine Gulch, Grizzly Creek Fires, Williams Fork, and Cameron Peak fires, revised refund policies are now in place. If you hold a deer, elk, bear, turkey or sheep license for an upcoming 2020 hunting season in units impacted by the fires, you may be eligible for a refund and restoration of preference points (+1) if you choose to return your license.

Please see the following document which will be frequently updated for more details on wildfire impacts: Wildfire Refund Options

For the most up to date information on closures and cancellations, and on how CPW is responding to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Response page.

Chronic Wasting Disease in Colorado

Chronic wasting disease occurs in free-ranging and captive cervids (members of the “deer” family) in several parts of North America, including Colorado.

CWD is one area of increasing concern across Colorado. We need to find adaptive management tactics for helping prevent further spread of CWD and controlling it in herds that are already affected.

Controlling CWD is critical for the long-term health of our herds. Our quality of life, outdoor heritage, and economic prosperity are dependent on the health and sustainability of these treasures.

More on chronic wasting disease management and prevalence tables.

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

Hunt Big Game

Hunt planning resources

License information

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Hunter Education

Youth Expands!

Habitat Stamp