Colorado draw application deadlines and fees

Colorado's 2026 primary draw application (deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, moose) opened March 1, 2026 and closed April 7, 2026 at 8 p.m. MT; results came out May 26, 2026, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The lowest adult elk license price we list for a nonresident is $842.41 (Elk license, nonresident), charged if drawn.

CPW sets the 2027 dates in its 2027 big game brochure. Until that is out, the 2026 dates here are the latest CPW has published.

When do Colorado applications open and close?

What does it cost to apply in Colorado?

License prices carry a $1.50 wildlife education surcharge and a $1.25 search and rescue surcharge on top (CPW's double-asterisk note). Deer, elk, pronghorn and bear points have no point fee.

Fees from Chapter W-0, Appendix F: Wildlife License and Pass Prices, as approved May 6, 2026, Big Game Primary Draw.

How do points work in Colorado?

Colorado gives first-choice priority to applicants with the most preference points, and an applicant who misses a first choice gains a point. Drawing a first choice uses all points for that species. CPW also runs a hybrid draw, so a few applicants below a code's drawn-out level can draw. For moose, applicants with three or more preference points go into a random draw in which each extra moose point improves the applicant's number.

• How to get a point without a hunt. Put the preference point code P-999-99-P (with the species letter in front) as your first choice. You can still list hunts as choices 2 to 4. Do not send a second application for the same species, or both are thrown out.
• When points are used. Points count only for your first choice in the primary draw. Drawing your first choice uses all your points for that species. Second to fourth choices, the secondary draw, leftover and over-the-counter licenses neither use nor earn points.
• Moose points after the third. Once you hold three preference points and miss your first choice in the moose draw, CPW adds a second kind of point. It improves your random number in the moose draw rather than putting you ahead in line.

What did the 2026 draw look like?

From Colorado Parks and Wildlife's 2026 draw reports, first choice only.

Elk: 1,039 hunts

• Resident adult: 78,795 first-choice applications, 43,351 drew
• Nonresident adult: 50,912 first-choice applications, 28,222 drew
• Resident youth: 7,872 first-choice applications, 4,490 drew
• Nonresident youth: 2,542 first-choice applications, 1,376 drew
• Hunts where at least half of first-choice applicants with no points drew: residents 551, nonresidents 464.

Deer: 991 hunts

• Resident adult: 79,007 first-choice applications, 43,113 drew
• Nonresident adult: 36,889 first-choice applications, 15,127 drew
• Resident youth: 9,424 first-choice applications, 5,066 drew
• Nonresident youth: 2,490 first-choice applications, 813 drew
• Hunts where at least half of first-choice applicants with no points drew: residents 464, nonresidents 352.

Pronghorn: 302 hunts

• Resident adult: 30,037 first-choice applications, 7,125 drew
• Nonresident adult: 4,056 first-choice applications, 817 drew
• Resident youth: 3,478 first-choice applications, 818 drew
• Nonresident youth: 310 first-choice applications, 34 drew
• Hunts where at least half of first-choice applicants with no points drew: residents 121, nonresidents 92.

Moose: 62 hunts

• Resident adult: 21,490 first-choice applications, 350 drew
• Nonresident adult: 5,698 first-choice applications, 38 drew
• Resident youth: 2,011 first-choice applications, 5 drew
• Nonresident youth: 475 first-choice applications, 1 drew
• Hunts where at least half of first-choice applicants with no points drew: residents 0, nonresidents 0.

See where your points can draw in Colorado

Sources

• Big Game Primary Draw, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, read October 17, 2026.
• What's New: 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting (Colorado Outdoors, CPW's magazine), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, read October 17, 2026.
• Chapter W-0, Appendix F: Wildlife License and Pass Prices, as approved May 6, 2026, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, read October 17, 2026.
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2026 draw reports: 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report, 2026 Primary DEER Post Draw Report, 2026 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report, 2026 Primary MOOSE Post Draw Report.