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Hunting Colorado as a non-resident
Non-residents can absolutely hunt Colorado (it is one of the most accessible Western elk states), but the rules and prices differ from what residents pay, and one recent change matters most: non-residents can no longer buy over-the-counter archery elk for units west of I-25 or GMU 140. A non-resident elk license runs $845.16 in 2026, plus a habitat stamp, and a qualifying license too if you apply in the draw, though not if you buy over the counter. CPW · Non-resident hunting
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.
What's different for non-residents
Three things separate the out-of-state experience from the resident one:
- Price. A non-resident elk license is $845.16 versus $70.40 for residents, and every species costs more. The full fee tables lay out deer, pronghorn, bear and the qualifying-license add-ons.
- OTC archery elk was cut. Non-residents can no longer buy over-the-counter archery elk for GMUs west of I-25 or GMU 140; those are now draw-only for non-residents, though OTC rifle elk remains. This is the change most out-of-state hunters haven't heard about. What changed and why.
- Draw caps. Limited licenses are allocated with a non-resident cap: up to 25% of a hunt code's first-choice licenses, dropping to 20% where residents needed six or more points. Since 2026 it covers elk, deer, pronghorn and bear. Once the cap fills, non-residents stop drawing, so their cutoffs run higher than residents'. From the 2028 draw it becomes a flat 25%. How the cap works.
Start here
- Non-resident elk hunting
The full out-of-state elk plan: costs, tag strategy, OTC status, points.
- Colorado vs. other Western states
Colorado vs. Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and New Mexico, honestly.
- Planning your first elk hunt
A step-by-step plan for your first Colorado elk hunt.
The honest version of "can I just come hunt elk?"
For a rifle elk hunt, largely yes: over-the-counter rifle elk tags are still sold to non-residents, and Colorado has more elk than any other state. For an archery elk hunt in the classic western-slope units, you now need to draw a limited tag, which means building preference points. Either way, the non-resident elk guide walks the whole decision, and if you'd rather hunt with someone who knows the unit, our outfitter directory shows each guide's Colorado registration number so you can vet them before you send a deposit.
Common questions
Can a non-resident hunt elk in Colorado?
Yes. Non-residents can buy over-the-counter rifle elk tags and can draw limited elk licenses. The main restriction is that non-resident over-the-counter archery elk was eliminated for units west of I-25 and GMU 140; those now require drawing a limited tag.
How much does it cost for a non-resident to hunt elk in Colorado?
The 2026 non-resident elk license is $845.16, plus a $12.76 habitat stamp and, only if you apply in the draw, a qualifying license (~$104.86). So roughly $963 through the draw or about $858 over the counter, before travel, tags for other species, or an outfitter. See license costs.
Do non-residents have a better chance in the draw?
No. Non-residents can win only up to 20% or 25% of a hunt code's first-choice licenses (20% where residents needed six or more points), for elk, deer, pronghorn and bear. Once that share fills, non-residents are skipped. For popular units that means non-residents can need more preference points than residents for the same tag.