Elk boost: CPW proposes an increase in hunting licenses

Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to propose an increase in hunting licenses for the 2026 Big Game Hunting season due to rising elk populations.

MEEKER, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will propose an increase in hunting licenses for the 2026 Big Game Hunting season.

CPW said the proposal is due to an increase in elk populations in northwest Colorado. CPW said area biologists saw elk in the Bears Ears and White River areas returning to the population objective range for the first time since the severe winter of 2022-23.

CPW said its northwest region staff will present the Parks and Wildlife Commission in May with a plan to significantly increase the number of antlerless elk licenses, while bull tags during second and third rifle seasons switch back to over-the-counter.

“Looking at the landscape today, it’s hard to believe that just three years ago we were experiencing the worst winter we had seen in 70 years,” said CPW Meeker Area Terrestrial Biologist Darby Finley. “That spring we saw some of the lowest survival rates ever recorded by CPW biologists. In some areas elk populations north of Craig were reduced by half. Today, we are seeing a much different picture with elk population numbers.”

“The lack of snow made it difficult to count elk blending into the sagebrush-covered hills,” said CPW Craig Area Terrestrial Biologist Becca De Vergie. “Despite this challenge, and thanks to a skilled pilot, we were still able to observe and classify thousands of elk in overall good body condition.”

“Spike bulls [young bulls with antler beams with no tines] serve as important indicators of the previous year’s calf survival,” said Finley. “As we have seen, calf ratios continue to be trending in a positive direction with excellent spike bull ratios in the past two years, indicating high survival and recruitment of calves into the yearling age class.”

Increase in 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting licenses

CPW said it will finalize the license number recommendations for the 2026 big game hunting season. The recommendations will be presented to the Parks and Wildlife Commission during the May meeting in Grand Junction.

“With the Primary Draw application period closing on April 7, we wanted to make sure that we are getting this information out to hunters, especially those who chose to hunt in other areas to help in our efforts to increase the elk population,” said CPW Meeker Area Wildlife Manager Mike Swaro.