Leftover and OTC Licenses
2017 – 2018 Season
Over-the-counter Big Game with Caps Bear Licenses
Licenses are limited in number and only available first-come, first-served starting at 9am on July 25. Please note that OTC with caps rifle bear licenses have season participation rules. Rules can be found in the big game brochure.
Over-the-counter Big Game Unlimited Licenses
These licenses are unlimited in number and available in a range of units and seasons. They go on sale at 9am on July 25. There are unlimited OTC licenses for cow and either-sex archery elk, bull elk in the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons, either-sex elk in the plains, either-sex archery pronghorn, and doe and either-sex whitetail deer. They are restricted to certain units and manners of take.
Leftover Big Game Limited Licenses, Reissued Big Game Licenses and OTC Fall Turkey
Leftover big game limited licenses (pronghorn, bear, deer, elk & fall turkey) and over-the-counter fall turkey go on sale at 9 am on August 1 in person and by phone. They go on sale online at midnight August 2.
These licenses have gone through the draw process and still have quota remaining. For example, if there were 1000 licenses for a certain elk hunt code, and only 100 people applied in the draws for that hunt code, there would be 900 leftover limited licenses remaining.
In 2016, the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife started reissuing returned licenses through the leftover license process. The reissue of big game limited licenses begins on August 1st.
License Refund and Reissue
Refund and Reissue Menu
- License Refundand Preference Point Restoration Process
- License Reissue Process
- Most limited licenses returned for refund or preference point restoration will now be reissued, pursuant to Colorado Wildlife Regulation Chapter 16, Article IV, #1670.
Refund and Preference Point Restoration Process
Note, anyone may request and be given a refund or preference point restoration for a license no later than 30 days prior to the start of the season (14 days for turkey licenses) for which the license is valid. Also, most refunds are now subject to a $15.00 processing fee.
What Has Changed?
- To be eligible for a refund or restoration of preference points, a license must be turned into a CPW location or postmarked at least30 days prior to the start of the season (14 days for turkey licenses) for which the license is valid.
- No refunds or preference point restorations will be given on exchanged licenses or licenses that cost less than $15.
- A $15 processing fee will be deducted from most refunds to help recover internal costs of processing that request. The $15 processing fee will not be charged for restoration of preference point requests, refunds to youth licenses, extreme medical circumstances, death of the license holder or license holder’s immediate family member, military deployment, or CPW error.
- Any request of refund or preference point restoration after the 30 day deadline will be limited to extreme medical circumstances, death of the license holder or license holder’s immediate family member, military deployment, or CPW error.
- Once a refund or preference point request form, and license, has been mailed or submitted to a CPW location, there is no way to recover that license.
- Returned limited licenses may be available for later purchase.
What Has Stayed the Same?
- Individuals must still choose between a refund or restoration of preference points;both will not be awarded.
- Refunds will not be given on annual licenses, including mountain lion licenses.
- Preference point restoration is not available on exchanged licenses.
- Refunds or restoration of preference points will still be given for any reason prior to 30 days before the start of the season, if submitted or postmarked appropriately.
- In cases of extreme medical circumstances, death of the license holder or license holder’s immediate family member, applications will be accepted no more than 30 days after the start of the season for which the license is valid, with the exception of military deployment.
Reissue of limited licenses
NOTE: The License Reissue Process will be changing for the 2017 license year. Please check back for updated information.
Be Prepared
Those who plan to purchase leftover licenses at license agents or CPW offices should be prepared before they arrive. This will help the process run as efficiently as possible.
If you are planning on purchasing a license, be sure to have the following:
- Your driver’s license/state issued identification card,
- Proof of hunter education:hunter education card or a Colorado hunting license with verified hunter education,
- Your social security number (anyone 12 years of age and older are required to give their social security number, if not already on file),
- Your customer identification number (CID), if you have previously purchased a license in Colorado,
- Proof of residency, if you are planning to purchase a resident license,
- A prioritized list of hunt codes for licenses you are interested in.
If purchasing a license for someone else (can only be done IN PERSON), the buyer must bring the following for the hunter:
- A clear copy of both sides of their driver’s license/state issued identification card,
- A clear copy of both sides of their hunter education card or a previous Colorado hunting license with verified hunter education,
- Their social security number (anyone 12 years of age and older are required to give their social security number, if not already on file),
- Their customer identification number (CID), if they have previously purchased a license in Colorado,
- A prioritized list of hunt codes they are interested in.
IMPORTANT: One cannot buy a license for someone else OVER THE PHONE. The option to buy for someone else only works IN PERSON.
Contact Us
If you have questions or would like to check availability, call 970.926.0216 or complete the form below.
