Colorado Elk Supply Demand

[taskswap]

Efficient gun with scope $1200 on average, I mean you can get by I bought a old 338 with a vortex scope for $1000 could shoot 450 yards easily.

I generally agree but don't think newbies should be scared off by gear. I own a very nice Browning X-Bolt LR that together with scope was probably $1500 and that was years ago so it'd be more now. But I now hunt with a Savage XP Hunter in 7mm-08 that came as a kit with scope for like $425 on a sale 3ish years ago. I got it just to have a rifle chambered the same as my wife's (much nicer Weatherby) and have since fallen in love with it. I've taken two elk with it so far, and think it's a fine rifle for hunting. Unless you're a sniper shooting across 1000yd canyons (in which case I doubt you're taking advice from this thread...) I really believe anything that throws lead, holds 5 rounds, and a basic 3-9 scope is more than enough for getting into elk hunting. Heck, my muzzleloader probably cost $250 and it's very viable if you're into that.

 

[Jaden Bales]

If we're looking for a real upside to a massive increase on tag prices, hopefully it will make it so that all of the unemployed morons making YouTube videos out of everything won't be able to afford to hunt Maybe then they'll get it.

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It's a write off for influencers, so basically free right!??

 

[Jaden Bales]

Circling back to the wolves, look what happened to the outfitters in ID MT WY.
They are a fraction of what they were 20+ years ago.

Speaking to WY on this - it seems like more of two issues for WY outfitters in wolf country: safety from grizzly bears and getting clients to draw. When it takes 4+ years for clients to draw, there's not even a Wilderness law that can force NRs to book with outfits consistently.

 

[Soj51hopeful]

Speaking to WY on this - it seems like more of two issues for WY outfitters in wolf country: safety from grizzly bears and getting clients to draw. When it takes 4+ years for clients to draw, there's not even a Wilderness law that can force NRs to book with outfits consistently.

Yes this is a newer-ish problem. But I’m talking pre-wolf vs post wolf. Outfitters were booming in the time before wolves took over. Tags get cut when there’s less animals, then point creep starts factoring.

Im going to talk out my a$$ here, but I’ll bet the outfitters in CO today are still doing much better than MT ID WY simply on the sheer numbers of elk CO has. Those numbers are going to drastically change.

 

[cnelk]

Im going to talk out my a$$ here, but I’ll bet the outfitters in CO today are still doing much better than MT ID WY simply on the sheer numbers of elk CO has. Those numbers are going to drastically change.

Maybe so, but it wont be this year or the next. It will take awhile

 

[Soj51hopeful]

Maybe so, but it wont be this year or the next. It will take awhile

Yeah. I figure 5-10 years. Maybe more

 

[Winchester]

The narrative always stops at revenue is the reason CPW doesn’t do away with NR rifle OTC. But this assumes tag costs have to stay the same (for residents and NR alike).
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The Commissioners have had many discussions on how to replace the revenue lost if they do away with OTC Tags ... but they don't assume tag cost have to stay the same .. they've considered many different options. to include raising prices. The problem is the revenue from all the OTC elk tags, especially the NR tags, is so significant that other tag price increase can't really cover it.

 

[Winchester]

I wonder if CPW has taken into account the Outfitters that make a living guiding mostly NR? If they take away the NR OTC during rifle season too, not many locals will be booking guided hunts with an outfitter.

Yeah, The CPW Commissioners have discussed the Outfitters quite a bit. A couple of the Commisioners used to be Outfitters and a couple are ranchers ... so they do talk about that.

 

[Tinhorn]

The thought of hunting CO OTC makes me happy and it only cost $817ish and a couple hundred in fuel$. Its awesome. Over the last handful of years, we are only 8/11 on bulls.

Pics!!

 

[Jethro]

Many of you equate the change from OTC to draw as meaning a reduction in quota. Not necessarily. Although possible, CO has shown nothing to indicate that would happen.

Whatever the cost of an elk tag is in CO has gone above what I really want to spend for an OTC hunt (or a really high quota draw unit). To me its not worth it. Still have a couple lower point draw units that I've hunted and I'm following.

Last year hunted WY gen on a $2k tag. All in trip was less than $3200. I don't consider gear purchases as a trip expense. I use gear all year long. I bought a new used bow last summer, but that is not a trip expense. I was buying the bow even if I stayed in PA. $3200 is not pocket change to me, but why not spend it on what I love to do? It bought me 16 days away from work.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Yeah, The CPW Commissioners have discussed the Outfitters quite a bit. A couple of the Commisioners used to be Outfitters and a couple are ranchers ... so they do talk about that.

They don’t really care for the outfitters to much especially when it comes to the wolves or their livelihood. The outfitters association has gone to them many times to discuss issues and all that and they just get put off. The outfitters asked to be looked at for assistance with wolf issues and loss of income and they completely ignored that. Even with the amount of people outfitters bring in to the state, not saying all those guys wouldn’t come diy but they do bring people in. Many outfitters haven’t raised prices in 15 years because they can’t afford to lose business for high hunt costs with the cost of tags going up and up every single year. As far as some of the rancher commissioners one has voiced that he absolutely despises outfitters and they are the sole reason for loss of wildlife….. yet he’s also pro wolf.


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[BigAntlerGetter]

Many of you equate the change from OTC to draw as meaning a reduction in quota. Not necessarily. Although possible, CO has shown nothing to indicate that would happen.


That wouldn’t happen I agree they would just say ok here’s 600 bull draw tags available for 2nd rifle, 400 cow tags, the split is 75/25 for the original draw. Then whoever draws whatever in the second draw. honestly I’d prefer it to be that way, OTC tags suck in a way cause you never really know how many people may be in a unit. Least if they were draw you know how many tags are out there, and possibly how many hunters are in the unit. IMO it’s the best of all worlds, for residents and non residents. Even though you will never make many of the residents happy they have to cry about something (I’m a lifelong resident). Many do believe that doing away with otc just like with it this year on archery is going to drop income. But like my unit they will
Probably give out 600 non residents tags, and if there’s 300 leftover for a few years they will start cutting them back to match, that’s what they did in a few units and they were all worried about losing tons of revenue but they just went on an 3 yr average of people in that unit and sold tags accordingly.


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[SuperDUECE22]

Pics!!

Yes, we have lots of them but i dont post our friends & family grip n grins. To us hunting is a cherished tradition, and we prefer to keep these memories within our close circle of friends & family.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Many of you equate the change from OTC to draw as meaning a reduction in quota. Not necessarily. Although possible, CO has shown nothing to indicate that would happen.

Then I'm not sure why they would do it. Original thinking was it was to reduce hunting pressure and overcrowding, but if they aren't going to reduce the amount of tags available, what would the difference be?

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Then I'm not sure why they would do it. Original thinking was it was to reduce hunting pressure and overcrowding, but if they aren't going to reduce the amount of tags available, what would the difference be?

It would put x hunters in specific units instead of going wherever they want, would help regulate hunters,


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[Laelkhunter]

That makes sense. Then the draw would be for a specified unit instead of just the OTC area?

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

That makes sense. Then the draw would be for a specified unit instead of just the OTC area?

Correct, I think it would have the most benefit and would actually benefit the herds


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[camelcluch]

CPW has already discussed and suggested that rifle OTC is going away. It sounded like with in the next 5 years.
I am will to bet you all will be able to get tags. It’s just learning the new game.
As far as cost, that’s not an exact formula. What it costs and could cost is very different and different for everyone. The only constant is price of tag.

 

[Winchester]

They don’t really care for the outfitters to much especially when it comes to the wolves or their livelihood. The outfitters association has gone to them many times to discuss issues and all that and they just get put off. The outfitters asked to be looked at for assistance with wolf issues and loss of income and they completely ignored that. Even with the amount of people outfitters bring in to the state, not saying all those guys wouldn’t come diy but they do bring people in. Many outfitters haven’t raised prices in 15 years because they can’t afford to lose business for high hunt costs with the cost of tags going up and up every single year. As far as some of the rancher commissioners one has voiced that he absolutely despises outfitters and they are the sole reason for loss of wildlife….. yet he’s also pro wolf.


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Yes I agree. I was just pointing out that the Commissioners do discuss outfitters ... but I agree, most of the time they aren't very supportive of the outfitters.

 

[cnelk]

When Units 80/81 went from OTC Archery to Draw a couple years ago, NonRes still got a lot of tags.
Residents that had pps didn’t want to burn them so NonRes got the remaining Res quota.

The CPW capped those tags at 2000.

It might take a year to figure out how the 2nd Choice applies, especially when the tag allotment comes out shortly after applications are due.