Colorado Group Applications Are Changing in 2028… And Most Hunters Aren’t Ready

If you've been applying as a group in Colorado and think you've got it figured out, 2028 is going to catch you off guard. Colorado is making real changes to how the draw works, and group applications are right in the middle of it. These aren't small tweaks either. They're part of a bigger push to simplify the system, deal with preference point issues, and spread opportunity differently across hunters.

For a long time, group applications in Colorado were pretty straightforward on the surface. You apply together, you draw together, and your odds are tied to the guy in your group with the lowest points. That's always been the tradeoff. More guys means less draw power. But going into 2028, the system behind that is changing, and that's where it starts to matter.

The Biggest Shift: How the Draw Is Split

One of the biggest changes coming is how tags are actually allocated in the draw. Colorado is moving toward a system that splits tags between preference points and a more random component. It's being described as a 50/50-style structure where part of the tags reward points and part of them are more open.

What that means for group applications is simple: The old mindset of "just keep building points and we'll eventually draw together" isn't as solid as it used to be. Now you're dealing with a system where randomness plays a bigger role, and that changes how groups should think about applying. A group with high points is no longer guaranteed to just out-wait everyone else.

Group Strategy Gets Riskier

Group applications have always had risk, but most guys accepted it because the system rewarded patience. Now, the risk is getting higher. If you've got one guy in your group with lower points, that still drags everyone down. That part hasn't changed. What has changed is that even if your group has strong points, you're still competing in a system where not every tag goes to the highest point holders anymore.

So now you're dealing with two layers of uncertainty:

• The lowest point in your group
• The random side of the draw

That's a very different game than it used to be.

Residents vs Nonresidents: It Still Matters

Colorado has always had allocation rules between residents and nonresidents, and those aren't going away. But with the 2028 changes, how those tags are split inside the draw matters more. When you apply as a group with mixed residency, you're still pulling from the nonresident quota where applicable.

That means group applications with residents and nonresidents need to be even more intentional moving forward. One bad assumption about odds or allocation can sink the whole group.

The Secondary Draw and Leftover Game Is Growing

Another piece that ties into all of this is how Colorado is handling leftover and secondary draw tags. The secondary draw is already 100% random and doesn't use preference points, and that's not changing. What that means in real terms is that opportunity is spreading out beyond the primary draw. Groups that don't draw together might still find ways to hunt together later, but only if they're paying attention.

The days of putting everything into one application and calling it good are fading.

The Biggest Mistake Groups Will Make

Most hunting groups are going to make the same mistake going into 2028. They're going to keep applying the same way they always have. Same group. Same unit. Same plan. And they're not going to adjust for how the system is changing underneath them.

That's how groups get stuck. Waiting longer, drawing less often, and slowly falling behind.

What Smart Groups Will Do Instead

The groups that stay ahead are going to treat this differently. They're going to have real conversations about:

• Whether to apply together or split up
• When it makes sense to hunt vs wait
• How point differences affect the group
• When to pivot into second-choice or leftover strategies

Some groups are going to stay together. Others are going to break into smaller groups or apply individually depending on the unit and timing. There's no one right answer anymore. That's the point.

The New Reality Going Into 2028

Colorado didn't get rid of group applications. But it did change how effective they are. The system is moving toward:

• More balance
• More randomness
• Less predictability based purely on points

That means applying as a group is no longer just about loyalty or tradition. It's a strategy decision.

Final Take

If you've been applying as a group in Colorado, 2028 is the year you need to rethink everything. Not panic. Not abandon it. But rethink it. Because the old system rewarded waiting. The new system rewards awareness. And if your group isn't talking about how to adapt now, you're going to feel it later.