Colorado 2028 Draw Changes: New Big Game System Explained

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is implementing one of the largest changes to its big-game draw structure in years, beginning with the 2028 draw season. The central shift is from a preference-point system with a limited hybrid component to a split draw that divides half the quota through preference-point priority and half through a bonus drawing. This affects deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn licenses, with related changes also applying to turkey.

The new structure gives hunters with high point totals continued priority while creating a broader chance for lower-point applicants to draw desirable licenses. Understanding how these changes interact with residency allocation, historical demand, and your own point balance is essential for building a smart application strategy going forward.

Colorado's New 50/50 Split Draw Explained

Beginning in 2028, each applicable hunt code's quota will be divided between two drawing methods. Half of the available licenses will go through a traditional preference-based drawing, where applicants with more preference points receive priority over applicants with fewer points. The other half will go through a bonus drawing, where preference points provide additional entries into the drawing rather than strict priority.

Under the adopted structure, each preference point equals one additional entry plus the hunter's base entry. For example, zero points equals one entry, one point equals two entries, five points equals six entries, and ten points equals eleven entries. More points improve your chances in the bonus half, but they don't guarantee priority the way they do in the preference half.

What Happens If a Hunt Code Has an Odd Number of Licenses?

If a hunt code's quota can't be divided evenly, the additional license goes into the preference-point half. For example, if a hunt code has eleven licenses, the structure would generally provide six preference-draw licenses and five bonus-draw licenses, subject to applicable residency and other allocation rules. This ensures that high-point applicants retain a slight advantage when quotas don't split perfectly.

If only one license is available for a hunt code, that license goes through the preference-point draw. There wouldn't be a bonus-draw license available for that hunt code. This matters when evaluating extremely low-quota opportunities where historical draw odds may have been extremely tight.

Is Colorado Capping Preference Points at 10?

No. Colorado's adopted 2028 deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn system does not establish a 10-point preference-point cap. Hunters who have accumulated 10 points, 15 points, 20 points, or more than 20 points aren't being reduced to a maximum of 10 under the adopted system. Accumulated preference points continue to matter, influencing both portions of the new split draw.

In the preference half, more points provide priority. In the bonus half, more points provide more entries. That means existing point holders retain value from the points they've accumulated, and there is no adopted rule forcing high-point hunters to "burn their points before 2028" to avoid losing them.

How Will the Colorado Bonus Draw Work?

Think of the bonus portion as a weighted random drawing. Every eligible applicant receives an entry, and each preference point adds another entry. A hunter with zero preference points has one entry, a hunter with five preference points has six entries, and a hunter with fifteen preference points has sixteen entries. The 15-point hunter therefore has more opportunities in the bonus drawing than the zero-point hunter, but neither hunter is automatically guaranteed the license simply because of point total.

This creates a meaningful difference from the current system. Under the old structure, a hunter with zero points had virtually no chance at extremely high-demand hunt codes unless they qualified for the limited hybrid draw. Under the new system, the zero-point hunter has an entry in the bonus half, even if the odds remain very low due to competition from thousands of other bonus entries.

Preference Points vs Bonus Draw

The new system creates two different ways your points can help. In the preference draw, higher point totals receive priority. In the bonus draw, points provide additional entries. The total hunt-code quota is generally split 50/50 between these two methods. This is one of the most important concepts for Colorado hunters to understand before 2028, because it changes how historical draw odds should be interpreted.

A hunt code that historically required a certain number of points under the old system can't simply be assumed to require that same number beginning in 2028. Only half of the applicable licenses will enter the pure preference-point priority structure, while the other half will be distributed through the bonus method. That fundamentally changes the strategic value of accumulated points.

Is Colorado Switching to a Bonus-Point System?

Partially. Colorado isn't completely abandoning preference points. Instead, Colorado is creating a hybridized structure that CPW officially calls a split draw. Half of applicable licenses continue to reward applicants according to preference-point priority, and the other half uses points as additional entries in a bonus drawing. The most accurate description is 50% preference draw plus 50% bonus draw.

This differs from states that use a pure bonus-point system, where all licenses are distributed through weighted entries. It also differs from states that use a pure preference-point system, where all licenses are distributed strictly by point priority. Colorado's adopted structure attempts to balance the competing interests of high-point holders and newer applicants.

Is Colorado Eliminating the Hybrid Draw?

Yes. Colorado's existing hybrid draw will be removed when the new split-draw system begins. Under the current pre-2028 hybrid system, only certain highly demanded hunt codes qualify, and applicants generally need at least five preference points to participate. That separate hybrid mechanism won't continue under the new 2028 structure. Instead, the random opportunity becomes part of the regular split-draw process, applying to a broader range of hunt codes.

This simplifies the overall structure by eliminating a third drawing method and integrating random opportunity directly into the primary draw. Hunters who previously targeted hybrid hunt codes will need to reevaluate their strategies under the new bonus-draw framework.

Why Is Colorado Changing the Draw?

Colorado's Draw Process Working Group examined several issues with the existing system. Among the major concerns were increasing complexity, point creep, extremely difficult high-demand licenses, limited opportunity for newer hunters to draw highly desirable hunts, and the need to preserve value for hunters who have accumulated points. The split-draw structure attempts to balance those competing interests.

High-point applicants retain an advantage through both the preference half and their additional bonus entries. Lower-point applicants gain a potential pathway through the bonus portion, even if the odds remain low for highly demanded units. The adopted structure doesn't eliminate point creep entirely, but it changes how point creep operates by removing half of the quota from strict preference-point priority.

Colorado Resident vs Nonresident Allocation in 2028

Beginning with the 2028 structure, Colorado will use a uniform 75% resident and 25% nonresident allocation for applicable deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn licenses, unless resident demand is insufficient to reach the resident allocation. This replaces the current system that can use different nonresident caps depending on historical resident demand. The adopted 2028 structure is 75/25, not 80/20, and that distinction matters for anyone modeling future Colorado draw odds.

CPW describes the allocation as a soft cap. If there isn't enough resident demand to fill the resident allocation after the applicable choices are processed, excess quota can become available to nonresidents. This creates a consistent residency allocation for applicable hunt codes, eliminating the current distinction between hunt codes based on historical resident preference-point demand.

Residency Caps Will Apply Through Second Choice

Another important change is how far residency allocation rules extend through the primary draw. Beginning with the new structure, the residency allocation rules apply to first choice and second choice in the primary draw. If sufficient resident demand doesn't exist after those choices are processed, excess quota can become available to nonresidents.

Colorado's adopted rules also restrict how much of the nonresident allocation can fall within the preference-point half of the split draw. No more than half of the nonresident cap will be included in the preference-point portion. This becomes an important consideration when modeling future resident and nonresident draw probabilities, particularly for hunt codes with historically high nonresident demand.

How Do You Earn Colorado Preference Points Beginning in 2028?

Colorado will retain preference points, but the process changes. Hunters will generally be able to gain a point by purchasing a preference point during the primary-draw application period or by being unsuccessful in drawing a first-choice license and electing to receive the point. The traditional first-choice preference-point-only hunt code is being eliminated, which should simplify the application structure.

Under the current system, hunters commonly enter a preference-point-only hunt code as their first choice. Beginning in 2028, that specific point-only hunt-code structure goes away. Hunters who simply want a point will instead purchase the preference point through the application process, similar to how bonus points vs preference points operate in other western states.

Will Colorado Charge for Preference Points?

Under the adopted 2028 structure, CPW plans to charge a fee for receiving preference points for deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn. However, the final fee should be verified through CPW when the applicable annual regulations and fee schedule are published. Don't rely on speculative dollar amounts before CPW finalizes them, and don't publish projected elk license prices, deer license prices, preference-point fees, or application fees as confirmed facts until CPW publishes the applicable amounts.

Applicants will have the ability to opt out of paying for and receiving the preference point if unsuccessful. This creates a strategic choice. A hunter who doesn't want another point can choose not to acquire one, which could be useful for managing point portfolios across multiple species or states.

Do Colorado Preference Points Still Disappear When You Draw?

Under the adopted rules, successfully obtaining your first-choice license through the applicable primary drawing causes accumulated preference points for that species to become void. That makes first-choice strategy particularly important, especially for hunters who have accumulated large point balances over many years. Hunters should carefully consider whether to apply for their top-choice hunt or continue building points, similar to the strategic decisions involved in glunking strategies.

Colorado maintains rules addressing inactive point holders. Under the 2028 structure, points can become void if a hunter fails to apply, purchase a license, or purchase a point for that species during the applicable 10-year period. Hunters sitting on old point balances should continue monitoring their accounts and current CPW rules to avoid losing points through inactivity.

What Happens to Second, Third, and Fourth Choices?

Colorado applications can include multiple hunt choices. The new residency allocation rules specifically extend through the second choice in the primary draw. Hunters should not assume every choice functions identically. The exact processing sequence matters when building a Colorado application strategy, particularly for hunters trying to balance high-demand first choices with more realistic second-choice options.

The automatic reissue process that Colorado is implementing for returned licenses gives hunters another reason to think carefully about every hunt choice on the original application. Rather than relying solely on the current manual reissue and leftover-sale structure, CPW can move through the original application order to find another eligible applicant, potentially turning a second or third choice into a drawn license.

How Will the New Draw Affect High-Point Hunters?

High-point hunters retain substantial advantages. Their points provide priority in the preference half and additional entries in the bonus half. However, because only approximately half of applicable hunt-code quota goes through pure preference-point priority, historical point requirements under the old system won't translate directly into the new one. That's extremely important. A hunt that historically required a certain number of points can't simply be assumed to require that same number beginning in 2028.

Hunters with large point balances should evaluate their current points, their desired hunt, historical demand, future quota, how much of the quota will enter the preference half, and how much competition exists above and around their point level. For some hunters, applying before 2028 may make sense. For others, retaining points into the new system could remain valuable, particularly if they're targeting hunts where the preference half still provides a clear advantage.

How Will the New Draw Affect Low-Point Hunters?

Low-point hunters gain something they haven't historically had across the entire system: a random pathway to many licenses through the bonus portion of the split draw. A zero-point applicant won't have the same bonus-draw probability as somebody with 10 points, but the zero-point applicant can still have an entry where applicable. That changes the strategic value of applying for highly demanded licenses.

For extremely popular hunts, the number of bonus entries could be enormous. But low probability is different from zero probability, and the bonus half creates a meaningful pathway that didn't previously exist under the old system. Low-point hunters should evaluate total hunt-code quota, expected bonus-draw quota, resident/nonresident allocation, applicant volume, and the number of bonus entries held by competing applicants when building their application strategies.

Historical Colorado Draw Odds Will Need New Context

This is especially important for hunters using historical data. Pre-2028 draw results were produced under a different system. Beginning in 2028, hunters should distinguish between pre-2028 historical draw results and 2028-and-later split-draw results. Those datasets shouldn't be treated as directly interchangeable, because the draw mechanics themselves are changing.

Historical results still provide useful information about applicant demand, hunt popularity, quota trends, resident vs nonresident demand, and point-holder concentration. But they won't perfectly predict results under the new draw structure. Tools like TAGZ's Colorado big game draw guide help hunters understand both historical context and how the new system will operate.

How Should High-Point Hunters Prepare?

If you have a large point balance, don't automatically assume you need to "burn your points before 2028." There is no adopted 10-point cap forcing you to do that. Instead, evaluate your current points, your desired hunt, historical demand, future quota, how much of the quota will enter the preference half, and how much competition exists above and around your point level.

For some hunters, applying before 2028 may make sense if they're targeting hunts where the preference-half quota will be significantly smaller than the current total quota. For others, retaining points into the new system could remain valuable, particularly if their accumulated points provide a strong advantage in both the preference half and the bonus half.

How Should Low-Point Hunters Prepare?

The bonus half creates new strategic possibilities. Low-point hunters should evaluate total hunt-code quota, expected bonus-draw quota, resident/nonresident allocation, applicant volume, and the number of bonus entries held by competing applicants. Don't assume 50% bonus draw equals 50% odds. It means half the applicable quota enters that drawing method, not that each hunter has a 50% chance.

Hunters with few or zero points should consider whether the bonus pathway justifies applying for premium units that were previously out of reach. The odds may still be low, but the existence of a random pathway changes the strategic calculus compared to the old system, where zero-point applicants had virtually no chance at highly demanded hunt codes outside the limited hybrid draw.

How Should Nonresident Hunters Prepare?

Nonresidents should pay close attention to the new uniform 25% allocation and how that allocation interacts with the two halves of the draw. Research total hunt-code quota, nonresident allocation, preference-half availability, bonus-half availability, and historical nonresident demand. The old high-demand versus lower-demand allocation distinction will no longer operate the same way.

The restriction on how much of the nonresident allocation can fall within the preference-point half creates another layer of complexity. Nonresidents with high point balances may find that their points provide less advantage in the preference half than they would have under the old system, while their bonus entries may provide more opportunity in the bonus half than previously existed.

How Should Resident Hunters Prepare?

Residents retain the majority allocation under the new structure. But resident hunters also need to account for the 50/50 split. A high-point resident applicant may have fewer licenses available through strict preference priority than under the old system. At the same time, the applicant's accumulated points also provide additional entries in the bonus half.

Residents should evaluate the same factors as nonresidents: total quota, residency allocation, preference-half quota, bonus-half quota, historical demand, and competition at their point level. The fact that allocation rules extend through second choice also creates strategic opportunities for residents to build applications that maximize their chances across multiple hunt choices.

Colorado Group Applications in 2028

Group applicants should pay close attention to the final CPW application rules for the new structure. Under Colorado's current system, group priority is based on the member with the fewest preference points. Because the draw methodology changes in 2028, hunters planning group applications should verify the final operational rules before applying rather than assuming every current group-draw mechanic remains identical.

The split between preference and bonus draws could create interesting strategic choices for groups, particularly if group members have widely varying point totals. Groups may need to decide whether to apply in the preference half, the bonus half, or both, depending on how CPW implements group applications under the new system.

Are Colorado's 2028 Elk and Deer Quotas Known Yet?

No, not this far in advance as fixed annual quotas. Colorado sets limited-license quotas through its annual management and regulatory process. Don't publish claims such as "Unit 2 will lose 15% of its tags in 2028" unless CPW has actually approved and published that specific annual quota. The draw structure can be known before the annual license quotas are. Those are separate things.

Hunters should verify the official 2028 application calendar when CPW publishes it. Don't assume the exact deadline based on previous years. Colorado's annual application dates should be treated as time-sensitive information, and hunters should use CPW's official annual fee schedule when building their 2028 budget.

Do the 2028 Changes Affect OTC Elk?

The new split draw governs applicable limited licenses. OTC elk opportunities operate separately. Hunters should continue verifying which elk seasons and hunt codes remain OTC for residents and nonresidents, because Colorado's OTC structure can change independently of the limited-license draw. Understanding how TAGZ helps you draw a big game tag in Colorado can be useful for evaluating both limited-license and OTC opportunities.

The distinction between limited-license and OTC opportunities matters when building a comprehensive Colorado elk hunting strategy. Some hunters may choose to build point balances while hunting OTC units, while others may prefer to apply for limited licenses and hunt OTC only as a backup option.

Do the 2028 Changes Affect Landowner Vouchers?

Colorado's Landowner Preference Program is a separate pathway tied to qualifying landowners. Successful landowners receive vouchers for specific hunt codes, which can then be transferred to eligible hunters under program rules. A voucher isn't itself the final hunting license. The hunter redeems the voucher and purchases the corresponding license. Hunters considering LPP opportunities should research those rules separately from the standard public drawing.

Understanding landowner elk tags vs draw tags can help hunters evaluate whether the LPP pathway makes sense for their situation, particularly if they're targeting high-demand units where draw odds may be extremely low even under the new bonus system.

What Should Hunters Do Before 2028?

Don't panic-spend your points. Instead, verify your current preference-point totals, identify the exact hunts you're targeting, study historical applicant demand, understand the new 50/50 system, watch annual quotas, compare resident/nonresident demand, reevaluate your strategy when actual 2028 quotas are published, and verify final CPW regulations before applying.

The hunters most prepared for 2028 will be the ones who understand both the old data and the new rules. Historical draw information provides valuable context about demand and competition, but the new draw mechanics fundamentally change how that information should be interpreted. Combining historical knowledge with a clear understanding of the new system will be essential for building effective application strategies.

Using TAGZ for the Colorado Draw

TAGZ helps hunters research Colorado units and historical draw information while planning future applications. Colorado's 2028 changes make context particularly important. Historical odds from the old system shouldn't automatically be treated as projected odds under the new system. Hunters need to consider residency, point total, hunt code, weapon, season, historical quota, historical applicants, new 50/50 draw methodology, and new residency allocation.

TAGZ was started by hunters, guides, and outfitters with firsthand western hunting experience. Draw changes like Colorado's 2028 overhaul demonstrate why hunters need more than a single historical percentage. When the underlying drawing methodology changes, the meaning of historical draw data changes with it. TAGZ is built to help hunters make sense of those systems and use historical information as part of a broader application strategy.

FAQ — Colorado Big Game Draw Changes

When do Colorado's new draw rules begin? The major draw changes are scheduled to begin with the 2028 draw season.

Which species are affected? The adopted split-draw changes apply to deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn, with related changes also applying to turkey.

Will I lose preference points over 10? No. There isn't an adopted 10-point cap under this structure.

What happens to my points in the bonus draw? Each preference point provides an additional entry, plus the applicant's base entry.

What happens to my points in the preference draw? Applicants with higher point totals receive priority over those with fewer points, subject to applicable draw and allocation rules.

What is the new nonresident allocation? The adopted structure provides a 25% nonresident allocation, subject to the applicable soft-cap rules.