OTC Colorado Elk Opportunities
Of all the elk states Colorado is the most popular for out of state hunters and rightfully so. With the largest elk herd in the world and plenty of public land to roam it is an easy choice for cutting your teeth pursuing wapiti. While most western states require Hunt Codes and complex draw strategies, the Over The Counter tags offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife vastly simplifies the process and can get you in the field with minimal difficulty.
A 2019 estimate by Colorado Outdoors Magazine suggests that there are roughly 283,000 elk in The Centennial State. In the same year 220,000 hunters pursued the species, harvesting 37,000 elk. 22 million acres of public land is not small by any means, making Colorado fall right in line with most western states.
For the purpose of this article we’ll briefly look at the two most popular OTC seasons- Archery and Second Rifle. If you’re interested in exploring these opportunities or easy to draw hunts in Colorado check out the Pursuit Planner Application Service.
Archery Sept. 2nd- Sept. 30
Colorado is offering 122 Archery OTC units in 2021. Half of those (61 units) offer more than 30% public land. With great season dates and plenty of room to roam in prime elk habitat it’s a great place to listen to bugling bulls as the Aspens turn a vibrant gold.
Many ambitious DIY hunters opt for wilderness areas where it is possible to get far from roads but there are plenty of areas that offer more accessible terrain. These close to the road areas often get overlooked but that’s a topic for another day.
What to watch for: When planning an archery hunt in Colorado be mindful of the Mid September Muzzleloader Season. This year the season runs from Sept. 11-19. While the muzzleloader tag is by draw only it still brings a crowd to hunt elk with a firearm in the middle of the rut.
Second Rifle Oct. 30-Nov 7th
Colorado offers OTC rifle tags for 83 units with over 30% public land. This season has a true “elk camp” feel to it complete with cold nights and warm gun barrels. An OTC rifle hunt is the perfect opportunity to hit the elk woods with your hunting buddies without worrying about everyone drawing a tag or someone missing a deadline. Although hunting pressure may be high a persistent hunter can find success by searching out late season sanctuaries.
If you’re worried about the timing of the rifle hunt interrupting your whitetail rut plans you need not worry. Every five year the CPW flips the calendar and the season dates reset and October 30th is the latest opening day we will see in the near future.
Just the idea of planning a first elk hunting trip can spark the adventure side in any outdoorsman. As with any out of state hunt make sure you know the regulations and what tags and licenses are required. It is also important to consider things like travel logistics and meat care before you take off. Remember that while there may not be elk behind every tree, and that goes for anywhere, an Over The Counter tag is a great way to enjoy a hunt and chase some elk!
