Colorado’s antelope populations can be divided into two main areas: the eastern and western regions. Much like the state’s mule deer, antelope on the eastern side are easier to draw a tag for, while the western units require a lot more points. Public land on the Eastern Plains is limited, primarily made up of federal grasslands and some state land available for public hunting. While the overall quality is fairly similar between the two regions, hunting on the eastern side is typically more successful with an outfitter due to the mix of private land and higher-quality areas. Keep in mind that, in Colorado, the points required to draw a tag don’t necessarily translate into bigger or more mature bucks.
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The 2022/2023 winterkill in northwest Colorado is relevant, but populations look to be rebounding with the aid of light winters the last three years. There are still fewer tags than there were prior to the winterkill, but numbers have started to slowly increase, which will take some of the pressure off point creep. Antelope numbers in the northwest region are still good enough to warrant drawing a tag, but applicants must remember that some of these units are only a few years removed from population losses of up to fifty percent.
This year, some populations are above objective, and new hunts and licenses increases are coming. GMU 30 will have an archery and rifle hunt. The habitat’s carrying capacity has been reached, and antelope are being pushed onto alfalfa fields and devastating crops. The GMUs around Walden also have an above objective population. The buck-to-doe ratio is where they want it, but they need to thin the herds. They are creating a second rifle doe hunt this year to do just that. Populations in GMU 15 and 26 are near the high end of the objective range, so a buck and doe muzzleloader hunt is being added there. However, the majority of antelope are found on private land. To help redistribute them, CPW is creating a private-land-only doe hunt in hopes of pushing them onto public land. This should also benefit late rifle hunters on public land. Harvest success rates in those units have not been great, so we do not report them. That said, there is a tag or two that goes to non-residents each year for 5 to 6 points.
For hunters looking to get into the action, archery and muzzleloader hunts present a silver lining, especially in areas with abundant public land and good antelope numbers. Though antelope can be tricky to get within bow or open-sight muzzleloader range, the trade-off of needing fewer points to draw these tags makes it an appealing option. While Colorado still produces quality antelope, the standard buck tends to hover around the 70 to 78” range, with some exceptional bucks surpassing 80”. If you’re looking for a true trophy, Colorado may not be the best bet compared to other western states—unless you’re considering a guided hunt on the Plains. However, if you’re content with solid opportunities for decent bucks and are okay with waiting a few years to draw a tag, Colorado is still a great place to hunt antelope.
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The Colorado big game application deadline is April 7, 2026 at 8 p.m. MDT.
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| Annual Small Game Hunt License (required to apply) | $104.86 |
| Youth Annual Small Game Hunt License (under age 18, required to apply) | $2.53 |
| Habitat Stamp (required for adults to apply) | $12.76 |
| Draw Application (per species) | $11.49 |
| Youth Point Fee (all species) | NONE |
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| Antelope | $506.92 |
| Youth Big Game (Elk, Deer, or Antelope) | $130.07 |
Colorado Antelope Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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