When to apply for the 2027 Colorado elk draw

The Colorado Parks & Wildlife big-game draw runs on an annual cycle. If you are planning a 2027 elk hunt on GMU 59 — including a guided hunt with us — here are the dates and the math you need.

This piece was last checked October 2026. CPW sets the draw dates each year in its big-game brochure; we re-check when the 2027 brochure is out.

The deadline

In 2026 the application window opened March 1 and closed April 7 at 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time. CPW sets the dates each year and hasn't published 2027's yet — expect the draw to close in early April. We'll post the date here once CPW does.

That window is firm. Apply early in the window; do not wait. The CPW portal has crashed at the deadline in past years; the safest play is to submit your application by the second-to-last week of March.

Preference points vs. tags

Colorado uses a preference point system for limited-license big-game tags. Each year you apply and are unsuccessful, you bank one preference point. Each year you apply, you can also choose to just buy a point (a "point-only" application) without burning a tag chance.

For GMU 59 elk, the points a non-resident has needed to draw in recent years run roughly:

• Archery: 2–3 points
• Muzzleloader: 1–2 points
• Rifle 1st (limited bull): 1–2 points
• Rifle 2nd: no points needed (bull elk is over the counter)
• Rifle 3rd: no points needed (bull elk is over the counter)
• Rifle 4th: 1–2 points

Residents have needed about a point less: 1–2 for archery, 0–1 for muzzleloader and the 1st and 4th rifle seasons. These are ranges on purpose — the cutoff moves by a point or so from year to year. Our preference points lookup has the same numbers by season. Draw odds change every year; confirm on CPW.

If you're a non-resident with zero points starting out, the realistic path to a GMU 59 elk tag is:

1. Apply 2027 — unless you draw, you bank your first point

2. Apply 2028 with 1 point — in range for muzzleloader and the 1st and 4th rifle seasons in a low year

3. Apply 2029 with 2 points — a fair chance at muzzleloader and the 1st and 4th rifle seasons; the low end for archery

4. Apply 2030 with 3 points — in range for every draw season

The fastest path skips the draw: 2nd and 3rd rifle bull elk licenses in GMU 59 are over the counter. Or combine your tag pursuit with a guided hunt that includes a landowner voucher (see below).

OTC vs. draw

In GMU 59, 1st and 4th rifle bull elk are limited entry (draw), and 2nd and 3rd rifle bull elk are over the counter. CPW's big-game brochure lists which units and seasons are over the counter each year.

For most hunters, draw units are worth the wait if the goal is a meaningful experience and a real chance at a mature bull.

Landowner vouchers

The CPW Landowner Preference Program allows large private-land operators to receive a number of tags per year tied to their acreage. Elk Glade Outfitters partners with the deeded landowner to make a limited number of these vouchers available each season — usually one to three depending on the year and the herd unit allocation.

The voucher allows a non-resident to skip the public draw and apply directly. The tag is real, fully legal, and identical to a draw tag in everything but the path to it.

If you are coming up on a guided hunt with us and want to bypass the draw timeline, ask about landowner voucher availability when you inquire. They sell out the year before the season; we generally know our allocation by the previous September.

Common mistakes

• Missing the application window. Set a calendar reminder for March 1 to check CPW for the 2027 dates — applications opened March 1 in 2026. The draw closes in early April (April 7 in 2026) and you cannot apply late.
• Applying for the wrong unit. GMU codes change occasionally. Confirm GMU 59 is still the correct code for the south slope of Pikes Peak before you submit.
• Not including the second choice. The CPW form lets you list a second-choice unit. Use it. If your first choice doesn't draw you can pick up a second-choice tag worth hunting.
• Forgetting the points-only option. If you're planning a 2029 hunt and you don't actually want to draw in 2027, file a points-only application. Cheaper than a tag application, builds your point bank.
• Not buying a habitat stamp. Every applicant needs a current habitat stamp. Buy it before you apply.

What we'll do on our end

When you book a hunt with us we walk you through the application step by step. Andre or the office team will:

1. Confirm the correct GMU code for your hunt date

2. Run a current draw odds query for your point total

3. Recommend a first and second choice that matches your point bank

4. Confirm whether a landowner voucher is available as a backup

5. Check the habitat stamp purchase

We don't charge for the licensing help. It's part of the hunt.

For the official dates, hunt codes and the big-game brochure, see CPW's primary draw page.

Check CPW on March 1. Apply early. Bank a point a year. The bull comes.