CO Elk Structure, 2025+

[Overdrive]

No matter what option "we" suggest, the CPW will still do what makes their wallet fat.

It's really a double edged sword, hunters want a better, less crowded hunt and CPW wants the cash flow, who will win in the end? Hunters will whine if the status quo stays the same and Hunter's will whine if their opportunities to hunt go away.

 

[Jethro]

I'm done with Colorado so I have no skin in the game, but surely they are considering the financial impact the nonresident cuts will have on the state as a whole. It's not only the permit fees, but the trickle down to all aspects of tourism. I totally agree cuts need to be made, but the financial impacts will be massive.

A few less NR hunters isn't going to noticeably impact CO tourism. No way it would cause "massive" impact.

CPW will have no trouble maintaining a fiscally neutral plan. Now there is approx 20,000 NR OTC archery hunters at $750 = $15mil. Go NR all draw, cut tag # 10%, raise price $100, and they've got a cool $15.3mil.

 

[MallardSX2]

A6/R6 and any license awarded = forfeiture of preference points

This. Its the best way.

 

[Overdrive]

A few less NR hunters isn't going to noticeably impact CO tourism. No way it would cause "massive" impact.

CPW will have no trouble maintaining a fiscally neutral plan. Now there is approx 20,000 NR OTC archery hunters at $750 = $15mil. Go NR all draw, cut tag # 10%, raise price $100, and they've got a cool $15.3mil.

I don't really don't see CPW needing to raise the prices, they will get $100 more per license from NR's all ready, if they go to a draw only with the price of the qualifying license, even those that don't draw.

 

[NYSKIER]

I know this is an elk thread but can they please move the deer archery season dates back to August again!

 

[jgilber5]

Just took the survey, the way they word some questions makes it seem like they're considering if these options will even change hunter behavior regardless.

 

[5MilesBack]

There are issues regardless what is chosen, but it always seems to fall back to financial decisions instead of what a wildlife agency's actual purpose is. One of the biggest problems I see is Parks and Wildlife being combined, and we all knew that would be a problem when it was initially proposed. And the reason that was even proposed.........finances. It also does no good to go all draw, and then issue 1000+ tags for every unit.

The bigger problem that we have in ALL government is that at every level (federal, state, or local), all of them put out budgets based on their wants (idiotic pet projects), rather than based on "actual needs" and "how much money they actually have" to work with. God forbid that we actually carry over surpluses......SMH. That's why we see deficits across the board. We need to start holding all these elected officials accountable, instead of just allowing them to keep spending like drunken sailors. And wildlife agencies need to go back to what their actual purpose is to start with, then they need to start spending based on actual "needs" for that purpose.........instead of what they think they want.

 

[CJ Walus]

Hey guys. First time posting on here. Let me start by saying I’ve been following along and reading the wealth of knowledge on RS and appreciate all the info everyone provides. But my question is when is this decision supposed to be made and made for what season start? Is it for the start of the 2025 Elk season or is it getting thrown in starting next Elk season say Sept 2 2024? I really have impeccable timing with all of this going on as it’s the first time I’ll be able to get time off work and away from family to get out west and chase Archery Elk in Sept. I was really relying on having a no matter what ability to get an otc tag if I couldn’t draw a low to no pref. point area. This just has me concerned that I may need to start planning for a different state all together. Thanks

 

[Overdrive]

Hey guys. First time posting on here. Let me start by saying I’ve been following along and reading the wealth of knowledge on RS and appreciate all the info everyone provides. But my question is when is this decision supposed to be made and made for what season start? Is it for the start of the 2025 Elk season or is it getting thrown in starting next Elk season say Sept 2 2024? I really have impeccable timing with all of this going on as it’s the first time I’ll be able to get time off work and away from family to get out west and chase Archery Elk in Sept. I was really relying on having a no matter what ability to get an otc tag if I couldn’t draw a low to no pref. point area. This just has me concerned that I may need to start planning for a different state all together. Thanks

It's supposed to be for 2025 going forward, but you never know what they'll change for 2024 until February when the hunting regulations come out.

 

[HornPorn]

Elk tag in pocket = points go to zero....For everyone.

6 and 6

Federal lands, paid for with federal dollars, by all citizens of the US. The state may own and manage the elk, but without the habitat, they wouldn't be there. Should be the same process for all species in all states where the species' survival is contingent on federal land.

 

[CJ Walus]

Appreciate the response. Yeah I figured as much could happen. Guess I’ll stand by till then.

 

[CObywayofUSAF]

Hey guys. First time posting on here. Let me start by saying I’ve been following along and reading the wealth of knowledge on RS and appreciate all the info everyone provides. But my question is when is this decision supposed to be made and made for what season start? Is it for the start of the 2025 Elk season or is it getting thrown in starting next Elk season say Sept 2 2024? I really have impeccable timing with all of this going on as it’s the first time I’ll be able to get time off work and away from family to get out west and chase Archery Elk in Sept. I was really relying on having a no matter what ability to get an otc tag if I couldn’t draw a low to no pref. point area. This just has me concerned that I may need to start planning for a different state all together. Thanks

Get a point this year (If you haven't collected them already) and you should be set up for a decent hunt for 2025. Find a unit that draws out 100%.

Trust me when I say this, you are doing yourself a huge favor and greatly enhancing your experience avoiding an OTC hunt even if they are still at thing.

 

[Gerbdog]

Trust me when I say this, you are doing yourself a huge favor and greatly enhancing your experience avoiding an OTC hunt even if they are still at thing.

This is good advice, and pretty much summarizes why we are at this point. OTC CO is the fall back hunt for everyone across the country, it needs to go away for the sake of the hunters and the health of the elk herds in those units.

 

[CObywayofUSAF]

I sent an email and voiced my support for A/R 5. I think 6 is fine also. Either way OTC needs to go. There are other ways to make up for that revenue and as a resident hunter I'm willing to take them whether that be higher resident fees, whatever.

A thought I also had is what about a "mini-draw" each week for the re-issue tags? Like a super small fee to put in for a specific code and run it each week. Not the greatest idea, but it might help make up for some of the lost revenue. It would definitely even out the playing field since everyone seems to think "bots" are getting them anyway haha.

 

[COHunter33]

If the concern is loss of revenue, they could consider charging for PP, upping resident tag prices, tag lotteries etc. Colorado is one of the less creative states for sure when it comes to revenue.

 

[Wapiti1]

Appreciate the response. Yeah I figured as much could happen. Guess I’ll stand by till then.

To be honest, you should have a plan A that is in another state and go OTC as a last resort. In my opinion, Colorado OTC can be a good hunt, but you stand a better chance of a good hunt in a lower pressure state.

As for the proposal, I would rather see a capped non-res setup with no points system that is basically a general tag for what were OTC units. Leave residents their OTC option for now. In 5-10 years it will all be draw due to herd reduction by wolf predation.

Jeremy

 

[Kanbe1]

I got a survey from them regarding second season Elk out of state OTC hunt, when
i was done , it said that based on the answers I gave, I might recieve a personal phone call . I hope they do call.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I commented for options 5 for both archery and rifle… spent few minutes reading other posts… lots of folks pushing for 5 or 6

 

[Hnthrdr]

There are issues regardless what is chosen, but it always seems to fall back to financial decisions instead of what a wildlife agency's actual purpose is. One of the biggest problems I see is Parks and Wildlife being combined, and we all knew that would be a problem when it was initially proposed. And the reason that was even proposed.........finances. It also does no good to go all draw, and then issue 1000+ tags for every unit.

The bigger problem that we have in ALL government is that at every level (federal, state, or local), all of them put out budgets based on their wants (idiotic pet projects), rather than based on "actual needs" and "how much money they actually have" to work with. God forbid that we actually carry over surpluses......SMH. That's why we see deficits across the board. We need to start holding all these elected officials accountable, instead of just allowing them to keep spending like drunken sailors. And wildlife agencies need to go back to what their actual purpose is to start with, then they need to start spending based on actual "needs" for that purpose.........instead of what they think they want.

Amen, cpw was running in the black for years and years making profits… these days I’m sure they spend every dime they take in and then turn around and ask for more as is the government way all while paying wardens on the ground crap wages… Would maybe be okay if it was spent on habitat improvements and opening up more land to hunt but you see some wild junk spending, I need to dig it up but a year or two ago they spent millions on some Diversity/Equity bull that did nothing to help the herds or habitat in this state

 

[Hnthrdr]

I sent an email and voiced my support for A/R 5. I think 6 is fine also. Either way OTC needs to go. There are other ways to make up for that revenue and as a resident hunter I'm willing to take them whether that be higher resident fees, whatever.

A thought I also had is what about a "mini-draw" each week for the re-issue tags? Like a super small fee to put in for a specific code and run it each week. Not the greatest idea, but it might help make up for some of the lost revenue. It would definitely even out the playing field since everyone seems to think "bots" are getting them anyway haha.

I would be all in for “mini draws” for leftovers I’d throw money every week at it and then would eliminate supposed “bots/programs” from snatching tags