Sign In
Donate Calendar Contact Us Accessibility Military Benefits
Hunt Big Game
Hunt Big Game

What's New for the 2023 Colorado Seasons

 

Colorado Hunting Regulations Brochure​​s

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

Sheep and Goat brochure cover

​
Sheep & Goat Brochure
Folleto de Regulacíon de Borregos y Cabras (En Español)​​

Big Game brochure cover


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

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


​

​Remaining Colorado Big Game Hunting License Options

reissue preview list buttonReissue Preview List​

The reissue preview list will be posted Tuesdays at 11 am MT and will include licenses unsold. 

Wednesdays, all hunt codes that were on the Preview List, will be released for sale as close to 11 am as the system will allow. As the Leftover List periodically refreshes, any Preview List licenses available will be added to the Leftover List. 

Read more about the Reissue Process.

View the Leftover Licenses List Button

Remaining Limited License List​

The list contains limited licenses remaining after the primary and secondary draws for elk, deer, pronghorn, and bear.​​ 

See the Leftover and Over-the-Counter Licenses page for more information. 

​

buy now buttonPurchase Over-the-counter & Remaining Limited Licenses

If you're ready to purchase, head to CPWshop.com to buy your limited or over-the-counter big game hunting license!

Need help getting started? Call 303-291-PLAN (7526) to speak to a CPW hunt planner!​​​​

​​​​ ​​ ​

ATTENTION HUNTERS​

Big Game Regulation Update (5/15/23)

In response to the severity and duration of the historic winter in the northwest corner of the state, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved big game license quota reductions and reduced the length of the over-the-counter rifle elk seasons in certain units. Please review the big game brochure for more information.​


2023 Colorado Big-Game Hunting Season Forecast​

​2023 Hunt Guide cover​
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s big-game biologists share their outlooks on this year’s deer, elk and pronghorn hunting seasons.​ 

The state’s wildlife managers at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have continued to closely monitor various factors that could influence the hunting forecast, such as habitat and forage availability, male/female ratios, and the number of young that were born and survived. One of the factors that wildlife managers have been keeping a close eye on is the impact of recent severe winter conditions. 

Visit Colorado Outdoors Online to learn more anout the 2023 Colorado big-game hunting season forcast.

​​

2023-2024 Big Game ​Harvest Survey​​

Big Game Harvest Survey image

Colorado Parks and Wildlife began its annual big game harvest surveys in mid-October. This important survey is conducted every year from Oct. through mid-Feb. Colorado Parks and Wildlife 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 Colorado Parks and Wi​​ldlife are eligible.​ For additional information, please read the Harvest Survey FAQ.​​​

How do I know if I have been selected for the survey?

If you have been randomly selected to take the survey, you will be contacted by email or live operator (not a machine) after your season closes. Please check your email spam folder, as your notification email may end up there.  


​​


Hunter Education​

Hunter Education courses are offered throughout the year and through​out the state. Find a course at a pla​ce 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

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

2023 Hunt Guide coverThis 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.

​Big Game Hunting Planner​

​​Big Game Hunting Planner cover

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

​2023 Regula​r Walk-in Atlas

Walk-In Atlas Brochure cover  

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.