Archery elk hunting help

[hunter4528]

Im looking for some input for Archery elk hunting in CO.
Just some info i have 2 friends that live there and never hunted and last year the one asked if I wanted to come out and hunt his father in law had been hunting elk for the last 40+ years and had given my buddy the hunting bug. He is ex military and loves to shoot so this was his first real hunting trip. I drove from PA 28 hours over 2 day and a snow storm and we took a camper out to BLM and he missed opening day do to a last minute death in the family. So the first night i was alone hours from anyone no cell service and the heat didn't work. I ended up taking my first bull opening day and we hunted til mid week for him with no luck and the storms pushed us out. This year i bought a ATV trailer and canvas tent so we can move locations if needed and wont be worried bout the camper if it rains.
So onto my actual questions here. I love archery hunting. While i have been recently loving long distance shooting to the point i built a 7prc and have been working on my handloads I want to archery hunt more than anything for a bull elk or just elk. I started building my point in PA but i want to build point in other out west states. After watching hours of hunts i want to be chasing those bugling bulls. I know i can start applying for archery draws with my OTC tags in the spring and if i don't get drawn ill just build points.
My buddy doesn't really understand the system out there and we had to get his wife to buy out tags the first year since she has been hunting there for years. I want to in the spring apply for points or a draw just in the off chance i would draw a archery tag if not then build the points up. My question i guess is where to apply? We hunted north west closer to the Utah boarder and while there was sign that a lot of elk moved through the week before we were there i would like to try to apply somewhere that i might have good success. Im not looking for a monster trophy just yet while i would love that i would be happy with a nice legal bull.
I bought a new Matthews last fall after i got back and switched from expendables to fixed blades for this year in prep along with alot of other things. Im just looking for input on areas to apply that i might have a decent chance at a draw or areas where there is high chance of success. I would most likely be solo my buddy doesnt shoot archery and has a little one on the way and no extra money to invest into it now. My local friend who ive hunted with since childhood wants to go but talking him into it has been a chore so i plan on solo.

 

[intunegp]

No one is going to tell you where to hunt. There are plenty of resources online to help you determine what units you are likely to draw as a non-resident with no points and what the harvest rates might be in those units.

This forum can be extremely educational but doesn't typically take well to brand new accounts saying "I don't understand please tell me what to do"

 

[hunter4528]

No one is going to tell you where to hunt. There are plenty of resources online to help you determine what units you are likely to draw as a non-resident with no points and what the harvest rates might be in those units.

This forum can be extremely educational but doesn't typically take well to brand new accounts saying "I don't understand please tell me what to do"

Im not looking for a 0 point draw really im just looking for input from others that have been here. I dont know if its worth applying for a draw in a unit or just applying for the points to apply later. Im not even sure if i can apply for certain units without any points or if there is a min. required amount of point to even apply.
I am not asking for a location just information ive tried online tend to find more fourms like this then actual information. I know there are sites you can pay for to get harvest reports and rates from but the draw system is all new to me. I dont know if its better to try and draw with low points in high harvest areas or build up and only apply for more of a trophy area. I plan to DYI the hunt so i already know my chance of getting one is 50/50 over booking a guide.
I always hate the hate out of state hunters get. I understand it but also hate it.

 

[hoosierhunter11]

Until 2028, tags will always go to those who have the highest prefenernce point totals. If a tag draws out at 1 point, you have a 0% chance of getting that tag with 0 points. There are not random odds like in other states. You can find the draw report on the CPW website and see how each hunt code drew out at during that spring's draw. There are still plenty of archery units that can be drawn with 0 points. I'd recommend reading reg book, the draw reports, and looking at some maps. You can combine the outputs of all 3 of these to determine where you're able to draw, where you can the hunt the terrain/habitat you desire, and potentially the bull/cow ratio and herd population you're looking for. It can be overwhelming to learn all this but it's possible. I started getting into CO hunting 3 years ago and didn't know where to start - if I could go back I'd do the same things I recommended above. Good luck!

 

[Cyril]

My advice would be to hunt. Find the list of units that use to be otc for non resident archery in colorado and apply in the spring to hopefully draw a tag. I would try and hunt the same unit this fall for rifle to get a lay of the land.

Start building points in other states. Hopefully draw an archery tag each year in CO and if you don't, go rifle hunting. Pick a unit and learn it. All of them have elk. In a couple of years, you will likely be able to draw in another state as well.

Good luck.

 

[svivian]

Im not looking for a 0 point draw really im just looking for input from others that have been here. I dont know if its worth applying for a draw in a unit or just applying for the points to apply later. Im not even sure if i can apply for certain units without any points or if there is a min. required amount of point to even apply.
I am not asking for a location just information ive tried online tend to find more fourms like this then actual information. I know there are sites you can pay for to get harvest reports and rates from but the draw system is all new to me. I dont know if its better to try and draw with low points in high harvest areas or build up and only apply for more of a trophy area. I plan to DYI the hunt so i already know my chance of getting one is 50/50 over booking a guide.
I always hate the hate out of state hunters get. I understand it but also hate it.

Since this is your second post looking for the same info and you seem to be struggling to understand the info provided by the CPW, you need to buy a service like GOHunt that will just take care of it for you. No one on here is going to hold your hand through the process. Has nothing to do with your residency, the answer would be the same for a Colorado born and raised native if he/she was on here.

Good luck

 

[bozeman]

Build points and hunt however and whenever you can. For me, a hunt 'now' is better than a hunt 'maybe' next year or year after. That should tell you what strategy I use. Everyone has different wants/needs, so it varies from hunter --> hunter and state --> state. Best of luck this season!

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Im not even sure if i can apply for certain units without any points or if there is a min. required amount of point to even apply.

No minimums. You can apply for any tag you want with any number of points. Use the recap reports to estimate your chances of drawing.

 

[hibernation]

I dont know if its worth applying for a draw in a unit or just applying for the points to apply later.

That's really up to you, kinda depends on how much available time you have. Some people find it easier to just buy points for awhile and wait until a year when they know they can hunt it, rather than be surprised.

I know there are sites you can pay for to get harvest reports and rates from but the draw system is all new to me.

The info is all out there for free from the state, you can read the regs, download the harvest reports, and call the state fish and game office if you still have questions. Or you can pay for sites that will do all that for you. Honestly, it's like so many things: which do you have more of, time or money?

I dont know if its better to try and draw with low points in high harvest areas or build up and only apply for more of a trophy area.

Low points and high harvest don't generally go together. If an area is easy to draw but has high success rates, check that there's not access issues - could be an area that's dominated by private ag and has high success for the people that are allowed (or pay) to hunt there. Otherwise, choosing between an easy draw more often, or a harder draw less often, is just up to you. How much time to hunt and how much money for tags do you have.

I plan to DYI the hunt so i already know my chance of getting one is 50/50 over booking a guide.

Much worse than 50/50. Archery elk success rates are usually more like 10-20%.

 

[hunter4528]

. Otherwise, choosing between an easy draw more often, or a harder draw less often, is just up to you. How much time to hunt and how much money for tags do you have.

Much worse than 50/50. Archery elk success rates are usually more like 10-20%.

Im limited on time off at work until next year then i gain another week (3total) right now its a balancing act between 1.5 weeks in CO for rifle and archery/fishing here and out of state.
I also plan to next year start building points in other states as well for Elk and other species its just not in the budget this year. Between the 2 rifles, bow and all my gear from atv to wall tent im pushing close to 8k in the last two seasons just building up my out west gear. Not including the tags fuel and i even bought a freeze dryer for other things as well but im bring homemade MREs for our entire trip this year. So next year i plan to start the point building process in more than just one state.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

OP, welcome to Rokslide. You seem like a good dude but there's a lot you'll need to spend time reading to get squared away, most of us have been there in your shoes before. Wyoming PP are available right now, go ahead and buy one of those, you just login and buy there's no application. For your CO hunting there's a lot of archery units that were OTC and recently went to draw, I don't know specifics so you'll have to look them up but if you want to hunt more frequently take a look there and you'll likely be able to draw with no or little points, or maybe even second choice. It's not a difficult system once you get used to it. I'm gonna send a PM also. Good luck!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Until 2028, tags will always go to those who have the highest prefenernce point totals. If a tag draws out at 1 point, you have a 0% chance of getting that tag with 0 points. There are not random odds like in other states. You can find the draw report on the CPW website and see how each hunt code drew out at during that spring's draw. There are still plenty of archery units that can be drawn with 0 points. I'd recommend reading reg book, the draw reports, and looking at some maps. You can combine the outputs of all 3 of these to determine where you're able to draw, where you can the hunt the terrain/habitat you desire, and potentially the bull/cow ratio and herd population you're looking for. It can be overwhelming to learn all this but it's possible. I started getting into CO hunting 3 years ago and didn't know where to start - if I could go back I'd do the same things I recommended above. Good luck!

Since this is your second post looking for the same info and you seem to be struggling to understand the info provided by the CPW, you need to buy a service like GOHunt that will just take care of it for you. No one on here is going to hold your hand through the process. Has nothing to do with your residency, the answer would be the same for a Colorado born and raised native if he/she was on here.

Good luck

Quoted for emphasis. Read those again, OP.

 

[LongWayAround]

Post in thread 'Colorado'

Yesterday at 9:57 AM

@hunter4528

"I dont want to apply for a draw for somewhere that is high draw with hundreds of other people in the same area."

That is every area in Colorado that you can draw.

In 2028 we will have a random component to draws and you will have a minute chance at a better tag.

Non-resident OTC archery has been eliminated and you now have to apply for singular units or unit groups. Familiarize yourself with your options and look for an area that interests you. Anything with good draw odds will have a lot of tags. Success rates are low. Even good areas have fairly low archery success.

• LongWayAround

Nobody is hating on non-residents. I bet most of the replies you got were from non-residents.

Refer to your first thread.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

I would hunt where ever it was you said you hunted and killed a bull on the first day!!

 

[hunter4528]

I would hunt where ever it was you said you hunted and killed a bull on the first day!!

There was a ton of sign from maybe a week or two before but where we were there was access roads and while i was about a mile away from camp you could hear atv and side by sides throughout the day of people driving around just looking for elk. I just watched mule deer walk into some trees as a ATV drove by about 500 yards when my elk came out. Its nice area but to easy access. We hunted almost the full week and i only seen my elk and one other. we had fresh tracks we followed from that night and had a good plan to sit and watch the section of woods figuring that they were probably in there and no way we could spot them...that plan was ruined by some road hunters.

 

[Maverick1]

Im looking for some input for Archery elk hunting in CO.
Just some info i have 2 friends that live there and never hunted and last year the one asked if I wanted to come out and hunt his father in law had been hunting elk for the last 40+ years and had given my buddy the hunting bug. He is ex military and loves to shoot so this was his first real hunting trip. I drove from PA 28 hours over 2 day and a snow storm and we took a camper out to BLM and he missed opening day do to a last minute death in the family. So the first night i was alone hours from anyone no cell service and the heat didn't work. I ended up taking my first bull opening day and we hunted til mid week for him with no luck and the storms pushed us out. This year i bought a ATV trailer and canvas tent so we can move locations if needed and wont be worried bout the camper if it rains.
So onto my actual questions here. I love archery hunting. While i have been recently loving long distance shooting to the point i built a 7prc and have been working on my handloads I want to archery hunt more than anything for a bull elk or just elk. I started building my point in PA but i want to build point in other out west states. After watching hours of hunts i want to be chasing those bugling bulls. I know i can start applying for archery draws with my OTC tags in the spring and if i don't get drawn ill just build points.
My buddy doesn't really understand the system out there and we had to get his wife to buy out tags the first year since she has been hunting there for years. I want to in the spring apply for points or a draw just in the off chance i would draw a archery tag if not then build the points up. My question i guess is where to apply? We hunted north west closer to the Utah boarder and while there was sign that a lot of elk moved through the week before we were there i would like to try to apply somewhere that i might have good success. Im not looking for a monster trophy just yet while i would love that i would be happy with a nice legal bull.
I bought a new Matthews last fall after i got back and switched from expendables to fixed blades for this year in prep along with alot of other things. Im just looking for input on areas to apply that i might have a decent chance at a draw or areas where there is high chance of success. I would most likely be solo my buddy doesnt shoot archery and has a little one on the way and no extra money to invest into it now. My local friend who ive hunted with since childhood wants to go but talking him into it has been a chore so i plan on solo.

"So onto my actual questions here." I only see one question mark above. And that question was "My question i guess is where to apply?"

The answer is to use the Colorado system to apply for and draw a tag.

And, please keep in mind, it is against the forum rules for FNG's to ask unit specific questions.

 

[Cyril]

Im limited on time off at work until next year then i gain another week (3total) right now its a balancing act between 1.5 weeks in CO for rifle and archery/fishing here and out of state.
I also plan to next year start building points in other states as well for Elk and other species its just not in the budget this year. Between the 2 rifles, bow and all my gear from atv to wall tent im pushing close to 8k in the last two seasons just building up my out west gear. Not including the tags fuel and i even bought a freeze dryer for other things as well but im bring homemade MREs for our entire trip this year. So next year i plan to start the point building process in more than just one state.

My general philosophy is spend money on hunting first and gear second. Never let money spent on a luxury(wall tent, atv etc) limit my ability to actually spend time in the woods.

When I left Colorado after my first trip I said, I need three things to better my chances of success. Be a more proficient shooter to what I would call long range, others, medium(300 to 500 yards), get an atv to increase my access and get a camper or wall tent to make the hunting more comfortable.

I built a 500 yard shooting range, upgraded my scope and practiced my ass off. I didn't spend a dime on the atv or camper because at the end of the day, they just weren't necessary. I drive my truck to a base camp location, set up a 4 person big agnes tent, run a buddy heater before we get out of the bags in the morning to take the edge off. Glass from camp and hike where we need to.

Good luck.

 

[intunegp]

There was a ton of sign from maybe a week or two before but where we were there was access roads and while i was about a mile away from camp you could hear atv and side by sides throughout the day of people driving around just looking for elk. I just watched mule deer walk into some trees as a ATV drove by about 500 yards when my elk came out. Its nice area but to easy access. We hunted almost the full week and i only seen my elk and one other. we had fresh tracks we followed from that night and had a good plan to sit and watch the section of woods figuring that they were probably in there and no way we could spot them...that plan was ruined by some road hunters.

You mentioned you bought an ATV for these future hunts...there is nowhere in Colorado that you can drive your ATV that other people won't drive theirs. ESPECIALLY places that you could easily draw. Places that are easy to draw will be crowded. Places that are easy to access will be crowded. Places with lots of elk will be crowded, or they will take years worth of preference points to draw.

If it is possible to drive somewhere, it is a safe bet that people will be driving there. I think you should reevaluate what you're looking for as I've spent plenty of time glassing elk and deer over the south side of a ridge while the orange army drove ATVs up and down the road on the north side of the same ridge. I hiked to the top to see what was on the other side, and they never saw that drainage because there's no road that led there.

If your goal is to hunt somewhere with good success rates and not very much competition, you will need to save preference points for years and years. If you want to hunt every year or two in Colorado, you will need to figure out how to adapt to and overcome the crowding and pressure, or pay for access to private land.