Know what to put on your Colorado draw application.
Your points against every hunt in CPW’s 2026 draw: whether to use or save them, what to list 1st to 4th, and how to apply.
From your points to a plan
Enter your points
Your elk Preference pointA credit you earn each year your first-choice hunt doesn’t draw (or when you apply just to earn one). In most hunts, applicants with more points draw first.More detail in the guide, whether you live in Colorado, and what matters most to you. Never applied? You have zero.
Get your answer
Use your points now or save them, and your application, ready to copy. It’s built from every hunt in CPW’s latest draw and the points each one took.
Apply on CPW’s site
Four steps, from the license you need to the deadline. Every hunt is there to explore too, with its Took N pointsThe fewest preference points that still drew a license in that year’s draw, for your applicant group.More detail in the guide year by year.
Every hunt, sorted by what your points can do
Your plan compares your points with what each hunt took in CPW’s latest draw, and gives every hunt one plain label. Tap a label to see exactly what it means.
- Likely drawIn the latest draw the hunt took fewer points than you have, took exactly your total with every applicant in your group at that total drawing, or had licenses reach later choices or be left over. It describes last year, so it isn’t a guarantee.More detail in the guide
- At the cutoffYou have exactly the points the hunt took, and CPW’s report doesn’t show everyone with that many drawing. Ties are broken at random.More detail in the guide
- Needs more pointsIn the latest draw the hunt took more points than you have. Each card shows how many you were short.More detail in the guide
New to Colorado’s draw? Start here.
Most elk licenses come through a yearly draw. These are the four words you’ll see most.
- The draw
- Colorado’s yearly lottery for most elk hunting licenses. You apply in the spring, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) decides who gets each license.
- Preference point
- A credit you earn each year your first-choice hunt doesn’t draw (or when you apply just to earn one). In most hunts, applicants with more points draw first.
- Hunt code
- CPW’s ID for one hunt, such as E-M-003-O1-R. It’s what you enter on your application. We show a plain name beside it.
- Unit
- A Game Management Unit: the numbered area of Colorado where the license lets you hunt.
The 2026 draw is done
CPW hasn’t published the 2027 dates yet. We’ll add them as soon as it does.
See every draw dateBuilt on CPW’s own numbers. Explained in plain English.
- Every draw figure comes from CPW's published results, with its source.
- Not affiliated with CPW. We never ask for your CPW login or apply for you.
- Free to look, with no account needed.