Colorado Parks And Wildlife Reissue List (2025)

FAQs

What is the big game tag reduction in Colorado? ›

Big-game license allocation for bear, deer, elk and pronghorn has been modified from 65% for residents and 35% for nonresidents to 75% for residents and 25% for nonresidents for most hunt codes. High-demand hunt codes remain at 80% for residents and 20% for nonresidents.

Colorado limits deer tags for each hunter by classifying licenses as either List A, B or C. As a general rule you can get two tags: either one List A and one List B tag or two List B tags. You cannot get two List A tags, nor can you get one List A and two List B.

Unlike elk licenses, which are currently available over-the-counter in Colorado, all mule deer licenses are distributed in a limited license drawing. If you hope to hunt in Colorado, you must apply for your license (or for a preference point) each spring.

Colorado also has a voucher system that allows a landowner to transfer a tag to a third party. In Utah, landowner tags are transferable, however landowners must own at least 640 acres to be eligible. In Wyoming and Montana, landowner tags are not transferable.

(KRDO) - As part of the new Big-Game Season Structure, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission has voted to eliminate over-the-counter archery elk tags for non-residents. The CPW Commission voted 9-1 in favor of the decision last week.

Colorado has more elk than any other state, and is one of the few places where hunters can buy elk licenses over the counter for certain units and seasons, without applying in advance, which makes it a popular destination for do-it-yourself hunts and last-minute bookings for outfitted hunts.

PRIVATE LAND

Much of the land in Colorado is privately owned. Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property.

These tend to be bighorn ram and bull moose units with very high trophy quality, very visible populations of animals, or both. Draw odds for these units can be less than 1%.

Unlike elk in Colorado, there are no over-the-counter licenses for mule deer. All mule deer tags are issued in the annual big game draw. The application deadline is the first Tuesday in April.

We are located in a haven for giant trophy mule deer. The Gunnison Basin and Colorado Game Management Unit 55, GMU 54, GMU 551, GMU 67 are some of the most sought after mule deer units in the country. The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife manage our areas for trophy quality.

Can you buy 2 OTC elk tags in Colorado? ›

Hunters can get tags for both bull and cow elk in Colorado. The state classifies licenses as either List A, B, or C, and hunters are allowed only one List A tag but can also get one List B as a second tag or simply get two List B tags.

The Colorado Hunter Education Test-Out Exam is a 50-question, timed exam. The exam is $29.50. You have one opportunity to pass the exam with 90% or better in 30 minutes or less.

While hunters are limited to one deer or elk tag each, they can exchange a tag they already purchased, or forfeit their controlled tag, for a leftover tag beginning July 2. Leftover tags are no longer available as an additional tag, a change enacted in 2020 to distribute hunting opportunities more equitably.

One parcel MUST be a minimum of 160 contiguous acres in order to qualify for landowner preference. I own 160 contiguous acres in a GMU and several additional 100 acre parcels in that unit that are not contiguous to the 160 acre parcel.

In most units, bull elk taken must have 4 points* or more on 1 antler OR must have a brow tine** at least 5 inches long.

If semiautomatic, the capacity of both the magazine and chamber combined cannot exceed 6 rounds. d. Must use expanding bullets that weigh a minimum of 70 grains for deer, pronghorn and bear, 85 grains for elk and moose, and have an impact energy (at 100 yards) of 1,000 ft. -pounds as rated by manufacturer.

An antler point restriction (4 points or more on one antler OR a brow tine of at least 5 inches long) will be instituted for all antlered elk taken on Ranching For Wildlife properties located in the Bear's Ears (E-02) and White River (E-06) elk herds, effective for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 hunting seasons.

Colorado Bighorn Sheep Season & Dates

In 2024, Colorado will issue an estimated total of 321 bighorn permits, which is down 10 permits from 2023. Of those permits, 30 are set aside for non-residents, with 24 being rifle permits split between 17 rams and 7 ewes, rounded out with 6 archery-only ram permits.