Colorado archery — real draw odds

How Colorado works

Preference points

Colorado is a preference-point state: the points line up applicants and the most-wanted tags go to the highest point-holders. But dozens of units go undrawn and land on the leftover list at 0 points — that's how a new hunter gets in this year.

What you can hunt in Colorado

Green = no draw needed (the fast way in).OIL = once-in-a-lifetime.

The 2026 draw timeline

1. Primary drawSpring application; results posted in early June

   The main draw — this is where your preference points are spent.

2. Secondary drawJune 18–30, 2026 (closes 8 p.m. MT)

   Re-draws the licenses left after the primary. Results July 7; payment due July 21, 2026.

3. Leftover listAfter the secondary draw (early July on)

   Everything still unsold lands on the Leftover List — first-come, online and over the counter, until tags run out.

Your move

Here's how to set up this hunt, start to finish

We took the top pick — Either-sex Elk in Unit 11 (68.1% public, 41.9% success) — and laid out exactly what to do. Follow the steps; we track the deadlines.

1. 1
   Secure the tag

   Apply for EE011P1A (either-sex elk, units 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 131, 211, 231) in the secondary draw before it closes June 30, 8 p.m. MT — or grab it on Leftover Day, Aug 4, 9 a.m. MT. Step-by-step how-to is just below.

2. 2
   E-scout Unit 11

   See the real draw odds, public-land %, hunter success and herd data for your unit before you commit.

   Open →
3. 3
   Build your kit

   Your exact archery-elk kit for this hunt — including the brands most people can't find.

   Open →
4. 4
   Get your daily game plan

   Morning-by-morning calls tied to weather, legal light and movement once season opens.

   Open →