You may have noticed some changes to the 2025 Elk season here in Colorado. The most notable change is that in areas that there were previously OTC elk tags and cow tags on the B list, those cow tags are now on the A list. What does that mean? That means that instead of getting a poor man’s “either sex” tag, you’re now limited in those units for which sex of elk you’re after. The result of this is that there are now “double” the amount of opportunities available to the hunter. Or half. Depending on your perspective.
Tag List Status
As a reminder, hunters in Colorado can posses for any one species a combination of tags:
One A tag, One B tags, or any amount of C tags. You may possess an A and a B tag, which is how previously I could get a bull (OTC) and a cow (B list) tag. A list tags are generally the most desirable draw tags, B and C tags are generally for managing herds that are considered over objective. C tags generally exist for maximum harvest and are private land or late season restricted.
Tag List Allocation Changes
For me, it means that I’m having to choose between cow and bull in an area that after 7ish years I still feel like I’m dialing in to understand the critters. In lieu of mentorship from someone who knows the area, it means oppurtunity reduction — I’m just trying to get my first elk. But it does mean that I’ll get out there. But what of the tag list change? Well, in order for those tags to be consumed, it means that up to double the amount of hunters will be in the woods. Admittedly, double the hunters means that all previous hunters were packing a bull and cow tag. That’s simply not the case. But in already crowded units that could cause additional problems.
Take for instance the northwestern units in the state. They were decimated by winter kill and had a tag reduction across the board in 2022-2023. Now up to doubling the hunters on the ground in the same units, along with the debacle of the wolf re-introduction, I struggle with seeing how this is the best for the wildlife in the area.
Season Structure and Draw Changes
Other changes that go into effect with the 2025-2029 Season Structure Changes are as follows:
- Restriction of Elk OTC Archery Tags are now resident only West of I-25 and in Unit 140
- Muzzleloader and Rifle Cow Tag codes modified from List B to List A in GMUs 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 37, 131, 211, 231, 301, 371, 441. The objective in this modification is to address the elk populations in the units being below objective. (Authors note: several of those units called out were part of the winter kill units.)
- The draw structure will be changing in 2028. This includes a few new provisions, and new percentages for non-residents and residents.
- For information on season dates, check out our other post.
Diving into Data
Okay, so it seems likely the elk season changes are to reflect the changing numbers of the herds. Looking more closely at the data for the modified cow tag list, they’re arranged by the following CPW Data Analysis Units. These units are organized by collections of drainages and elk herds to be able to monitor and tweak management of the resource and studying discrete areas. Some units will have overlapping DAUs. A majority of those units are in the northwestern quadrant of the state, which consequently is where a majority of the over the counter and low point draw opportunities were.
| DAU Code | DAU Name | GMUs Included |
|---|---|---|
| E-2 | Bear’s Ears | 3, 4, 5, 301 |
| E-6 | White River | 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 131, 211, 231 |
| E-7 | Flat Tops | 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34 |
| E-8 | Eagle | 15, 35, 36, 45, 361 |
| E-16 | Troublesome | 18, 27, 28, 37, 181, 371 |
| E-17 | Middle Park | 37, 371 |
| E-20 | North Park | 6, 16, 17, 161, 171 |
| E-24 | Piceance | 21, 22, 30, 31, 32 |
| E-25 | Roan Plateau | 11, 211, 231, 441 |
(In)Conclusion
It remains to be seen what the impacts of these changes to the elk season will have. With the elimination of OTC tags for archery non-resident hunters — will there be more rifle hunters that start having those zero point units change to require preference points now that cow tags are considered A list tags? Will those hunters remain dedicated to archery tackle? Will the amount of hunters in some units effectively double, even though the intent of the biologists was to limit harvest opportunities for herds closer to objective? Time will tell.
