Hunt Big Game

Bull Elk Bugling with cows in background

Hunt Big Game

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

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

How to Apply for the Draw(s)

Find step-by-step information on how to apply, how to apply for group hunts and how to set up or log in to your account, as well as more information on the Plan Your Hunt page.

Annual Preference Point Information

2020 Preference Point Issue

Big game hunters: Now is the time to begin preparing for the fall hunting seasons. Let this 2020 issue help. It's available online or in Parks and Wildlife offices.

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.

Hunting Colorado's Public Lands from Colorado Parks & Wildlife on Vimeo.

Office Closures & Continued Service Information

Effective March 20, 2020, Colorado State Parks remain open, but all Colorado Parks and Wildlife visitor centers, service centers and offices will restrict access to the public.

There are no changes or modifications to the Big Game Hunting application or draw process.
Customers seeking information on the upcoming big game hunting draw can call the CPW call center at 303.297.1192, or if they need assistance applying for the draw they can view our tutorial video, download this 2020 Big Game Limited License Visual Guide or call 800.244.5613 to have a call center agent help.
CPW staff will continue to work at offices and visitor centers to answer questions during this time, but doors will remain locked during business hours until further notice. Very limited personal interactions will be allowed.

To see 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.

Public Comment Needed: Leftover and Reissued Licenses

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is currently seeking public input related to our leftover and reissued license processes. Please share your feedback with us through this online comment form to help guide future decisions related to these programs.

The comment form will be capped at 3,000 responses.

ATTENTION HUNTERS: Know Before You Go

Closures: 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 and plan alternative routes and areas to hunt. Check with local land management agencies (Forest Service, BLM, etc) before heading out.

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

Report Mistakes: If you make a mistake, your best course of action is to contact an officer as soon as possible. Call the nearest CPW office and they will assist you with finding the appropriate officer in your area. For after-hours emergencies, call the Colorado State Patrol at 303-239-4501.

While you will still be subject to penalties, they could be less severe if the officer determines that you are cooperative, that the error was not intentional, or that it was unavoidable given the circumstances.

See Important Reminders Before Hunting and big game hunter basic information and tips stories.

Qualifying Licenses

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

Read about the available qualifying licenses for residents and nonresidents.

Primary & Secondary Draw

Primary Draw

Primary draw applications are accepted March 1 - April 7, 8 PM MT.

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: on sale August 4th, 2020 at 9 AM MT.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Unlimited Licenses: on sale August 6th, 2020 at 9 AM MT.

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.

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

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

Hunt Big Game

Hunt planning resources

License information​

Learn

​Hunter Education​

Youth Expands!​

Habitat Stamp

How to Apply for the Draw(s)

Annual Preference Point Information

​Big Game Hunting Planner​

Office Closures & Continued Service Information

Public Comment Needed: Leftover and Reissued Licenses

Qualifying Licenses

Primary & Secondary Draw

Primary Draw

NEW Secondary Draw

2020 Leftover & Over-the-Counter Licenses

​​​Chronic Wasting Disease in Colorado​

What's New for the 2020 Colorado Seasons

Hunting Regulations Brochure​​s

License information

Hunter Education

Youth Expands!

Big Game Hunting Planner

Chronic Wasting Disease in Colorado

Hunting Regulations Brochures