The 2026 Colorado draw results are out, and if you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance your account said the same thing ours has said more than once: unsuccessful. It stings. But here’s the truth most hunters miss — striking out in the primary draw doesn’t mean your elk season is over. Not even close.
Colorado still puts more elk tags in hunters’ pockets after the draw than most states issue all year. You just need to know where to look and — more importantly — when. Here’s your full backup plan, with every date that matters.
Step 1: The Secondary Draw (June 18–30)
Your first move is the secondary draw. Most of the elk, deer, pronghorn, and bear licenses that didn’t get issued in the primary draw go back into the pool, and CPW redraws them in July.
The dates, straight from CPW: applications open June 18, the deadline is June 30 at 8 p.m. MDT, results post July 7, and the payment deadline is July 21.
Two things worth knowing. First, the secondary draw doesn’t use preference points and doesn’t burn the ones you have — so there’s zero downside to applying. Second, youth hunters get first crack at secondary draw licenses, so if you’ve got a kid who eats tag soup in the primary, this is their best shot of the year.
Step 2: OTC Elk Tags — Still Real, With New 2026 Rules
Yes, Colorado still sells over-the-counter elk tags. Both leftover licenses and OTC licenses go on sale August 4 at 9 a.m. MDT, and you can buy them right up through the season.
But the OTC landscape has changed, and you need to know the new rules before you build a plan around them:
Rifle hunters: OTC bull tags are still available for the second rifle season (Oct. 24–Nov. 1) and third rifle season (Nov. 7–15) in most traditional OTC units — for residents and nonresidents alike. The big 2026 change: the Gunnison Basin units (GMUs 54, 55, and 551) are no longer OTC. Those went to draw-only this year. If Gunnison country was your fallback, it isn’t anymore.
Archery hunters: If you’re a nonresident, remember that OTC archery elk west of I-25 went away starting with the 2025 season — those units are draw-only now. Nonresidents can still buy OTC archery tags for a few plains units east of I-25, and resident archery hunters still have their traditional OTC options. If you’re going the stick-and-string route this fall, it might be the year to upgrade — we just broke down the best hunting bows of 2026 with elk season in mind.
Step 3: The Leftover List (August 4)
After the secondary draw wraps, every license that’s still unclaimed lands on CPW’s leftover list — and some of those are limited-unit tags that would surprise you. The list publishes ahead of the sale, so do your homework, pick your targets, and be online August 4 at 9 a.m. sharp. The good ones go in minutes, just like the draw-results-day license surrender window feeds reissue opportunities all summer. Check the list, then check it again.
Step 4: Skip the Draw Entirely — Landowner Tags and Private Land
Here’s the route a lot of hunters don’t realize exists: in Colorado, qualifying landowners can draw transferable vouchers they’re allowed to sell, and outfitters with private ground often have tags or guaranteed-tag hunts baked right into the package. No points. No draw. No August 4 refresh-button panic.
That’s how most of our private land Colorado elk hunts work — the tag situation is handled as part of the hunt. And with the Gunnison Basin going draw-only this year, a guided Gunnison elk hunt with the tag question already answered is worth a lot more than it was twelve months ago. If you’d rather go deep instead of private, our wilderness horseback pack-in elk hunt puts you miles past the pressure.
One More Long Shot Worth Taking
And if you want a true wild card: our WO Dream Hunts sweepstakes is giving away a fully guided Colorado elk hunt — tags and license included — and entries close July 4, with the drawing on July 7. Somebody’s drawing a better tag than the draw ever handed them. Might as well be you.
The Bottom Line
Mark three dates: June 30 (secondary draw deadline), August 4 (leftover and OTC sale), and July 4 if you want in on the Dream Hunt. Work the steps in order, and remember the draw is a long game — if this year taught you anything about your point strategy, our 2026 Colorado draw strategy breakdown will help you build a smarter application next spring.
And if you’d rather just go elk hunting this fall without playing tag roulette, talk to us — guaranteed-tag hunts are exactly what we do. Browse everything at Hunt Adventures.
Hunting is not a hobby. It’s an obsession.
This guide is part of our complete resource on Colorado elk hunting.
