Colorado Draw Odds
Colorado's primary draw is a preference-point draw: for each hunt code the licenses go to the applicants with the most points, and only the last point level that draws is decided by chance. Hunt codes that historically needed 10 or more points also send 20% of their licenses to a random 'hybrid' pool open to applicants with five or more points.
Nonresidents get up to 25% of licenses in codes that needed fewer than six resident points and up to 20% in codes that needed six or more, pay only the application fee, qualifying license, and habitat stamp up front — the license fee is charged after the draw — and must apply by the first Tuesday in April.
Sources: Colorado Parks and Wildlife documents, last verified August 31, 2026. · 42 sources
Odds by Species
Deer
1,062 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 13,315
- Applicants per Tag
- 8.4
Elk
1,117 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 21,095
- Applicants per Tag
- 6.3
Antelope (Pronghorn)
340 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 698
- Applicants per Tag
- 58.6
The Rules, Side by Side
Nonresident and resident rules for every species. Small numbers are sources.
| Species | Who | System | Choices | Lower Choice Burns Points | Point-Only | Points Expire | Party Averages | NR Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer, Elk, Pronghorn | Nonresident | Preference points 4 | 4 | No | Yes | Yes · 10 yr | No | 25% · 20% 4 |
| Resident | Preference points 4 | 4 | No | Yes | Yes · 10 yr | No | — |
NR Share
- Deer, elk, and pronghorn
- 25% Applies to hunt codes that take fewer than six resident preference points to draw. 20% Applies to the harder hunt codes, those that take six or more resident preference points to draw.
Points Expire
- Deer, elk, and pronghorn
- After 10 years without applying or buying one.
Party Applications
- Elk
- Group draws at the level of the member with the fewest points; groups not eligible for the hybrid random pool.
How This Draw Works, With an Example
Preference points: Tags go to the applicants with the most preference points, one level at a time. If the last level that draws has more applicants than tags remaining, those applicants are chosen at random. Everyone below that level misses and earns a point. In the hunts that take the most points, 20% of the tags are drawn at random instead, among the applicants who already hold enough points to enter that pool.
Buying Points
A nonresident can buy a Preference point in Colorado without applying for a tag. How you buy one depends on the species; the table below gives each.
Drawing your first choice spends the points you built. Points carry over from year to year, and Colorado voids them after 10 years without applying or buying one.
| Species | Resident | Nonresident | How | Points Lapse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer On The Application · lapses after 10 idle years | Free 1 | Free 2 | On The Application | After 10 idle years |
| Elk On The Application · lapses after 10 idle years | Free 1 | Free 2 | On The Application | After 10 idle years |
| Pronghorn On The Application · lapses after 10 idle years | Free 1 | Free 2 | On The Application | After 10 idle years |
- 1.No point fee for this species, but every applicant pays the $8.93 application fee and must already hold a qualifying licence (annual small game $38.49) and the $12.76 habitat stamp
- 2.No point fee for this species, but every applicant pays the $11.49 application fee and must already hold a qualifying licence (annual small game $104.86) and the $12.76 habitat stamp
Source: Preference point — cpw.state.co.us
Fees
| 2026 Fee | Nonres. | Resident | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every Applicant | |||
| Annual small game license (cheapest qualifying license to enter the draws) 1 To apply | $104.86 | $38.49 | To apply |
| Spring turkey license (alternative qualifying license) 1 To apply | $194.21 | — | To apply |
| Limited-license application-processing fee (per species, per draw) 3 To apply | $11.49 | $8.93 | To apply |
| Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp (ages 18-64, once per license year, added automatically) 1,3 To apply | $12.76 | $12.76 | To apply |
| Preference point fee, deer/elk/pronghorn (none until the 2028 draw) 2 Point-only purchase | $0 | $0 | Point-only purchase |
| Youth (12-17) deer, elk or pronghorn license 1 If drawn | $130.07 | $20.30 | If drawn |
| Hunt-code exchange fee (same species, quota remaining, before season starts) 1 If drawn | $5 | — | If drawn |
| License refund processing fee (most refunds) 1 If drawn | $15 | — | If drawn |
| Deer | |||
| Deer license (adult, includes fishing combo) 1 If drawn | $506.92 | $51.25 | If drawn |
| Elk | |||
| Elk license (bull, either-sex or cow; includes annual fishing combo) 1 If drawn | $845.16 | $70.40 | If drawn |
| Pronghorn | |||
| Pronghorn license (adult, includes fishing combo) 1 If drawn | $506.92 | $51.25 | If drawn |
| Cash to Apply, One Species | $129.11 | $60.18 | Kept if you miss |
Cash to apply adds up every fee due with an application; each extra species adds its own application fee.
Next Application Deadlines
-
Mar 1 – Apr 6, 2027 171 days expected
Dates marked expected are last cycle's schedule rolled forward by Colorado Parks and Wildlife's own rule; confirm them once the new dates are published.
Legal cartridges in Colorado by species and weapon
Sources (42)
Draw Rules, Fees and Deadlines
- 1. Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting brochure (deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear)
- 2. Colorado Parks and Wildlife · CPW web page: Primary Draw (application window, preference points, hybrid draw, group applications, payment deadlines) · 2026
- 3. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission · 2 CCR 406-0 Chapter W-0 General Provisions, consolidated as of 05/06/2026 (Appendix F license and pass prices, effective July 1, 2026)
- 4. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission · 2 CCR 406-2 Chapter W-2 Big Game regulations, consolidated as of 05/06/2026 (includes 2026 hunt-code tables and 'until/beginning January 1, 2028' draw rules) · 2029
- 5. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission · Agenda Item 12: 2028 Draw regulation changes and Chapter W-2 (Final Regulations, March 5-6, 2025 Commission meeting mailing 02/21/2025)
Draw Results, Hunt Lists and Harvest Reports, 2021–2026
2026 · 6 documents
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2026 Primary DEER Post Draw Report (Draw Recap), run 5/11/2026
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report (Draw Recap), run 5/14/2026 2:26 PM
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2026 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report (Draw Recap), run 5/21/2026
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2026 Secondary Deer Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2026 Secondary Elk Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2026 Secondary Pronghorn Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
2025 · 6 documents
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2025 Primary DEER Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2025 Primary ELK Post Draw Report (Draw Recap), run 5/17/2025
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2025 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2025 Secondary Deer Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2025 Secondary Elk Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2025 Secondary Pronghorn Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
2024 · 7 documents
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2024 Primary DEER Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2024 Primary ELK Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2024 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2024 Secondary Deer Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2024 Secondary Elk Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2024 Secondary Pronghorn Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · CPW news release 05/23/2023: Commission finalized 75/25 resident/nonresident allocation for most deer, elk, pronghorn and bear hunt codes effective 2024 seasons
2023 · 6 documents
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2023 Primary DEER Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2023 Primary ELK Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2023 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2023 Secondary Deer Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2023 Secondary Elk Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2023 Secondary Pronghorn Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
2022 · 6 documents
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2022 Primary DEER Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2022 Primary ELK Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2022 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2022 Secondary Deer Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2022 Secondary Elk Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2022 Secondary Pronghorn Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
2021 · 6 documents
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2021 Primary Deer Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2021 Primary Elk Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2021 Primary Pronghorn Post Draw Report (Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2021 Secondary Deer Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2021 Secondary Elk Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife · 2021 Secondary Pronghorn Post Draw Report (Secondary Draw Recap)
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About These Numbers
Rules, fees and deadlines are copied from Colorado Parks and Wildlife documents and change by commission action; a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward. The odds on each species page are last draw's results. Check the agency's site and apply there; we don't take applications. How we compute these.