Colorado Elk Hunting Application Summary

Draw Deadline

Applications due by…………………April 6

Applications may be submitted online (credit card) at www.wildlife.state.co.us or by mail (check or money order). Mailed applications should be sent to Colorado Division of Wildlife, Attention: Elk, P.O. Box 173314, Denver, CO 80217-3314

Results available…………………Late-May

Fees

Fees required at application

Limited License fee*………..$49.00 (resident)/$354 or $544 (non-resident)
*License fees are refunded if unsuccessful in the draws (see note in Points section for exception). Tag fees include a $3 non-refundable application fee.

Additional Fees After Successful Drawing
None

Points Only Fees
You can apply for a preference point without losing points you already have. A special hunt code is in the hunt code sections for each species. Entering the preference point hunt code E-P-999-99-P as a first choice on your application automatically awards you a point. You must pay the full cost of a license (at least $354 for non-resident) and meet all license requirements even if you are applying only for a point. If you only apply for a point, your money, minus the $3 application fee, is refunded. Another $25 may be deducted if you don’t meet the criteria under “Preference Points #2″ (see below).

Points

1. One preference point is awarded if you apply properly for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear or moose as your first choice and are unsuccessful in drawing a license. You also can apply for a preference-point hunt code as your first choice.

2. Hunters will be automatically assessed $25 for a preference point unless they opt out by selecting the appropriate check box on the big game drawing application. If this option is checked, the applicant will not receive a preference point unless they have purchased one of the following: an annual fishing, small game, resident combination small game and fishing, furbearer license in the previous year or a big game license in the previous year or current limited license for the same species for which they may be seeking a point. The $25 preference point fee is also waved for youths, lifetime license holders, free senior annual fishing license holders and Colorado residents who are in the military on active duty outside Colorado.

3. Points are awarded for specific species, not by hunt codes or method of take. No one else can use your points.

4. Priority goes to those with the most points, except when the license quota or nonresident cap would be exceeded.

5. Group applications enter the draw receiving priority according to the member with the fewest points. When there are not enough licenses for everyone in the group, the group will not draw.

6. Second, third and fourth choices do not generate or use points.

7. If you are unsuccessful on your first choice, your accumulated points will be shown on your refund, leftover drawing application or your other-choice license.

8. Preference points accumulate until you draw a first-choice license. If you don’t apply at least once within 10 consecutive years for a deer, elk, pronghorn or bear license, you lose your points for that species. Applying for preference points keeps your file active.

9. Youths can apply for a point if they turn 12 by Dec. 31 of the application year.

Purchasing A Bonus Point Only

In Colorado, you must apply for a preference point in the regular draw using the preference point code referenced above.

Non-Resident Permit Allocations

Nonresident allocations are determined by the average number of preference points a Colorado resident needed to draw a specific license over a 3-year period that ended with the 2009 drawing. (Units with low numbers of available licenses may not have any remaining for nonresidents after resident licenses are drawn.)

For hunt codes that required 6 or more points for a Colorado resident to draw, 80 percent of licenses go to residents and up to 20 percent to nonresidents. These hunts are shown in unit tables by a “+” under “SEX.”

For hunt codes that required fewer than 6 points for a Colorado resident to draw an elk or deer license, 65 percent of licenses go to residents and up to 35% to nonresidents.

Hunt Choices

Hunters may enter up to 4 hunt choices on their applications. Preference points will be used only on first-choice hunt codes.

In addition to the regular draw, Colorado has also implemented a Hybrid Drawing, where hunters with five or more elk or deer preference points that select as their first choice a unit requiring 10 or more resident points for that species points will automatically participate in a random “hybrid” drawing. Hunters who normally would not have enough preference points to draw these licenses now have a slight chance to draw a small number of the most coveted licenses through this process. Nonresident caps apply. (Units with low numbers of available licenses may not have any remaining for the Hybrid Drawing.) Hunters must apply individually (group applications are not accepted).

In hunt codes requiring 10 or more resident preference points to draw (based on a three year average and excluding Ranching for Wildlife), 20 percent of the available licenses will be issued through a random drawing.

Qualified resident and nonresident hunters who select applicable elk and deer hunt codes and have at least five preference points for that species will automatically enter the Hybrid drawing. Applicable hunt codes must be entered as your first choice on your application. Winning applicants in the Hybrid drawing will be selected randomly. Hunters who successfully draw a license in the Hybrid drawing will lose their preference points. Unsuccessful applicants will be awarded one preference point.

Hunter Education Requirements

Hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1949, must have completed an approved hunter education course or bowhunter education course (for archery licenses only) sanctioned by a state or province before applying for or purchasing a license. Colorado honors hunter education courses from other states and provinces. Hunters must enter the required information when applying by mail or online. When buying a license in person, hunters must present an original hunter education card. Hunters must carry their hunter education card when hunting in Colorado unless a “V” is printed on the license which indicates hunter educations has been verified at a CDOW office.

Group Applications

Any number of people can apply as a group for elk. Members must apply for the same species, hunt code unit, season and method of take for each choice. If there are discrepancies, the leader’s hunt code is used. Groups are assigned a number, and if their number is selected in the drawing, everyone in the group gets a license. However, if the group is selected and there aren’t enough licenses for everyone in the group, the group will not draw; OR if the group has resident and nonresident applicants and the nonresident cap has been met, the group will not draw.

To apply as a group, one person must be chosen as the leader. All members, including the leader, must apply using the leader’s CID number in the “For Groups Only” section. See “Application Instructions” on page 13. If everyone in the group is successful for their first choice, they all get a license and their preference points drop to zero. If unsuccessful for their first choice, everyone gets a point. Licenses, refunds and notifications are sent to each person. If anyone in the group makes an application error or doesn’t pay the correct amount, everyone is disqualified and won’t get a preference point.