Hunt Big Game

Bull Elk Bugling with cows in background

Translate

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.

2021 Hunting Guide

Stories include: hunter ethics, elk-unting essentials, calibers & cartridges, youth hunting, using game-tracking dogs & more. Buy for just $5.00.

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. Selected hunters are asked a series of questions related to their experience. This year hunters will also have the option to answer additional herd management questions.

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

Invitation Only

Big Game Harvest Survey

Not all hunters are eligible to take this survey. Only those hunters who have been randomly selected and notified by CPW are eligible.

Each year, CPW surveys hunters to establish estimates of harvest and hunter participation for a variety of wildlife. The data obtained from these surveys is used to monitor populations of big game, to assist with the season establishment process, and to study trends in hunter participation.

Want more information? Please see the frequently asked questions.

What's New for the 2021 Colorado Seasons

Watch the video for a brief summary of some of the changes that affect the limited-license draw and the 2021 Colorado big-game seasons. Be sure to read the "what's new" pages in the Big Game and Sheep and Goat brochures to see a full list of changes.

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

Primary Draw Applications & Qualifying Licenses

BEFORE applying for big game & sheep/goat primary or secondary draw, all adult & youth applicants (resident & non-residents), must first purchase a qualifying license.

The primary draw is the 1st, main big-game draw of the year for hunters applying for limited hunting licenses & includes deer, elk, pronghorn, moose & bear.

Primary draw deadline has passed. Results available May 24-28. Find out how to check draw results & more.
Big game payment deadline June 11, 12pm MT.
Sheep/Goat payment deadline May 4, 12pm MT.

Successful licenses mailed after payment is received.

Secondary Draw,
New in 2020

The secondary draw replaces the big-game leftover draw from past years & includes deer, elk, pronghorn and bear.

Applicants can apply for the secondary draw whether or not they applied for the primary draw. Preference points are not used or awarded.

Secondary draw applications are accepted June 16-June 30 at 8pm MT.
Payment deadline is July 16, 12pm MT.

Leftover & Over-the-Counter Licenses

Tuesdays at 11am MT, the reissue preview list is posted. Wednesdays at 11am, all hunt codes that were on the preview list, are released to the Leftover List.

See the Reissue Process page for more information.

Reissued and remaining licenses are on sale.

See the Leftover and OTC licenses page for more information.

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

Learn

Hunter Education

Youth Expands!

Habitat Stamp

2021 Hunting Guide

Know BEFORE You Go

Big Game Hunting Planner

Harvest Survey

Big Game Harvest Survey

What's New for the 2021 Colorado Seasons

Hunting Regulations Brochures

Primary Draw Applications & Qualifying Licenses

Secondary Draw,
New in 2020

Leftover & Over-the-Counter Licenses

Chronic Wasting Disease in Colorado

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

Hunt Big Game

Hunt planning resources

License information​

Learn

​Hunter Education​

Youth Expands!​

Habitat Stamp

2021 Hunting Guide

Know BEFORE You Go

​Big Game Hunting Planner​

Harvest Survey

Big Game Harvest Survey

What's New for the 2021 Colorado Seasons

Hunting Regulations Brochure​​s

Primary Draw Applications & Qualifying Licenses

Secondary Draw, New in 2020

Leftover & Over-the-Counter Licenses

​​​Chronic Wasting Disease in Colorado​

License information

Hunter Education

Youth Expands!

Big Game Hunting Planner

Hunting Regulations Brochures

Secondary Draw,
New in 2020

Chronic Wasting Disease in Colorado