7 NR points in Colorado

[Indian Summer]

What type of hunt or experience are you looking for?

One in a unit with a decent success rate that produces 170 inch plus bucks. Not really interested in a private land, Hunt. Don’t wanna pay an outfitter, although I would consider a trespass fee. But I don’t think that’s necessary. I would say a late season public land hunt. By then deer would be out of the high country so most likely a migration hunt.

 

[MerlinAH64]

Following

 

[IrkedCitizen]

I'm fairly certain that at least 50% of the applicants for Colorado Big Game licenses don't know how preference points truly function. Chances are they already believe it functions like the upcoming 2028 bonus draw where your preference points are equal to the amount of times your name is in the hat. So in 2028 there will simply be some people who apply as normal and get lucky and draw a tag who didn't have a chance previously.

I don't really see much changing with how people apply besides the fact that you can no longer apply for a preference point only starting in 2028. The only options are to apply for a hunt or don't apply. So you either play or sit on the couch and wait for the secondary draw and leftovers.

As proof that people don't understand the Colorado Big Game draw is that if you look at the draw recap report a lot of people waste their application every year.

EE001O1A for example in 2015/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24 they only issued 2 tags total. Both of those tags go to residents only (not enough tag allocation for the 80/20). In all of those years there were NR who applied first choice for that tag application and they didn't even stand a chance at drawing. No NR has had a chance to draw that tag since before 2015 yet there are NR who still apply for it every year. I would wager a weeks worth of my salary that in 2025 there will be no tags available to NR for this hunt code.

Just wanted to revisit this post since the draw recaps have been posted.

 

[Maverick1]

Draw recaps were posted earlier today, then taken down. Maybe there was an issue with the data.

 

[southLA]

Draw recaps were posted earlier today, then taken down. Maybe there was an issue with the data.

Thought i was going crazy.

 

[wind gypsy]

Like the title says, I’m sitting on 7 deer points as a nonresident. I had been banking on drawing a second rifle tag in one of the Gunnison Basin units in 2025, which have been 5-6 point tags recently.

With the pending draw changes for 2028 I’m wondering how safe a bet these draws will be for me now. I’m betting a lot of high point holders are going to give up hope for the units they have had in mind for years and might start unloading on tags like these.

How much is this fear reasonable or how else should I think about what to do with my points?

Looks like 7 would have gotten you a 2nd season 67 tag. Did you apply?

 

[gobears870]

Yep! I drew 55 2nd rifle. I didn't see the draw report before it was taken down so I'm pretty curious how it shook out this year.

 

[MallardSX2]

Burn them boy!

 

[svivian]

Burn them boy!

 

[deepandsteep]

Burn and hunt, all day. CO deer hunt myself and a couple other buddies have been scouting for years jumped up at least 5 pts this year for NR draw. That's a giant jump. At least one of us pulled the tag though. And it's a mid-point hunt. As with any hunt, regs and rules are going to fluctuate things. But I think for the next couple years in CO, few things will be predictable with target points needed for most any hunt.

Here's a little tidbit, the one that drew the tag, didn't even know about the impending 2028 changes.

Like most of us I use a spreadsheet to point track across many states but I use a separate tab to track where we (3 of us) hope to hunt in a given year for what given species. We basically plan the next 5 years ahead, always. Only way to to that is to try and stay way ahead of the points needed. But you have to be nimble right. We were locked for a certain deer tag this year as NR's then that particular state dropped the quota last second for that hunt. Just have to pivot. Treat the draws as a game, stay informed and plan way ahead....that's my advice. Treat the game for what it is, a game. But above all else, go hunt son! Life is short.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Yep! I drew 2nd rifle. I didn't see the draw report before it was taken down so I'm pretty curious how it shook out this year.

Congrats in your tag. Give it hell!

 

[DeerCatcherUT/CO]

Yep! I drew 55 2nd rifle. I didn't see the draw report before it was taken down so I'm pretty curious how it shook out this year.

You used 7 points on 55 2nd season?? That’s a lot of points. Have fun with unlimited elk hunters

 

[wind gypsy]

You used 7 points on 55 2nd season?? That’s a lot of points. Have fun with unlimited elk hunters

Took 6 to draw. 67 took 7 and 66 took 11 for 2nd season.

 

[Steve O]

You used 7 points on 55 2nd season?? That’s a lot of points. Have fun with unlimited elk hunters

That comment makes you look like an a$$ for what it’s worth…

What good did that do? How was that helpful? Easy to criticize; try to add something constructive next time or just move on.

If you are trying to get your post count up you should find another way other than a snarky hindsight.

 

[gobears870]

I'm pretty happy with the result and I knew what I was getting into. First, I have a tag in my pocket. Win. Second, I have good local knowledge here. Third, I have a buddy who might come with and buy one of those OTC elk tags.

Per my original post, what I thought might happen actually did happen. In 2024, 5 nonresidents with more than 7 points applied for this tag. This year there were 12. Last year, 22 of 25 NR pulled the tag with 5 points. This year, 4 of 6 drew it with 7 points. So, I think I successfully exited with a tag in a good unit before winding up in no-mans-land on points with the pending changes.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

Gunnison has always had good deer. There was that real bad winter kill but the genes were still there. Just needed to rebound. You should have a good time

 

[hoosierhunter11]

I hunted the same place last year during archery elk season. Good luck!

 

[Hnthrdr]

Good value for your points as a NR IMO, hit it hard, still nice bucks there but you will have to wade through the 130-150 class which LOT of guys can’t see to do. Pray for weather! And good luck

 

[TheGrayRider]

That comment makes you look like an a$$ for what it’s worth…

What good did that do? How was that helpful? Easy to criticize; try to add something constructive next time or just move on.

If you are trying to get your post count up you should find another way other than a snarky hindsight.

+1

 

[Bobcat 33]

I have 14 points. I never save points! The reason I ended up with that many is simple…. I’m a diy hunter. I know zero about Colorado deer hunting other than I’m 10 years too late. So I just haven’t figured out where to apply. I’ve been wanting to burn them for the past 5 years but haven’t received any solid ideas. Just the same old “do a late season high country hunt somewhere”. That or “Pay up for an eastern plains private land hunt”. Good luck! Don’t forget to post a hunt report.

Im in the same boat with like 14 for elk and 13 for deer. Have not been out since 2012 and my buddy who took me is no longer going. I don't have a hunting buddy so I'm kind of on my own. Now at 65 don't know what to do but would love to have a nice mule deer on my wall. I have the same for Wyoming?