What OTC tags are available - Colorado

Mudshack

FNG
Joined
Jan 23, 2025
Messages
13
Location
Colorado
As a first time Colorado (resident) hunter, how do I know what OTC tags are available for my OTC unit? I have a mule deer tag that I drew, but want to pick up an Elk tag for the same unit and 2nd rifle season. I need a B tag (as apparently the cow tag I drew is an A tag for another unit). So I need to pick up a B tag for my mule deer unit or a B tag for the unit I got my cow tag in.
 
Page 38 of the Regs show where you can buy an OTC B List Archery cow elk tag

That’s about your only B list option unless you get one on the reissue/leftover list
 
Need to know what units you are talking about, otc elk tags only exist in certain units and there are no otc deer tags. I also can't think of any otc elk tags that are not list A tags, all of the tags that are list B or C are limited draw tags though they may not be"sold out" and may be available to buy outside the draw.
 
Page 38 of the Regs show where you can buy an OTC B List Archery cow elk tag

That’s about your only B list option unless you get one on the reissue/leftover list
Thanks. I saw this, but it is for Archery. Avid whitetail bowhunter for over 20 years, but as my first go a hunting the mountains I am using my bang stick. Thanks.

So there is no place to know, prior to Aug 5 at 9am, if OTC B-tags will be available for rifle in my unit? Or should I just understand that there won't be any. Only A-tags.

I screwed up by putting a cow tag down as my last choice out of 1st and 2nd draws that was an A-tag Cow. I should have double checked.

(btw - Colorado is the most confusing state to buy tags in out of 6 states I have lived in)
 
Thanks. I saw this, but it is for Archery. Avid whitetail bowhunter for over 20 years, but as my first go a hunting the mountains I am using my bang stick. Thanks.

So there is no place to know, prior to Aug 5 at 9am, if OTC B-tags will be available for rifle in my unit? Or should I just understand that there won't be any. Only A-tags.

I screwed up by putting a cow tag down as my last choice out of 1st and 2nd draws that was an A-tag Cow. I should have double checked.

(btw - Colorado is the most confusing state to buy tags in out of 6 states I have lived in)

Go read the Big Game Brochure cover to cover. @svivian linked it in his post. It will explain everything in explicit detail. It is also literally answered in the picture he posted, which is itself a screenshot of the Big Game Brochure. @cnelk also answered it.

Don't be an askhole.
 
Need to know what units you are talking about, otc elk tags only exist in certain units and there are no otc deer tags. I also can't think of any otc elk tags that are not list A tags, all of the tags that are list B or C are limited draw tags though they may not be"sold out" and may be available to buy outside the draw.
OTC tags are available for my unit. I just screwed up by getting drawn for a Cow tag that is List A. So I think there is no OTC for me this year. In 2nd rifle I will be torn between Mule deer buck tags for 2 of the 3 in my hunting party in 1 unit and cow tags (all three of us) in a unit 1.5 hrs west of my mule deer tags.

I can't tell you how many hours and spread sheets I put into the draw process. Chalk it up to "live and learn".
Go read the Big Game Brochure cover to cover. @svivian linked it in his post. It will explain everything in explicit detail. It is also literally answered in the picture he posted, which is itself a screenshot of the Big Game Brochure. @cnelk also answered it.

Don't be an askhole.
I don't appreciate the last sentince. Actually, it doesn't answer it. No where does it tell you the list of OTC tags available for your unit. A, B, C. So, if it isn't said, I guess we are to assume there are only Type A OTC tags. I clearly understand the A, A+B, etc because it is listed clearly in the Big Game Brochure and I have read it time and time again. Hence the reason I came to ask guys experienced with CO tag process some questions. Not and askhole. Just trying to understand the most confusing state in the union and their tag process.
 
OTC tags are available for my unit. I just screwed up by getting drawn for a Cow tag that is List A. So I think there is no OTC for me this year. In 2nd rifle I will be torn between Mule deer buck tags for 2 of the 3 in my hunting party in 1 unit and cow tags (all three of us) in a unit 1.5 hrs west of my mule deer tags.

I can't tell you how many hours and spread sheets I put into the draw process. Chalk it up to "live and learn".

I don't appreciate the last sentince. Actually, it doesn't answer it. No where does it tell you the list of OTC tags available for your unit. A, B, C. So, if it isn't said, I guess we are to assume there are only Type A OTC tags. I clearly understand the A, A+B, etc because it is listed clearly in the Big Game Brochure and I have read it time and time again. Hence the reason I came to ask guys experienced with CO tag process some questions. Not and askhole. Just trying to understand the most confusing state in the union and their tag process.

There is no 'we are to assume' anything. The answers you seek are pages 36 to 40 of the Big Game Brochure. If the OTC option you seek isn't listed there, it doesn't exist. Reread the Brochure again.
 
It does tell you the OTC units. There are maps of them.

You could return your A cow tag and buy an OTC bull, if that's what you want. You can also probably get a B cow for your area after the reissue/leftovers start up.

Or buy the OTC archery cow as a B list, assuming your unit is valid and use it as a reason to make scouting trips.

There are no OTC B rifle tags that I know of.

You can PM your units if you want.
 
Not trying to be a smart ass but you could turn in your draw tag and get an OTC tag still. We had a guy in our group do that just last year. His draw tag was middling and he preferred to hunt with his buddies.
 
Not trying to be a smart ass but you could turn in your draw tag and get an OTC tag still. We had a guy in our group do that just last year. His draw tag was middling and he preferred to hunt with his buddies.
I am considering. Not a bad idea. Even if I get OTC cow tags for the unit I have my mule deer tags, that would be better than having tags in 2 units at the same time that are 1.5hrs apart. I just don't know the OTC process/odds as this is my first year. I know that there are OTC tags in my mule deer unit. Just don't know that process and odds.
 
I don't appreciate the last sentince. Actually, it doesn't answer it. No where does it tell you the list of OTC tags available for your unit. .
Page 38, 39, 40, 41 have the list of OTC elk tags. Titled--> Over The Counter: xxx Elk yyy

(The referenced screenshot states this)
 
I don't appreciate the last sentince. Actually, it doesn't answer it. No where does it tell you the list of OTC tags available for your unit. A, B, C. So, if it isn't said, I guess we are to assume there are only Type A OTC tags. I clearly understand the A, A+B, etc because it is listed clearly in the Big Game Brochure and I have read it time and time again. Hence the reason I came to ask guys experienced with CO tag process some questions. Not and askhole. Just trying to understand the most confusing state in the union and their tag process.
You may not like the advice you're getting but that doesn't make it bad advice. Everything you're asking is in the Big Game Brochure.

Page 2: "Some licenses for elk, pronghorn and bear are also available without needing to enter the draw(s) and are not restricted in quantity (unlimited). These can be purchased over the counter after they go on sale online, by phone and in person at sales agents around the state."

The takeaway here is setting the stage for you to understand that OTC tags are not "available for a unit".

Page 3: "Over-the-counter (OTC) licenses: Licenses (unlimited, unlimited add-on bear and leftover limited) that are available without having to go through the draw(s). They do not require buying/having a qualifying license, do not use preference points and may be purchased any time before and during a season. They're available at over 650 sales agents around the state, including CPW offices and state parks, online, or by phone.
over-the-counter licenses go on sale. “Unlimited” does not mean you can purchase an unlimited number of licenses: See the “List A, B & C” definition at top right."

Page 4: "Unlimited OTC licenses go on sale....... Aug. 5 (9 a.m. MT)"

Page 35: "Nonresidents can no longer buy over-the-counter archery elk licenses for GMUs west of I-25 and GMU 140." (now you know you can't get archery, you can only get rifle)

Page 40: Has the 2nd/3rd rifle OTC map with all of the zones both clearly marked in yellow and listed in a table on the left.

OTC tags in Colorado are not purchased for a unit. They are simply purchased, and are valid in any of the units on the map. If the GMU you're in for your deer tag is one of them, you can get an "OTC tag" and hunt it. Or you can get one and hunt somewhere nearby when you're bored or done with your deer hunt.

There is no "list of OTC tags" because there is only one you can get in the first place. Its code, E-M-000-U3-R, is valid for any/all of the units on that map, and not for any other.

Asked and answered.
 
I am considering. Not a bad idea. Even if I get OTC cow tags for the unit I have my mule deer tags, that would be better than having tags in 2 units at the same time that are 1.5hrs apart. I just don't know the OTC process/odds as this is my first year. I know that there are OTC tags in my mule deer unit. Just don't know that process and odds.
IF you choose to turn in your cow tag and intend to get an OTC bull tag do it in one transaction. There is a small
fee for "returning" a tag that doesn't occur if you are "swapping" a tag.

-There are no OTC cow tags during 2nd/3rd rifle.

-There are no odds for OTC tags, they are unlimited over the counter tags. You are talking about second rifle so look at page 40 of the brochure. If your unit isn't included then you can't hunt a bull there with an OTC tag.
 
Back
Top