Draw, Over the Counter or Landowner Tag: Which Route Gets You Hunting This Season
By Serge Engurasoff, Founder, Urge2Hunt, 35+ years in the hunting industry; arranging guided hunts and landowner tags through Urge2Hunt since 2010.
Member: Safari Club International, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Ducks Unlimited.
Last reviewed: October 2026
If you want to hunt elk this fall, you can apply through a draw, buy an available over-the-counter license, or arrange a transferable landowner tag. Draws offer access to limited units, sometimes after years of waiting. Over-the-counter tags are available when sales open, while landowner tags can secure a specific unit where transfers are allowed.
Key Takeaways
Draw tags offer lower license costs and access to limited units over time.
Over-the-counter elk tags let you buy the tag the day sales open.
Transferable landowner tags can secure a specific unit this season.
Hunt fees and license costs are often separate expenses.
Your preferred state, available dates, and preference points shape your options.
The three ways a tag reaches you
With the draw, you apply to the state for the hunt you want and wait for the results. Colorado's primary draw allows for different hunt choices, and preference points can improve your chances of drawing certain limited licenses. With an over-the-counter (OTC) license, you buy your tag when sales open, provided the state offers one for your unit and season.
In states allowing transfers, a landowner can provide an eligible tag or voucher to another hunter. The rules differ across Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming, as well as Nevada, Montana, Idaho and Arizona.
Draw, over the counter or landowner tag, side by side
Comparison | Draw | Over the counter | Landowner tag |
When you know | After draw results | When sales open | When transfer is arranged |
Certainty this season | Depends on selection | High in eligible units | Highest when an eligible tag is available |
Cost | Only license and application fees | Standard license fee | Tag premium plus hunt costs |
Limited-unit access | Available through selection | Usually restricted | Available where transfers are allowed |
Best suited for | Hunters building points | Flexible hunters | Hunters seeking a specific unit |
Methodology: Compared using Colorado Parks and Wildlife rules, state programs covered in our landowner guides, and Urge2Hunt hunt listings. Current as of October 2026. Reviewed by Serge Engurasoff.
State regulations, eligible units, and transfer requirements can change each year.
Timing: when you find out you're hunting
Missed the spring draw and still want to hunt this fall? An OTC license may give you another option, provided the state offers one for your preferred season and hunting method. Colorado allows four hunting choices in its primary draw, although you can receive only one license per species through that draw. You'll wait for the results before knowing whether you can hunt that unit. OTC licenses become available when sales open, while landowner opportunities depend on finding an eligible tag and arranging its transfer.
For timing, OTC leads because you can settle your license when sales open for an eligible hunt.
Certainty: who actually hunts this fall
A hunter set on one particular unit has fewer options, especially when that unit takes years of preference points. A transferable landowner tag can settle the tag question sooner, provided one is available. I've talked with hunters who spent years building points for a unit where a landowner opportunity was available. They could’ve considered hunting sooner instead of waiting for another draw. An OTC license also gets you hunting this season when a general unit fits your plans. Getting the tag settles where you can hunt, while conditions and shot opportunity determine what happens afterward.
For a specific unit this season, landowner tags lead where transfers are permitted and a tag’s available.
Cost shape: what you pay and when
A drawn license uses the applicable state fee, although application and preference-point expenses can add up over time. Colorado Parks and Wildlife states that “OTC licenses are not restricted in quantity but are restricted to certain units, seasons, and manners of take.” The agency explains these restrictions on its OTC license page.
With a landowner tag, you may pay for the authorization and then pay separately for the guided hunt. Our guide to what a guided elk hunt costs by state explains those expenses. Newfoundland moose hunts work differently, with nonresident moose licenses allocated through licensed outfitters.
For license cost, draw and OTC can be comparable, while the draw offers access to limited units over time.
Which route fits which hunter
Some hunters apply in several states every year, building points until they draw the unit they want. If that's your approach, keep working the draw, although an OTC hunt may get you into the field sooner. If your dates are flexible and you're comfortable hunting a general unit, start with available elk hunts and mule deer hunts. Each listing identifies its tag arrangement.
Some hunters have finished waiting on the draw and want to hunt this fall. That's where transferable landowner opportunities and guided hunts with tags included come into the conversation. Colorado prohibits third-party voucher brokering, so Urge2Hunt doesn't sell Colorado vouchers. Nevada offers transferable mule deer landowner tags through its compensation program. When someone calls me, I start with the state, species, preference points, and whether they're willing to wait another season. Those answers tell me which hunts are worth discussing.
Frequently asked questions
What is an over the counter elk tag?
An over-the-counter elk tag is a license you can buy directly when a state opens sales for eligible units and seasons. You don't need to win a draw. Colorado's OTC elk opportunities have restrictions on units, seasons, and hunting methods, so check the current regulations before choosing your hunt or purchasing a license.
How do landowner tags work?
Landowner tag programs give qualifying property owners access to hunting licenses, vouchers, or authorizations under state rules. Some states allow transfers to other hunters, while others restrict who can use them. Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada each have different programs. Check the transfer rules before paying for an authorization or arranging a guided hunt.
Is a landowner tag better than a draw tag?
A transferable landowner tag may get you into a specific hunting unit this season, although you'll usually pay more for that opportunity. A draw tag generally costs less and can provide access to limited units over time. If you're willing to wait and build points, the draw may suit you better than paying for a transfer.
How do you draw an elk tag?
Apply through the state wildlife agency during its designated application period. Colorado's primary draw allows four hunt choices, with preference points helping applicants draw certain limited licenses. An unsuccessful first choice or point-only application can earn a point under the state's rules. Points don't apply to Colorado's OTC licenses, so check your chosen hunt code carefully.
Can you buy over the counter mule deer tags?
Some states offer over-the-counter mule deer licenses for eligible hunting opportunities, although availability depends on the state, unit, season, and residency requirements. Other hunts require a draw or an eligible landowner authorization. Review the wildlife agency's current regulations and check the tag type shown on the hunt listing before arranging your travel or lodging.
Related Guides
How Landowner Tags Work by State: CO, UT, NM, WY | Landowner Tags in Nevada, Montana, Idaho and Arizona | Guided Hunts With Tags Included | What a Guided Elk Hunt Actually Costs, by State | How We Vet the Outfitters We Book | What a Newfoundland Moose Hunt Costs
Get a straight answer for this season
Tell us which species you want to hunt, the state you're considering, and how many preference points you have. We'll tell you which tag routes are available and what your options look like for this season. I've spent more than 35 years hunting and Urge2Hunt has arranged guided hunts since 2010.
