Update: The 2025 Secondary Draw application period has closed.
The Secondary Draw is open to anyone and includes most elk, deer, pronghorn, and bear licenses that were not issued through the Primary Draw. Before you submit your application, here’s some information and helpful tips.
Available 2025 Secondary Draw Limited License Lists
The license list includes the remaining quota (licenses) from the Primary Draw, failed-to-pay licenses, and returned big game licenses that took four or fewer preference points to draw in the 2025 Primary Draw.
Game Management Units and Hunting Access
To learn more about public access in the Game Management Units, use the Colorado Hunting Atlas. The Colorado Hunting Atlas allows users to view big game concentrations and game management units on top of street maps, USGS topographic maps or high resolution color aerial photography. Map layers include CPW properties and office locations, public federal land, campgrounds and where to purchase your hunting license.
Qualifying License Required
A qualifying license is required. If you have already purchased a qualifying license for the Primary Draw, it fulfills the Secondary Draw requirement as well. Youth receive 100% preference in the Secondary Draw.
Applications and License Options
Group applications are not accepted.
If you are awarded a List A license for a specific species in the Primary Draw, you cannot draw another List A license for the same species. However, you can draw List B or List C licenses.
List A, B & C: All big-game hunting licenses are either List A, B or C, as indicated in the hunt code tables (see image at right ▶) or next to most of the OTC maps. The List types exist so that you know if you can get more than one license for the same species:
- List A: You can only get ONE List A license = A
- List B: If a hunt is List B, you can get up to TWO licenses: one List A license and one List B license, or two List B licenses = A+B or B+B
- List C: If a hunt is List C, you can get ANY number of List C licenses, as well as one List A license and one List B license, or two List B licenses = A+B+C+C+C, etc. or B+B+C+C+C, etc.
Yes, you may find a license you failed to draw during the Primary Draw!
The Secondary Draw includes reissued licenses. This means that if a license took four or fewer preference points for a resident to draw in the 2025 primary draw, it can be reissued. Reissued licenses include surrendered and failed-to-pay deer, elk, bear, and pronghorn licenses from the Primary Draw.
Preference points
Preference points are not used or awarded in this draw.
Apply Early
Be sure to submit your applications before the deadline and review your receipts. Application modifications can be made anytime before the deadline.
For more information about the Secondary Draw, please refer to the 2025 Colorado Big Game brochure. If you have any questions, please call us at (303) 297-1192. Thanks for applying, and we hope you have a safe and successful 2025 hunting season.
By Andre Ogren. Andre is a customer service representative for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Video produced by Jerry Neal, Senior Videographer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
