This makes for incredible footage, but public land elk hunting in over-the-counter tag areas, or those that require less than four points to draw, isn’t like that.

Starting next year, nonresidents won’t be able to purchase over-the-counter tags for general season deer and elk hunts. Instead they will have to enter a lottery, similar to a controlled hunt ...

You can buy an over-the-counter tag, you can apply for limited draw hunts (ideally in multiple Western states each year), or you can hire an outfitter and get your tag through them.

Over-the-counter elk tags are disappearing. Colorado still offers them for specific units for hunt methods of archery and second and third rifle seasons, but most states that previously offered ...

Under the new system, non-resident elk hunters will still be able to apply for archery tags in the annual draw. Read more on policy changes in the 2025 - 2029 Big Game Season Structure here.

It’s no secret that some of the best public-land elk hunting takes place on public land. Here’s how to score in units with over-the-counter tags.

Responding to concerns from Colorado hunters, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff have dropped a proposal to no longer issue any unlimited, over-the-counter archery elk licenses, and now are ...

In this era of big-game hunts managed by a lottery system, the West Cascade elk season is unique in that tags are available over the counter up until the day before the season opens.

Thousands of hunters this month will continue to have the chance to offer their views on whether Colorado Parks and Wildlife should place limits on over-the-counter rifle and archery elk ...

In 80% of the state, eager recreators can purchase over-the-counter tags to hunt, say, bull elk. That policy stands in stark contrast to other states, which more tightly regulate the draws for all ...