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What a Colorado hunting license costs
In 2026 a Colorado elk license costs $70.40 for residents and $845.16 for non-residents, but that is not the whole bill. To apply in the draw you also need a qualifying license (about $38.49 resident / $104.86 non-resident); an over-the-counter tag does not require one, and ages 18–64 owe a $12.76 habitat stamp either way. CPW has not published 2027 license fees as of October 17, 2026, so every figure here is labeled 2026. CPW · Elk license
Fees on this page are for the 2026 license year (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), verified July 24, 2026. CPW sets the next license year's prices separately. 2027 fees: not yet published by CPW as of October 17, 2026, when this site last checked: CPW's elk license and Primary Draw pages list one set of prices, the ones on this site, and no 2027 price list. Do not budget a 2027 hunt from these figures as if they were 2027 prices.
On this page: License fees · Qualifying license and stamps · Youth pricing · 2027 fees · Questions
Big-game license fees
| Species | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | $70.40 | $845.16 |
| Deer | $51.25 | $506.92 |
| Pronghorn | $51.25 | $506.92 |
| Black bear | $64.01 | $302.56 |
| Moose | $385.66 | $2,823.53 |
| Bighorn sheep | $385.66 | $2,823.53 |
| Mountain goat | $385.66 | $2,823.53 |
These are the base license prices CPW lists, with the $1.25 search-and-rescue and $1.50 wildlife-education surcharges already included. Non-resident big-game licenses are sold as a license/fishing combo, so the non-resident figure includes a fishing privilege through March 31, 2027. Elk is a single license fee whether you draw a bull, cow, or either-sex tag; the difference is in the hunt code, not the price. Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat are all priced identically to each other, and they're the once-in-a-lifetime species where the tag itself is the expensive part. Each figure comes from CPW's own page for that species: elk deer pronghorn bear moose sheep goat
Qualifying license, habitat stamp & fees
| What | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying license (annual small game) | $38.49 | $104.86 |
| Habitat stamp, annual (ages 18–64) | $12.76 | $12.76 |
| Habitat stamp, lifetime | $384.16 | $384.16 |
| Application fee (per species) | $8.93 | $11.49 |
| Preference-point-only fee (moose/sheep/goat) | $50.00 | $100.00 |
A quick worked example: a non-resident bull-elk hunter applying in the draw is looking at roughly $845.16 (elk) + $104.86 (qualifying license) + $12.76 (habitat stamp) + $11.49 (application fee), about $974 before travel, and that's for one species application. CPW · Primary Draw The non-resident elk page builds the full trip budget, and the DIY cost breakdown adds fuel, processing and gear.
Youth pricing
Colorado prices youth licenses far below adult tags to keep new hunters coming in. Youth still need a qualifying license, and habitat-stamp rules apply by age. CPW · Deer license (youth + qualifying)
| Youth (12–17) | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Elk / deer / pronghorn | $20.30 | $130.07 |
| Black bear | $19.93 | $64.10 |
| Annual small game (qualifying) | $2.53 | $2.53 |
2027 fees, and keeping these current
Not published yet (see the notice at the top). Until CPW publishes 2027 prices, this page shows the 2026 figures, labeled 2026, and does not estimate 2027 ones. CPW · Elk license CPW · Primary Draw
CPW sets fees by the license year (April 1 – March 31) and adjusts them periodically, so a price from an old blog is a price you can't trust. Every figure here was read from CPW's own license pages on the verified date at the top; when they change, this page changes. Confirm the live price at checkout: over-the-counter tags and limited draw tags ring up differently.
Common questions
How much is a non-resident elk tag in Colorado?
A 2026 non-resident elk license is $845.16. If you apply in the draw, add a qualifying license (about $104.86) and, for ages 18–64, a $12.76 habitat stamp, roughly $963 in all. If you buy over the counter, the qualifying license isn't required, so it's about $858.
What is the "qualifying license" and do I really need it?
It depends how you get your tag. Colorado requires every big-game applicant to hold a qualifying license, usually the annual small-game license ($38.49 resident / $104.86 non-resident), so you need it to apply in the draw. You do not need one to buy an over-the-counter licence; CPW says so directly. That single distinction is worth $104.86 to a non-resident buying an OTC elk tag.
How much does it cost to hunt elk in Colorado as a resident?
A resident elk license is $70.40. Add the qualifying license (~$38.49) and the $12.76 habitat stamp and you're at roughly $122 for the license package, before an $8.93 application fee if you're applying in the draw.
How much will a Colorado elk license cost in 2027?
CPW has not published 2027 license fees as of October 17, 2026, when this site last checked. The 2026 prices are $70.40 resident and $845.16 non-resident (elk/fishing combo); they are 2026 figures, not a 2027 estimate. Check CPW's elk page before you budget.