Guide To The 2026 Colorado Big Game Draw and A detailed How To Apply, Hunt Codes, Season Dates, and Descriptions
Booking Update and Availability:
2026
3- archery drop camp spots
2- guided archery spots
2- bear drop camps
2027 and Beyond
1- 3rd rifle guided private land spot
2027 archery drop camps and rifle season camps available
Limited 2028 guided archery openings
Taking booking for 2029 and beyond
2026 Draw Guide
The 2026 big game draw deadline is April 7th at 8:00pm MST. The draw period opens March 1st and the results should be published from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) until May 26th-29th. Do NOT wait to the last day to apply! The CPW website is known for bogging down.
To apply you will need the following:
1.) The hunt codes for the hunts you want to apply for… These are below for all of the hunts RBO has to offer. If you are planning on hunting a different area you will need to look these up in the 2026 big game brochure.
2.) Your hunter safety certificate
3.) A credit card that is valid through June
4.) An email address
If you are a first time license purchaser for a Colorado fishing or hunting license you will need to create an account which will generate a Customer Identification Number (CID). To begin this process click HERE.
During the application process, if you run into an issue on the CPW website please call one of their offices and speak with a representative click HERE.
For non-residents, before you can apply for a tag or for a preference point you need to purchase a qualifying license. The cheapest qualifying license is an annual small game license.
As mentioned above, this article is for elk, mule deer, and black bear for the areas we hunt on the River’s Bend Outfitter permit area. If you are interested in Rocky Mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, or Shiras moose, check out our top unit recommendations for those units HERE. The draw system for those three species is very different than the standard big game draw. For more information I recommend reading an article I wrote a couple years ago called: Understanding The Colorado Sheep, Goat, and Moose Draw.
Whether you plan on hunting every year or once every 20 years, you should be putting into the Colorado draw. Even if that means you are only putting in for preference points. In my opinion, Colorado will continue to move away from OTC/easy to draw units to draw units that will require preference points. Gaining a preference point each year is the best way to guarantee your success of drawing a tag in the future, and often times, hunting a better unit. However, keep in mind that a 20 point unit is not necessarily 20x better than a 1 point unit. For both deer and elk there are Boone and Crockett quality animals in every single unit in Colorado; the units that require more preference points simply have a higher density of those caliber animals. My suggestion, is to find units/seasons in the 1-5 preference point range and hunt those. In the off years, hunt the few remaining OTC units left, units you can draw as second choice (like our rifle seasons), or tags from the leftover list.
Definitions:
CPW: Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They are the governing state agency for wildlife and fisheries in Colorado.
Preference point (PP): There are two ways to gain a preference point in Colorado. You can either pay for a preference point as a first choice in the draw, or earn a preference point if you are unsuccessful in drawing your first choice tag
Guaranteed draw: If you apply for this tag you will most likely draw it even if you have zero preference points. However, you need to put this as your first choice… You will NOT be able to build preference points
Preference Point Gainer Hunt: PP Gainer Hunt. These are hunts that you can draw as a second choice and in turn means you can build a preference point as your first choice. If you are applying for one of these make sure you put the hunt code for a PP as your first choice. If you put the hunt code for one of these units as your first choice you will LOSE any preference points you have built up.
0 vs O: This is a huge one! In a lot of the hunt codes you might see a 0 (the number zero) or an O (the letter). As a rule to follow, the only time the you will type the number zero is if the Game Management unit (GMU) you are hunting is only a two digit number and thus you put the number zero in front of the two digit GMU. For example GMU 11 is typed in as 011. The only time you type the letter O is in front of the season. For example you want to hunt 1st rifle season you would type O1. The hunt code for for elk in unit 11 during first rifle season looks like this: E-M-011-O1-R which reads like so E-M-011(zero, one, one)-O1 (letter O, one)-R
Preference Point Codes:
Deer: D-P-999-99-P
Elk: E-P-999-99-P
Bear: B-P-999-99-P
A great bull from one of our regular 1st rifle drop camp hunters
September Hunts:
September Bear
GMU 24 Archery Bear 9/2-9/30: PP Gainer
Hunt Code: B-E-012-O1-A
I recommend applying for the rifle bear tag instead. You can always shoot a bear with a bow on a rifle tag.
GMU 24 Archery Bear Add on 9/2-9/30: OTC (DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS IN THE DRAW)
Hunt Code: B-E-012-U1-A
You MUST hold an archery deer or archery elk tag in that same unit to purchase one of the licenses
GMU 24 Muzzleloader Bear 9/12-9/20: PP Gainer Hunt
Hunt code: B-E-012-O1-M
I recommend applying for the rifle bear tag. The rifle tag is a longer season and is a PP Gainer Hunt
GMU 24 Muzzleloader Bear Add on 9/2-9/30: OTC (DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS IN THE DRAW)
B-E-012-U1-M
You must hold a valid muzzleloader deer or muzzleloader elk tag in that same unit to purchase one of the licenses
GMU 24 Rifle Bear 9/2-9/30: PP Gainer Hunt
Hunt code: B-E-012-O1-R
Great tag to have in you back pocket if you are out archery or muzzleloader hunting for elk or deer or if you are a dedicated bear only hunter
This is the main tag I encourage hunters to get!
Having a bear tag in your pocket in September is a great way to improve opportunity on taking an animal
September Deer
GMU 24 Archery Deer 9/2-9/30: 0-1PP
Hunt Code: D-E-023-O1-A
This either sex tag is an awesome tag to have in the pocket even if your main goal is elk hunting. There is the real possibility of seeing a giant buck but they are hard to get within bow range.
GMU 24 Muzzleloader Deer 9/12-9/20: 0-1PP
Hunt Code: D-M-023-O1-M
This is a great tag to have if you are chasing elk with a muzzleloader and see a buck. Deer can be tough to hunt this time of year. There is a good chance they may have been bumped around by elk hunters and if they are rubbed out of their velvet they will be in the dark timber
Early Rifle Deer 9/5-9/13: Requires 8-14 PP
Hunt Code: D-M-012-E1-R
This tag varies year to year on the amount of PP it requires solely due to low tag quotas. The tag in my opinion is over rated. However, this is an awesome time of the year to be in the mountains chasing bucks in velvet. The deer are dispersed throughout the landscape leaving a low density. There is the chance of shooting an absolute giant.
Targeting September deer requires a lot of time behind the glass or a lot of patience waiting for them to come out of the dark timber. Either way having a deer tag increases opportunity for taking an animal home!
September Elk
GMU 24 Archery Elk (South) 9/2-9/30:On average requires 2-3 PP
Hunt Code: E-E-033-O1-A
GMU 24 Muzzleloader Elk (South) 9/12-9/20: on average requires 6-7 PP
Hunt Code: E-E-033-O1-M
Not the biggest bull we saw but the biggest bull we packed out in 2025. It green scored 346
1st Rifle Season: 10/14-10/18
1st Rifle Bull Elk: Guaranteed Draw
Hunt Code: E-M-011-O1-R
Very popular hunt! Often times the season dates catch the tail end of the rut. Not a very weather dependent hunt. Elk may still be in their summer range. Can combo with a bear tag (see below) ***should be used as a first choice hunt code***
1st Rifle Cow Elk: Guaranteed Draw
Hunt Code: E-F-011-O1-R
This is a List-A tag. You can only have one List-A tag for each species. If you draw this tag you can NOT draw a bull tag!
1st Rifle Bear: OTC
Hunt Code: B-E-012-U5-R ****DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS TAG IN THE DRAW**** it is to be added in August
This tag is a good addition to an elk tag. If you harvest an elk and your buddies are still hunting, you can sit the gut pile and hopefully shoot a bear off of it
First bull, first elk hunt, 1st rifle drop camp… Congrats!
2nd Rifle Season: 10/24-11/1
2nd Rifle Bull Elk: OTC (For both Residents and Nonresidents)
Very popular hunt. This is a fantastic elk/mule deer combo hunt. Weather can start playing a factor in elk behavior, triggering migration from the high country. Snow and cold temperatures make for better hunting!
2nd Rifle Cow Elk: Guaranteed Draw
Hunt Code: E-F-012-O2-R
Cow tags have moved to List A. This means hunters will have to choose between a cow tag or a bull tag. You’ll no longer have the option for both.
2nd Rifle Deer: PP Gainer
Hunt Code: D-M-012-O2-R
All OTC elk hunters should consider getting this tag. Bucks are in transition and starting to think about does.
2nd Rifle Bear: OTC
Hunt Code: B-E-012-U5-R ****DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS TAG IN THE DRAW**** it is to be added in August
Not recommended. Most bears have denned by this time of year.
2 bulls down at the same time… Sometimes hunting together pays off
3rd Rifle Season: 11/7-11/15
3rd Rifle Bull Elk: OTC (For both Residents and Nonresidents)
Very popular hunt. This is a fantastic elk/mule deer combo hunt. Weather can start playing a factor in elk behavior, triggering migration from the high country. Snow and cold temperatures make for better hunting!
3rd Rifle Cow Elk: Guaranteed Draw
Hunt Code: E-F-012-O3-R
Cow tags have moved to List A. This means hunters will have to choose between a cow tag or a bull tag. You’ll no longer have the option for both.
3rd Rifle Deer: 0-1 PP
Hunt Code: D-M-012-O3-R
All OTC elk hunters should consider getting this tag. The mule deer rut officially begins. Watch the does and bucks will show!
3rd Rifle Bear: OTC
Hunt Code: B-E-012-U5-R ****DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS TAG IN THE DRAW**** it is to be added in August.
Not recommended. Most bears have denned by this time of year.
The hunting in 3rd was good despite poor weather conditions last year but the night sky was epic with the Northern lights!
4th Rifle Season: 11/18-11/22
4th Rifle Bull Elk: Guaranteed Draw
Hunt Code: E-M-012-O4-R
This is for our Private Land Lease only
4th Rifle Deer: 0-1 PP
Hunt Code: D-E-012-P4-R
This is for our Private Land Lease only
4th Rifle Bear: OTC
Hunt Code: B-E-012-U5-R ****DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS TAG IN THE DRAW**** it is to be added in August
Not recommended. Most bears have denned by this time of year.
How to apply — Step-by-step
1.) Go to your browser and navigate to the CPW website (https://cpw.state.co.us/)
2.) Click “BUY A LICENSE OR PASS” in the top right of the screen
3.) Click “Sign In Or Create Account” in the top right of the screen
4a.) If this is your first time purchasing a license in Colorado, you will need to create an account. Click “Create an Individual Account”
You will then have to complete 6 different steps to create this account
4b.) If you are a returning customer fill in your CID number/password and sign in. You will then have to confirm your personal details (mailing address, height, weight, etc.)
5.) Once you are signed in, click the “GO HUNTING AND FISHING” tab near the top and select “Buy Small Game & Combo Licenses”
6.)Purchase and add to cart the non resident small game annual license
7.)Then click “Big Game, Turkey & Draws”
8.) Scroll down until you see the list of species. Select the species you wish to apply/build a point for and click “Apply Now”
9.) Choose if you are applying as a group (or not) and hit proceed. Remember, if you apply as a group it means you will all draw or none of you will draw. You will be subject to the lowest point holder in the group. You will also need to designate a group leader. The group leaders CID number will be need to be passed to the other members of the group as it will become the groups “code” to join.
10.) Type your hunt code or preference point code. Remember, if you want to ensure you draw the tag this year, the hunt code should be your First Choice. To build a point, you must either be unsuccessful in the draw or you must use the preference point code as your First Choice. Once you’ve entered your codes, click “Confirm Choices” and then add to cart.
***Note: the above hunt codes are NOT to be copied this is just an example***
11.) Repeat this process with any other species you wish to apply for.
12.) CPW will also force you to purchase a Habitat Stamp and ask how you would like the order fulfilled (by mail or by pick up at a sales location.)