The Severe Winter Zone – License Reduction
The most notable changes in the 2023 big game license quotas are related to the severity and duration of the historic winter in the northwest corner of the state from Rangely to Steamboat Springs and to the Wyoming state line. In this severe winter zone, the winter at lower elevations, where mule deer, elk, and pronghorn winter, was the worst in at least 70 years because of deep, long-lasting, low-elevation snowpack.CPW recommended unprecedented license reductions within this severe winter zone to account for high mortality rates experienced by mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. These substantial reductions should allow herds to recover as quickly as possible:
- MULE DEER: In the severe winter zone, male and either-sex deer licenses are reduced by 5,000 (-48%) in ) in D-2 (Craig Area GMUs 3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441) and D-7 (Flat Tops GMUs 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 131, 211, 231) combined.
Female licenses are reduced by 2,900 (-94%) and to the minimum of 10 licenses per hunt code in D-2 (Craig Area GMUs 3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441) and D-7 (GMUs 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 131, 211, 231) combined.
- ELK: In the severe winter zone, antlerless elk license recommendations are reduced 5,000 (-48%) in E-2 (Craig area GMUs 3, 4, 5, 14, 214, 301, 441) by 5,600 (-89%) with all public cow hunts reduced to the minimum of 10 licenses per hunt code.
In E-6 (Flat Tops GMUs 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231) antlerless licenses are reduced 8,700 (-63%).
Elk Over-The-Counter Season Dates
The duration of the second and third rifle seasons for over-the-counter bull elk licenses have been reduced to five days if used in GMUs 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 131, 211, 214, 231, 301, and 441.
The second rifle season is reduced from Oct. 28–Nov. 5, 2023 to Oct. 28–Nov. 1, 2023, and the third rifle season is reduced from Nov. 11–Nov. 17, 2023 to Nov. 11–Nov. 15, 2023.
Colorado Big Game Licenses and Tags
Colorado Big Game Hunting License Fees
This is what you need to know in order to hunt deer or elk in Colorado
License | Resident | Non-Resident |
---|---|---|
Elk (null/either sex) | $62.72 | $760.99 |
Elk (cow) | $49 | $4684 |
Mule Deer (buck/doe) | $45.46 | $456.14 |
Youth (Elk & Deer) | $17.57 | $103.75* |
Pronghorn | $45.46 | $456.14 |
Bear | $43.78 | $112.34 |
Moose | $346.86 | $2544.04 |
There is no application fee for over the counter or leftover tags.
• Application fee is $8.00 for resident and $10 non-resident
• CO Habitat Stamp and Search and Rescue $11.50
* Prices do not include the application fee $10 habitat stamp, SAR and PEAC and application fees as applicable. Please note once you pay one
$10 habitat stamp you are no longer required to pay it again for the year so if you buy multiple licenses you do need to pay the $10 habitat stamp for each additional license you purchase.
** Youth are not required to pay for a habitat stamp
• SAR and PEAC $1.00
Habitat Stamps are NON refundable and MUST be purchased to Apply for, Purchase a license OR Preference Points.
Applying for Elk and Mule Deer Tags and Accumulating Preference Points
All seasons except Bull Elk Rifle 2 & 3 require that you apply for the limited draw in advance (the first Tuesday in April). The online application is available at: http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/hunting/ and we will be happy to assist you with the application process to ensure a good application. Applications improperly filled out or checks sent in with the incorrect dollar amount are rejected so let us help you. The results for the draw are usually posted in late May or early June. If you are not successful in the draw, please contact us for other options.
Elk: 2015-2018 Application Codes for Unit 012
Season | Code | Details |
---|---|---|
Preference Point | E-P-99999-P | Preference Point Only |
Archery (either sex) | E-E-012-O1-A | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
Muzzle (either sex) | E-E-012-O1-M | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
Muzzle (cow) | E-F-012-O1M | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
1st Rifle (bull) | E-M-011-O1-R | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
1st Rifle (cow) | E-F-011-O1-R | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
2nd Rifle | E-M-000-U2-R | over the counter bull tag |
2nd Rifle (cow) | E-F-012-O2-R | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
3rd Rifle | E-M-000-U3-R | over the counter bull tag |
3rd Rifle (cow) | E-F-012-O3-R | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
4th Rifle (bull) | E-M-011-O4-R | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
4th Rifle (cow) | E-F-011-O4-R | must apply by Spring draw deadline |
Deer: Application Codes for Unit 012
Season | Code | Details |
---|---|---|
Preference Point |
D-P-99999-P |
Preference Point Only |
Archery |
DE-012-01A |
Draw |
Muzzle |
DM-012-01M |
Draw |
Muzzle |
DF-012-01M |
Draw |
Early Rifle |
D-M-012-E1R |
Draw |
2nd Rifle |
D-M-012-02-R |
Draw |
2nd Rifle |
DF-012-02R |
Draw |
3rd Rifle |
D-M-012-03-R |
Draw |
3rd Rifle |
DF-012-03R |
Draw |
4th Rifle |
DM-012-04R |
Draw |
Hunting Tag Deadlines & Details
*Subject to drawing. Please visit wildlife.state.co.us for more information or call recorded information (24 hours a day) at: 303.297.1192 .
While most Big Game licenses are allocated by the spring Draw, over-the-counter bull elk licenses are available during 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons. Over-the-counter archery elk and pronghorn licenses are also available. See the regulation brochure(s) for hunt codes, game management unit boundary descriptions, information on the draw process and more specifics.
• A Hunters Safety Card is required if you were born after January 1, 1949.
• Rifle and Muzzleloader hunters are required to wear 500 square inches of Blaze Orange.
License Refund, Reissue and Exchange Menu
- License Refundand Preference Point Restoration Process
Download application for License Refund or Preference Point Restoration - License Reissue Process
Most limited licenses returned for refund or preference point restoration will now be reissued. - Exchange Fee
ALLlicense exchanges will be charged a fee.
Refund and Preference Point Restoration Process
Note, anyone may request and be given a refund or preference point restoration for a license no later than 30 days prior to the start of the season (14 days for turkey licenses) for which the license is valid. Also, most refunds are now subject to a $15.00 processing fee.
What Has Changed?
• To be eligible for a refund or restoration of preference points, a license must be turned into a CPW location or postmarked at least 30 days prior to the start of the season (14 days for turkey licenses) for which the license is valid.
• No refunds or preference point restorations will be given on exchanged licenses or licenses that cost less than $15.
• A $15 processing fee will be deducted from most refunds to help recover internal costs of processing that request. The $15 processing fee will not be charged for restoration of preference point requests, refunds to youth licenses, extreme medical circumstances, death of the license holder or license holder’s immediate family member, military deployment, or CPW error.
• Any request of refund or preference point restoration after the 30 day deadline will be limited to extreme medical circumstances, death of the license holder or license holder’s immediate family member, military deployment, or CPW error.
• Once a refund or preference point request form, and license, has been mailed or submitted to a CPW location, there is no way to recover that license.
• Returned limited licenses may be available for later purchase.[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=”What Has Stayed the Same?” open=”no”]• Individuals must still choose between a refund or restoration of preference points; both will not be awarded.
• Refunds will not be given on annual licenses, including mountain lion licenses.
• Preference point restoration is not available on exchanged licenses.
• Refunds or restoration of preference points will still be given for any reason prior to 30 days before the start of the season, if submitted or postmarked appropriately.
• In cases of extreme medical circumstances, death of the license holder or license holder’s immediate family member, applications will be accepted no more than 30 days after the start of the season for which the license is valid, with the exception of military deployment.[/fusion_toggle][fusion_toggle title=”Reissue of limited licenses” open=”no”]
CONTACT US
If you have questions or would like to check availability, call 970.926.0216 or complete the contact form.