2024 Big Game Limited License Application Guide
Helpful Resources:
License Lists:
Application & Correction Deadline for the Secondary Draw is June 28, 2024 at 8 p.m. MTN.
- From CPW.STATE.CO.US, click on “Buy & Apply” to sign in to your Colorado Parks and Wildlife account to purchase a qualifying license and to submit your big game applications.
- Click “Sign In or Create Account” to begin.
- Customers that do not know if they already have a Colorado Parks and Wildlife account, meaning you have made a Colorado State Parks camping reservation, hunted, fished or have an OHV, Boat, or Snowmobile Registration in Colorado, please “LOOK UP YOUR PROFILE” before creating a new account.
Once you have created your account or looked up your existing account, you will login using the CID number or other identifier on file and enter the password you have created.
- The system will require you to review your Customer Details. If all your information is correct, please click the “Confirm Details” at the bottom of the screen.
Note: Youth under the age of 18 do not require an identifier.
- Purchase your qualifying license and Habitat Stamp (18-64)
Required & nonrefundable
- If you are a Colorado Resident, please select the ‘Resident’ button and enter the appropriate date you became a CO resident using the following format: MMYYYY. Learn more about Colorado residency.
Nonresidents will select the ‘Non Resident’ option button and then click “Proceed”.
- Click “Purchase” for your qualifying license and add it to your cart. A habitat stamp will automatically be added, if required.
NOTE: The image below is showing a resident purchasing a Resident Small Game Hunting & Fishing Combo Annual License
The pop-up box below will appear if you have not paid for your annual habitat stamp. If required, the system will automatically add the habitat stamp to the cart. Click “OK” to continue.
- After clicking “Purchase” you may be required to provide additional information and answer questions as shown below. Make a selection and click “Add to Cart”.
NEW FOR 2024: The Harvest Information Program (HIP) has been added to the Integrated Parks and Wildlife System (IPAWS). Hunters are now able to obtain their HIP registrations when purchasing hunting licenses. Moving forward, hunters will no longer receive a HIP number. Hunters will not have to write a HIP number or a Sandhill Crane permit number on their license to prove their HIP registration. If you are NOT hunting small game, you do not need to register for HIP. For additional information regarding the Harvest Information Program please click here.
NOTE: Anyone born on or after January 1, 1949, is required to have a hunter education card to buy or apply for licenses or preference points in Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife honors hunter education cards from other states, provinces and countries. If your hunter education has not been manually verified to your customer account, you will be required to enter your hunter education as shown above. To get your hunter education card verified, take your hunter education card to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife office or Colorado State Park.
- If you wish to register for the Harvest Information Program (HIP) now, please click the “Yes” radio button and select any specialty permits and click “Add to Cart”. You will receive a notice of the products you are adding to your transaction.
- When registering for HIP, please complete the following questions and click “Add to Cart” to continue with your transaction.
- You can now see your qualifying license and any additional products that have added to your cart in the upper right-hand corner.
Now that the qualifying license is in your cart, please hover-over “Go Hunting & Fishing” and click on “Buy Big Game Licenses” to begin the application process.
- You will now see a list of species you can apply for. Please click the “+” next to the species you wish to apply for.
- After clicking the “+” for the species you wish to apply for, click the “Apply Now” button.
- Are you hunting in a group? Please read how to apply as a group.
GROUP APPLICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR THE SECONDARY DRAW. Continue to step 15.
- No: Select radio button for “I am not hunting in a group”
- Yes: Select radio button for “I am a group leader” or; “I am hunting in a group” (group member)
Make your selection and click “Proceed”.
Applying as an Individual
Applying as a Group Leader
Applying as a Group Member
- Applicants can enter up to 4 hunt code choices per species. Please enter hunt codes as shown in the Big Game Brochure.
Once an applicant has entered their desired hunt codes and have selected their unsuccessful option, please click “Confirm Choices”.
Preference Points can not be applied for in the SECONDARY DRAW.
- After confirming your choices, please review your hunt codes. To continue, click “Add to Cart”.
- If you would like to apply for another species, scroll down the page and click on the “+” and then click “Apply Now”. If you are done with your application(s), please click on your cart icon in the upper right-hand corner to continue with the submission process or click the “Go to Cart” button at the bottom of the page.
- Please review the application(s) you are submitting. If you are processing this transaction with your qualifying license in the cart, please “Select a Fulfillment Method”.
NOTE: No discount codes are available, please scroll down the page and click “Proceed To Checkout”.
Standard Shipping
Items sent via standard shipping may be delayed due to high volume. If you need your product sooner, you can select Pickup at Sales Location, use the Temporary Authorization Number (TAN) on your confirmation receipt, or use the MY CPW APP. Hunters purchasing licenses with carcass tags must have the physical license in the field.
- Cart Summary: Please review your personal information and hunt codes one last time!
This is your final payment screen before you submit your application.
- Make Payment: Please enter your credit card information. You may choose to use the same or a different card on file for when draw results are awarded/charged.
- Using a Gift Certificate: If you wish to use a gift certificate to pay for awarded licenses, you MUST enter your gift certificate at the time of application.
- Terms and Conditions: Please make sure you scroll all the way through the terms and conditions. Once you have read the terms and conditions, click the radio button to agree.
- Click the reCAPTCHA radio button stating that you are not a robot.
- If everything looks good, please click the “Submit Payment” button.
- Confirmation Page: Please Print This Page for Your Records
Note: You will also be receiving an emailed purchase confirmation receipt to your email address on file.
Confirmation Letter Example:
A copy of the confirmation letter is always sent to the email address on file when the transaction is completed. Note, if the customer has not received an email of their transaction, confirm the email address on their account and have the customer view their SPAM Folder.
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS REVIEW YOUR CONFIRMATION LETTER!
Application modifications for the secondary draw are accepted until June 28, 2024 at 8 p.m. MTN. Colorado Parks and Wildlife does not charge a fee for application modifications. Please see our 2024 Big Game Application Modification Guide.
