Big Game
'What's New' 2026 Colorado Big-Game Hunting
'What's New' 2026 Colorado Big-Game Hunting
The 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure is now available. This video provides a short overview of some of the changes that affect the upcoming seasons and the limited-license draw. Be sure to reach the "what's new" pages in the Big Game and Sheep and Goat brochures to see a full list of changes for the 2026 hunting seasons.
Video: 2026 Colorado Big Game Hunting - Primary Limited License Draw Tips
Apply Now!
Primary Limited License Draw
Colorado big-game hunters, this year, the application period opens on March 1, 2026, and closes on April 7 at 8 p.m. Mountain Time. Get your application in early in case you need to make changes, and avoid any last-minute stress.
Preparing for this year’s big game primary draw? As you plan your next limited license hunt, here’s some pointers from our customer service center.
Note: Always check your physical license and the Colorado Big Game Brochure for specific hunting dates and legal hunting hours.
Stay Informed!
CPW Hunting Newsletter
Stay updated with Colorado's latest hunting news! CPW's Hunting eNews provides information on regulations, special events, public access opportunities, and much more. Sign up today to become part of our community!
Your Voice Matters
Sportsperson's Roundtable
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) depends on feedback and advice from our state’s hunters and anglers to make the best decisions about the management of fish, wildlife, and habitat. In order to discuss issues and gather ideas, CPW convenes a statewide Sportsperson’s Roundtable and holds regional sportsperson meetings. The Sportsperson’s Roundtable fosters information sharing between the hunting, angling and trapping community and CPW on issues that pertain to wildlife recreation and management in Colorado.
Big Game Hunting Opportunities
Choose a Species to Learn MoreBear
Bear DetailsBighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep DetailsDeer
Deer DetailsElk
Elk DetailsMoose
Moose DetailsPronghorn
Pronghorn DetailsMountain Goat
Mountain Goat DetailsMountain Lion
Mountain Lion DetailsLicense Options
Limited Licenses
What are limited licenses?
Each year, a set (limited) number of licenses is allotted to each game management unit (GMU). Huntable areas are broken down into units called “game management units.” These units help you decide where you'd like to hunt. A GMU map is available through the Colorado Hunting Atlas or on the inside back cover of the Big Game Brochure.
You can apply for the big game draw(s) to get one of these limited licenses, or after the draws are over, you can purchase a remaining (leftover) limited license when they go on sale.
Big Game Draws
A qualifying license is required prior to applying for limited licenses through the big game draw(s).
Hunters can submit one application per species to participate in the draw. Applications can include up to four hunt choices to maximize your opportunity to draw a license and hunt. Applicants may only draw one license per species, per draw.
Types of Limited Licenses
Limited licenses include public-land, private-land-only, Ranching for Wildlife (RFW), Bighorn Sheep Access Program (BSAP), season choice and leftover limited licenses.
Preference Points
Preference points help hunters to be successful in future primary draws because points add up per species until an applicant draws a first-choice license. One preference point is awarded to each applicant who qualifies for and does not draw their first-choice limited license for deer, elk, pronghorn or bear in the primary draw, or who applies using a specific preference-point hunt code that gets them a preference point only as their first choice.
Preference points are available on the primary draw application only.
Tip: If you can’t hunt this year, but intend to in the future, apply for a preference point by entering the “preference point only” hunt code in the “first choice hunt code” on the application. See pages 3 and 9 in the Big Game Brochure for details.
Leftover (Remaining) Limited Licenses
What are leftover licenses?
Leftover licenses are the remaining limited licenses available after the primary and secondary draws are completed. If you purchase one of these licenses, you will not use any of your preference points. Leftover licenses can include reissued big game licenses.
Leftover licenses will go on sale August 4th, 2026.
What are reissued licenses?
Reissued licenses are limited licenses that were returned for a refund or preference points, as well as those that were not paid for - and are listed on the leftover list. For more information on reissued licenses, visit the Leftover License and Reissue page.
The Reissue Preview List
All hunt codes will be released as close to 11 a.m. MT as possible on Wednesday of every week, starting the week after leftover licenses go on sale. No new hunt codes will be added to the list after 1 p.m. MT each Wednesday.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Licenses
What are over-the-counter licenses?
OTC licenses are not restricted in quantity but are restricted to certain units, seasons and manners of take. Although they are considered "unlimited licenses," they are still subject to purchase limits for each individual. Please see the Big Game Brochure for valid OTC units.
OTC licenses do not require buying/having a qualifying license, do not use preference points and may be purchased any time before and during a season.
For sale online, by phone (1-800-244-5613) and at sales agents around the state.
OTC License Benefits
- can be purchased without applying through the draw(s)
- do not require buying/having a qualifying license
- provide you the flexibility to discover new units,
- allow you to scout different habitat, and
- potentially combine your hunt with the opportunity to hunt another species.
Some licenses for elk, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and bear are available without needing to enter the draw(s) and are not restricted in quantity (unlimited). Find more information on over-the-counter licenses in the Big Game brochure.
Landowner Preference Program (LPP) Vouchers
The LPP encourages private landowners to provide habitat for the benefit of wildlife populations and to relieve hunting pressure on public lands. Deer, elk and pronghorn vouchers are allocated to landowners who meet certain qualifications. Applications are drawn during the primary draw, and successful landowners receive a voucher for each winning hunt code. The voucher is transferred directly to a hunter, who then purchases a license to hunt. Vouchers are not available for purchase from CPW.
For Hunters
- Landowner vouchers may be transferred one time only. The transfer of the voucher occurs when the hunter’s name is written on the voucher, or the landowner or designated land manager hands (or mails) the voucher to the hunter.
- The landowner or designated land manager must transfer the voucher directly to the hunter. A voucher that has been transferred by any person who is not the landowner or designated land manager is VOID. A voucher that is brokered for another person is VOID. A hunting license obtained for use with a VOID voucher is also VOID. No person shall broker a voucher on behalf of any landowner or person, or use or possess any brokered voucher.
- If a hunter cannot use a voucher, the voucher becomes VOID. The voucher CANNOT be reprinted or transferred to another hunter, even if the voucher has not been redeemed for a license.
- Annual bag limits still apply. Be sure you can legally have the license before acquiring a landowner voucher. List A, B or C is printed on the voucher. See the Big Game Brochure for details.
- The transfer of a voucher by a landowner or designated land manager includes permission to access and hunt all of the registered land for which the voucher was awarded, and for the entire season for which the voucher was awarded, without discrimination among hunters entering the land. Restrictions are not allowed, except for manner of access (i.e. foot, horseback, vehicle) reasonably necessary to prevent damage to land.
- The hunter must take the voucher in person to a sales agent or CPW location to be redeemed for a proper and valid license PRIOR to hunting. The appropriate license fees are paid at that time. Vouchers can still be redeemed once the season has started.
- A list of landowners is NOT available from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Definitions
- Broker: for a third party to transfer a voucher for compensation for any other consideration, or otherwise arrange for such transfer, on behalf of the landowner or land manager, or on behalf of any individual.
- Transfer: to buy, sell, assign, trade, exchange, acquire or otherwise arrange to buy, sell, assign, trade, exchange, acquire or dispose of a voucher.
- Immediate Family: the landowner’s spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, and sibling including in-law and step relations.
Apply as a Group
A group of hunters can apply together for licenses in the primary draw only. Group applications are not accepted for moose, desert bighorn sheep or hybrid draw licenses. Party hunting, or group members taking animals under a different group member’s license, is illegal in Colorado. Group applications do not receive youth preference.
Group Sizes
The following are the allowed sizes for group hunts:
- Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Bear and Turkey: any number of people.
- Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: 2 individuals. Residents and nonresidents may not apply together.
- Mountain Goat: 2 individuals. Residents and nonresidents may not apply together.
How to Apply
Group applications do not increase the probability of drawing licenses. Only submit a group application if everyone in your hunting party is committed to only go hunting if everyone draws. If members of the group plan to hunt anyway if their group application is unsuccessful, please submit individual hunting applications.
Group Leader
One person must be designated as the group leader, and all applications in that group are linked together with the group leader’s CID (customer identification number). If the leader has no CID, they must set up an account with CPW online at CPWShop.com, or by calling CPW to get one.
The group leader must apply first so that the group members’ hunt code choices can be validated. If you are the group leader, select “I am a group leader.”
Group Members
All group members must use the same person as the leader in order to go through the draw as a group. All other group members will select “I am hunting in a group” and enter the group leader’s CID. Group members must apply for the same species, hunt code, unit, geographic restrictions, season and method of take for each choice, but may apply for a different sex. Each member must list the same first-choice hunt code and the same second-, third-, and/or fourth-choice hunt codes. These choices must be in the same order on all group applications.
- Use the same person as the leader in order to go through the draw as a group.
- All group members will select “I am hunting in a group” and enter the group leader’s CID.
- Group members must apply for the same species, hunt code, unit, geographic restrictions, season and method of take for each choice, but may apply for a different sex.
- Each member must have the same number of hunt code choices and the same hunt code choices (other than sex) on their applications . These choices must be in the same order on all group applications.
Submitting Group Applications
The group leader submits their application first, then each hunter submits their application separately under their individual account, putting the group leader’s CID in the appropriate field. When the system validates the group hunt code choices, if there are differences in the number or order of hunt codes on the applications, the leader’s choices will be used instead. If the group leader makes a correction to their application and changes their hunt codes or hunt code order, their changes will override the choices of their group members.
If anyone in the group makes an application error, everyone in the group is disqualified. Common errors include (but are not limited to):
- invalid hunter education information
- invalid residency information
- hunting privilege suspensions
How Licenses are Awarded
Each individual application is assigned a six-digit number. Groups are assigned a group number based on the lowest application number in the group and go through the draw based on the group member with the lowest number of preference points. After the group number is randomized, if that number is selected in the draw, and there are enough licenses left for the entire group, everyone in the group gets a license.
If the group includes resident and nonresident applicants and the nonresident cap has been met, the group will not be awarded licenses.
If the group is successful for their first choice, each group member will get a license and their preference points drop to zero. If unsuccessful for their first choice, everyone gets a point. Applying for more than one choice gives the group additional chances at hunting together.
How Group Applicants are Notified
Awarded licenses and draw results are sent to each individual based on the contact information in their profile on CPWShop.com.
Group Applications and License Payment
Applicants are only considered a group for the draw. After the draw, if a group member fails to pay for their license or chooses to return it, it does not affect any of the other group members.
Auction and Raffle Licenses
CPW issues special Auction and Raffle Program big game licenses to nonprofit organizations focused on conserving wildlife in Colorado. The funds generated from the sale of these licenses are used for big game habitat enhancement, research, management, and education.
Refunds
For information on license refunds, please visit the Hunting License Refunds, Reversals and Exchanges page.
Lead-Free Ammunition
By switching to lead-free ammunition, hunters can help protect our country’s most beloved birds and wildlife, promote healthy ecosystems and conserve our natural heritage.
Learn from the Experts!
Hunting Access
In this video series, Colorado's wildlife officers answer frequently asked questions, discuss access, describe animal movement, and more.
In an effort to aid hunters in being as knowledgeable as they possibly can before heading out into the field, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released videos with wildlife officers addressing the questions they frequently get asked.
Over 120 videos on the playlist below feature the wildlife officers discussing the districts they cover, or the Game Management Units where hunters apply for licenses. It was targeted to aid big game hunters, but other hunting opportunities are also discussed for certain areas of the state.
Attention Hunters
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the brains of deer, elk and moose. It causes animals to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior and eventually die. Infected animals often show no signs of illness.
CPW will require mandatory submission of CWD test samples (heads) from all deer harvested during rifle seasons from specific hunt codes to better evaluate the prevalence of CWD in herds. There will be no charge for mandatory testing. If a hunter is not selected for mandatory testing but wants to know whether their harvested deer or elk has CWD, they can submit their animal's head and pay a testing fee of $25.
Big Game Hunting
5-Year Season Structure
Every five years, the Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts a Big Game Season Structure (BGSS) to provide an overall framework for hunting.
The five year time frame which is designed to provide sportspersons, hunting-related businesses, landowners, and communities an opportunity to plan ahead for the upcoming seasons by considering what, when and where types of big game hunting is available, and how the timing of hunting opportunities is divided among hunters.
Colorado Hunting Brochures
Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure
The Big Game Brochure includes hunting information for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, and bear.
The online Big Game brochure is the most up-to-date version.
Folleto de Regulacíon de Caza Mayor (En Español)
Ver Folleto
Colorado Sheep & Goat Hunting Brochure
The Sheep & Goat brochure includes hunting information for Desert Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat.
The online Sheep and Goat brochure is the most up-to-date version.
