Colorado Parks and Wildlife issues 2026 big game brochure, lists draw deadlines and new rules
February 13, 2026 | Parks and Wildlife Commission, Governor's Boards and Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Colorado
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife released its 2026 big game brochure and outlined application dates, new limited licenses and testing requirements for the coming seasons. Unidentified Speaker, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, said the brochure is available at statewide licensed agents and CPW offices and urged hunters to check key dates.
The agency said most qualifying licenses will be available beginning March 1 and must be purchased before applying for big game licenses or preference points. "Funds from qualifying licenses help to support wildlife conservation and research studies for both game and nongame species," the spokesperson said.
Applications for the primary license drawing may be submitted beginning March 1; the deadline for the primary drawing is 8 p.m. Mountain Time on April 7. CPW encouraged applicants to submit early and to review confirmation receipts; application modifications are allowed before the deadline. CPW will begin accepting secondary-draw applications online or by phone starting June 18; the secondary-draw application deadline is 8 p.m. Mountain Time on June 30. Youth hunters receive 100% preference in the secondary draw; the secondary draw does not use reward preference points, but qualifying licenses, application fees and a habitat stamp are still required.
CPW said draw results for the primary draw will be posted online May 26 through May 29; secondary draw results are scheduled for July 7. Leftover limited and over-the-counter licenses will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Aug. 4. Hunters who draw licenses and then surrender them will have until 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 1 (primary draw) or July 9 (secondary draw) to surrender unwanted licenses; surrendered licenses will be removed from accounts, refunded and the hunter's preference points reinstated to the pre-draw level.
The agency announced boundary changes for Game Management Units 97 and 99 and advised hunters to check the CPW Hunting Atlas and updated GPS or map applications for accurate boundaries. CPW added new licenses for moose, buck deer, archery elk and bear in various GMUs and said rifle elk licenses for GMUs 54, 55 and 551 in the Gunnison Basin are now fully limited rather than sold over the counter.
On disease monitoring, the spokesperson said chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing will be mandatory for elk harvested during rifle seasons in specified GMUs and that mandatory testing is free; the transcript did not enumerate every affected GMU. The agency said there will be no mandatory CWD testing for harvested deer in the 2026 seasons.
Customer service agents are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and CPW pointed listeners to the agency web page and brochure pages (including the 'what's new' section and specified pages) for full details. "CPW encourages you to have a safe and successful 2026 season," the spokesperson said.
CPW asked hunters to read the brochure for full lists of qualifying licenses and GMU-specific details before applying or hunting; the video summary does not cover every change.
The agency said most qualifying licenses will be available beginning March 1 and must be purchased before applying for big game licenses or preference points. "Funds from qualifying licenses help to support wildlife conservation and research studies for both game and nongame species," the spokesperson said.
Applications for the primary license drawing may be submitted beginning March 1; the deadline for the primary drawing is 8 p.m. Mountain Time on April 7. CPW encouraged applicants to submit early and to review confirmation receipts; application modifications are allowed before the deadline. CPW will begin accepting secondary-draw applications online or by phone starting June 18; the secondary-draw application deadline is 8 p.m. Mountain Time on June 30. Youth hunters receive 100% preference in the secondary draw; the secondary draw does not use reward preference points, but qualifying licenses, application fees and a habitat stamp are still required.
CPW said draw results for the primary draw will be posted online May 26 through May 29; secondary draw results are scheduled for July 7. Leftover limited and over-the-counter licenses will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Aug. 4. Hunters who draw licenses and then surrender them will have until 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 1 (primary draw) or July 9 (secondary draw) to surrender unwanted licenses; surrendered licenses will be removed from accounts, refunded and the hunter's preference points reinstated to the pre-draw level.
The agency announced boundary changes for Game Management Units 97 and 99 and advised hunters to check the CPW Hunting Atlas and updated GPS or map applications for accurate boundaries. CPW added new licenses for moose, buck deer, archery elk and bear in various GMUs and said rifle elk licenses for GMUs 54, 55 and 551 in the Gunnison Basin are now fully limited rather than sold over the counter.
On disease monitoring, the spokesperson said chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing will be mandatory for elk harvested during rifle seasons in specified GMUs and that mandatory testing is free; the transcript did not enumerate every affected GMU. The agency said there will be no mandatory CWD testing for harvested deer in the 2026 seasons.
Customer service agents are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and CPW pointed listeners to the agency web page and brochure pages (including the 'what's new' section and specified pages) for full details. "CPW encourages you to have a safe and successful 2026 season," the spokesperson said.
CPW asked hunters to read the brochure for full lists of qualifying licenses and GMU-specific details before applying or hunting; the video summary does not cover every change.
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