Home › Draw calendar › Colorado
Colorado Elk & Mule Deer Draw Deadlines (2027 Dates Pending; 2026 Dates Shown)
Next deadline: CPW hasn't announced 2027 dates. For 2026, the primary limited license draw for elk and deer opened March 1 and closed April 7 at 8 p.m. Mountain Time, and the secondary draw ran Jun 18–30, closing Jun 30 at 8:00 p.m. MDT. Confirm on CPW's primary draw page before you apply. 2026 dates; 2027 pending
Last verified Oct 23, 2026.
| Draw | Species | Residency | Applications open | Application deadline | Results | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary limited license draw Corrections allowed until deadline; surrender by Jun 1; payment by Jun 12. Qualifying license required. Same dates for residents and nonresidents (nonresident caps apply). | elk, deer | resident, nonresident | Passed, 2027 dates pending | to | Official sourceCoverage (Colorado Outdoors) based on 2026 dates, confirm when 2027 announced Last verified 2026-10-23 | |
| Secondary draw No preference points; open to anyone; youth priority; surrender by Jul 9; payment by Jul 21. | elk, deer | resident, nonresident | Passed, 2027 dates pending | Official sourceCoverage (Colorado Outdoors) based on 2026 dates, confirm when 2027 announced Last verified 2026-10-23 |
Primary vs. secondary draw
Primary draw (2026 dates; 2027 pending): opened Mar 1, 2026 and closed Apr 7, 2026 at 8 p.m. Mountain Time (CPW primary draw).
Secondary draw (2026 dates; 2027 pending): applications Jun 18–30, 2026, closing Jun 30 at 8:00 p.m. MDT (CPW secondary draw). CPW says preference points do not apply to the secondary draw (CPW).
Mule deer
In our data, Colorado's elk and deer applications share the same primary and secondary draw dates shown above (2026 dates; 2027 pending).
What you need before applying
CPW says a qualifying license is required to apply for the draws. See CPW's primary draw page for the full rules.
When 2027 dates will be posted
CPW hasn't published 2027 dates as of Oct 23, 2026. We'll update this page when it does.
Get draw deadline reminders for CO, WY, ID and MT. Unsubscribe anytime.
Find a licensed Colorado outfitter
All 853 licensed Colorado outfitters. Most-listed units: Unit 15 (33), Unit 12 (32), Unit 3 (31), Unit 444 (27), Unit 4 (25).
How to check if an outfitter is licensed · Wyoming deadlines · All states
FAQ
When is the Colorado elk draw deadline?
For 2026, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's primary limited license draw for elk and deer opened March 1 and closed April 7 at 8 p.m. Mountain Time. CPW hasn't announced 2027 dates yet. We'll update this page when it does. Always confirm on CPW's primary draw page before you apply. (2026 dates; 2027 pending.) Source: CPW primary draw.
When do Colorado draw results come out?
For 2026, primary draw results were listed for May 26, 2026 to May 29, 2026. (2026 dates; 2027 pending.) Source: CPW primary draw, Colorado Outdoors.
Can I apply for the secondary draw if I missed the primary?
Our data notes the 2026 secondary draw as open to anyone, with no preference points and youth priority. Applications ran Jun 18–30, 2026, closing Jun 30 at 8:00 p.m. MDT. (2026 dates; 2027 pending.) Source: CPW secondary draw.
Where can I check a Colorado outfitter's license?
Use the Colorado DORA license lookup. Every Colorado profile on this site links to its state record. Our guide walks through the steps. Source: DORA license lookup.