CO Elk License Question for CO residents

[JJB2]

I'm moving to CO next year and have a question for the CO residents.  If I purchase an OTC either sex archery elk license and do not take an elk, can I purchase an OTC license for 2nd or 3rd rifle season?  The way the game laws read is that you can only buy a license to hunt during one season regardless of whether you take an animal on that license.  

Also, if I were to take an elk and deer with my bow and want to hunt bear later in the year can I do that?  The regs read that you must have a filled or unfilled elk or deer tag for the current season and manner of take in order to be able to bear hunt?

Thanks for the clarification.

[Over&Under]

I read the regs the same way you do...it's ridiculous to say the least.  

The only way you can hunt a later season with a different weapon is if you get a leftover license..at least that is the way I read it.

[JJB2]

Is that a new rule in CO?  If I can buy OTC archery either sex and an OTC bull only license in the same unit and I don't succeed during archery why shouldn't I be able to buy a 2nd license and try again to fill my tag as long as I'm paying for both licenses?  I'm going to give Eagle Mtn Merc in Pagosa a call and see if I'm reading it right.

[Glunt]

#1 - No, you are only allowed one bull elk license, whether you fill your tag makes no difference.  You could buy an antlerless archery tag and then buy an OTC rifle bull tag. Or, an OTC either sex archery tag and then an antlerless limited draw rifle tag.

#2 No, the bear tags that are during rifle season are the OTC with caps tags and you have to have a rifle elk or deer tag for the same season and unit.  You could bowhunt Sept, and apply for limited antlerless rifle elk or deer tag (some sort of "B" tag) fora rifle season so you would be covered if you wanted to get a bear tag for the same season.

There are bear tags that don't require you have an elk or deer license, but that season is in Sept.

If you are looking for a way to stretch bow season out all fall,  A plains deer tag or a Nebraska tag is a popular choice.

There are some exceptions to what I listed above, but you want to look at the regs and see what the "B" and "C" tags are for each species when you are trying to get multiple tags for the same species.

[JJB2]

Glunt, thanks for clarifying, that makes a little more sense.  So I could legally take two elk per year if I fill an either sex or bull tag and draw/purchase an antlerless tag.  Thanks again.

[Geezer]

Page 29 of the proclamation has a table with A, B and C licenses.  If you get a chance to read it and still have questions call one of the offices listed on the inside cover.  Also, CO hires a number of temporary employees each year and sits them in the Hunt Planning office...my kid worked there for a year and I know from first hand that a lot of people called and in many cases the time spent one-on-one really did help. The phone # for Hunt Planners is (303) 297-1192.  CO manages for opportunity and all the options does make it sometimes hard to understand.  At one time many years ago there was only one license and one season.  The state, at the request of hunters, changed structure to manage #'s of hunters on top of each other, move pressure around where it was needed and increase harvest in units it also needed it.  Sometimes we complain about the confusion but we need to remind ourselves that we have more options than we have time to hunt...and that is still a good thing!