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Over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags
Yes — Colorado still sells over-the-counter elk licenses in 2026, with no draw and no preference points required. But the big change is that non-residents can no longer buy OTC archery elk for units west of I-25 or in GMU 140; those are now limited (draw-only) for non-residents. Residents keep their unlimited OTC either-sex archery elk in the eligible units, and OTC rifle elk remains for both residents and non-residents. CPW · Non-resident hunting
What "over-the-counter" means here
An over-the-counter (OTC) license is one you can simply buy — before or during the season — without entering the draw and without holding a qualifying license or any preference points. CPW keeps OTC elk unlimited in quantity, subject to per-person purchase limits. CPW · OTC licenses It is the reason Colorado is the classic "just show up and hunt elk" state — with one important caveat that changed recently.
Who can still buy OTC elk, and how
| Method | Residents | Non-residents |
|---|---|---|
| Archery elk (either-sex) | OTC in eligible units (unlimited) | Limited/draw west of I-25 & GMU 140; OTC only in a few units east of I-25 |
| Rifle elk | OTC (either-sex / antlered / antlerless, rifle only) | OTC available |
For the archery method specifically, non-residents can still buy over-the-counter in a small number of units east of I-25. There are exactly two such hunt codes, and CPW names them outright in the brochure — "Nonresidents can still hunt over the counter in certain GMUs east of I-25 with hunt codes E-F-133-U1-A and E-E-087-U1-A." 2026 Big Game Brochure · What’s New Read the sex code before you plan around either:
| Hunt code | What you may take |
|---|---|
| E-E-087-U1-A | Either-sex — the only over-the-counter archery elk code a non-resident can take a bull on |
| E-F-133-U1-A | Antlerless only — cow elk |
That difference is worth a second look, because it is invisible unless you read the code. The second character is the sex: the regulation defines E as "either-sex (antlerless or antlered) of animal", F as "antlerless or doe animals", and M as "antlered or buck animals". 2 CCR 406-0-001 · hunt code definitions The brochure's own hunt-code tables agree, printing "Either" and "Cow" against those same letters. So of the two surviving non-resident OTC archery codes, one is a cow tag — and the one that can take a bull is a plains unit, not the western-slope hunt most people are picturing.
Everywhere else, the archery elk tag goes through the draw for non-residents. Hunt codes are reissued each license year — confirm all of them against the current Big Game Brochure before you build a trip around them.
Worth knowing if elk is not the only thing on your list: the same CPW page puts elk in wider company — "Nonresidents can purchase over-the-counter licenses for rifle elk, bear, archery pronghorn and white-tailed deer." CPW · Non-resident hunting This page is about elk, but a non-resident shut out of OTC archery elk still has over-the-counter options.
Which rifle seasons are OTC
If you are hunting bull elk in the mountains, the familiar answer holds: over-the-counter antlered elk is a second and third season license (October 24 – November 1 and November 7–15 in 2026). The brochure's own map is titled "OTC Rifle Licenses — Valid Units for Bull Elk, Second and Third Seasons". CPW 2026 Big Game Brochure · Elk
But "OTC is 2nd and 3rd season only" is not true, and it is repeated everywhere. The brochure lists three separate over-the-counter rifle elk licenses, and two of them fall outside those seasons entirely:
| OTC rifle elk license | Dates | Sex | Hunt code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antlered elk — listed mountain units | 2nd & 3rd seasons (Oct 24 – Nov 1, Nov 7–15) | Bulls | see brochure map |
| Either-sex elk — Plains | Sept 1 – Jan 31, 2027 | Either | E-E-087-U5-R |
| Antlered elk — Unit 128 | Oct 14 – Nov 22 | Bulls | E-M-128-U5-R |
The plains either-sex license runs five months, and the Unit 128 license spans all four rifle season windows — so a plains hunter told "OTC is second and third season" has been given the wrong answer about their own hunt. Both are sold through license agents only. Unit lists and the exact map are in the 2026 Big Game Brochure; landowner permission is advisable in GMU 128, which is largely private.
What is true is that the first and fourth rifle seasons are draw-only for elk, and that OTC licenses are unlimited in number and go on sale the same day leftovers do.
Watch for units that have come off the OTC list. For 2026, the Gunnison Basin units GMU 54, 55 and 551 moved their second- and third-season bull elk from unlimited over-the-counter to fully limited (draw) — a notable change if you'd planned to just buy in there. CPW says so outright in the brochure's "What's New: 2026" list: "Second and third-season rifle bull elk licenses in GMUs 54, 55 & 551 moved from unlimited over-the-counter to limited." The hunt-code tables bear it out — the Rifle — Limited Licenses table now carries new limited bull hunt codes for exactly those two seasons — E-M-054-O2-R and E-M-054-O3-R in GMU 54, E-M-055-O2-R and E-M-055-O3-R in GMU 55, each flagged "New" for 2026. The first- and fourth-season bull codes for those units carry no such flag, because they were already draw. 2026 Big Game Brochure · What’s New + Elk tables CPW · why 54/55/551 moved to limited Because the per-unit OTC list is set in the brochure and adjusts year to year, confirm the exact units for your hunt in CPW 2026 Big Game Brochure before you rely on it — our OTC-units page walks the CPW map that shows them.
OTC vs the draw — which should you do?
OTC is the fast path: buy a tag, hunt an over-the-counter unit, no waiting years for points. The trade-off is more hunters in the field, since anyone can buy in. The draw is how you reach the quieter, higher-success limited units — at the cost of preference points and time. If you're coming from out of state, start with the non-resident guide, which walks the OTC-vs-draw decision with the current rules and the real costs on the table.
Common questions
Can you still buy over-the-counter elk tags in Colorado in 2026?
Yes. Residents can buy OTC either-sex archery elk in the eligible units and OTC rifle elk. Non-residents can still buy OTC rifle elk and OTC archery elk in a few units east of I-25 — but non-resident OTC archery elk west of I-25 and in GMU 140 was eliminated and is now draw-only.
Why did Colorado get rid of non-resident OTC archery elk?
The Parks and Wildlife Commission cut non-resident OTC archery elk for units west of I-25 and GMU 140 to address crowding, replacing it with limited (draw) non-resident archery hunt codes. Resident OTC archery elk was not changed.
Do OTC elk tags require preference points or a qualifying license?
No. Over-the-counter tags need no preference points and no qualifying license — you buy them directly. Those requirements apply to the limited licenses awarded through the draw.
Are OTC elk tags bull or either-sex?
OTC archery elk is an either-sex license. OTC rifle elk is sold as either-sex, antlered, or antlerless (rifle only). The exact type available depends on the unit and season — confirm in the current CPW brochure.