Colorado hunting licenses and fees

License year: 2026. Each fact shows its own license year, source and the date we checked it. Always confirm with Colorado Parks and Wildlife before you apply.

Base licenses

Annual small game license (a qualifying license for the draw) (resident)

Rule
Qualifying licenses go on sale March 1; annual licenses are valid March 1 - March 31 (13 months) Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 4. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Habitat Stamp

Price
$12.76 Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Stamps, permits and fees

Habitat Stamp

Price
$12.76 Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Lifetime Habitat Stamp

Price
$384.16 W-0 base fee $382.91 plus the $1.25 Backcountry Search and Rescue surcharge. Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Resident draw application fee

Price
$8.93 Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Nonresident draw application fee

Price
$11.49 Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Backcountry Search and Rescue (BSAR) surcharge

Price
$1.25 Raised from $0.25 (unchanged since 1987) for 2026. Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 1. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Wildlife Management Public Education Fund surcharge

Price
$1.50 Included in the brochure's license totals. Source: CPW Chapter W-0 regulations (as approved May 2026), p. 4-5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Elk and mule deer tags

Elk

Resident
$70.40 Includes surcharges; W-0 base fee $67.65 plus $1.50 Wildlife Management Public Education Fund and $1.25 BSAR. Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.
Nonresident
$845.16 Includes surcharges; W-0 base fee $842.41 plus $1.50 and $1.25. Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Mule deer

Resident
$51.25 Includes surcharges; W-0 base fee $48.50 plus $1.50 and $1.25. Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.
Nonresident
$506.92 Includes surcharges; W-0 base fee $504.17 plus $1.50 and $1.25. Source: CPW 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure, p. 5. License year 2026. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

Colorado elk and mule deer draw odds by unit: past results from each state agency, with the source for every number.