2026 Colorado Draw Reports

[Mighty Mouse]

Are now available on the CPW website.

Bear: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/big-game/hunting-bear/bear-statistics
Deer: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/big-game/hunting-deer/deer-statistics
Elk: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/big-game/hunting-elk/elk-statistics
Moose: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/big-game/hunting-moose/moose-statistics
Pronghorn: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/big-game/hunting-pronghorn/pronghorn-statistics

 

[ColoradoV]

Thanks for posting all of em. Some interesting things in there for sure!

My Bil got real lucky !!

 

[ColoradoV]

Also interesting to see/realize how many units will be pushed over the threshold for 75-25 as point creep starts to ramp up - from folks burning before the asinine changes coming in 028’. After the change when creep explodes = yea lots of hunts will be over the running 3 year average to switch to 75-25.. That is going to change the nr draw even more..

Yep changes a coming boys so someone has a “chance” albeit .001% to draw a buck tag in 44-3rd…

 

[sndmn11]

We saw some hunt codes drop, and one jump unexpectedly. Everything else played out as we thought.

 

[longtail]

hopefully the elk hunting starts to get better in CO due to more and more limited opportunities because as I scan through the elk list its hard to believe how many points some units took. people are complaining about how many points to hunt General elk in WY but 10-11 points to hunt a subpar unit in CO...........

 

[SandyCreek]

Look at 49 for NR archery.. wowzers.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Look at 49 for NR archery.. wowzers.

Talk about inflation! That tag is not worth more than maybe 2-3 years of waiting max… but hey some influencers showed an episode there so go wild fellas

 

[ColoradoV]

Yea I live in 49 been crazy watching the changes. Chasing my dad around before I could hunt in the early 80’s was fun but yea it’s not worth what will soon be just shy of 20 points for a nr archery tag.

Don’t forget us archers are to blame.. Or the “elk only” cba pushed keep otc or “still hunt and get a point” = sure has consequences and not has been sustainable for some time. Yet here we are…

 

[Hnthrdr]

Yea I live in 49 been crazy watching the changes. Chasing my dad around before I could hunt in the early 80’s was fun but yea it’s not worth what will soon be just shy of 20 points for a nr archery tag.

Don’t forget us archers are to blame.. Or the “elk only” cba pushed keep otc or “still hunt and get a point” = sure has consequences and not has been sustainable for some time. Yet here we are…

Exactly! You know better than most than

 

[Deli]

I decided to cash in my points in CO for elk muzzleloader after not drawing in MT and got the tag. Now I need to figure out my load and start practicing as I haven't shot it in over 2 years.

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

It's unbelievable. I'm not sure what I am going to do with 10 years of points down there. I wish there was a way to gift them or transfer them to a younger (or older) hunter.

There's not much to get excited about.

 

[Maverick1]

We saw some hunt codes drop, and one jump unexpectedly. Everything else played out as we thought.

Who is "we" ?

 

[CarterHunt]

I expected the creep to be bad and it's somehow worse than I expected

 

[sndmn11]

Who is "we" ?

View attachment 1074961

Self, spouse, brother

 

[Fever Buck]

I’m just stuck in no man’s land with 7PP as a resident. Should’ve dumped them about 4 years ago. No I’m kinda stuck in the sunk cost fallacy. Point creep keeps going and I’m not catching up.

 

[SawatchSasquatch]

I expected the creep to be bad and it's somehow worse than I expected

What’s your guess on how many points it crept this year? I’m sort of confused at how it works too. Is it premier units go up 2-3 points and low value units go unchanged? Or all units somehow get harder to draw?

 

[Jethro]

After the change when creep explodes = yea lots of hunts will be over the running 3 year average to switch to 75-25.. That is going to change the nr draw even more..

After the changes, there is no 3 year avg. straight 75-25.

 

[hoosierhunter11]

What’s your guess on how many points it crept this year? I’m sort of confused at how it works too. Is it premier units go up 2-3 points and low value units go unchanged? Or all units somehow get harder to draw?

It's all going to be unit dependent. You can review the 2025 and 2026 draw reports to see how much each unit "crept" by hunt code.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Wow some big tag reductions in my usuals. That tag always has leftovers. Gonna be a quiet October. Really glad I put in.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

What’s your guess on how many points it crept this year? I’m sort of confused at how it works too. Is it premier units go up 2-3 points and low value units go unchanged? Or all units somehow get harder to draw?

The general trend has been that all units have been getting harder to draw each year, but there are exceptions. More total applicants is mostly to blame, but tag quota reductions also play a role. My preferred elk tag crept a full point for non-residents from 2025 to 2026 due to tag quota reduction. NR applicants for this tag only increased 5% year-over-year, but the tag quota was cut by nearly 20%. You'll have to look at the current and previous year reports for individual hunt codes to assess the degree of point creep.