Hunters have until April 1 to apply for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s big game hunting primary draw
The agency is rolling out new season structures, regulations and opportunities for big game hunting this year d
John F. Russell/Steamboat Pilot & Today
The deadline for hunters to submit big game hunting licenses for 2025 is less than a week away.
Hunters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, to apply for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s primary draw application. Corrections to submitted applications can be made until this deadline.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers hunting licenses for 10 big game species: elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, pronghorn, black bears and mountain lions.
Colorado’s big game draw uses a preference point system to determine who gets limited licenses for hunting. Hunters can apply for up to four hunt choices per species. If a hunter doesn’t nab a license in the primary draw, they can apply in the secondary draw, which starts June 30.
Last summer, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved new season structures for big game hunting from 2025-2029.
Applications for big game licenses are available online at CPW.State.CO.US/Buy-Apply or by calling 1-800-244-5613. Information on how to apply, fees and more about the 2025 season changes can be found at CPW.State.CO.US/Big-Game.
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