Preference points for hunting licenses 101

  1. One preference point is awarded to hunters who apply properly and are unsuccessful in drawing a license for a first-choice hunt code for big-game species in this brochure. You may apply for a preference point as your first-choice hunt code. Hunters who make an application error, including on first- choice hunt codes, do not get a point.

  2. Youths can apply for a point if they turn 12 by Dec. 31 of the application year.

  3. If you are issued a first-choice license, all accumulated preference points for that species become void and return to zero.

  4. If unsuccessful for a first choice, your accumulated points will be listed on your refund, leftover-drawing application or other-choice license.

  5. Points accumulate until you draw a first-choice license. If you fail to apply for or have not purchased a license during a 10-year period, all accumulated points for that species are purged from your record and become void.

  6. Priority goes to those with the most points, except when the license quota or nonresident cap would be exceeded.

  7. Group application priority is based on the member with the fewest points.

  8. Second-, third-, fourth-choice, over-the-counter and leftover hunts don’t use or generate points.

  9. Hunters will be automatically assessed $40 per species ($30 for resident deer and pronghorn) for a preference point unless they have purchased one of the following: an annual fishing, small-game, resident combination small-game and fishing, furbearer or a big-game license in the previous year; or a current limited license in the draw for the same species for which they seek a point. The point fee is waived for youths, lifetime license holders, free senior annual fishing license holders and residents who are in the military on active duty outside Colorado.

  10. Weighted preference increases your probability of drawing a moose license. It is calculated by converting your application number into a different application number, then dividing that new number by the amount of weighted points you have, plus one. Applications are sorted by this new number from lowest to highest; low numbers for each hunt code are awarded licenses.

You can have a maximum of three points for moose. If you have three and you fail to draw a first-choice license, you receive weighted preference for moose.

  1. Preference points are not transferable. Points are awarded for specific species, not by hunt codes or method of take.

  2. Active duty U.S. military stationed in Colorado or who claim Colorado as their home and are deployed outside the U.S. are eligible, when they return home, to apply for preference points for any limited license drawings they missed while deployed.