Colorado Second Rifle Elk Draw Odds 2027 Guide

When Is Colorado Second Rifle Elk Season in 2027?

Under Colorado's approved:

2025–2029 Big Game Season Structure

the 2027 Second Rifle deer and elk season is scheduled for:

October 23–31, 2027.

That's a:

9-Day Season.

Colorado's Second Rifle season follows the First Rifle season and is followed by Third Rifle.

Always verify the final 2027 regulations before hunting.

What Is Colorado Second Rifle Elk Season?

Second Rifle is one of Colorado's major:

Regular Rifle Elk Seasons.

But don't assume every Second Rifle elk opportunity works the same way.

Depending on the:

GMU + Hunt Code + Sex + License Structure

a license may be:

Limited

or another applicable license type under the year's regulations.

This article focuses primarily on:

Limited Second Rifle Elk Draw Odds.

Colorado Uses Preference Points for Elk

Colorado's 2027 primary elk draw uses:

Preference Points.

These provide priority for limited first-choice licenses.

Applicants with more preference points are considered ahead of applicants with fewer points, subject to:

License Quota + Residency Allocation + Applicable Draw Rules.

Colorado Does Not Use Elk Bonus Points in 2027

The original article refers to:

Preference Points and Bonus Points.

That's incorrect for the normal Colorado elk drawing in 2027.

For elk:

Preference Points Apply.

Don't describe the 2027 system as:

Preference + Bonus Points.

Important: Colorado Changes Its Draw in 2028

The 2027 draw is especially important because it is the final year before Colorado's planned:

2028 Draw-System Changes.

Beginning in 2028, Colorado is scheduled to introduce a new system that includes:

Preference-Based

and:

Bonus/Randomized Opportunity

for applicable big-game drawings.

Therefore:

2027 Should Not Be Modeled Using the 2028 System.

For 2027 Second Rifle elk:

Use the Current Preference-Point Structure.

How Colorado Preference Points Work

CPW awards a preference point when an eligible applicant:

Doesn't Draw Their First-Choice Limited Elk License

or:

Uses the Elk Preference-Point-Only Hunt Code as First Choice.

Preference points are:

Species-Specific.

They aren't:

GMU-Specific

Season-Specific

or:

Weapon-Specific.

Drawing First Choice Uses Your Points

If you successfully draw your:

First-Choice Elk License

your accumulated elk preference points are:

Reduced to Zero.

This applies even if the hunt required:

Fewer Points Than You Had.

Colorado doesn't subtract only the number needed.

Drawing first choice:

Uses the Point Bank.

Second Choice Doesn't Use Preference Points

Preference points apply to:

First Choice in the Primary Draw.

They don't provide priority for:

Second

Third

or:

Fourth Choice.

Drawing a later choice doesn't use your existing preference points.

This creates an important Colorado strategy.

Build a Point and Still Potentially Hunt

A hunter can use:

Preference Point Only

as first choice.

Then list an actual hunt as:

Second Choice.

If licenses remain after first-choice processing and the applicant draws the second choice:

The Hunter Can Potentially Hunt While Still Building the Preference Point.

But this only works for hunts that:

Actually Survive First-Choice Demand.

Don't Put a Competitive Hunt Second

If a Second Rifle hunt historically fills during:

First-Choice Processing,

putting it:

Second Choice

doesn't create another realistic opportunity.

By the time Colorado reaches later choices:

Those Licenses Are Already Gone.

Colorado Draw Odds Are Hunt-Code Specific

This is one of the most important improvements for this article.

Don't publish:

"GMU 61 Takes X Points."

Instead identify:

The Exact Hunt Code.

Colorado hunt codes encode information about:

Species + Sex + GMU + Season + Method/License Structure.

Two hunters researching the same GMU can be looking at:

Completely Different Licenses.

GMU Does Not Equal One Draw Odd

Suppose you're researching:

GMU 61.

There can be different elk opportunities based on:

• Bull/either-sex vs cow

• Rifle season

• Archery

• Muzzleloader

• Private-land restrictions

• Special hunt structures

So:

GMU 61 ≠ One Draw Probability.

Use CPW's Drawn Out At Report

Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes:

Drawn Out At Reports

for elk.

These reports show the:

Last Point/Choice Level

where a license was drawn for a specific hunt code, separated by applicable:

Residency + Application Type.

They're extremely useful.

But they need to be interpreted correctly.

"Drawn Out at 5 Points" Doesn't Mean Everyone at 5 Drew

This is a common mistake.

If a report indicates a hunt:

Drawn Out At 5 Points

that doesn't automatically mean:

Every 5-Point Applicant Received a License.

It means the available licenses reached that point level during the draw.

Some applicants at the cutoff level may have drawn while others did not.

Actual 2027 Draw Odds Don't Exist Yet

Before the 2027 drawing:

Actual 2027 Draw Odds Do Not Exist.

Use completed:

2026 + Earlier

draw data to plan.

Any estimate for 2027 should be labeled:

Historical

or:

Projected.

Don't present:

2026 Draw Odds

as:

2027 Draw Odds.

Why Historical Odds Change

Second Rifle demand can move because of:

• License quotas

• Applicant totals

• Elk populations

• Season structure

• Weather

• Winter mortality

• Hunter behavior

• Previous-year draw results

• Regulation changes

• OTC/limited-license changes

That's why:

One Year of Data Isn't Enough.

Compare Multiple Years

When possible, examine:

3–5 Years

of comparable hunt-code history.

Watch for:

Point Creep

Quota Changes

and:

Applicant Movement.

But make sure the hunt code and regulations remained sufficiently similar for the comparison to be meaningful.

What Is Point Creep?

Suppose a Second Rifle hunt historically cleared at:

3 Points

and then moves to:

4 Points.

Hunters commonly call that:

Point Creep.

But don't automatically assume:

Next Year = 5 Points.

Point requirements can:

Increase

Stay Flat

or:

Decrease.

Units 61, 67 and 68 Are Not Generic "High-Odds Units"

The original article says:

Units 61, 67 and 68 historically offer comparatively higher draw odds because of larger quotas and lower application pressure.

Don't publish that.

These areas can include highly desirable elk opportunities, and their draw difficulty depends on the:

Exact Hunt Code + Residency + Year + Quota + Applicant Demand.

There is no defensible blanket statement that:

61 + 67 + 68 = Better Second Rifle Odds.

Example: Colorado GMU 61

Hunters researching Colorado GMU 61 should identify the exact:

Second Rifle Elk Hunt Code

before evaluating historical draw results.

Don't assume GMU 61 has:

One Point Requirement.

Use the TAGZ unit profile for terrain and unit research, then pair it with:

CPW Hunt-Code-Level Draw Data.

Example: Colorado GMU 67

The same applies to Colorado GMU 67.

Don't choose it because an article says:

"Unit 67 Has High Odds."

Research:

Exact License + Hunt Code + Residency + Points + Quota + Demand.

Example: Colorado GMU 68

Hunters researching Colorado GMU 68 should follow the same process.

A unit page provides valuable context.

But:

The Hunt Code Determines the Draw Analysis.

Resident vs Nonresident Draw Odds

Colorado residents and nonresidents shouldn't assume they have:

Identical Draw Probability.

Nonresident license allocations apply to limited deer and elk hunt codes in the primary draw.

Under the current system:

For applicable deer and elk hunt codes that required:

Fewer Than 6 Resident Preference Points

in the previous year's draw:

Up To 25%

of licenses may go to nonresidents.

For hunt codes that required:

6 or More Resident Preference Points:

Up To 20%

may go to nonresidents.

Verify the final 2027 allocation rules before applying.

Nonresident Cap Matters

This means:

Resident Point Requirement ≠ Nonresident Point Requirement.

A hunt may clear at one point level for residents and another for:

Nonresidents.

Always filter historical data by:

Residency.

Don't Publish "Top Units Take 8+ Points"

The original FAQ claims:

Top Units Often Require 8 or More Points for Residents and More for Nonresidents.

That's too broad.

Colorado elk hunt codes range from:

Low-Point Opportunities

to:

Extremely High-Demand Hunts Requiring Far More.

There is no meaningful statewide:

8-Point Top Unit Rule.

Colorado's Hybrid Draw

Through 2027, Colorado also maintains a:

Hybrid Draw

for certain highly competitive hunt codes.

This creates a limited random opportunity for qualified applicants who otherwise don't have enough preference points.

How the Hybrid Draw Works

Under current rules, an eligible hunt code must have:

Required 10 or More Resident Preference Points in the Previous Primary Draw

and:

At Least 5 Licenses Available in the Current Primary Draw.

Eligible applicants generally need:

At Least 5 Preference Points

and must apply:

Individually.

Groups aren't accepted for hybrid licenses.

Hybrid Draw Isn't a General Random Draw

Don't tell hunters:

"Colorado Elk Has Random Odds."

The Hybrid Draw is a:

Limited Exception

for qualifying high-demand hunt codes.

The normal 2027 elk primary draw remains:

Preference-Based.

Drawing Hybrid Uses Your Points

If you draw an elk license through the Hybrid Draw:

Your Elk Preference Points Are Used.

They don't remain available because you happened to draw through the random hybrid component.

Hybrid Draw Changes After 2027

Colorado's current draw reform plans eliminate the existing Hybrid Draw when the new:

2028 System

begins.

That's another reason to treat:

2027

as a distinct planning year.

Group Applications

Colorado allows hunters to submit:

Group Applications

for elk in the primary draw.

But group applications don't increase drawing probability.

Colorado Uses the Lowest Group Point Total

This is crucial.

For elk group applications:

Group Priority Is Based on the Member With the Fewest Preference Points.

Colorado does not average the group's points.

Example:

Hunter A:

8 Points

Hunter B:

5 Points

Hunter C:

2 Points

The group enters priority based on:

2 Points.

Don't Confuse Colorado With Wyoming

Wyoming uses:

Average Preference Points

for applicable party applications.

Colorado uses:

The Lowest Group Member's Point Total.

TAGZ should model these states differently.

Colorado Second Rifle and OTC Opportunity

Historically, Colorado has offered significant:

OTC Rifle Elk Opportunity

in applicable units.

But Colorado's OTC structure has changed and continues to evolve.

Never assume:

Every Second Rifle Bull Elk Hunt Is OTC.

Check the current year's:

Big Game Brochure + Hunt Code/OTC Map.

Limited vs OTC Matters

A hunter considering Second Rifle should first determine:

Is My Desired Opportunity Limited or OTC?

If it's limited:

Draw Analysis Matters.

If it's an applicable OTC opportunity:

Preference Points Aren't Required to Purchase That OTC License.

Don't mix those two systems.

Secondary Draw

Colorado also has a:

Secondary Draw

for remaining applicable limited licenses after the primary draw.

Preference points:

Don't Apply

in the Secondary Draw.

And drawing a license in the Secondary Draw:

Doesn't Use Your Existing Preference Points.

Youth Have Secondary Draw Preference

Under current Colorado rules:

Youth Receive Preference in the Secondary Draw.

That's important when analyzing adult odds.

Don't treat the Secondary Draw as:

A Second Version of the Primary Preference-Point Draw.

It isn't.

Leftover Licenses

After the primary and secondary draws:

Remaining Limited Licenses

can move to the:

Leftover List.

These are sold rather than awarded based on preference-point priority.

Leftovers Don't Have "Better Draw Odds"

The original article says:

Leftover Tags Often Have Better Odds.

That's incorrect framing.

Once a license reaches the leftover list:

You're Not Entering a Preference-Point Draw for It.

Availability becomes the issue.

Some licenses can sell:

Extremely Quickly.

Leftovers Don't Use Preference Points

Purchasing an eligible leftover limited license:

Doesn't Use Your Existing Preference Points.

That can make leftovers valuable for hunters who want to:

Keep Hunting While Building Points.

Reissued Licenses

Colorado also makes eligible:

Returned Limited Licenses

available through its:

Reissue Process.

These can create additional opportunities after the draws.

Availability changes throughout the season.

Don't Build a Strategy Around a Specific Reissue

A returned high-demand license can appear.

But:

You Can't Assume It Will.

Treat reissues as:

Additional Opportunity

rather than:

Your Primary Application Strategy.

First Choice Is the Most Important Choice

Because preference points only apply to:

First Choice,

your first hunt code deserves the most attention.

Ask:

Am I Willing to Spend All My Elk Points on This License?

If the answer is:

No,

rethink your first choice.

Second Through Fourth Choices

Colorado allows up to:

Four Hunt Choices

on the primary draw application.

After first-choice licenses are processed, remaining applicants can move through:

Second

then:

Third

then:

Fourth Choice.

These later choices don't use preference points.

A Second Choice Isn't an Independent Draw

Don't treat:

Choice 1 + Choice 2 + Choice 3 + Choice 4

as four identical chances at the same point priority.

They're processed:

Sequentially.

A competitive hunt that fills first choice:

Won't Survive to Second Choice.

Draw Odds vs Harvest Success

These are different metrics.

Draw Odds

How difficult was obtaining the license?

Harvest Success

How often did hunters harvest elk after obtaining hunting opportunity?

Don't assume:

Higher Harvest Success = Better Draw Odds.

Trophy Quality vs Draw Difficulty

The original article also assumes:

Harder Draw = Bigger Bulls

and:

Easier Draw = Lower Trophy Quality.

That's not reliable.

Draw demand can be influenced by:

• Reputation

• Access

• Permit quota

• Season timing

• Hunting pressure

• Media exposure

• Historical demand

Draw difficulty doesn't guarantee:

Bull Size.

An Easy Draw Can Still Be a Good Hunt

Likewise:

Low Point Requirement ≠ Bad Elk Hunting.

A lower-demand hunt might fit a hunter because of:

• Better access

• Familiar terrain

• Hunting partners

• Private access

• Physical ability

• Travel distance

• Season timing

Choose the hunt based on:

Your Goals.

How to Analyze Colorado Second Rifle Elk Odds

For each hunt, research:

1. Exact Hunt Code

2. Residency

3. Preference Points

4. First-Choice Applicants

5. License Quota

6. Historical Drawn-Out Level

7. Multi-Year Point Trend

8. Season

9. Legal Elk

10. GMU

11. Public/Private Access

12. Harvest Statistics

This creates a much more useful analysis than:

GMU + Generic Draw Percentage.

Strategy #1: Verify Your Elk Points

Before researching hunts:

Check Your Current CPW Elk Preference Points.

Don't rely on memory.

Then compare those points against:

Historical First-Choice Results.

Strategy #2: Compare Your Residency

Always compare:

Resident Data to Resident Applicants

and:

Nonresident Data to Nonresident Applicants.

Don't use resident point requirements to predict:

Nonresident Draw Probability.

Strategy #3: Research the Exact Second Rifle Hunt Code

Don't stop at:

GMU Number.

Verify:

Species + Sex + Unit + Second Rifle Season + License Type.

Then analyze that hunt code.

Strategy #4: Compare Multiple Years

Look for:

Point Creep

Quota Changes

and:

Demand Changes.

Don't chase last year's number blindly.

Strategy #5: Decide Whether You're Spending Points

If your first-choice hunt draws:

Your Elk Points Go to Zero.

So determine whether that license is:

Worth Your Point Bank.

Strategy #6: Consider Point + Second Choice

If your goal is:

Build a Point and Still Hunt,

research Second Rifle licenses that historically survive:

First Choice.

Then a strategy such as:

First Choice — Preference Point

Second Choice — Hunt

may be possible.

But verify historical demand carefully.

Strategy #7: Check the Secondary Draw

If unsuccessful in the primary draw:

Check the Secondary Draw.

Remember:

Preference Points Aren't Used.

Strategy #8: Monitor Leftovers and Reissues

After the draws:

Monitor Remaining and Returned Licenses.

They can create additional Second Rifle opportunity.

But don't assume a specific license will appear.

Strategy #9: Research Access Before Burning Points

Before spending years of accumulated points, examine:

• Public land

• Private land

• Roads

• Trailheads

• Wilderness

• Elevation

• Terrain

• Seasonal access

• Hunting pressure

A difficult-to-draw license isn't automatically:

A Better Fit.

Strategy #10: Separate Draw Strategy From Hunt Strategy

First determine:

Can I Realistically Get the License?

Then determine:

Do I Actually Want the Hunt?

Those are separate questions.

Colorado Second Rifle 2027 Planning Example

Suppose a nonresident has:

3 Elk Preference Points.

Don't search:

"Best Colorado Elk Unit With 3 Points."

Instead:

Step 1

Filter Second Rifle elk hunt codes.

Step 2

Filter for:

Nonresident.

Step 3

Review hunts that historically reached:

Around 3 Points or Fewer.

Step 4

Compare several years.

Step 5

Review:

Quota + Applicant Trend + Access + Harvest Data.

Step 6

Decide whether the hunt is worth:

Using All 3 Points.

That's a much stronger strategy.

How TAGZ Helps With Colorado Second Rifle Elk

TAGZ helps hunters research Colorado at the level that actually matters.

For Second Rifle elk, compare:

• Hunt code

• Residency

• Preference points

• Historical draw data

• GMU

• Season

• Legal elk

• Public/private land

• Terrain

• Access

Browse opportunities through the TAGZ Colorado Game Units page.

If you're researching specific areas, start with unit profiles such as:

Colorado GMU 61

Colorado GMU 67

Colorado GMU 68

Then pair the unit information with:

The Exact CPW Second Rifle Hunt Code.

Don't Search Only "Best Colorado Second Rifle Unit"

A better workflow is:

Residency → Preference Points → Hunt Code → Historical Draw → GMU → Access → Hunt Conditions.

For example:

"I Have 5 Colorado Elk Points"

is only the beginning.

You still need to ask:

Resident or Nonresident?

Which Second Rifle Hunt Code?

Where did it draw historically?

Was the cutoff partial?

Is demand increasing?

What is the quota?

Can I access the unit?

Do I actually want to spend five points there?

That's meaningful:

Colorado Elk Draw Strategy.

Historical Odds Are Planning Tools

TAGZ can help hunters interpret historical draw data.

But historical results don't guarantee:

• 2027 applicant totals

• 2027 license quota

• 2027 point cutoff

• 2027 nonresident demand

• 2027 harvest success

• 2027 weather

Use historical odds for:

Planning

not:

Guarantees.

Built by Hunters, Guides and Outfitters

TAGZ was started by hunters, guides and outfitters with firsthand Western hunting experience.

Colorado is exactly why draw-odds research needs to go beyond:

"GMU 61 Takes X Points."

Instead ask:

Which hunt code?

Which residency?

How many points?

Which choice?

What was the quota?

Was the point cutoff partial?

What happened across multiple years?

Is the license worth using my points?

Those questions produce a much stronger 2027 application strategy.

Learn more through About TAGZ.

When is Colorado Second Rifle elk season in 2027?

Colorado's approved 2025–2029 season structure schedules Second Rifle deer and elk for October 23–31, 2027.

Does Colorado use preference points for elk in 2027?

Yes. The 2027 primary elk draw still uses Colorado's existing preference-point system.

Does Colorado use bonus points for elk in 2027?

No. Don't describe the normal 2027 elk primary draw as a bonus-point system.

When does Colorado's new draw system begin?

Colorado's major new draw structure is scheduled to begin in 2028, making 2027 the final year under the current system.

Do preference points apply to second choice?

No. Elk preference points apply to first-choice licenses in the primary draw.

Do I lose my points if I draw second choice?

Drawing a second-, third- or fourth-choice license doesn't use your existing elk preference points.

Does a Colorado GMU have one elk draw odd?

No. Draw data should be analyzed by the exact hunt code, residency, point level and application choice.

Does Colorado have a random elk draw?

The normal 2027 elk primary draw is preference-based. Colorado also has a limited Hybrid Draw for qualifying high-demand hunt codes.

Can low-point hunters draw a premium elk hunt through the Hybrid Draw?

Qualified applicants can have a small random opportunity for applicable Hybrid Draw hunt codes if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Can I hunt while building elk points?

Potentially. Hunters can use the preference-point-only code first and list an actual hunt as a later choice, provided that license remains after first-choice processing.

Do leftover elk licenses use preference points?

No. Purchasing an eligible leftover license doesn't use your preference points.

Does the Secondary Draw use preference points?

No.

Are resident and nonresident Colorado elk odds the same?

No. Nonresident allocation caps can affect limited-license availability, so analyze residency separately.

How does Colorado calculate group points?

For elk group applications, priority is based on the group member with the fewest preference points.

Are actual 2027 Colorado elk draw odds available?

No. Actual 2027 draw results won't exist until the 2027 drawing occurs. Use historical results for planning.

FAQ — Colorado Second Rifle Elk Draw Odds 2027

How are Colorado Second Rifle elk draw odds calculated?

Analyze the exact hunt code using residency, preference-point level, first-choice applicant demand and available license quota.

What units have the best Second Rifle elk odds?

There isn't a permanent statewide list. Draw difficulty changes by exact hunt code, residency, quota, applicant demand and year.

Is GMU 61 an easy Second Rifle elk draw?

Don't characterize GMU 61 as universally easy or difficult. Research the exact Second Rifle hunt code and your residency/point level.

Is GMU 67 easier to draw?

Again, use the exact hunt code. GMU number alone doesn't establish draw probability.

How many points do I need for a good Second Rifle elk hunt?

There isn't a universal number. Some licenses can be obtained with relatively few points, while highly competitive hunts can require substantially more.

Should I apply for a hunt requiring fewer points than I have?

Only if you're willing to spend your entire elk preference-point bank on that first-choice license.

Can I save my points and still hunt?

Potentially, through later-choice licenses, Secondary Draw licenses, leftovers, reissues or applicable OTC opportunity.

Are leftover tags easier to draw?

Leftover licenses aren't awarded through a preference-point draw. They're remaining licenses available after the draws.

Does higher harvest success mean better draw odds?

No. Draw odds and harvest success measure different things.

Do harder-to-draw units produce larger bulls?

Not necessarily. Draw demand isn't a reliable measure of trophy quality.

When should I apply for 2027?

Colorado's final 2027 application deadline should be verified through CPW when the 2027 Big Game Brochure and application calendar are published. Historically, the primary draw occurs in early spring.

Continue Planning Your Colorado Second Rifle Elk Hunt

Start with:

Residency + Elk Preference Points.

Then identify:

Exact Second Rifle Hunt Code.

Next compare:

Historical First-Choice Demand + Quota + Drawn-Out Point Level.

Then research:

GMU + Terrain + Public Land + Access + Harvest Data.

Finally decide:

Spend Points

Build Points + Later Choice

Secondary Draw

Leftover/Reissue

or:

Applicable OTC Opportunity.

And remember:

Colorado's 2027 Elk Draw Is Still Preference-Based.

The major new draw structure begins:

2028.

Use TAGZ to research Colorado elk units, historical draw information and hunt-planning data.

Browse Colorado opportunities through TAGZ Colorado Game Units.

Explore Colorado GMU 61.

Explore Colorado GMU 67.

Explore Colorado GMU 68.

Explore additional hunting research through TAGZ Insights.

See how TAGZ works through TAGZ Product.

Learn about the hunters, guides and outfitters behind TAGZ through About TAGZ.

For official preference-point information, use Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Primary Draw.

For official elk draw statistics, use Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Elk Statistics.

For current elk regulations, use Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Hunting Elk.

For remaining licenses, use CPW Leftover and Reissued Licenses.

Historical draw results and point requirements are planning tools—not guarantees. Hunt quotas, applicant totals, nonresident allocations and regulations can change annually. Always verify the final 2027 hunt code and regulations through Colorado Parks and Wildlife before applying.