Colorado gives hunters several ways to plan a trip: the primary draw, the secondary draw and licenses available outside those drawings. Start with your residency, species and weapon. Then compare the exact hunt code, access and season rather than assuming a familiar unit offers the same opportunity every year.
Applications, Draw System & Top Units
Colorado at a Glance
Reviewed September 28, 2026- Draw system
- Preference points for deer, elk, pronghorn and bear
- Application calendar
- 2026 primary: April 7; secondary: June 30 (closed)
- Planning priority
- Qualifying license required for limited-license draws
- Official agency
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Applications and deadlines
The 2026 primary draw deadline was April 7 at 8 p.m. Mountain time; the secondary draw deadline was June 30 at 8 p.m. Both are closed. A qualifying license is required before applying for limited licenses. Check the current brochure for license availability and the next announced application cycle.
Official Colorado application information →
Build the complete cost before you apply
Check the current license, application, permit and stamp requirements for your residency and species. Keep nonrefundable application costs separate from the tag cost and your travel budget. Review the current agency rules and resources before paying.
How the Colorado draw works
For deer, elk, pronghorn and bear, a qualifying unsuccessful first-choice application in the primary draw can earn a preference point. A preference-point hunt code is another option. Do not apply those rules to every species or assume an over-the-counter license exists for every residency and weapon combination.
Species to hunt in Colorado
Elk
Compare the actual limited or over-the-counter license available to you. Build the hunt around season dates, road access and how you will recover an elk from the country you select.
Mule deer
Research your first-choice hunt code alongside your points. Consider how the season changes where you can glass and travel, and identify an access alternative before the trip.
Pronghorn
Check land ownership early. A unit with animals visible from the road can still be a poor fit if the country you intend to hunt is private.
Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat
Use the species-specific application and point rules in the current brochure. These are separate planning projects from a deer or elk application.
Black bear
Colorado bear hunting has its own season and license rules. Check the current bear information instead of relying on a generic spring-bear calendar.
Choose country you can actually hunt
Use Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunt-planning resources to narrow your shortlist. Match the legal boundary and season to your map, verify public access or landowner permission, and check travel restrictions before booking. Compare two or three practical hunts instead of choosing solely from a trophy reputation.
- Access: identify a legal starting point and a backup route.
- Time: include scouting, weather delays and meat recovery in the trip.
- Conditions: check current closures, fire information and agency updates close to departure.
For exact seasons, legal animals, equipment and reporting requirements, use the current Colorado regulations. Historical odds and past harvest reports describe previous hunts; they do not guarantee a future result.
Go Deeper
Build your Colorado hunt plan.
Bring your points, budget and shortlist together before the next application. Explore planning support at HuntQuarters.