Field and Stream Contributor : Sage Sam is right on. White River and Routt are the very good elk hunting. I have arrowed an elk every trip out there and when you get in the back country you do not see anyone…

Leftover Colorado Big Game Licenses

Sale Start Dates

Leftover Big Game Licenses

Leftover licenses go on sale the first Tuesday in August at 9am MT.

Active military personnel:  See the Military Benefits page for related opportunities.

What are leftover licenses?

Leftover licenses are the remaining limited licenses available after the primary and secondary draws are completed. The secondary draw has replaced the leftover draw.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Over-the-Counter Big Game Licenses ​ Over-the-Counter (OTC) Big Game Licenses

Big game over-the-counter licenses go on sale the first Tuesday in August at 9am MT. ​

What are over-the-counter licenses?

OTC licenses are not restricted in quantity but are restricted to certain units, seasons and manners of take. Although they are considered “unlimited licenses,” they are still subject to purchase limits for each individual.

They are available without having to participate in the draw(s). They do not require buying/having a qualifying license, do not use preference points and can be purchased after the start of a season by phone, online and in person at sales agents around the state.

Over-the-Counter and Add-on Bear Licenses

​Over-​the-Counter (OTC) Bear Licenses​

Bear over-the-counter rifle licenses go on sale the first Tuesday in August at 9am MT. ​

 

What are over-the-counter licenses?

These are sold online, by phone, at sales agents and CPW locations for rifle, archery and muzzleloader seasons.

OTC archery and muzzleloader bear licenses are add-on only licenses.

Add-on Bear Over-the-Counter Licenses​

Add-on archery and muzzleloader bear OTC licenses go on sale the first

Tuesday in August at 9am MT. ​

Some archery and muzzleloader bear licenses are available in unlimited numbers this year as “add-on” licenses. You can add on one of these bear licenses if you have a deer or elk license for the same season/method of take and at least one hunting unit overlaps.

 

If you are planning on purchasing a license, be sure to have the following:

1. Your driver’s license/state issued identification card

2. Proof of hunter education: hunter education card or a Colorado hunting license with verified hunter education,

3. Your social security number (anyone 12 years of age and older are required to give their social security number, if not already on file)

4. Your customer identification number (CID), if you have previously purchased a license in Colorado,

5. Proof of residency, if you are planning to purchase a resident license

6. A prioritized list of hunt codes for licenses you are interested in purchasing

 

If purchasing a license for someone else (IMPORTANT: One cannot buy a license for someone else OVER THE PHONE. The option to buy for someone else only works IN PERSON.), the buyer must bring the following for the hunter:

1. A clear copy of both sides of their driver’s license/state issued

identification card

2. A clear copy of both sides of their hunter education card or a

previous Colorado hunting license with verified hunter education

3. Their social security number (anyone 12 years of age and older are

required to give their social security number, if not already on file)

4. Their customer identification number (CID), if they have previously

purchased a license in Colorado,

5. A prioritized list of hunt codes they are interested in.