Colorado Secondary Draw 2025

The Colorado Secondary Draw offers hunters an opportunity to obtain elk, deer, pronghorn, and bear licenses that were not issued during the primary draw.

Eligibility and Application Details

Anybody is able to participate in the Colorado Secondary Draw, including those who did not participate in the primary draw. Applicants in the secondary draw must possess a qualifying license to apply. There is an application fee of $8 for residents and $10 for nonresidents.

• Youth hunters receive preference for all hunt codes in the secondary draw
• The secondary draw does not utilize preference points
• Group applications are not allowed

Additional details on the application are available from CPW here and here.

When is the 2025 Colorado Secondary Draw?

Dates for the 2025 draw have not yet been finalized, however it is anticipated that applications will be accepted from June 19th to June 27th, 2025, until 8 p.m. MT. You can apply online through your CPW account or by phone. You can start tracking draw deadlines in the OnPoint app to never miss an application, available on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

The draw normally opens in late June and closes in late June or early July. Dates for the 2024 Colorado Secondary Draw are below. You can add this draw and others to you OnPoint calendar to never miss an application.

Colorado Secondary Draw List 2025 – Available Tags by Species

Available tags for the 2025 secondary draw will be posted in mid-June and will be linked here when available.

Application Process

To apply online, sign into your CPW account at cpwshop.com, confirm or update your account details, select “Buy Big Game Licenses” under “Go Hunting & Fishing,” choose your residency, and ensure you possess a qualifying license. Select the species you want to apply for (deer, elk, pronghorn, and bear), enter your hunt code selections (up to four choices per species), and submit your application. Remember to pay the application fees at this time. Successful applicants will be charged after the draw, and the payment deadline is late July. It’s important not to purchase another license or redeem a voucher until you receive the results of your secondary draw application.

Other License Options

If you’re unsuccessful in the secondary draw or choose not to participate, you have one final opportunity to secure a tag. The Leftover and OTC tag sale, which opens in early August and goes until tags sell out, offers limited licenses that were not issued in the primary or secondary draws. Some over-the-counter (OTC) licenses are also available for purchase starting at the same time, however in 2025 archery elk licenses no longer have any OTC opportunities. Additionally, you can keep an eye on the Leftover List, released in late July, which provides an opportunity to purchase licenses that become available weekly. You can read more about Colorado hunting opportunities in our resources on Colorado Hunting and the Colorado Big Game Draw.

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