Update on Colorado Regulation Changes for 2028

During the March 5-6 meeting, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission reviewed staff recommendations on proposed regulations changes.  After in-depth discussions, the Commissioners approved the following regulation to take effect in 2028. 

 

1. Deer, Elk, Bear, Pronghorn & Turkey: Changes to the Primary Draw

• 50/50 split draw (Preference Draw / Bonus Draw) The quota for each hunt code will be divided 50/50, with half of the quota going to a preference point draw, and half going to a bonus draw. This allows hunters with a lot of accrued points to use them and also gives new hunters a chance to draw. If there’s only one license available, it will go into the preference point draw.
• 75% Resident /25% Nonresident allocation for ALL limited hunt codes.  
  • These Allocation Rules will apply to 1st & 2nd choices during the primary draw.  
  • The current 80% / 20% split for High Demand hunts will be removed.
• The first-choice preference point only hunt code (x-x-999-99-x) for each species will be eliminated and applicants will have to choose to either apply for a license OR purchase a preference point. 
• There was great discussion regarding establishing a new $15 resident and $30 nonresident preference point fee per species, but it was tabled and NOT approved when the commissioners decided they needed further study to determine what the exact amounts should be. I believe they will establish preference point fees once they settle on an amount.

 

2. Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat- Primary Draw

• 100% Bonus Draw will replace the current weighted point draw. All points will be “regular” points and there will no longer be any “weighted” points. This won’t change the draw odds; it just simplifies the system.
• Waiting periods
  • Rams, Bull Moose and Either-Sex Licenses for goats will require three years of applying and buying points prior to being able to receive a license. (No change.)
  • Females; No point thresholds or waiting period to be able to receive a license.
• Once-in-a-Lifetime harvest for bull moose, bighorn sheep rams and any goats harvested on an either-sex license (from 2028 into the future, not retroactive on any past harvests).
  • 5-year waiting period after harvest to apply for a female license. Can’t apply for a license or point during the waiting period.
• Group applications allowed for all trophy species but restricted to two members maximum with the same residency.  (For other non-trophy species, group applications are allowed with no limits on the number of group members or restrictions on residency status.)

 

3. Reissue Process

• Auto-Reissues
  • Applicants opt-in to accept auto reissues by hunt code, and by choice (1st, 2nd, etc.), during the primary draw application process, but can change to opt-out before being issued a license.
  • Licenses will automatically be reissued to the next eligible applicant by residency based on the next up report. 
  • Customers are charged when the license is reissued to them.
  • Preference Points will be used (voided) only when a 1st choice hunt code was applied for during the Primary Draw.  If another choice (2nd, 3rd, etc.) choice was used, preference points will NOT be used.

• Weekly Reissues
  • Any deer, elk, bear, pronghorn or turkey licenses that are returned two weeks or less prior to the start of the season or returned at any time but do not have any eligible applicants to auto-reissue the license to, will be placed on the weekly reissue list. These licenses are released at 11:00 MT on Wednesdays, with a preview list posted the Tuesday prior. Licenses do not require the use of preference points to purchase.
• Manual Reissues
• • Any Sheep, Goat or Moose license returned two weeks or less prior to the start of the season will be manually reissued by CPW staff, once approved by the customer, to the applicant next up in the draw order (by residency based on the next-up report).
  • All preference points for that species become used (voided) when a manual reissue is accepted.
  • If there are no eligible applicants to manually reissue the license to or if none of the next five applicants in line accept the license, the license becomes available as a part of the next weekly reissue process. 

• Fail to Pays 
  • Licenses not paid for by the payment deadline will be removed from the customer’s account and auto-reissued to the next applicant in the draw order.
  • If preference points were used to obtain the license, those preference points are restored to the pre-draw level.