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Colorado draw · Step by step

How to draw a Colorado elk tag.

The whole process, start to finish: set up your CPW account, learn how points and hunt codes work, pick your unit and season, apply by the April deadline, check results in June — and exactly what to do if you don't draw. Seven steps.

The draw, explained in depthPreference points

The quick answer

Account, points, hunt code, apply by April.

Drawing a Colorado elk tag isn’t complicated once you see the shape of it: create a CPW account, understand that the state uses preference points to allocate the best tags, pick the unit, season, and weapon you want (your “hunt code”), and submit your application before the spring deadline. Results post in early June — you either draw or bank a point for next year. Miss the draw and you still have leftover tags, over-the-counter options, and landowner vouchers. Here’s the full walkthrough.

The walkthrough

Seven steps to a tag.

  1. 1

    Set up a CPW account + Customer ID

    Create an account with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and get your CID (Customer ID). You'll also need a valid hunting license to apply. Do this well before the deadline — don't leave the account setup for the last day.

  2. 2

    Understand the system

    Colorado uses preference points: you accumulate a point each year you apply and don't draw, and the best units go to those with the most points. Learn how points and hunt codes work before you apply — it's the difference between a smart application and a wasted year.

  3. 3

    Pick your unit, season + weapon

    Decide which Game Management Unit (GMU), which season (archery, muzzleloader, or one of the four rifle seasons), and which weapon you want. Each combination is a 'hunt code.' Match the unit to your point level and the season to your goals.

  4. 4

    Choose your hunt codes (1st, 2nd, 3rd choice)

    You list ranked hunt-code choices. A common strategy: a 1st choice you might draw with your points, plus lower choices or a point-building option as backups. Learn how to read a hunt code so you enter the right ones.

  5. 5

    Apply by the primary draw deadline

    The primary draw application window closes in the spring (typically early April). Submit and pay before the deadline — miss it and you're out for the year, or limited to leftover tags. Mark the date.

  6. 6

    Check results in June

    Primary draw results post in late spring (typically early June). You either drew a tag, or you gained a preference point for next year. Either way, you'll know where you stand.

  7. 7

    If you don't draw — go to plan B

    Didn't draw? You still have options: the leftover/reissue tag lists, any remaining over-the-counter opportunity, or a landowner voucher that bypasses the draw entirely. Many hunters fill a tag this way every year.

Deadlines and rules are set annually by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and have shifted recently — always confirm the current-year process in the CPW big game brochure.

Frequently asked

Drawing a tag.

How do you draw a Colorado elk tag?

Set up a Colorado Parks and Wildlife account and Customer ID, buy a qualifying license, learn how preference points and hunt codes work, choose your unit/season/weapon (your hunt code), and submit your application before the spring primary-draw deadline (typically early April). Results post in early June — you either draw a tag or earn a preference point toward a future year. If you don't draw, you can still pursue leftover tags, remaining over-the-counter opportunity, or a landowner voucher. Always confirm current dates and rules with CPW.

When is the Colorado elk draw deadline?

The primary draw application deadline is in the spring, typically the first week of April, with results posted in early June. There are later secondary opportunities — leftover and reissue lists — through the summer and fall. Exact dates change every year, so verify the current-year deadlines in the CPW big game brochure; missing the primary deadline limits you to leftover and over-the-counter options.

Do you need preference points to draw an elk tag in Colorado?

Not always. Many units and seasons can be drawn with zero or one preference point, while the most sought-after trophy units require many years of accumulated points. If you apply for an easier-to-draw unit, you may draw your first year; if you target a premium unit, expect to build points first. Knowing your point level and matching it to the right hunt code is the core skill of the Colorado draw.

What if I don't draw a Colorado elk tag?

You have real fallbacks. Colorado releases a leftover tag list and a reissue list (returned tags) that you can buy first-come, there may still be over-the-counter opportunity in some units and seasons, and landowner preference vouchers let you obtain a tag for certain units without going through the draw at all. Plenty of hunters who don't draw their first choice still hunt elk in Colorado the same year through one of these paths.

Can an outfitter help me draw or get a tag?

Yes. A good outfitter knows which units and hunt codes are drawable at your point level, can guide your application strategy, and in many cases offers landowner vouchers that bypass the public draw for the units they hunt. If the draw feels confusing, working with an outfitter for the unit you want to hunt is one of the most reliable ways to end up with a tag in hand. Ask how tags work for their specific unit.

Guide

The draw, explained

How the whole system works.

Guide

Read a hunt code

Decode EM059O1R before you apply.

Guide

Leftover tags

Plan B if you don't draw.