Colorado antelope isn’t a trophy-first hunt—but it might be one of the easiest ways to add a western hunt to your season. Learn how to approach draw odds, access, and strategy for 2026.

Colorado elk is still one of the most reliable ways to plan a western hunt. Here’s how the 2026 application works, what’s changed, and how to approach it based on your points.

Colorado is still one of the best states to hunt mule deer—if you understand how the system works. In this guide, we break down the 2026 application deadline, how preference points actually function, what the 2028 changes could mean for your strategy, and where to start looking based on your points.