2025 Big Game Limited License Application Guide
Helpful Resources:
Big Game Hunting Statistics (Species pages)
Application & Correction Deadline for the Primary Draw is April 1, 2025 at 8 p.m. MTN.
Go to CPWshop.com, and 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 log in 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.
NOTE: The image below is showing a resident purchasing a Resident Small Game Hunting & Fishing Combo Annual License
All applicants must first purchase (online, by phone or in person at sales agents) or hold a qualifying hunting license for the current license year BEFORE applying for either the primary or secondary draws. Hunters who wish to purchase a leftover limited or over-the-counter license do not need to have a qualifying license.
Draw applications will not be accessible until you purchase your qualifying license. Licenses must be valid for the current 2025 license year. A 2025 Habitat Stamp will be automatically added when purchasing your qualifying license, if applicable.
Qualifying licenses:
Annual resident and nonresident small game
Annual resident combo small game/fishing
Annual resident senior combo small game/fishing
Resident and nonresident spring turkey (over-the-counter turkey licenses on sale March 1)
Resident and nonresident fall turkey (valid for the secondary draw only)
Resident veteran lifetime combo small game/fishing
Resident first responder lifetime combo small game/fishing
Annual small-game license for resident senior lifetime fishing license holders
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”.
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 a Colorado State Park. You also have the option to send a photo/scan of your government-issued identification and your proof of hunter education and send it to the following email address: dnr_wildlife.huntered@state.co.us
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 see your qualifying license and any additional products 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 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.
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.
Please note the information above is an example of applying for a preference point as a first choice and a hunt code as a second choice, this is only an example.
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 the 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.
If you encounter an error regarding your payment information, please clear your browser cookies and cache, try a different browser or device, remove any autofill credit card information and manually enter it.
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: Please print or save this page as a PDF for your records.
Note: You will also receive an emailed purchase confirmation receipt to your email address on file.
Confirmation Letter Example:
A confirmation letter is always sent to the email address on file when the transaction is completed. If you have not received an email of the transaction, confirm your email address on file and check your Spam folder. If you need your confirmation letter resent, please contact the CPW Communications Center at (303)297-1192.
IMPORTANT: Always review your confirmation receipt!
Application modifications for the primary draw are accepted until April 1, 2025 at 8 p.m. MTN. Colorado Parks and Wildlife does not charge a fee for application modifications. Please see our 2025 Big Game Application Modification Guide.