Colorado preference points explained, with CPW's 2026 draw numbers
A Colorado preference point is earned each year a hunter applies for a species and does not draw a first-choice license, and the primary draw fills each hunt code from the applicants with the most points down. In CPW's 2026 elk draw, 39% of resident and 31% of nonresident first-choice applicants held no points, and the most any resident held was 40.
How do you earn a preference point in Colorado?
CPW awards one preference point per species to a hunter who applies in the primary draw and does not draw a license for their first-choice hunt code. Entering the point-only code as a first choice also earns a point. Turkey is the only species that can earn more than one point a year. Points earned in one year's draw can be used in the next year's primary draw (CPW, primary draw).
When do you lose your Colorado preference points?
Drawing a first-choice license uses all of a hunter's preference points for that species. Second, third and fourth choices, over-the-counter licenses, leftover licenses and the secondary draw do not use or earn points. So a code that took 0 points can sit lower on an application: drawn there, it leaves the hunter's points in place. The elk, deer and pronghorn codes that took no points are listed on the elk, deer and pronghorn 0-point pages.
What is Colorado's hybrid draw?
For hunt codes that took 10 or more resident preference points in the previous primary draw and have at least five licenses, CPW runs a random hybrid draw open to applicants with at least five points. A hunter who draws in it loses all points for that species. It is why a hunt code page can show a few hunters drawing with fewer points than the code's "drawn out at" level. Source: CPW, primary draw.
How many points do Colorado elk applicants hold?
In CPW's 2026 primary elk draw, 115,251 resident adults and 132,234 nonresident adults applied with a first choice. 39% of the residents and 31% of the nonresidents held 0 points, 11% and 12% held 10 or more, and the highest were 40 points for a resident and 36 for a nonresident.
| Points held, 2026 | Resident first-choice applicants | Residents who drew | Nonresident first-choice applicants | Nonresidents who drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 points | 44,885 | 24,353 | 41,468 | 17,441 |
| 1 to 4 | 42,245 | 15,807 | 53,229 | 8,559 |
| 5 to 9 | 15,981 | 1,971 | 22,191 | 1,458 |
| 10 to 14 | 6,169 | 720 | 5,965 | 290 |
| 15 to 19 | 2,911 | 247 | 4,087 | 171 |
| 20 or more | 3,060 | 253 | 5,294 | 303 |
Adult first-choice applicants in the 2026 primary elk draw, from the statewide table on the first pages of CPW's report. With 0 points, 24,353 of 44,885 residents drew their first choice. Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report.
How many points does a Colorado license take?
It depends on the hunt code: each code fills from its own applicants. In CPW's 2026 reports:
| Species | Hunt codes | Residents drew with no points | Took 10 or more resident points | Most resident points any code took |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | 1,039 | 758 | 49 | 32 |
| Deer | 991 | 679 | 42 | 31 |
| Pronghorn | 302 | 140 | 43 | 30 |
Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2026 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report; 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report; 2026 Primary DEER Post Draw Report. The points for every code are on the draw results pages.
What share of first-choice applicants drew in each year?
| Species and group | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk, resident adults | 34% | 36% | 38% |
| Elk, nonresident adults | 18% | 22% | 21% |
| Deer, resident adults | 37% | 38% | 39% |
| Deer, nonresident adults | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Pronghorn, resident adults | 13% | 12% | 12% |
| Pronghorn, nonresident adults | 2% | 2% | 2% |
CPW's printed "Choice 1 Success %" for each report. Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2026 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report; 2025 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report; 2024 Primary PRONGHORN Post Draw Report; 2026 Primary ELK Post Draw Report; 2025 Primary ELK Post Draw Report; 2024 Primary ELK Post Draw Report; 2026 Primary DEER Post Draw Report; 2025 Primary DEER Post Draw Report; 2024 Primary DEER Post Draw Report.
Where next?
- Colorado draw results: the points every elk, deer and pronghorn hunt code took, 2024 to 2026.
- Colorado draw deadlines and license fees for the next application.
- The tag application planner: enter your points and see which hunts drew applicants like you.