Optical absorption and photoluminescence measurements were made on Cd0.9Mn0.1Te doped with As, P, Cu, and Au. Shallow acceptor ionization energies were determined as: 108 meV for P; 115 meV for As; 170 meV for Cu; and 180 meV for Au. These energies are larger than those for CdTe due to the formation of bound magnetic polarons. Self‐consistent numerical calculations of the bound magnetic polarons are made for As and P dopants. The absorption spectra below 0.5 eV were separated into contributions from acceptor photoionization, inter‐ and intraband transitions, and free‐hole absorption. Acceptor concentrations in the 1017cm−3range were found for As and P doping; however, Cu and Au were found to produce high compensation (<1012cm−3). Mechanisms for this behavior are discussed.