The Colorado Hunting Guide

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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

MethodResidentsNon-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 — CPW publishes those hunt codes on its non-resident page. Everywhere else, the archery elk tag now goes through the draw for non-residents. CPW · Non-resident hunting

Which rifle seasons are OTC

Over-the-counter rifle elk is sold only for the second and third rifle seasons (October 24 – November 1 and November 7–15 in 2026). The first and fourth rifle seasons are limited — draw-only. CPW · OTC licenses

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 · 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.

Primary sources

Never miss a deadline

The Colorado draw application closes in early April, and season dates shift a little each year. Leave your email and we'll send one short reminder before the draw deadline and a note whenever the season dates change — nothing else.