Colorado Elk EF003O1R
Elk female rifle season 1 GMU 3 in GMUs 3, 4, 5, 214, 301 and 441, rifle only, Oct 14–18, 2026.
Your odds at 0 points · 2026 draw
400 tags for 46 first-choice applicants
161 first-choice applicants for 400 tags (all residencies) in 2026, but only 38 of the 46 first-choice applicants drew (nonresidents are capped at 25%).
Years to draw on points: 5 yrs (at least 5)
- NR Tags
- 400
- Applicants
- 46
- Success
- —
First-choice nonresidents, standard draw; nonresidents capped at 25%.
Points Needed to Draw, 2021–2026
The cut has risen from 0 to 1 point since 2021. Applicants per tag: 0.3:1 in 2021, 0.1:1 in 2026.
Point creep: drew out at 0 → 0 → 3 → 1 point (2021–2025), +0.0 points/yr (range +0.0 to +1.5). Years to draw project that pace (the median of the last five draws, capped at 2 points/yr); the agency sets quotas and demand sets the cut.
What It Costs · 2026 NR Fees
Closes Apr 6 · 170 daysThe $11.49 nonresident limited-license application-processing fee (per species, per draw) is not refunded. The $104.86 nonresident annual small game license (cheapest qualifying license to enter the draws; base $102.11 + surcharges) is not refunded. The $12.76 Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp (ages 18-64, once per license year, added automatically) is not refunded. A preference point fee, deer/elk/pronghorn (none until the 2028 draw) is $0, bought separately. Drawing adds the $845.16 nonresident elk license (bull, either-sex or cow; includes annual fishing combo; base $842.41 + surcharges) - charged only if drawn.
Optional, not counted above: Hunt-code exchange fee (same species, quota remaining, before season starts) $5 and License refund processing fee (most refunds) $15.
- Opens
- Mar 1, 2027
- Closes
- Apr 6, 2027
- Results
- about May 25
- Point Only
- $0, Mar 1 – Apr 6
Next application window: Open Mar 1 – Apr 6, 2027 (expected). Dates are last cycle's, rolled forward until Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes 2027.
▸ Every Fee, With Sources
- Nonresident limited-license application-processing fee (per species, per draw) · paid at application $11.49 CPW 2026 2 CCR 406-0 Chapter W-0 General…
- Nonresident annual small game license (cheapest qualifying license to enter the draws; base $102.11 + surcharges) · paid at application $104.86 or $194.21 CPW 2026 Big Game Hunting brochure
- Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp (ages 18-64, once per license year, added automatically) · paid at application $12.76 CPW 2026 2 CCR 406-0 Chapter W-0 General…
- Preference point fee, deer/elk/pronghorn (none until the 2028 draw) · only for a point bought without applying — an unsuccessful applicant gets the point free $0 CPW 2026 web page
- Nonresident elk license (bull, either-sex or cow; includes annual fishing combo; base $842.41 + surcharges) - charged only if drawn · paid if drawn, refundable $845.16 CPW 2026 Big Game Hunting brochure
Details
Odds by Point Level · 2026 Draw
| Points | Chance | Applied | Drew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 ← you | 85% | 20 | 17 |
| 1–4 | 88% same at every level | 25 | 20 |
| 5–10 | 100% same at every level | — | — |
Preference points, computed from published point-level pools. A dash means Colorado Parks and Wildlife did not publish a count for that level. Colorado runs a second, random pass after the points pass.
Draw results: CPW 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 320, retrieved Aug 31, 2026.
As a Lower Choice
Tags issued to lower choices ÷ lower-choice applicants, as published. Points do not help a lower choice.
▸ Year-by-Year Numbers 6 draws
The standard draw for nonresidents, one row per year. Colorado runs a second, random pass after the points pass; it is shown beside the year it belongs to.
| Year | Tags | Applicants | Per Tag | Points Needed | Random Pass | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 400 | 46 | 0.1 | — | 12 tags of 37 | CPW 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 320 |
| 2025 | 250 | 100 | 0.4 | 1 | 6 tags of 47 | CPW 2025 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 269 |
| 2024 | 2 | 96 | 48 | 3 | — | CPW 2024 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 231 |
| 2023 | 0 | 107 | — | — | — | CPW 2023 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 234 |
| 2022 | 500 | 160 | 0.3 | 0 | 14 tags of 98 | CPW 2022 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 236 |
| 2021 | 500 | 174 | 0.3 | 0 | 9 tags of 113 | CPW 2021 Primary Elk Post Draw Report, p. 236 |
▸ Legal Cartridges 21 on file for Colorado elk
21 cartridges on file are legal for elk with a rifle in Colorado, 1 of them depending on the load. Rules and sources: Colorado hunting laws.
▸ Sources 10
- CPW 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 320 · draw results, seasons, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2025 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 269 · earlier draws, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2024 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 231 · earlier draws, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2023 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 234 · earlier draws, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2022 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, p. 236 · earlier draws, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2021 Primary Elk Post Draw Report, p. 236 · earlier draws, retrieved Sep 1, 2026
- CPW 2026 2 CCR 406-2 Chapter W-2 Big Game… draw rules, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2026 2 CCR 406-0 Chapter W-0 General… fees, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2026 Big Game Hunting brochure fees, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
- CPW 2026 web page fees, retrieved Aug 31, 2026
About These Numbers
Odds are from the 2026 draw, the latest on file, computed from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's published results (preference points, computed from published point-level pools). They are what happened in that draw, not a forecast. Under five tags a percentage carries a *, because one applicant either way swings it. A dash means the agency did not publish the number, and a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward.
Report an error on this page
We don't take applications: check Colorado Parks and Wildlife's site and apply there.
Prior-draw odds from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's results, not a forecast · All Colorado elk hunts