Colorado Nonresident Bear Tag Cost 2026: CPW Bear/Fishing Combo, OTC and Draw
Use this page when the question is specifically Colorado bear cost, not the full Colorado nonresident license stack.
TL;DR — Key Takeaways
- The June 19 GSC Colorado bear group has 3 rows, 16 impressions, 0 clicks, and weighted average position 18.56.
- The lead query is "colorado non resident bear tag cost" with 13 impressions, 0 clicks, and average position 12.08.
- CPW current OTC fee planning rows list the nonresident Bear/Fishing Combo at $251.75 and the annual Habitat Stamp at $12.15.
- Do not treat $251.75 as every hunter's final cart. Draw, OTC, add-on bear, habitat stamp, application, qualifying-license, season and checkout status can change the payable total.
- CPW says OTC licenses do not require buying or having a qualifying license, do not use preference points, and may be purchased before or during a season.
- For archery or muzzleloader bear add-on scenarios, confirm same method of take and at least one overlapping deer or elk unit in CPW materials before buying.
In This Guide 7 sections
Colorado Nonresident Bear Tag Cost: Fast Answer
CPW's current OTC fee planning table lists:
| CPW planning row | Listed amount | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Nonresident Bear/Fishing Combo | $251.75 | A planning row for Colorado nonresident bear cost when the CPW product fits the hunt |
| Annual Habitat Stamp | $12.15 | A required stamp item CPW says hunters must purchase with their license |
That means a simple OTC planning estimate starts with $251.75 plus the Habitat Stamp, but the final payable total belongs in CPW Shop. Do not use this as a universal total for every draw, add-on, overlapping-license, checkout, or season path.
Source rechecked June 19, 2026: CPW Big Game, CPW OTC Licenses, and CPW Shop. The CPW black-bear URL checked during this batch returned a 404 page, so this support page does not rely on that unavailable URL for current rules.
Why This Page Exists
The June 19 GSC export shows a small but clear Colorado bear support cluster that should not stay buried inside the broader Colorado nonresident page:
| Query | Impressions | Clicks | Average position | Correct owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| colorado non resident bear tag cost | 13 | 0 | 12.08 | This page |
| colorado bear hunting license | 2 | 0 | 64.00 | This page, then CPW |
| how much is a bear tag in colorado | 1 | 0 | 12.00 | This page |
Together, the June 19 GSC Colorado bear group has 3 rows, 16 impressions, 0 clicks, and weighted average position 18.56. The lead row is near the page-one threshold. The job of this support page is to answer the bear price quickly, then route users to the correct Colorado nonresident, elk, public-land, and CPW checkout paths.
The Cost Stack Changes By Path
Colorado bear planning splits into three common paths:
| Path | Cost logic | What to verify before paying |
|---|---|---|
| OTC bear license | Bear/Fishing Combo row + Habitat Stamp + CPW Shop checkout items | Valid unit, season, method of take, purchase limits, and whether the license is available for your plan |
| Limited draw bear license | Qualifying license + Habitat Stamp + application fee + bear license if awarded | Hunt code, application status, draw calendar, preference-point path, and final CPW Shop product |
| Add-on bear with deer or elk context | Bear product may depend on method and overlapping deer or elk unit context | Same method of take, at least one overlapping hunting unit, and current CPW Big Game Brochure wording |
The most important boundary: qualifying license and OTC are not the same path. CPW says a qualifying license is required before applying for limited licenses through big-game draws. CPW's OTC page says OTC licenses do not require buying or having a qualifying license, do not use preference points, and may be purchased any time before and during a season.
OTC Does Not Mean Any Unit
CPW describes OTC licenses as not restricted in quantity, but still restricted to certain units, seasons, and manners of take. They are also subject to individual purchase limits.
For bear, this matters because a hunter can see a $251.75 nonresident Bear/Fishing Combo row and still have the wrong plan if the season, method, unit, or add-on relationship does not match. Treat OTC as a purchase path, not a statewide permission slip.
Before using the OTC row, confirm:
- Bear is available for the season and method you plan to hunt.
- The unit or hunt area is valid in the current CPW Big Game Brochure.
- Your license path is OTC rather than primary draw, secondary draw, leftover limited, or landowner voucher.
- The Habitat Stamp and any checkout items are shown correctly in CPW Shop.
- Your field proof matches the license you actually bought.
Add-On Bear And Overlapping-License Logic
CPW's OTC page includes an important white-tailed deer card note: hunters can purchase an over-the-counter archery or muzzleloader bear license if they have a deer license for the same method of take and at least one hunting unit overlaps.
Use that as a warning against oversimplified answers. It does not mean every Colorado bear license is the same, and it does not mean every bear hunter needs an overlapping deer or elk license. It means add-on or overlapping-license scenarios require a method-of-take and unit-overlap check in CPW materials before purchase.
If your plan involves bear plus deer or elk:
- Identify the deer or elk license first.
- Match the method of take.
- Check whether at least one hunting unit overlaps.
- Confirm bear availability in the Big Game Brochure.
- Use CPW Shop for the final product row and payable total.
Limited Draw, Leftover, Landowner Voucher, Or OTC?
If you are not sure which path you are on, do not start with price. Start with the hunt code or CPW product status:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is this a limited license? | Draw applications can require a qualifying license, Habitat Stamp, application fee, and awarded license payment. |
| Is it OTC? | CPW says OTC avoids the draw and qualifying-license requirement, but still has unit, season, method, and purchase-limit restrictions. |
| Is it leftover limited? | Leftover status can change timing and availability without making the license an ordinary OTC product. |
| Is it a landowner voucher? | CPW says vouchers are transferred by landowners or managers and must be redeemed for the proper valid license before hunting. |
The cleanest buying order is: hunt path -> unit/season/method -> bear product -> Habitat Stamp -> CPW Shop checkout -> saved field proof.
Before You Pay CPW
Use this checklist for Colorado nonresident bear:
- Bear/Fishing Combo row checked against the current CPW product path.
- Habitat Stamp included when CPW requires it.
- OTC vs limited draw status confirmed.
- Qualifying license added only when the draw path requires it.
- Add-on method and overlapping unit checked if bear is tied to deer or elk context.
- Public-land access checked separately from license legality.
- CPW Shop cart reviewed for final amount, product name, dates, and field proof.
For broader Colorado nonresident budgeting, use the Colorado nonresident hunting license guide. For elk-specific hunt-code planning, use the Colorado elk guide. For access questions, use the nonresident public-land guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Colorado nonresident bear tag?
CPW current OTC fee planning rows list the nonresident Bear/Fishing Combo at $251.75 and the annual Habitat Stamp at $12.15. The final payable total should be confirmed in CPW Shop because draw, OTC, add-on, habitat, application and checkout items can change the cart.
Do I need a qualifying license for a Colorado OTC bear license?
CPW says OTC licenses do not require buying or having a qualifying license and do not use preference points. A qualifying license is required before applying for limited licenses through the big-game draw, so first confirm whether your bear path is OTC, draw, leftover or another route.
Can I add a Colorado bear license to a deer or elk hunt?
Sometimes, but do not assume it. CPW materials include same-method and overlapping-unit logic for some add-on bear scenarios. Confirm the deer or elk license, method of take, overlapping unit and bear availability in current CPW materials before buying.
Is Colorado OTC bear valid in every unit?
No. CPW says OTC licenses are not restricted in quantity but are still restricted to certain units, seasons and manners of take, and are subject to individual purchase limits. Use the current CPW Big Game Brochure and CPW Shop before hunting.
View Page Update History (1)
- 2026-06-19:Created as an independent second-round GSC support page for Colorado nonresident bear tag cost, OTC/draw separation, add-on overlap checks, and CPW Shop checkout routing.