craigdailypress.com

Hunters who came up empty in this year's license draw don't need to lose hope.

Even if they didn't get the licenses they hoped for, hunters have plenty of opportunity to buy a leftover license or one of the Colorado Division of Wildlife's over-the-counter licenses.

Leftover licenses go on sale Aug. 8, and over-the-counter licenses go on sale July 10.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife had 169,000 elk licenses available to hunters in the draw.

The DOW doled out 115,000 of those licenses, meaning 54,000 leftover licenses are available over-the-counter.

There are also 39,000 leftover deer licenses available.

The number of leftover licenses available could change between now and Aug. 8, said DOW license administration manager Henrietta Turner. There will be a secondary draw this month that will give some of the leftovers to hunters, Turner said.

When leftovers go on sale, they will be available at license retailers, such as Craig Sports and Cashway Distributors in Craig, and online at http://wildlife.state.co.us/total_licensing/.

Hunters can also call (303) 291-7519 for leftover licenses.

Out-of-state hunters can buy the licenses by calling 1-800-244-5613.

Licenses are also available at DOW offices, but the division encourages people to buy them at license retailers.

To buy the licenses, each hunter must bring a drivers license or state identification card (or copy front and back), proof of hunter education, customer identification number or conservation certificate number and social security number.

Hunters typically show up at local retailers before dawn on the day leftovers go on sale so they can be first in line.

Joe Herod, owner of Craig Sports, said he has been getting calls from out-of-state hunters since June about leftover licenses.

Turner said the division would have liked to sell more licenses in the draw, but that's typical.

"We always like to see more go in the draw," she said.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.