35k new applicants CO

[Coveyleader]

come back to this thread in September and tell me Sept 1 on I-70 didn’t look like this!

 

[Overdrive]

My memory is horrible after an accident but I thought there was a recent year with an explosion of apps. Maybe it’s just what it seems like in the woods.

When the CPW stopped charging full price up front for the licenses there was a rise in applicants which was 5 years or so now.

 

[Overdrive]

come back to this thread in September and tell me Sept 1 on I-70 didn’t look like this!

I-70 looks like that anytime of year. Go on I-70 on a weekend in the winter and see all the ski traffic, it's a lot more than hunting traffic.

 

[Coveyleader]

I-70 looks like that anytime of year. Go on I-70 on a weekend in the winter and see all the ski traffic, it's a lot more than hunting traffic.

True, but the calendar dates this year, along with this stellar news is going to be a long day!

 

[fords4life]

As they convert OTC to draw units, we are going to see more apps

I'm sure this was definitely part of the increase this year. I finally got a bow and the unit I was planning on OTC this year went to draw, but not worth burning my points either. We'll see if I get lucky on a second choice, but probably not.

 

[Overdrive]

True, but the calendar dates this year, along with this stellar news is going to be a long day!

The funny thing about people speculating about the 35K new applicants is do we know that they even put in for a license? Or are they planning ahead and buying PP's to plan for the future? Won't know any of that information until the draw summary comes out. So it's all hear say and panic from people right now. Not worth worrying about IMO.

 

[Jethro]

Last year there was a decrease of 8647 elk applications [1st Choice] from the previous year

That really surprised me. It was all residents that were down. NR were up.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I am not going anywhere north of New Mexico this year
and will be in Mexico and Africa also
F Montana and Wyoming, between mismanagement and winter kills they’re toast

 

[intunegp]

That 40% cut in tags [in the NW corner] will really create more crowding in OTC now

I usually hunt 2nd/3rd rifle in a NW unit that's OTC with cows and deer being a hit or miss draw. Curious to see what it's like out there this fall.

 

[bow_dozer]

I am not going anywhere north of New Mexico this year
and will be in Mexico and Africa also
F Montana and Wyoming, between mismanagement and winter kills they’re toast

 

[fords4life]

That really surprised me. It was all residents that were down. NR were up.

That's doesn't actually surprise me as far as the R vs NR numbers.

 

[camelcluch]

Well I’m sitting in stopped traffic right now on I25.
Going back to trying to be positive. I really empathize “trying”. How are these new apps counted. Last year elk had a down year. This seems to be up. Are we closer to even with people not applying then coming back? People that never hunted in Colorado or take a year off? Maybe it’s not all bad?

 

[sacklunch]

As they convert OTC to draw units, we are going to see more apps

This...its not necessarily a 35k increase in hunters. Valid to assume that a percentage of those apps were folks who hunted an OTC unit in the past (no application in the draw required) and now that unit went draw

 

[trophyhill]

The funny thing about people speculating about the 35K new applicants is do we know that they even put in for a license? Or are they planning ahead and buying PP's to plan for the future? Won't know any of that information until the draw summary comes out. So it's all hear say and panic from people right now. Not worth worrying about IMO.

We had that many in 1 day here in NM when they extended the deadline…….

 

[Overdrive]

We had that many in 1 day here in NM when they extended the deadline…….

Did they extend it because of a system failure? That I could understand and agree with, but just to do it because people complained that "they" missed the deadline doesn't seem right.

 

[Hondo0925]

come back to this thread in September and tell me Sept 1 on I-70 didn’t look like this!

And everyone of those vehicles has a WKR sticker on the back window

 

[cuerro viejo]

That 40% cut in tags [in the NW corner] will really create more crowding in OTC now

I though the NW was all high PP LE tags? with that said I hunt SE so I haven't paid much attention

 

[cnelk]

I though the NW was all high PP LE tags? with that said I hunt SE so I haven't paid much attention

NW Colorado consists of more than just 1/2/10/201 units.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Some really popular low point and OTC in NW for deer and elk, with half the tags the rest of the state will be packed… there will be some that will miss on draws because they don’t pay attention, but for otc units up there, they will need somewhere to hunt

 

[Ucsdryder]

Where’s Randy newberg telling us we need more hunters…