Frequently Asked Questions
Everything hunters need to know about 2027 western big game draw deadlines and application strategy
When do Wyoming non-resident elk applications open and close for 2027?
Wyoming non-resident elk applications open January 2, 2027 and close approximately February 2, 2027 — giving hunters just 30 days to apply. This is the earliest and most time-sensitive deadline in all of western hunting. Applications are submitted online through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at wgfd.wyo.gov. Non-resident elk applicants can modify or withdraw their applications through approximately May 8, 2027. Wyoming also has a separate leftover draw running approximately June 22-26 for any remaining tags not awarded in the main draw. Non-resident spring turkey shares the same February 2 deadline as non-resident elk. Resident elk, deer, and pronghorn have a much later deadline of approximately June 1. Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat applications close approximately April 30. Set a calendar reminder for January 2 every year — this is the one deadline western hunters miss most often because it falls during the holiday season.
What is the earliest big game draw deadline in the West for 2027?
Wyoming's non-resident elk deadline is the earliest major big game draw deadline in the western United States — closing approximately February 2, 2027 with applications opening January 2. Arizona's elk and pronghorn draw is the second earliest, closing approximately February 9, 2027. New Mexico's bear and turkey draw closes approximately February 11, followed by the mandatory New Mexico harvest report deadline on February 15. After that, New Mexico's all-species draw closes approximately March 18 at 5pm MDT. Most other western states — Colorado, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon — have spring deadlines running from April through June. The fact that Wyoming and Arizona both have winter deadlines surprises many hunters who assume all western draws close in spring. Missing the Wyoming non-resident elk deadline by even one day means waiting a full calendar year to apply again.
Does Colorado have a preference point system for elk and deer in 2027?
Yes — Colorado currently uses a preference point system for elk, deer, pronghorn, moose, sheep, and goat. Under the current system, hunters with more preference points have a mathematically better chance of drawing limited licenses for a given hunt code. Points accumulate every year you apply and do not draw a limited tag. Colorado runs a primary draw with a deadline of approximately April 7 at 8pm MT and a secondary draw opening in mid-June for remaining tags. Important: Colorado's draw system is changing significantly starting with the 2028 draws. The current hybrid system will be replaced by a split draw system — where licenses will be divided 50/50 between a preference point draw and a bonus draw. Preference points will still exist but will no longer guarantee priority across all licenses the way they do now. This means 2027 is the last year under the current preference point system. Hunters with accumulated preference points should seriously consider how and where they use their points in 2027 before the new split draw takes effect. Verify the latest details at cpw.state.co.us.
What happens if I miss a western big game draw deadline?
Missing a western big game draw deadline means you cannot apply for that state's tags for the entire upcoming hunting season — you must wait a full year and apply again during the next application window. In preference point states like Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, missing a year also means losing a year of point accumulation which can set your draw timeline back significantly over time. New Mexico has a particularly severe consequence — failure to submit your mandatory harvest report before the March 18 draw deadline results in automatic rejection of all your draw applications for that year, even if you submitted your application on time. Always check each state's harvest reporting requirements before applying. The best defense against missing deadlines is setting calendar reminders for every state at the start of each calendar year — Wyoming's NR elk deadline in early February is the most commonly missed because it falls right after the holiday season when most hunters are not in planning mode.
Can I apply for big game tags in multiple western states in the same year?
Yes — you can and should apply in multiple western states every year. There is no restriction on applying for tags in multiple states simultaneously. Many serious western hunters apply in five, six, or even all nine western states every year to maximize their chances of drawing at least one tag. The only restriction is that you cannot hold conflicting tags — for example New Mexico prohibits holding both a public draw elk license and a private land EPLUS elk license for the same species in the same license year. Applying across multiple states also builds preference points in each state simultaneously. Even if you are unlikely to draw a premium Nevada or Arizona tag this year, the small non-refundable application fee is worth paying every year to keep your points accumulating for future draws. Nevada's points squared system makes early and consistent applications especially valuable — a hunter with 10 points gets 100 draw entries while a first-time applicant gets just 1.
What is the difference between a preference point and a bonus point?
Preference points and bonus points are two different systems states use to give repeat applicants better draw odds. A preference point system — used by Colorado and Utah — mathematically prioritizes hunters with more points, drawing them before hunters with fewer points for a given hunt code. In a true preference point state, a hunter with 10 points will always be drawn before a hunter with 5 points if tags are still available in that preference point tier. A bonus point system — used by Wyoming and Montana for some species — adds additional entries into the draw pool rather than guaranteeing priority. A hunter with 5 bonus points gets 6 entries in the draw compared to 2 entries for a hunter with 1 point. Nevada uses a points squared system which dramatically amplifies the advantage of consistent applicants — a hunter with 5 points gets 25 entries while a hunter with 10 points gets 100 entries. New Mexico has no point system at all — every applicant has equal draw odds every year regardless of application history. Idaho does not use any point system in their draw process either.
Which western state has the best draw odds for elk in 2027?
Draw odds vary significantly by species, unit, and weapon type making a simple ranking difficult, but New Mexico and Montana offer the most accessible elk hunting opportunities among the nine western states. New Mexico has no preference point system — equal odds every year for every applicant — making it the best annual swing state in the West for public draw elk. Non-residents applying with a registered New Mexico outfitter receive 10% of draw licenses versus 6% for non-outfitted non-residents. Montana offers OTC general elk licenses for residents and a combination license draw for non-residents — Montana remains one of the more accessible elk states for guided non-resident hunters. Oregon has OTC general season elk tags available in western Oregon units. Colorado offers OTC second and third rifle season elk tags in eligible GMUs for residents and some non-residents, though non-resident archery elk west of I-25 now requires draw participation. Important note: Idaho no longer offers over-the-counter general season elk tags for non-residents — as of 2026 all non-resident general season deer and elk tags are issued through a draw permanently. Verify current availability directly with each state's official wildlife agency before planning your hunt.
What western states have over the counter elk tags in 2027?
Over the counter elk tag options have narrowed significantly in the West in recent years. Montana offers OTC general season elk licenses for residents and Elk B licenses over the counter — however most non-residents cannot purchase Montana general elk licenses over the counter and must draw a Big Game Combination License or Elk Combination License through a random lottery. Oregon has OTC general season elk tags in western Oregon units for both archery and rifle seasons. Colorado offers OTC second and third rifle season elk tags in eligible GMUs for residents and some non-residents — non-resident archery elk west of I-25 moved to draw in 2025. Important 2026 change now permanent: Idaho no longer offers OTC general elk tags for non-residents. Beginning with the 2026 season, all non-resident general season deer and elk tags in Idaho are issued through a draw permanently per the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. The 2027 Idaho NR general elk draw first application period runs December 5-15, 2026 and the second application period runs February 5-15, 2027. Idaho does not use a point system in their draw. Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are draw-only states with no OTC big game options. Always verify current OTC availability with each state's official wildlife agency before planning your hunt.
What is a leftover tag and how do I get one?
A leftover tag is an unsold big game tag that becomes available after the main draw process is complete — either because not enough hunters applied for a specific hunt code or because drawn hunters did not claim their tags by the payment deadline. Leftover tags are typically sold on a first-come first-served basis and can be an excellent way to get a tag in a premium unit that unexpectedly came available. Each state handles leftovers differently. Wyoming runs a leftover draw approximately June 22-26 — you apply during that window and are drawn randomly from all applicants. Oregon sells leftover tags July 1 online first-come first-served. Utah sells remaining permits approximately July 7 online and at license agents. Colorado's secondary draw opens approximately June 19 with results posted approximately July 7. Idaho sells Returned Tags throughout the year on a first-come first-served basis as tags are returned — these are separate from the main NR draw. Montana surplus licenses are available for purchase in early August. Setting calendar reminders for each state's leftover date is one of the most underutilized strategies in western hunting — some of the best tags in the West disappear within minutes of going on sale.
Does using a Colorado or New Mexico landowner tag affect my preference points?
In Colorado, redeeming a landowner LPP voucher does not use or affect your CPW preference points in any way. Your accumulated preference points carry forward to future public draw applications even after using a landowner voucher in the same year. This is one of the most significant advantages of Colorado landowner tags — you can hunt a premium unit this season using a landowner voucher while simultaneously accumulating preference points for future public draws. In New Mexico, there is no preference point system so the question does not apply — every applicant has equal odds every year regardless of application or hunting history. You cannot hold both a private-land EPLUS elk license and a public-draw elk license in the same license year in New Mexico — you must choose one or the other. HuntNFishNetwork connects hunters with landowners selling transferable Colorado LPP vouchers and New Mexico EPLUS authorizations for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and antelope — contact info@thehuntnfishnetwork.com for available tags this season.
What is Nevada's points squared system and how does it work?
Nevada uses a points squared system for big game draws which dramatically rewards hunters who apply consistently over many years. In a points squared system, your number of bonus points is squared to determine how many entries you receive in the draw. A hunter with 1 point gets 1 entry. A hunter with 2 points gets 4 entries. A hunter with 5 points gets 25 entries. A hunter with 10 points gets 100 entries. A hunter with 15 points gets 225 entries. This exponential growth means that hunters who have applied consistently for 10 or more years have a dramatically better chance of drawing premium Nevada tags than first-time applicants. Nevada's main draw closes in early to mid-May each year with all species on the same deadline. A second draw runs in mid-June for remaining tags. All Nevada big game is draw only — there are no OTC tag options for any big game species in Nevada. Application fees verified from NDOW: $19 for elk applications, $14 for deer, pronghorn, and sheep applications — all non-refundable. Apply at ndowlicensing.com.
What should I do if I did not draw a tag in any western state?
If you did not draw a tag in any western state there are still several strong options to hunt this fall. First check for leftover tags — every western state sells unsold draw tags after the main draw on a first-come first-served basis or through a secondary draw. Wyoming leftover draw runs approximately June 22-26. Oregon sells leftovers July 1. Utah July 7. Colorado secondary draw results post approximately July 7. Montana surplus licenses go on sale in early August. Idaho sells Returned Tags on a rolling basis throughout the year. Second consider OTC options — Montana offers OTC general elk for residents and combination license opportunities for guided non-residents. Oregon has OTC western Oregon elk tags available year-round. Colorado still has OTC second and third rifle elk options in eligible GMUs. Third and most effective — look into a landowner tag. Colorado's Landowner Preference Program and New Mexico's EPLUS program both offer transferable authorizations that bypass the draw system entirely and give you guaranteed access to premium hunting units regardless of draw results. HuntNFishNetwork connects buyers directly with Colorado LPP landowners and New Mexico EPLUS landowners — contact info@thehuntnfishnetwork.com with your target species, region, and budget to get matched with available tags this season.
