The first, main big-game draw of the year for hunters applying for limited hunting licenses. A qualifying license is required to apply for the draws.
Hunters can submit one application per species in each the primary and the secondary draw. Applications can include up to four hunt choices to maximize your opportunity to draw a license and hunt. Hunters can apply by logging into their account at cpwshop.com or by phone: 1-800-244-5613.
The 2024 Primary Draw application and correction deadline passed on APRIL 2 , 2024
8 p.m. MT. The Primary Draw is now closed.
Customers must have valid identification to purchase Colorado Parks and Wildlife Products.
Colorado law requires that individuals born on or after January 1, 1949, must complete an approved hunter education course before applying for or purchasing a Colorado hunting license.
All hunters must purchase a habitat stamp with their license.
Qualifying license purchases must be completed prior to applying for the big game draws. A qualifying license purchase and application for the big game draw can be completed in the same transaction but the qualifying license must be added to the cart first.
Residents and nonresidents can apply for limited licenses through the draw for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and turkey.
Spring turkey license applications are due in April, while fall and late season turkey license applications are due May. These license applications are due at different times from the big game limited license applications.
The hybrid draw is a part of the primary draw that gives hunters an additional opportunity to draw a license for some of the state’s premier hunting areas. Hunters who normally would not have enough preference points to draw these licenses now have a slight chance to draw a small number of the most coveted licenses through this process. You apply for hybrid draw licenses on your primary draw application.
Hunters who successfully draw a license in the hybrid draw lose all of their preference points for that species. Unsuccessful applicants will be awarded one preference point.
Qualified hunters wishing to participate in the hybrid draw must meet the following criteria and choose from the hunt codes listed here as the first choice on their application.
Colorado residents have unique hunting opportunities available to them.
Colorado resident hunters can apply to hunt big game on private ranches. Hunters can only apply for the Ranching for Wildlife Program licenses through the primary draw by choosing an RFW hunt code on their draw application.
Colorado resident hunters can apply to hunt bighorn sheep on private land. Hunters can only apply for the Bighorn Sheep Access Program licenses the primary draw by choosing an BSAP hunt code on their draw application.
The $50 preference point fee for residents is waived for all resident lifetime license holders.
A group of hunters can apply together for licenses in the primary draw only. Group applications are not accepted for moose, desert bighorn sheep or hybrid draw licenses. Party hunting, or group members taking animals under a different group member’s license, is illegal in Colorado. Group applications do not receive youth preference.
The following are the allowed sizes for group hunts:
Group applications do not increase the probability of drawing licenses. Only submit a group application if everyone in your hunting party is committed to only go hunting if everyone draws. If members of the group plan to hunt anyway if their group application is unsuccessful, please submit individual hunting applications.
One person must be designated as the group leader, and all applications in that group are linked together with the group leader’s CID (customer identification number). If the leader has no CID, they must set up an account with CPW online at CPWShop.com, or by calling CPW to get one.
The group leader must apply first so that the group members’ hunt code choices can be validated. If you are the group leader, select “I am a group leader.”
All group members must use the same person as the leader in order to go through the draw as a group. All other group members will select “I am hunting in a group” and enter the group leader’s CID. Group members must apply for the same species, hunt code, unit, geographic restrictions, season and method of take for each choice, but may apply for a different sex. Each member must list the same first-choice hunt code and the same second-, third-, and/or fourth-choice hunt codes. These choices must be in the same order on all group applications.
The group leader submits their application first, then each hunter submits their application separately under their individual account, putting the group leader’s CID in the appropriate field. When the system validates the group hunt code choices, if there are differences in the number or order of hunt codes on the applications, the leader’s choices will be used instead. If the group leader makes a correction to their application and changes their hunt codes or hunt code order, their changes will override the choices of their group members.
If anyone in the group makes an application error, everyone in the group is disqualified. Common errors include (but are not limited to):
Each individual application is assigned a six-digit number. Groups are assigned a group number based on the lowest application number in the group and go through the draw based on the group member with the lowest number of preference points. After the group number is randomized, if that number is selected in the draw, and there are enough licenses left for the entire group, everyone in the group gets a license.
If the group includes resident and nonresident applicants and the nonresident cap has been met, the group will not be awarded licenses.
If the group is successful for their first choice, each group member will get a license and their preference points drop to zero. If unsuccessful for their first choice, everyone gets a point. Applying for more than one choice gives the group additional chances at hunting together.
Awarded licenses and draw results are sent to each individual based on the contact information in their profile on CPWShop.com.
Applicants are only considered a group for the draw. After the draw, if a group member fails to pay for their license or chooses to return it, it does not affect any of the other group members.
Hunters with disabilities may request accommodation permits to participate in wildlife recreation activities, including hunting.
Colorado resident first responders who have a permanent occupational disability or disease as a result of their official duties are eligible to apply for a free lifetime fishing or small game combo license and parks pass. The small game and fishing combo license counts as a qualifying license for the primary draw.
CPWshop.com is fully ADA compliant, but if you are having difficulty using the website please call in to the phone sales line at 1-800-244-5613.
US military personnel including active duty, reserve duty, veterans, and National Guard can take the Colorado Test-Out Exam to complete the requirements for hunter education instead of taking a class. The class is online-only and timed. You can only take the test once. If you don't pass, you must take a regular hunter education class.
Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed in Colorado and actively deployed outside the U.S. can apply to receive a preference point for a future hunt. The military preference point application becomes available in July of each year. Applications must be postmarked within 6 months of the hunters return to the U.S.
If an active duty member is deployed after applying for a hunting license, they can request a refund or preference point return. For more information, please contact Limited Licensing at 303-291-7208.
Active duty military personnel stationed in Colorado and their family members can qualify to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at the Colorado resident rates.
Colorado Resident military veterans who are disabled are eligible to apply for a lifetime fishing and small game combo license. This license counts as a qualifying license for the primary draw.
Youth hunters include resident and nonresident hunters aged 12 to 17. Youth hunters participate in the draw and apply for either designated youth licenses (youth preference), or they can apply for limited licenses.
Youth are given preference for some pronghorn, deer, and elk licenses through the primary draw. A minimum of 15 percent of limited licenses for doe pronghorn, antlerless and either-sex deer, and antlerless elk for each GMU shall be available for youth who meet hunter education requirements. Youth licenses for these species are available at a reduced cost.
New for 2024: A new private-land-only antlerless white tailed deer hunt code D-F-006-P5-R will have a youth reference set at 50%.
Youth are given reduced cost bear licenses, but are not given preference for drawing a bear license.
Youth are not given preference or reduced cost licenses for moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep licenses. However, the $50 preference point fee for residents or $100 preference point fee for nonresidents is waived for youth applicants.
Youth can apply for reduced-cost turkey licenses through the draw. Youth aged 16 to 17 can also apply for an adult license. Spring turkey license applications are due in April, while fall and late season turkey license applications are due May.
Youth lose all youth preference if they apply as a group.
If youth enter more than one hunt code on their application, ALL HUNT CODES must be youthpreference-eligible hunt codes (doe pronghorn, antlerless or either-sex deer, and antlerless elk) and/or youth-only hunt codes (such as D-F043-K2-R or E-E-851-K2-R). Any hunt code with a "K" in the season part is a youth-only hunt code.
Application corrections or modifications allow applicants to update their draw applications up to the application deadline of the drawing.
You may modify the following items through an application correction:
Application modifications can also be done over the phone by contacting our license vendor at 1-800-244-5613.
