Hunting Trip Planner
Preparing for Your Adventure
We find great pleasure and excitement when hunters commit to hunting with us! Consequently, we want to prepare you for your hunting adventure as best as we can. Trip planning can often seem overwhelming, but we want help make the process as smooth as possible for you to be prepared for your adventure of a lifetime. We hope the resources below serve to help lessen the learning curve for your planning and preparation.
You may also find answers to your questions on our FAQ Page.
As always, if you have questions or need guidance in any way, please feel free to reach out by calling us or messaging us.
AEI Outfitter Hunting Checklist
Step 1: Submit Registration and First Deposit
Complete the Hunting Registration Form below the Checklist on this page. Submit your 1st deposit ASAP to secure your hunting spot. Hunting deposit amount is $1,000 or equal to 1/2 the hunt cost depending on your preference point situation. Only the first payment deposit may be made via credit card with an additional processing fee of 3%. Checks made payable to AEI Outfitter.
Mail payments to:
AEI Outfitter
PO Box 25
Gunnison, CO 81230
Step 2: You will Receive a Hunter Contract and other Pertinent Forms; Return the Signed, Hunter Contract and all Other Forms
Once AEI Outfitter receives your registration and deposit, and your tag has been drawn, we will send you a Hunting/Fishing Contract, Medical Form and Liability Waiver. You must fill out all forms and return them no latter than 60 days before of the start of your hunt.
Step 3: Send 2nd Deposit to Reach 50% Hunt Cost
The hunt tag application period is in March of each year. Once you apply and secure your hunting license (typically results are early June), you will need to send in the remaining balance to reach 50% hunt cost.
Step 4: Send Remaining Balance of Hunt Cost
You must pay the remaining balance of your hunt cost no later than 30 days before the start of your adventure. See Step 1 for payment information.
Step 5: Arrive at AEI Outfitter Base Camp for Your Hunting Adventure
Depending on the season and dates you will be hunting, the next step is the long awaited BEST STEP. Join us at our base camp for an amazing adventure!
Colorado Hunting Applications
Big game license applications are offered online at www.cpwshop.com. The online system is the only way to apply for your tags or preference points. There are no longer paper applications. All customers, new and existing, need to have a unique email address and password to create an online profile in the new system (see more details below). I recommend going ahead and setting up your online profile before the system becomes active to apply for tags on March 1. The application deadline is the first Tuesday in April. License fees are no longer due at the time you submit your draw application but you will be charged the license price only if you draw your license. Make sure that prior to the anticipated draw results, your credit card information is current and accurate so it processes your fees.
You can read through the Colorado Big Game Regs online to more familiarize yourself with Colorado’s regulations and protocol.
AEI staff can help walk you through the application process.
Here are a few other notes to be aware of as you prepare for the online application process.
1. You will need to have your CID# (Colorado ID) and your birthdate to set up a new account. If you can’t find your CID, you will have to call the CPW and recover it (1-800-244-5613). If you have previously purchased a hunting and fishing license in Colorado, you’ll have an account with them, but not a username and password. It is important to look up your existing account before attempting to create a new one. You do this by clicking on the ‘Lookup’ tab on the webpage and begin navigating the process from there. You will also need a unique identifier for registration (Driver’s license, passport, etc.).
If you have never hunter in Colorado, follow the links to create a new account.
Lastly, you need proof of hunter education certificate from the state in which your received it. (This card/proof will also need to accompany you in the field unless your license has been verified)
2. Purchase a Qualifying License:
All applicants must first purchase a qualifying hunting license BEFORE applying for the big game draw or acquiring a preference point. Qualifying licenses are spring turkey, annual small game and/or small game/fishing combo. Ex. Small game license or small game/fishing combo. Also, a $12.47 habitat stamp will be automatically added when purchasing your qualifying license.
If you are applying for any bighorn/desert sheep, mountain goat or moose preference point, there is a $100 per species fee for non-residents and $50 fee per species for residents. There is an opt-out option for applying if you do not wish to acquire a preference point for not drawing a tag.
Application fees: $8 for residents and $11 for non-residents. These fees are per species.
There is no longer a preference point fee for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bear or turkey.
3. For all limited seasons and tags, you are only guaranteed to draw the tag if you apply as FIRST CHOICE on your application. Also note that the 'O' in 'O1' is a letter, not a number. Hunt codes are below:
Archery Deer: D-M-055-O1-A or D-M-551-O1-A This is a buck-only tag.
Archery Elk: E-E-055-O1-A This is an either-sex tag.
Muzzleloader Bull Elk: E-M-055-O1-M
Muzzleloader Cow Elk: E-F-055-O1-M
Muzzleloader Deer: D-M-055-O1-M or D-M-551-O1-M This is a buck-only tag.
1st Rifle Bull Elk: E-M-055-O1-R
1st Rifle Cow Elk: E-F-055-O1-R You cannot have both a bull and a cow tag; you must choose one or the other.
Mountain Goat First Rifle G3: G-E-G03-O1-R
Mountain Goat Second Rifle G3: G-E-G03-O2-R
Mountain Goat First Rifle G2: G-E-G02-O1-R
Moose: M-M-055-O1-X
3rd Rifle Deer: D-M-055-O3-R or D-M-054-O3-R or D-M-551-O3-R or D-M-067-O3-R This is a buck-only tag.
4th Rifle Deer: D-M-055-O4-R or D-M-54-O3-R or D-M-551-O4-R or D-M-067-O4-R This is a buck-only tag.
Preference Points:
Elk Preference Point: E-P-999-99-P
Deer Preference Point: D-P-999-99-P
Mountain Goat Preference Point: G-P-999-99-P
Moose Preference Point: M-P-999-99-P
