Colorado Leftover & Reissued Elk Licenses: 2026 Guide

Missed Colorado's elk draw? Learn which CPW list to check, when reissued tags go on sale, and how to screen hunt codes, license limits and private access.

By Jackson Coffin, Founder of FilledTag

Check your elk hunt

Missed the draw? Start with CPW's Leftover List for remaining limited elk licenses, then check its Reissue Preview List for the next weekly release. Public-list purchases require no draw application, qualifying license or preference points. Availability and your eligibility still need confirmation. CPW leftover and reissued licenses.

Rules checked October 20, 2026, against CPW's current guidance and 2026 Big Game Hunting brochure. Leftover sales began August 4, 2026; that opening sale is past. This guide does not display live inventory. CPW's 2026 sale announcement.

What is the difference between leftover, reissued and OTC elk licenses?

Definitions: CPW elk license options, OTC definition and private-land-only definition.

CPW also uses “over-the-counter leftover limited” for licenses sold without a draw. That wording does not turn a limited hunt into an unlimited OTC hunt. Match the full hunt code, not just the unit. 2026 brochure, license definitions, printed page 3.

For the separate OTC route, use Colorado OTC elk units and license restrictions. Historical elk draw results explain past demand; they are not a list of licenses for sale.

Which route should I try now?

Decide what you can actually hunt before watching a sale. Write down your available dates, equipment, acceptable animal sex, public-access requirement and licenses already held.

A code worth buying should already have a workable access plan.

When do reissued elk licenses go on sale?

CPW posts the preview Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Mountain Time. Wednesday sales start as close to 11 a.m. as the system allows; no new hunt codes are added after 1 p.m. Mountain Time. Unsold licenses move onto the leftover list as it refreshes. The preview clears after Wednesday sales begin. CPW's current reissue process.

Open the View Leftover List and View Reissue Preview List buttons on that official page. A preview entry is a chance to prepare, not a reservation. A blank preview can mean CPW has no reissued licenses scheduled that week.

Before the sale, log into your existing CPWShop account, confirm your details and have payment ready. CPW advises looking up an existing profile rather than creating duplicate accounts. CPW's account preparation instructions.

If your first acceptable code is unavailable, move to another code you have already checked. Do not substitute a similar-looking code at checkout without reading its hunt details.

How do I read a hunt code without buying the wrong hunt?

Worked example: E-F-007-P5-R is CPW's own private-land-only example, not an advertised available license. Its parts identify elk, female, the GMU identifier, a private-only season designation, and rifle with associated methods. The digits in P5 do not give you calendar dates. 2026 brochure, hunt-code key, printed page 10.

Interpretation follows CPW's 2026 code and table instructions, printed page 10. CPW explicitly requires landowner permission for its private-only example.

Decision: if you have no permission for suitable private land, reject this candidate before spending time on camps or routes. If you do have permission, confirm the property falls within the hunt's valid area and that permission covers your dates and intended access.

Can I buy another elk license without using my points?

A public leftover-list purchase does not use points. A next-in-line offer is different: returned elk codes that took five or more resident preference points go to applicants in draw order first, and acceptance uses points. If CPW cannot place the license with the first five customers contacted, it can enter the preview and leftover process. CPW's reissue categories.

Points and possession limits are separate questions. The 2026 brochure permits one List A, one A plus one B, or two B elk licenses; List C licenses can be additional. Read the candidate's actual classification rather than assuming every cow license is List B. 2026 brochure, elk license combinations, printed page 36.

If you already hold List A and want a different List A, ask CPW about an exchange before buying. Exchanges require available quota, concern the same species, and must occur before the original license's season starts. They cost $5, and exchanged licenses are not eligible for refunds or point restoration. CPW exchange rules.

For longer-term applications, read how Colorado preference points work.

What should I confirm before paying?

• The entire hunt: compare the checkout code with the current brochure row, including valid GMUs, dates, animal sex, method, list letter and every special note. Keep the row available while you buy.
• Your account requirements: confirm identification, residency, hunter education and any applicable Habitat Stamp. CPW elk purchase requirements.
• The amount due: leftover is a sale route, not a discount category. CPW lists the 2026 adult resident elk license at $70.40 and adult nonresident elk/fishing combination at $845.16, before any additional requirement that applies to you. CPW's 2026 elk fee tables.
• Access you can use: identify a lawful way from the road to your intended hunting ground. For private-only hunts, settle permission first. For other hunts, confirm restrictions with the managing office before relying on a map route.
• License fulfillment: select a delivery or pickup option that gets the required license and carcass tag to you before hunting. Ask CPW if your departure is close; do not assume a receipt resolves fulfillment.

Buying after a season starts? Contact CPW first. The 2026 brochure's general sales section allows online, phone and agent purchases after opening, but its elk section says List A rifle licenses are available only at CPW locations once the season starts. Confirm the channel for your exact license. Brochure printed page 4 and printed page 36.

Do not buy on the assumption that a routine refund will fix an access mistake. The normal big-game return deadline is 30 days before the season starts, with exceptions including youth and specified qualifying circumstances. Check the rules for your situation before paying. CPW refund requirements.

What should I plan once I have a license?

Start with the exact hunt's legal area and access. Choose a place to park, a route you can use, and an alternative if that access fails. Resolve those questions before committing to lodging or a long drive.

For paid planning help, see FilledTag's Colorado elk e-scouting service. Bring the full hunt code, dates and access constraints. Planning help cannot reserve a CPW license, establish eligibility or grant landowner permission.

Sources

Checked October 20, 2026. Brochure references use printed page numbers; the PDF viewer includes additional front matter.

• CPW: Leftover (Remaining) and Reissued Licenses: official list links, weekly schedule, public-list purchase requirements and next-in-line reissues.
• CPW: 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure: license definitions on page 3; sales on page 4; reissues and exchanges on page 8; code interpretation on page 10; elk license combinations and late-purchase restriction on page 36.
• CPW's Colorado Outdoors: 2026 Leftover License Day: historical sale opening and account preparation.
• CPW: Hunting Elk: 2026 fees and purchase requirements.
• CPW: Hunting License Refunds, Reversals and Exchanges: exchange conditions and refund exceptions.
• CPW: Over-the-Counter Licenses: unlimited-license definition. Prices in this guide come from CPW's 2026 elk fee tables.