Colorado is one of the best-known mule deer states in the West, and its eastern plains hold a growing number of whitetails along the river bottoms and farm country. Unlike elk, nearly every Colorado deer license is limited. That means the draw, your preference points, and your hunt code choices matter more here than almost anywhere else.

This guide covers the whole process. Start here, then use the links below to go deeper on each step.

Colorado deer hunting at a glance

Where to buy	cpwshop.com, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, or at license agents
Draw applications	Open March 1. The 2026 deadline was April 7 at 8 p.m. MT
Draw results	May 26–29 in 2026
Secondary draw	Applications June 18–30, results July 7 (2026)
Leftover licenses	On sale August 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. MT
Nonresident deer license	$506.92 for an adult deer/fishing combo (2026)
Resident deer license	$51.25 for an adult (2026)
Seasons	Archery in September, muzzleloader in mid-September, early high-country rifle in September and early October, rifle seasons from mid-October to late November, plus plains seasons into December

Fees and dates are from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for 2026. CPW publishes a new Big Game brochure every year, so check it before you apply.

Mule deer and whitetails: two different hunts

Mule deer live across western Colorado, from high alpine basins to sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and agricultural valleys. Bucks spend summer high and drop toward winter range as snow builds, so the timing of your hunt changes where you look. CPW estimated the statewide deer herd at about 384,000 after the 2024 hunting season, and it has said many mule deer herds remain below their goals. That is a big reason licenses stay limited.

Whitetails are found mostly on the eastern plains, along the South Platte, Republican, and Arkansas river drainages. Much of that country is private, so access is the main challenge. In return, plains hunts can have long seasons and some licenses that are easy to draw.

Step 1: Get a license

There are only a few ways to get a Colorado deer license:

• The primary draw. Almost every deer hunt is here. You need a qualifying license, you list up to four hunt choices, and you earn a preference point if you miss your first choice. Read our step-by-step deer draw guide.
• Secondary draw and leftovers. Deer licenses not issued in the primary draw go to the secondary draw in June. Whatever is left goes on sale August 4. No preference points are used.
• A small number of OTC whitetail licenses and landowner vouchers. CPW sells an unlimited December rifle license for whitetails in a group of southern Front Range units, and some private-land hunts use landowner vouchers. See all your tag options.

Step 2: Pick your season

Deer seasons in Colorado are more varied than elk seasons. Bowhunters can chase velvet bucks in September. Early high-country rifle hunts put you in wilderness areas or above timberline in September. Late rifle seasons in November line up with the start of the rut, and plains seasons run into December.

See all 2026 Colorado deer season dates

Step 3: Set a realistic budget

A nonresident pays about $636 in license and draw fees for one adult deer license in 2026, before travel and gear. A resident pays about $111. Guided hunts run from a few thousand dollars on public land to $10,000 or more for a private-ranch buck hunt.

Break down the full cost of a Colorado deer hunt

Step 4: Choose guided or DIY

Colorado has plenty of public land for mule deer, and many hunters fill tags on their own. But mature bucks are often in country that is hard to reach, and plains whitetails are mostly on private ground. Outfitters with ranch leases or landowner vouchers can open doors that are closed to DIY hunters.

Compare guided, semi-guided, and DIY deer hunts

Before you go: requirements every hunter needs

• Hunter education. Required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1949. Other states’ cards are accepted.
• Habitat Stamp. Required for hunters ages 18 to 64 ($12.76 in 2026). It is added to your first purchase.
• ID and Social Security number. Required for anyone 12 or older buying a license.
• Orange or pink. Rifle and muzzleloader hunters must wear daylight fluorescent orange or pink. Camo patterns do not count.
• CWD testing. CPW said there is no mandatory CWD testing for deer in 2026. Voluntary testing is available for a $25 fee, and it is a good idea if you plan to eat the meat.
• Private land. You need permission to hunt private land. CPW’s Walk-in Access Program opens some private ground on the plains.

Hunting elk too? See our Colorado elk hunting guide.

Find a Colorado deer outfitter

Horn & Fin lists guides, outfitters, and DIY hunting options across Colorado. Every listing shows the species, seasons, and areas they hunt, along with reviews from other hunters.

More Colorado deer guides

• How to apply for the Colorado deer draw
• Colorado deer tags: draw, OTC whitetail, leftovers, and vouchers
• Colorado deer season dates
• How much does a Colorado deer hunt cost?
• Guided vs. DIY deer hunting in Colorado
• How Colorado draw points work
• Colorado draw odds by unit