15 Year Elk Plan

[CiK01]

I have a limited rifle hunt question......

I got in late to the western hunting game. I am going to start buying points this year for limited rifle hunts. With my age (42), I think 15 years is a realistic number for me to target in points before I cash them in on a hunt.

With that information, which of states would you recommend targeting?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Shrek]

Can't help you with the best States but I would for sure go hunt general/otc elk somewhere every year. It's great hunting and when you do get the chance to hunt some promised land you'll have plenty of elk hunting experience and be able to fully appreciate and take full advantage of the opportunity.

 

[CiK01]

Can't help you with the best States but I would for sure go hunt general/otc elk somewhere every year. It's great hunting and when you do get the chance to hunt some promised land you'll have plenty of elk hunting experience and be able to fully appreciate and take full advantage of the opportunity.

Yep, that is the plan. I plan on doing OTC archery hunts in Colorado, Idaho or Montana until that 15 year mark. Just looking for a state to target 15 years out.

 

[realunlucky]

Reality is you'll never draw a top tier unit in 15 years. Point creep is rampant as people tire of waiting and cash in on lesser units than what they were saving for. I'd either focus on a hybrid state that allows a portion of tags to be drawn ramdom or a state without points or hunt a unit that can be drawn every 3 to 5 years and learn it well. No secret strategy beats getting lucky

 

[5MilesBack]

Yep, that is the plan. I plan on doing OTC archery hunts in Colorado, Idaho or Montana until that 15 year mark. Just looking for a state to target 15 years out.

For Colorado I'd save the points for an archery hunt. There are some good elk units that only take a few points. You could get in a few hunts in those 15 years over just one rifle hunt 15 years from now, and the archery hunts would be better anyway.

Since I turned 50 this year, I too have a 15 year plan. It's to hunt my draw unit as often as I possibly can in the next 15 years while I still can. If that means spending some money to do that.......then that's the plan.

 

[norsepeak]

Take an honest look at how much money you will spend in the next 15 years applying and buying points. Add it all up and you have a petty hefty total. Now do a little research and find some good guided elk hunts or landowner tag hunts in the 3-5K range and go hunting. You'll have a lot more fun with that money than just spending it on points etc. hoping and waiting to draw a tag.

 

[30338]

^^^^^ great advice ^^^^^^

 

[MuleyFever]

Isnt it only about $53 to apply for a point? Thats only about $800 and only if you dont buy a license. If your hunting OTC for all those years you will have a license so really the cost for the points is nothing.

 

[Nick Muche]

I can't imagine putting together a plan that will require 15 years to go hunt. I hope you find a way to go hunt every year, you'll enjoy it much more. Best of luck!

 

[chindits]

It would be quicker and easier if you were a resident of the state you want to hunt. Good luck on a non resident, non guided NM high demand tag. Look at the points you need to hunt as a non resident in CO vs the residents. Heck, there are some tags that aren't offered to non-res in CO if my sheep stats memory is serving me after a couple beers.

 

[WRO]

Nevada.. really a better option would be to put 400.00 a year in a good investment then just buy a top tier unit wide tag. There are Nevada tags for sale for around 10k that a 380 bull is a realistic possibility.