Frequently Asked Questions

TagMath is a draw odds calculator for Colorado big game hunting. We analyze 6 years of official CPW (Colorado Parks & Wildlife) Draw Recap data across 15,000+ hunt codes and 186 Game Management Units to give you accurate draw probabilities for elk, deer, antelope, bear, moose, sheep, and goat. Think of it as your data-driven scouting partner for the Colorado draw.

Start on the Explore page to browse the interactive GMU map, or use Find Hunts to search by species, season, and point level. Select any hunt code to see historical draw data, point cutoff trends, and your estimated draw probability. You can compare multiple units side-by-side and build a strategy around your preference points.

TagMath covers all 8 Colorado big game species: elk, mule deer, pronghorn (antelope), black bear, moose, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. That's 15,000+ hunt codes across every season type and residency category.

No account needed to get started. You can browse the interactive map, explore GMUs, view current year draw odds, and see OTC/draw-required classifications for free. A Season Pass ($14.99 one-time) unlocks full historical trends, point projections, Point Planner, Find My Hunts, and more through December 31, 2026. Pro Annual ($49/year) adds year-round access, AI strategy recommendations, and priority support.

All draw data comes directly from official CPW Draw Recap Reports (2020-2025), published annually by Colorado Parks & Wildlife after each draw cycle. Harvest data comes from CPW Big Game Harvest Survey reports. GMU boundaries come from CPW's ArcGIS REST API. We cite every source and link to the original CPW publications. No data is scraped, estimated, or generated by AI.

Our odds are based on 6 years of real draw outcomes, weighted toward recent years. For preference-point species (elk, deer, antelope, bear), we use Theil-Sen regression for point creep analysis, which handles outlier years better than simple averages. Each estimate includes a confidence rating (High, Medium, or Low) based on data quality and consistency. No draw calculator can guarantee results because CPW can change quotas and rules, but our methodology is transparent and verifiable.

Different tools use different statistical methods, and that's expected. TagMath weights recent years more heavily than older data (a 2025 draw is more predictive than 2020). We use Theil-Sen regression, which is robust to outlier years, rather than ordinary least squares. We also analyze all applicants at every point level, not just first-choice or top-point applicants. Both approaches are defensible. We publish our full methodology so you can verify our math.

Point creep is the gradual increase in the minimum preference points needed to draw a specific tag over time. It happens when more hunters accumulate points than there are tags available. For example, if a unit required 5 points to draw in 2020 and now requires 8 points in 2025, that unit has experienced point creep of about 0.6 points per year. TagMath tracks and projects point creep trends for every hunt code so you can plan ahead.

TagMath includes 6 years of CPW Draw Recap data, covering the 2020 through 2025 draw cycles. This gives us enough history to identify trends while keeping the data relevant to current conditions. We update with new draw data within 30 days of CPW publication each year.

OTC stands for “Over the Counter” — a license you can buy without entering the draw. In Colorado that usually means unlimited OTC (cow elk rifle, archery pronghorn, white-tailed deer, add-on bear, and similar). Those tags don't use preference points. Limited leftover is a different product: remaining limited hunt codes on CPW's leftover list, including some reissues. Limited leftover is not unlimited OTC. See limited draw vs leftover vs unlimited OTC.

Colorado uses preference points for elk, deer, antelope, and bear. Each year you apply and don't draw (or buy a point-only application), you earn one preference point. In the draw, applicants with the most points are drawn first. If there are more top-point applicants than tags, a random lottery selects among them. Points are species-specific, so your elk points don't affect your deer draw. Moose, sheep, and goat use a weighted lottery where more points give you more entries but don't guarantee a draw.

Point requirements vary by unit, species, season type, and residency status. Use the TagMath explorer or Find Hunts tool to look up any specific hunt code. You'll see the historical point cutoff for each year (2020-2025), the projected 2026 cutoff based on trend analysis, and your estimated draw probability at your point level.

In Colorado, preference points (used for elk, deer, antelope, and bear) create a strict queue: the applicants with the most points draw first. Bonus points (used for moose, sheep, and goat) work differently: they give you additional entries in a weighted lottery, so having more points improves your odds but doesn't guarantee you'll draw ahead of someone with fewer points. Some other western states use different terminology, so it's important to understand which system each species uses.

Yes. If you draw a tag, your preference or bonus points for that species reset to zero. This is by design: the point system rewards patience, and drawing a tag means you start building again. This is why tag strategy matters. Burning 15 elk points on a mediocre unit hurts, and TagMath helps you evaluate whether a unit is worth your points.

TagMath has three tiers: Free (no account needed) gives you current year draw odds, basic unit pages, and the interactive GMU map. The Season Pass is $14.99 one-time and unlocks full historical trends, point projections, Point Planner, Find My Hunts, harvest data, and more through December 31, 2026. Pro Annual is $49/year for year-round access, AI strategy recommendations, priority support, and future multi-state coverage. For comparison, GoHunt Insider is $150/year, Huntin' Fool is $150/year (often with a waitlist), and onX Elite is $100/year.

The Season Pass is a one-time $14.99 payment that gives you full access to all TagMath features through December 31, 2026 — perfect for the current Colorado application season. It includes 6-year historical trends, point cutoff projections, Point Planner, Find My Hunts, unit comparisons, harvest data, Trophy Index scores, and more. If you want year-round access that auto-renews, the Pro Annual plan at $49/year is the better fit.

Free gives you current year draw odds, basic unit pages, OTC/draw-required classification, and the interactive GMU map — no account needed. The Season Pass ($14.99 one-time) adds full 6-year historical trends, point cutoff projections, Point Planner, Find My Hunts, unit comparisons, harvest data, success rates, Trophy Index scores, season dates, and GMU groupings. Pro Annual ($49/year) includes everything in the Season Pass plus year-round access that never expires, Stack Tags (multi-species trip planner), priority support, and future multi-state coverage.

Yes. You can cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings. Your Pro access continues through the end of your current billing period. No cancellation fees, no hassle.

We offer a full refund within 7 days of purchase if TagMath isn't what you expected. After 7 days, your subscription remains active through the end of the billing period but is not refundable. Contact us at admin@tagmath.com for refund requests.

You can enter your promo code on the checkout page. When you click to subscribe from the Pricing page, you'll see a field to enter your code before completing payment. The discount will be applied immediately and reflected in the total before you're charged.

The 2026 primary draw is closed. CPW's application window opened March 1, 2026 and closed April 7 at 8 p.m. Mountain Time — see the CPW Primary Draw page.

If you did not draw, the live path is leftover, reissue, and OTC. Leftover limited-license sales started August 4, 2026 — CPW leftover page. Leftover / OTC also went on sale that morning at 9:00 a.m. per the CPW exchanges page.

Reissue preview posts Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Mountain Time. Wednesday release is as close to 11 a.m. as the system allows. No new hunt codes after 1 p.m. Mountain Time on Wednesdays.

Buy at CPWShop, by phone at 1-800-244-5613, or at sales agents. TagMath does not sell licenses. Hunt-code research: Explore. Leftover walkthrough: Colorado leftover licenses.

Leftover-list purchases: no qualifying license, application, or preference points. That is the deer / elk / pronghorn / bear path for codes that took four or fewer resident points. Separate path: returned codes that took five or more resident preference points are reissued next-in-line and require points if accepted. If the first five decline, the code goes to the preview list, then leftover. See the weekly reissue clock. We don't guess how many codes are left.

Primary and secondary draws for 2026 are finished. CPW posts draw recap reports on species statistics pages; TagMath updates from those. Check your CPWShop account for whether you drew — we cannot tell you that from here. How we use recaps: Methodology.

Yes. In Colorado, you can apply for every big game species in the same year because each species has its own separate draw and point system. You can submit applications for elk, deer, antelope, bear, moose, sheep, and goat all in the same cycle. Each application is independent, so drawing an elk tag doesn't affect your deer application. TagMath helps you build a strategy across all species to maximize your opportunities.