2023 Big Game Limited License Application Guide

Helpful Resources:

Application & Correction Deadline is April 4, 2023 at 8 p.m. MTN.


  1. 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.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife website homepage showing the "Buy and Apply" button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen in the blue navigation bar.

  1. Click “Sign In or Create Account” to Begin

Colorado Parks and Wildlife purchase site. Highlighting the "Sign In or Create Account" link in the upper right-hand corner.

  1. 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 a OHV, Boat, or Snowmobile Registration in Colorado, Please LOOK UP YOUR PROFILEbefore 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.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife purchasing site sign in page. Highlighting how to lookup a previously existing customer account and sign in button at the bottom of the page on the left-hand side.

  1. 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.Customer account details are displayed and highlighting the "Confirm Details" button at the bottom right-hand corner.


Note: Youth under the age of 18 do not require an identifier.

  1. Purchase your Qualifying License and Habitat Stamp (18-64)

    Required & nonrefundable

Highlighting the "Go Hunting and Fishing" tab located in the blue navigation bar at the top of the screen. Highlighting the "Buy Small Game and Combo Licenses" link in the dropdown menu.

List of qualifying licenses for 2023 big game draws.

  1. If you are a Colorado Resident, please select ‘Resident’ button and enter the appropriate date you became a CO resident using the following format: MMYYYY. Learn more about Colorado residency.

Non-residents will select the ‘Non Resident’ option button and then click “Proceed”.

Displaying the Resident and Non-resident radio button and highlighting the blue "Procced" button in the lower right-hand corner.

  1. 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

Highlighting the blue "Purchase" button for a "X01 - Resident Small Game Hunting and 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.

This notice shows that a habitat stamp product is being added to the customers cart in accordance with regulations based on the product they are purchasing.

  1. After clicking “Purchase” you will receive an additional question to answer as shown below. Make a selection and click “Add to Cart”.

Displaying multiple purchase choices for customers. Proof of hunter education fields if the customer's hunter education is not manually verified to the customer account.

NOTE: Anyone born on or after January 1, 1949, is required to have a hunter education card to hunt in Colorado. A hunter education card is required to apply for or buy a hunting license. Colorado Parks and Wildlife honors hunter education cards from other states, provinces and countries.

  1. You can now see your qualifying license has been 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.

Highlighting the "Go Hunting and Fishing" tab in the navigation bar at the top of the screen. Highlight "Buy Big Game Licenses".

  1. You will now see a list of species you can apply for. Please click the “+” next to the species you wish to apply for.

List of big game species customers can applying for and highlighting the elk section.

  1. After clicking the “+” for the species you wish to apply for, click the “Apply Now” button.

Highlighting the blue "Apply" button to the right-hand side.

  1. Are you hunting in a group? Please read how to apply as a group.

  1. Make your selection and click “Proceed”.

    Applying as an Individual

Radio button, first selection for an individual application. Highlight the blue "Proceed" button in the right-hand corner.

Applying as a Group Leader

Second radio button, Group leader selection. Terms and Conditions radio button is selected. Highlight the blue "Proceed" button in the lower right-hand corner.

Applying as a Group Member

Third radio button, selection for group members. Terms and Conditions selected. Highlight blue "Proceed" button in the lower right-hand corner.

  1. Applicants can enter up to 4 hunt code choices per species. Please enter hunt codes as shown in the Big Game Brochure.

    Once the applicant has entered their desired hunt codes and have selected their unsuccessful option, please click “Confirm Choices

Up to four hunt code choices can be entered. Highlight the blue "Confirm Choices" button in the right-hand corner.

  1. After confirming your choices, please review your hunt codes. To continue, click “Add to Cart”.

Confirmed elk hunt code choices. Highlight blue "Add to Cart" button in the lower right-hand corner.

  1. 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 submission process or click the “Go to Cart” button at the bottom of the page.

Highlight shopping cart in the upper right-hand corner.

  1. 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

Highlight delivery method section. Cross over discount code box. Highlight blue "Proceed to Checkout" button in the lower right-hand corner.

  1. Cart Summary: Please review your personal information and hunt codes one last time!

    This is your final payment screen before you submit your application.

Review products, fees, and delivery information as previously selected in the cart summary. Second section offers customers the ability to round up to a flat fee by donating change. Make a payment section, Payment Method to use after licenses are awarded. Terms and Conditions scrolled. Radio button Terms and Conditions selected. reCAPTCAH box selected. Highlight blue "Submit Payment" button in the lower right-hand corner.

About 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.

  1. 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.

Summary of purchased items, delivery information, and fees.

Confirmation Letter Example:

A copy of the conformation letter is always sent to the email address on file when 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 THIS CONFIRMATION LETTER!

Application modifications are accepted until April 4, 2023 at 8 p.m. MTN. Colorado Parks and Wildlife does not charge a fee for application modifications. Please see our 2023 Big Game Application Modification Guide.

Summary of purchases, payment method, delivery method, and fees.