How I'm Hunting A 2 Preference Point Elk Unit In Colorado Without Using Points

I can hear all the hunters saying "If it's too good to be true, it typically is." 

However, this is true. And it's not the first time!

This year, I'm hunting a two preference point archery elk unit and I didn't use any preference points. 

How?

The Colorado Parks & Wildlife offers leftover tags. 

What are leftover hunting tags?

 In Colorado, leftover hunting tags are essentially hunting licenses that were not issued during the primary and secondary draws. They provide an additional opportunity for hunters who were unsuccessful in the draw or missed the application deadline.

These leftover licenses are limited in number and cover specific hunting units and seasons. They can be used to hunt big game species such as deer, elk, pronghorn, and bear. The licenses become available for purchase on a specific date (typically the first week in August) after the primary and secondary draws are completed.

Leftover tags offer a second chance to hunters to get a limited license for the hunting season. However, because they are the remaining licenses after the draw process, they might not be for the most sought-after units or seasons.

What are OTC Tags?

It's important to note that leftover licenses are different from over-the-counter (OTC) licenses. OTC licenses are not limited in number and are available for certain units and seasons without participating in the draw. They can be purchased directly at any time during the sale period.

All available leftover licenses are typically listed on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website, and can be purchased online, by phone, or in person at Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices and license agents.

How To Get A Limited License Without Preference Points

The first thing I do is check the Secondary Draw list here. 

The secondary draw will give me an idea of how many tags are available. 

Then I'll apply for the tag that I want. 

If I don't get it, then that's ok, then comes the leftover draw. 

The CDOW will release a leftover hunting draw list with what's leftover. We've converted this data into our system and can be viewed in a easier to read format here. 

What's amazing about the Secondary draw list and the leftover list that we compiled is: 

 - They are searchable

 - Includes preference point data for each unit!

 - Includes alerts when a unit is available. 

What drove me to create this tool is that I couldn't stand reading the PDF's without all of the data that I wanted. Yes, I understand that you can view the preference point list online through Colorado Outdoors and correlate it with the leftover list. 

But how amazing is it to have it all in one list? Pretty sweet!

Leftover List Strategy

If I don't draw my primary unit for hunting, I'll typically search out the top units that have the highest preference points using our leftover list tool. Here are a couple examples: 

 From here I select a couple tags that I want. I select a couple tags just in case my primary unit is already taken. 

The left over tags for 2023 opened on Tuesday, August 1st at 9am. When that happens, I will login at 8am and the CPW will typically put me on a waiting list in order to enter their site. This year it was a 22 minute wait. Then when 9am came, I entered my primary hunt code and continued the checkout process. 

This is an amazing way to hunt a 1-6 preference point unit here in Colorado without using any preference points. 

Comment below and let me know what amazing unit you received as a leftover tag. Also, post your questions in the comments below.