Hunters statewide flock to Leftover License Day

Tuesday was the busiest day of the year at Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices across Colorado.

Hunters arrived early and formed long lines to purchase a limited number of big-game hunting licenses not allocated during the April application period.

The day is known as Leftover License Day.

Jeff Richards said he was thankful and relieved to get tags for deer and elk.

“I had a hunting trip planned to Montana but it fell through at the last minute,” he said. “Being here today is a big deal. And with Colorado’s point system, you get points if you don’t get a license and you can use those points to get one in later years.”

The day attracts hunters from outside Colorado as well as Colorado residents.

“We had someone camped out here since Saturday to get a license,” said Tim Kroening, district wildlife manager. “We’ll sell thousands of licenses across the state today. The money helps fund our agency.”

Kroening said licenses cost between $30 and $600 depending on a hunter’s residency status and the type of animal to be hunted.

The success rate for hunters is around 30 percent during rifle season, he said.

“We’re seeing fewer people buying licenses every year,” Kroening said. “Society is just going in that direction. But there still are a lot of people who love to do it, and it has a huge economic impact for the state.”

Colorado’s hunting season starts Aug. 27 with archery hunting.