THE big (game) day is almost here. Hunters mark their calendars for the first Tuesday in August each year to take a shot at any big game hunting licenses remaining after the primary and secondary draws. Remaining licenses for 2022 are placed on the leftover list and will become available for purchase on August 2 at 9 a.m. Mountain Time. Over-the-counter licenses for elk, bear, archery pronghorn, and whitetail deer will go on sale at the same time.
Licenses go on sale online, over the phone, and in person at CPW offices and sales locations all at once. If you’re on a computer or mobile device at home, you have the same shot as someone first in line at a sales location. Limited licenses are first come first served and this is the first opportunity to get a big game hunting license outside of the draw process.
Licenses that will become available include:
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Limited licenses leftover after the primary and secondary draws for elk, deer, pronghorn and bear
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Limited elk, deer, pronghorn, and bear licenses that someone drew but did not pay for during the secondary draw and took fewer than five resident preference points
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Limited licenses that were returned for refund/preference point restoration since the opening of the secondary draw but prior to July 25 and took fewer than five resident preference points to draw
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Over-the-counter (OTC) licenses for elk, archery pronghorn, whitetail deer, and bear
CPW strongly suggests hunters purchase their licenses online at cpwshop.com. CPW offices and sales locations use the same system as you do at home so if you are second in line at an office, you are second in line to everyone at home as well.
Head to cpwshop.com and get logged in to your account up to an hour before 9 a.m. on August 2 so you’re ready to purchase when the licenses go on sale. You can call in and purchase at 1-800-244-5613, but know there will be long wait times.
More information on the leftover list and over-the-counter licenses is available on the CPW website.