2026 Colorado Draw Results

[brownbear932008]

I’m not sure I agree with the idea true preference point systems are stupid. My goal was to draw a unit 10 tag, I hunted unit 11 a few times and thought that would be a great opportunity. Once I passed 15 points and knew unit 10 wasn’t going to happen I adjusted. I would love to get an opportunity at a 340”+ bull, but I haven’t even taken a 300” bull. I kind of came to my senses.

You also missed a lot of hunts chasing numbers. And there are bulls killed that big every year in low point units. I agree with preference point systems are really bad for multiple reasons.

 

[Buffs35]

You also missed a lot of hunts chasing numbers.

I always laughed at this sentiment. There are plenty of opportunities in several states, and big game hunting, especially big game male animals, isn’t the only game in town. I usually amass more points than I need so I can plan my calendar.

And I haven’t missed out on anything.

 

[arenac1972]

You also missed a lot of hunts chasing numbers. And there are bulls killed that big every year in low point units. I agree with preference point systems are really bad for multiple reasons.

That’s where you’re wrong. I was an educator, and couldn’t elk hunt every year (nonresident). I managed to go elk hunting 5 times during my teaching career, which isn’t easy to pull off. I was content with the OTC camp we had, I took 3 elk in 3 trips there, plus 2 for 2 in New Mexico.

I’m retired now, so I’ll do this trip in 2026 and I have 15 points for Wyoming sometime down the road. I’m done with DIY, I’m not interested in packing out another one solo.

 

[arenac1972]

I always laughed at this sentiment. There are plenty of opportunities in several states, and big game hunting, especially big game male animals, isn’t the only game in town. I usually amass more points than I need so I can plan my calendar.

And I haven’t missed out on anything.

This.

 

[mtmuley]

I’m done with DIY, I’m not interested in packing out another one solo.

I am 60 years old. I'll pack elk out solo or not until I can't. Can't see myself ever not hunting DIY. Kinda like most of the guys here. mtmuley

 

[arenac1972]

I am 60 years old. I'll pack elk out solo or not until I can't. Can't see myself ever not hunting DIY. Kinda like most of the guys here. mtmuley

That’s great, I’m by no means telling you not to. If I lived in a mountain state, then I might see things differently.

 

[FivePops]

2026 Draw Reports are out

 

[rmyoung1]

Wow. The point creep is for real.

 

[appaloosa]

Crazy how many points people are unloading on some of those deer hunts

 

[rustednuts]

The best part is the deck is going to be reshuffled in a couple of years. I think we might see some lower point units regress as more people swing for the fences

 

[Kiwi]

The point creep was slightly more than I predicted, which was based on last years. But I went for a safe option and drew a tag that took 4 points this year and I had 7.

 

[beagle001]

First time really looking at these reports, does the shaded hunt codes mean these will be available in the 2nd draw?

 

[npaden]

I'm so close to the early rifle deer tag I've been chasing for the last 5 or 6 years. Maybe next year.

The point creep on the elk tag I've been applying for jumped by 3 preference points this year. I'm 5 behind now and was 2 behind last year.

On mountain goat my 3 + 12 didn't do much good. There was a nonresident the +19 and a few with +18 or +17 that applied for the same tag I did and I think a few +15 but the single tag went to a +2 applicant. Just 98 first choice applicants so those you still have to get lucky on the initial random number assigned before they divide it by your bonus points.

 

[rmyoung1]

First time really looking at these reports, does the shaded hunt codes mean these will be available in the 2nd draw?

It means that the hunt demand was such that the tag will be manually reissued if it is surrendered (as opposed to being relegated straight to the leftover list).

 

[utah400elk]

I was so close to drawing my elk tag. It says it took 26 points and I had 26 points…now the proud owner of 27. Really kind of glad I didn’t draw. I was lucky and drew a random draw tag in UT so this would have been hard to go on two. Maybe next year.. good luck to everybody who was lucky in the draw.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Creep got the better of us for my dad's elk app. It would've been nice to draw and go, but I'm looking forward to the possibility that he now at least has a possibly at a tag in an area I'd rather hunt in the future which he never would've caught up to.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Major point creep. Guys are getting out because they know what 2028 is bringing, massive point creep and unpredictability.

"Predictability" being one of the finer parts of the Colorado draw for so long, will be gone.