The Colorado Hunting Guide

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Planning your first Colorado elk hunt

Plan a first Colorado elk hunt in this order: pick a season and method, decide OTC vs. the draw, choose a unit, decide DIY vs. guided, then build your gear and travel plan — in that order, because each choice narrows the next. Most first-timers do best starting with an over-the-counter rifle tag, which needs no draw and no preference points. CPW · Elk hunting

Step 1 — Pick a season and method

Colorado runs archery in September, a short muzzleloader window, then four rifle seasons from mid-October through late November. Archery demands the most skill and scouting but overlaps the rut; rifle seasons are more forgiving for a first hunt, and the four rifle seasons differ a lot in crowding and weather. If you're undecided, the elk seasons page lays out every method's dates and trade-offs side by side.

Step 2 — OTC or draw?

This decision drives everything after it. Over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags — archery in eligible units for residents, or rifle for anyone — need no draw and no points; you buy the tag and go. The draw gets you into quieter, often higher-success limited units, but it means applying by the spring deadline and possibly waiting years on preference points for a good unit. For a first hunt, OTC removes a whole layer of uncertainty: what's still OTC in 2026 is the place to check before you commit to a season.

If you're coming from out of state, note that non-resident OTC archery elk was eliminated for units west of I-25 — the non-resident hub and the non-resident elk plan cover what that means for your first trip. CPW · Non-resident hunting

Step 3 — Choose a unit

Once you know OTC vs. draw, narrow to a unit (GMU). For an OTC first hunt, that means checking which units are currently open to OTC sales for your season and weighing public-land access and elk density over chasing a "trophy" reputation. The best-units page explains how to read draw odds and success rates together rather than picking on population alone, and public-land access rules covers where you can actually hunt once you've picked a unit.

Step 4 — DIY or guided?

Be honest about what you're bringing to a first hunt: physical conditioning, backcountry navigation, and — most of all — local knowledge of where elk actually are in your unit. DIY is cheaper and more common than people assume, but a guide or drop camp buys back years of scouting you don't have yet. What a guided hunt costs and drop camps lay out the middle ground between fully DIY and a fully guided hunt, and the outfitter directory shows registered guides by region if you go that route.

Step 5 — Gear and budget

Gear needs differ sharply by season — a September archery hunt and a late November fourth-rifle hunt are almost different sports in terms of clothing and conditioning. The season-by-season gear checklist is built for exactly that split. On the money side, the DIY cost breakdown walks through license fees, fuel, food, processing, and gear amortization so there are no surprises once you're in the field.

Step 6 — Build the timeline

Work backward from your season. If you're applying in the draw, that means applying by the April deadline — months before your hunt. If you're going OTC, tags go on sale in early August, but scouting, gear shakedown, and travel planning should start well before that. Either way, give yourself real time in the unit or on maps before opening day; a first elk hunt that starts with a scouting trip beats one that starts cold on day one.

Common questions

How do I plan my first elk hunt in Colorado?

Pick a season and method first, decide whether you're going over-the-counter or through the draw, choose a unit based on access and elk density, decide DIY versus guided, and then build your gear list and timeline around that season. Each step narrows the next, so doing them in order avoids backtracking.

Should a first-time elk hunter go DIY or hire a guide in Colorado?

Either is legitimate. DIY costs less but assumes you can scout a unit or already know one; a guide or drop camp costs more but replaces years of local knowledge. If you have zero scouting time before the season, a guide meaningfully raises your odds on a first hunt.

What season should a beginner pick for a first Colorado elk hunt?

An over-the-counter rifle season, typically 2nd or 3rd rifle, is the most forgiving starting point — no draw, no preference points, and more hunters in the field to learn alongside. Archery is more technical and best attempted once you know a unit.

How far in advance should I plan a Colorado elk hunt?

If you want a limited draw tag, apply by the primary draw deadline in early April — that's the hard constraint. For an over-the-counter hunt, start planning several months out so you have time to scout, break in gear, and book lodging before the August OTC sale and your season.

Primary sources

Never miss a deadline

The Colorado draw application closes in early April, and season dates shift a little each year. Leave your email and we'll send one short reminder before the draw deadline and a note whenever the season dates change — nothing else.