Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Hunt Big Game

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Hunt planning resources

License information

Learn

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

All annual licenses purchased for individuals ages 18-64 will have a Habitat Stamp applied at the time of purchase, if required. Read more about the Habitat Stamp.

2023 Hunting Guide

This special to Colorado Outdoors is loaded with great content including rare hunts in Colorado, fitness in the field, hauling meat, the 2023 big-game hunting season forecast and so much more! Purchase your copy today!

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.

Colorado Outdoors Annual Preference Point Issue

Big game hunters, for only $3.25, let this issue help you begin preparing for the fall hunting seasons! Issue includes: big game preference points, herd counts and much more!

Preference Point Issue

2023 Regular Walk-in Atlas

Download the 2023 Regular Walk-in Atlas.

Continuing in 2023, big-game hunting will be available on certain Walk-In Access (WIA) properties. Big-game access within the program has been expanded to the entire eastern plains, totaling approximately 166,493 acres.

The big game program will allow public access to specified Colorado WIA properties for deer, elk and pronghorn hunting within specified big game season dates, from Sept. 1–Dec. 31, 2023.

Remaining Colorado Big Game Hunting Licenses Options

The Primary Limited License Draw application and correction deadline passed on April 2, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. MT; however, there are still some great opportunities to apply for and purchase a license.

Secondary Limited License Draw will be the next opportunity for hunters to apply for a Colorado big game limited license. Most elk, deer, pronghorn and bear licenses not issued through the primary draw will be made available to anyone, whether they applied for the primary draw or not. Secondary draw applications will be accepted starting on June 20, 2024.
Over-the-Counter, Remaining and Reissued Licenses are available without having to participate in the draw(s). They do not require buying/having a qualifying license, do not use preference points and can be purchased after the start of a season by phone, online and in person at sales agents around the state. These licenses will be available for purchase on August 6, 2024, 9 a.m. MT.

Prepare for Colorado's Secondary Limited License Draw

What still applies?

The application fee. You'll still be charged a fee for applying, whether or not you draw a license. The $8 resident and $10 nonresident application fees apply per species for the secondary draw.

No primary draw? No problem. You do not have to have applied in the primary big game draw to apply in the secondary draw.

A qualifying license is required.

No preference points. You cannot use or apply for a preference point in the secondary draw.

Find a Place to Hunt

Colorado has a wealth of public land hunting opportunities. If you've found a hunt code, but need a place to hunt, check out the Colorado Hunting Atlas to see all available public land hunting opportunities in the Game management unit (GMU) that you are considering.

The Colorado Hunting Atlas allows users to view big game concentrations and game management units displayed on top of street maps, USGS topographic maps or high-resolution color aerial photography.

Important Dates

June 20: Secondary draw applications will be accepted starting on this date.

June 28: Secondary draw application & correction deadline, 8 p.m. MT

July 8: Secondary draw results posted online (check your online account)

Learn more about Colorado's Secondary Limited License Draw.

What's New for the 2024 Colorado Seasons

Colorado 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 Brochure
Folleto de Regulacíon de Borregos y Cabras (En Español)

Big Game Brochure
Folleto de Regulacíon de Caza Mayor (En Español)

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE