Why 2026 and 2027 may be the most important years to spend your Colorado deer points or is there a better strategy?
Total resident hunters in this point pool |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool |
1-5 points |
21,836 |
50,436 |
6-10 points |
6,484 |
14,119 |
11-15 points |
2,565 |
4,305 |
16-20 points |
1,324 |
2,918 |
21-25 points |
731 |
1,290 |
26-30 points |
262 |
467 |
31-35 points |
32 |
33 |
36-37 points |
2 |
1 |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | |
1-5 points | 21,836 | 50,436 |
6-10 points | 6,484 | 14,119 |
11-15 points | 2,565 | 4,305 |
16-20 points | 1,324 | 2,918 |
21-25 points | 731 | 1,290 |
26-30 points | 262 | 467 |
31-35 points | 32 | 33 |
36-37 points | 2 | 1 |
1-5 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 55,735 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 67,794 |
6-10 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 8,014 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 16,268 |
11-15 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 3,112 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 4,906 |
16-20 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 1,625 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 3,349 |
21-25 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 863 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 1,489 |
26-30 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 301 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 515 |
31-35 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 39 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 35 |
36-37 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 2 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 1 |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | |
|---|---|---|
1-5 points | 55,735 | 67,794 |
6-10 points | 8,014 | 16,268 |
11-15 points | 3,112 | 4,906 |
16-20 points | 1,625 | 3,349 |
21-25 points | 863 | 1,489 |
26-30 points | 301 | 515 |
31-35 points | 39 | 35 |
36-37 points | 2 | 1 |
1-5 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 77,571 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 118,230 |
6-10 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 14,498 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 30,387 |
11-15 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 5,677 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 9,211 |
16-20 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 2,949 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 6,267 |
21-25 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 1,594 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 2,779 |
26-30 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 563 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 982 |
31-35 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 71 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 68 |
36-37 points | |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | 4 |
Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | 2 |
Total resident hunters in this point pool | Total nonresident hunters in this point pool | |
|---|---|---|
1-5 points | 77,571 | 118,230 |
6-10 points | 14,498 | 30,387 |
11-15 points | 5,677 | 9,211 |
16-20 points | 2,949 | 6,267 |
21-25 points | 1,594 | 2,779 |
26-30 points | 563 | 982 |
31-35 points | 71 | 68 |
36-37 points | 4 | 2 |
If you've been building Colorado mule deer points for any length of time, you already know the 2028 draw changes are coming. And if you're like most hunters I talk to, you're sitting there staring at your point total right now, trying to figure out what to do before the April 7, 2026, deadline.
Here's the thing — this isn't a question with one right answer. It depends entirely on how many points you have, what you're willing to hunt, and what your goals are. But I'm going to break it down as clearly as I can so you can make the best decision for your situation. Keep in mind, there will always be the argument to do something different, but at the end of the day, it's always up to you on how you want to use your points.
First, let's quickly cover what's actually changing in 2028, because it matters a lot here.
The biggest change is the move to a split draw. Starting in 2028, 50% of the tags for each hunt code will go into a preference point draw (like the current system), and the other 50% will go into what they are calling a bonus draw — meaning anyone can draw, regardless of points, although this draw is more like a random draw with weighted preference points. So the "bonus draw" will be a random draw, and they will give weight to the number of preference points you have. So points still matter, but people have a chance.
What that means in plain English: half of Colorado's deer tags are going to be up for grabs in a random draw.
If you've been sitting on 20+ points waiting to draw a specific hunt, you will find that there are half the number of licenses guaranteed to the high-point applicants. The other half will be randomly drawn, perhaps by someone with zero points, even. This will mean it could take you longer to draw. At the same time, hunters who never had a chance at some of the "premier units" in Colorado now have a legitimate shot."
Learn more about these changes at the link below:
Be sure to check out our Colorado application strategy articles for even more in-depth information.
Now, with all of that in mind, here's how I'd think about your situation.
Before we break things down by point tier, there's something you need to understand that most hunters might not be thinking about yet. The rush to burn points before 2028 is going to create a short-term spike in applications in 2026 and 2027. And we've already known about this upcoming change since the 2025 draw, so it's already happening. There are people who have been just using the point-only codes for years, and they might jump into the draw.
Think about it: every hunter sitting on 5, 8, 10, 12 points right now is probably thinking, "I need to burn before my points lose value." When thousands of hunters all make that same decision at the same time, application numbers surge — and so does point creep. Units that currently draw at 8 points might jump to 10 or 11 points this year simply because of the 2028 fear factor. It happened to a degree in 2024 when Colorado cut the nonresident cap from 35% to 25% for most hunt codes, and it's about to happen again — probably worse?
The bottom line: don't wait until the last minute to make your decision. If you're going to burn points before 2028, apply now in an attempt to draw. The longer you wait, the more competition piles in around you. I'd predict 2027 is going to be even worse since hunters can be procrastinators.
Some data for the data people out there. I've broken these out into three tables. The first is people who used the point-only code for deer in 2025; the second is adult deer points after the 2025 draw for people who put in for hunts as a first choice; and lastly, a table where I combined both for a more overall look.
In the table above, I bumped everyone up by 1 point to better reflect the "going into 2026" view. So everyone who used the point-only code at zero points now has one point going into 2026, etc.
In the table above, I bumped everyone up by 1 point to better reflect the "going into 2026" view. So everyone who applied at zero points now has one point going into 2026, etc. These totals are all the people who applied and didn't draw, so they gained a point.
And lastly, the combined view of both tables.
Don't overthink this one. Apply for something you can draw this year or next. Or hold your points and continue on this path if you're chasing a certain unit. This point pool is where the majority of hunters are camped out.
With the 2028 split draw coming, low-point hunters are actually going to be in a better spot than ever. Half the tags going random means you have a chance to draw some units that you previously couldn't touch (for hunts that you previously had zero chance of if you applied due to how the preference point system worked). But that also means there's no rush to burn what few points you have right now — because by 2028, you'll have a potential legitimate shot anyway. And those points you have going into the 2028 are weighted on the random side.
My advice: either hold or use your points to try to draw this year or in 2027, depending on what goals you have. There are a decent number of hunts that you can draw at lower point levels. You also get to start learning Colorado units, which is worth its weight in gold.
Use Filtering in your GOHUNT Insider account or use Draw Odds and flip the "Choice" to second choice — you'll find a number of hunts that can be drawn with the preference point code as a first choice while still having a chance to pick up a tag and a point for the year.
That said, it's worth acknowledging that the 2028 split draw isn't a perfect solution for low-point hunters either. Even if you have zero points, the 50/50 split makes the outcome harder to predict. You might draw a low-demand unit one year and not the next, simply based on random draw luck. If you've been hunting Colorado on a predictable 0 to 3 point draw, expect more volatility in that process starting in 2028. Plan your multi-year strategy around that uncertainty.
This is honestly the toughest spot to be in.
Here's the reality: with the 2028 split draw, your mid-level points are going to feel a lot less powerful than they do today. Right now, points are the only currency in Colorado's draw. In 2028, half the tags go random — which means someone with 0 points has a slight chance, and you with more points will have a little better chance on 50% of the random available tags for a given hunt. Your points still matter on the preference point half of the draw and the random side, but the overall value of a mid-tier point stack goes down.
So the question is: is there a hunt you could draw in 2026 or 2027 that you'd be genuinely happy with?
If the answer is yes — press the trigger. Use your Insider account to look at draw odds for any of the seasons you've been holding out for. A lot of solid mule deer hunts are accessible in the 8–14 point range, depending on the season and residency.
If you're holding out for a dream unit and you're not there yet in points, I'd still consider burning for a great hunt rather than gambling on how your points translate post-2028. But then again, you've been into the points game for a decade... do you continue to ride it out and chase that dream unit? Only you can decide that.
You're in a really interesting position right now. Depending on where your points fall, you might be a handful of years away from drawing some of Colorado's best units — the kind of units that might kick out a 190"+ deer more often.
My honest take: don't wait. Here's why.
Under the current system, your high point total gives you an almost guaranteed shot at your target unit once you hit the magic number. In 2028, half those tags go into a random draw. That doesn't eliminate your preference point advantage — you still have priority on 50% of the quota — but it does mean fewer tags are available to preference point holders, which could mean it could take more years to draw. In units with very limited tag numbers, that could be the difference between drawing and not drawing at your point level. Remember that your points are weighted in the random side of the draw moving into 2028, so you might have decent odds on the random side of the draw.
Check the detailed draw odds pages in your Insider account right now. Look at the point trend for the specific unit and season you're targeting over the last 3–5 years. If you're at or within one point of the break, apply this year. Don't hand half those tags over to the random draw in 2028 if you're that close.
Then again, the more points you have, the higher your chance of pulling a tag on the bonus/random side of the draw in 2028.
If you're sitting on max or near-max points, you've been playing the long game in Colorado for a long time. At this point, the 2028 changes may or may not change your strategy much — the preference point half of the split draw still favors you heavily for the premier units, but it could mean it will take longer for you to potentially draw. So it might be a good strategy to dump your points before 2028 if you can.
That said, I wouldn't sit on points indefinitely either. Here's what I'd think about:
Apply for your dream unit in 2026 or 2027 — before it gets harder to draw. This is the part people aren't talking about enough. Under the 2028 split draw, half of the tags in every hunt code go into a random draw. That means the effective number of tags available to preference point holders drops by 50%. In a unit that currently issues 10 tags, only 5 of those will be awarded through the preference point draw starting in 2028. If you needed 28 points to draw that unit with 10 tags available, you might need 30+ points to draw it with only 5 tags going to point holders. In other words, tags that are already hard to draw are likely to get even harder.
If you're sitting on 25+ points right now and there's a unit you've been dreaming about, 2026 or 2027 might genuinely be your best shot to draw it at your current point level before the split draw tightens things up further. You might even need to look at a different unit to use your points on in the next two years. Don't assume your points will be worth the same thing post-2028 — they won't be on half the available tags.
You will still have a great chance on the random side of the draw with high points, as those points are weighted by the number of preference points you have. But, there's still a decent chance you could not draw.
Apply for your dream unit now. Burn your deer points while the current system still rewards them fully.
I've made a pretty strong argument for burning points in 2026 and 2027. But to be fair to you, here's the honest case for the other side — because depending on your situation, waiting might actually be the right call.
Your points still matter heavily on half the tags. The split draw doesn't eliminate the preference point system — it cuts it in half. If you're one or two points away from the magic number on a unit, you might still get there, as people could be panicking and moving their unit choice around. And here's something most people overlook: under the new system, high-point holders aren't just competing in the preference point draw — they also get a chance in the random draw pool, and the higher your point total is, the better chance you have in the random side.
You now have a chance if you don't have enough points.
The bottom line on waiting: it's a viable strategy if — and only if — you're very close to the break on a specific premier unit and you have a realistic path to drawing it under the new preference point half of the split draw. Run your numbers in GOHUNT's Draw Odds tool before you decide. If you're not close to the break, the argument for burning gets a lot stronger.
Here's the angle to think about — and honestly, it might be the most compelling reason for a mid or low point holder to potentially hold their points rather than burn them.
Right now, under the current system, several of the best mule deer hunts require 15 to 20 points, or even max points, to draw. Right now, if you have 8 points, your odds of drawing some of those coveted units/seasons are exactly 0%. Not low odds — zero! That unit flat out doesn't exist for you. These are the 180 to 190"+ dream units, and for the vast majority of Colorado deer hunters, they are completely off the table — forever — under the current system.
Starting in 2028, 50% of the tags in every one of those units goes into a random draw open to anyone. A hunter with 10 points, 5 points, or zero points suddenly has a shot at a coveted early rifle tag, 3rd season rifle tag, or even a fourth rifle tag for the first time ever. The odds won't be great. With hundreds of applicants chasing a handful of random draw tags, you will most likely be looking at extremely low draw odds. But those random draw odds in 2028 are infinitely better than 0% under the current system.
If you wait, you get to keep building points toward the preference point half of the draw while simultaneously throwing your hat in the ring for a unit you've always dreamed about. That's a two-front strategy that simply doesn't exist today.
Is the random draw chance going to be small? Yes. But the option to even be in that draw — for units that were completely unreachable under the old system — is genuinely new. That's worth factoring in before you make your decision.
The 2028 draw changes are real, they're significant, and they should absolutely influence how you think about applying in 2026 and 2027.
If you’re a high point holder, some of the changes might drastically change how long it takes you to draw a tag if you were previously close to the point break. And if you're a new applicant or one who previously just purchased points, well... now you have a chance.
Here's the simple version:
The April 7, 2026, deadline is coming fast. Use GOHUNT's Draw Odds and Filtering tools to run the numbers on the specific hunts you're targeting, and make sure your Point Tracker is up to date so our research system is working with your actual point totals.
At the end of the day, they are your points; use them wisely.
Colorado is still the king of mule deer. Don't overthink it — go hunt.
Point fees: Starting in 2028, it costs $15/year for residents and $30/year for nonresidents just to bank a preference point per species. Right now, points are essentially free beyond the application fee.
Tag allocation: Nonresident allocation is simplified to a flat 25% across all hunt codes, and 75% go to residents. No more 80/20 split for high-demand hunts.
Preference point only codes are eliminated: You'll accrue a point if you apply and don't draw, or you can just purchase a point during the primary draw, but the dedicated point-only code as a first choice goes away.
Keep in mind that your points just don't mean as much once half the tags go random in 2028.
Low point holders (0–5): Build your points or burn them, apply smart with a second-choice strategy, and know that in 2028, your random draw odds give you a chance for hunts you don't have the points for if you choose to go that route and hope to get lucky. But you could be waiting a long time to draw that coveted tag under the random side.
Mid point holders (5–15): Find the best hunt you can draw right now and go. Your points lose relative value post-2028. Or continue down the path and chase the units you want to draw, or apply differently and hope you can get lucky on the random side.
High point holders (15–25): Check if you're close to the break on your target unit and apply this year if you are. Don't let half those tags go random when you're that close. Go hunting.
Max point holders (25+): Press the trigger. You've earned it, and if you have points you can use before the new draw change, use them now. Or continue down the path and hope you get lucky when a bunch of people dump their points the next few years.
