Colorado Elk Supply Demand

[Ucsdryder]

As a resident that’s killed 10 bulls in the last 10 season I can confidently say I would NOT hunt Colorado otc as a NR. Not a chance..

 

[bz_711]

One of my biggest issues is guys coming out underprepared to budget hunt and then having issues. As an outfitter I see it all the time, sub par sleeping bags, whitetail bow setups, no range finder, the list goes on and on. You see every year guys not being weather prepared and getting stuck or lost, injured animals for bad shots or sub par shooting, if you’re gonna go elk hunting in CO you need to be prepared and doing it on a budget may work for you a few times but when it comes down to it ur putting your safety at risk and then possible injuring wildlife vs making proper shots.


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Just as many guys with a $10,000 budget show up unprepared...maybe even more so than those on a $1000 budget. Wealthy often equals lazy and less skill/prep...I've absolutely seen it firsthand.

I hunted deer in Northern MN/WI for my entire life before getting into elk hunting. I haven't had the pleasure of doing an archery elk hunt yet, but my deer rifle needed to shoot 75-100 yds max in my neck of the woods...my scope/rifle/caliber were ill suited to go out west. Even if I break out the cost of a new set-up and my ammo over the course of all my elk hunts, that's still a significant cost. Most everyone east of the Rockies will need a different gun set-up to hunt in the west than hunting in the east. And even if you're archery hunting, you're still spending money on bows and arrows. I guess we can debate if that's money already spent on whitetail hunting (similar to the groceries) so we don't have to include that but I try that logic with my wife and it doesn't fly. Also, my 1200gr muck boots weren't conducive to hiking in the mountains so I needed to get a decent pair of hunting boots. And my gear (even for archery season) is too heavy to take out onto the mountains or I'd sweat to death. Thankfully our ice fishing tent and mr. buddy heater worked for a tent and stove so didn't have to get those.

I'm not familiar with Washington or Oregon elk hunting, but that's only going to drive up the gas bill. The chance you get 4 NR to draw the same bull tag in NM, Utah, or Idaho isn't realistic based on the draw odds I've seen. I suppose I'm assuming I'm not asking a buddy to split the gas bill who is coming out west without a tag. And won't that Wyoming general tag require some preference points which cost a little money?

It's possible I shoot a 480" free range elk on my general unit tag I hopefully draw this year...but is it realistic?

Again, I'm not saying you can't do it (in fact, it's pretty awesome you're able to and I have a ton of respect for that), I just think it'd be pretty dang tough to do it. And most of us have to realistically expect we're going to spend more than that.

I agree...it's a stretch and hard to pull off for most...BUT, that's where hooking up with someone who has plenty of experience can really help dial things in.

Good Luck!

 

[Soj51hopeful]

As a resident that’s killed 10 bulls in the last 10 season I can confidently say I would NOT hunt Colorado otc as a NR. Not a chance..

What if you lived in a state with no elk hunting?

 

[Ucsdryder]

What if you lived in a state with no elk hunting?

That has nothing to do with it. There are lots of states with elk. There is lots of time to hunt elk. Play the game in 5-6 states. Build points in Colorado, hunt every year you draw a good random tag, come up with a plan to burn points in states that have point systems.

 

[cnelk]

Snagged this from another platform

Some Colorado CPW Commission decisions today. Starting in 2028 the big game tag allocations will now apply to the 1st choice and 2nd choice of the primary draw. However, they left the fake/soft cap in place for the 3rd and 4th choices. Split Draw Type 50/50 also passed. They also passed a preference point fee after 1st choice --$15 for residents / $30 for nonresidents.

 

[tdhanses]

That's what I'm saying. If CPW does away with NR OTC for rifle (like they did for archery), the Outfitters will really be hurting. I hunt a private ranch in 78/81 which is OTC, but if CPW does away with OTC, I won't be able to hunt there anymore unless I can draw a tag.

If CPW goes all draw there will be plenty of tags available for NR, as long as they don’t shoot for the stars on their first choice a tag shouldn’t be difficult to draw for a number of years. They will adjust the tag numbers though with time.

 

[tdhanses]

Snagged this from another platform

Some Colorado CPW Commission decisions today. Starting in 2028 the big game tag allocations will now apply to the 1st choice and 2nd choice of the primary draw. However, they left the fake/soft cap in place for the 3rd and 4th choices. Split Draw Type 50/50 also passed. They also passed a preference point fee after 1st choice --$15 for residents / $30 for nonresidents.

I bet residents will still complain when NR still draw out some units at 70% since very few residents ever put in for a number of draw units.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Snagged this from another platform

Some Colorado CPW Commission decisions today. Starting in 2028 the big game tag allocations will now apply to the 1st choice and 2nd choice of the primary draw. However, they left the fake/soft cap in place for the 3rd and 4th choices. Split Draw Type 50/50 also passed. They also passed a preference point fee after 1st choice --$15 for residents / $30 for nonresidents.

So split draw mean 50% random 50% points? Hmmmm this could get interesting

 

[cnelk]

So split draw mean 50% random 50% points? Hmmmm this could get interesting

More info up on the Conservation Forum

 

[NMBigGame]

I think WY has shown that the price elasticity is high for Western hunting. Soon states will capitalize on this understanding and increase prices.

 

[tdhanses]

I think WY has shown that the price elasticity is high for Western hunting. Soon states will capitalize on this understanding and increase prices.

WY has a much better product to offer and has been working with a relatively tiny amount of NR tags when compared to CO, not all markets can create the same value in opportunity or tag costs.

 

[Hnthrdr]

WY has a much better product to offer and has been working with a relatively tiny amount of NR tags when compared to CO, not all markets can create the same value in opportunity or tag costs.

I agree with this. It doesn’t mean that Co won’t try, and it certainly doesn’t mean that all those dudes with 120k trucks hauling 90K toy haulers with 50k SxS won’t step up and pay… I absolutely don’t think it’s right, but Co will squeeze try to squeeze a dime outta a nickel if they could.

 

[tdhanses]

I agree with this. It doesn’t mean that Co won’t try, and it certainly doesn’t mean that all those dudes with 120k trucks hauling 90K toy haulers with 50k SxS won’t step up and pay… I absolutely don’t think it’s right, but Co will squeeze try to squeeze a dime outta a nickel if they could.

Yeah but doesn’t CO sell something like 200k NR tags, of that I bet your example covers maybe 10% of those that come to hunt, even if 10% is willing to pay more that won’t cover the bills.

Hunting in CO is just a camping trip for most tag holders, if they go and don’t buy a tag they still come home with the same amount of meat then they did with a tag.

If tag prices get to high I could see many just come to camp, hike and tear around on sxs and motorcycles, just change up their recreation activities, not all 200k tag holders are serious about and have a hunting is life thought process, unlike everyone on this forum.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Yeah but doesn’t CO sell something like 200k NR tags, of that I bet your example covers maybe 10% of those that come to hunt, even if 10% is willing to pay more that won’t cover the bills.

Hunting in CO is just a camping trip for most tag holders, if they go and don’t buy a tag they still come home with the same amount of meat then they did with a tag.

If tag prices get to high I could see many just come to camp, hike and tear around on sxs and motorcycles, just change up their recreation activities, not all 200k tag holders are serious about and have a hunting is life thought process, unlike everyone on this forum.

Very true, I’m amazed at how they will sell awful tags to NR and they will eagerly buy them. ( ran into some Midwest fellas on my 4th choice deer tag and they were surprised at the abysmal hunting haha it hurts me to pay 40 bucks for the tag and drive 30 min, let alone 400 and 16 hours) I agree though I think the large majority come to “hunt” co as an adventure/ camping trip.

 

[tdhanses]

Very true, I’m amazed at how they will sell awful tags to NR and they will eagerly buy them. ( ran into some Midwest fellas on my 4th choice deer tag and they were surprised at the abysmal hunting haha it hurts me to pay 40 bucks for the tag and drive 30 min, let alone 400 and 16 hours) I agree though I think the large majority come to “hunt” co as an adventure/ camping trip.

Yeah I think many do zero research, they just buy a tag and go out for an adventure.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Biggest things is with non residents seeing all this social media and pro staff talking about elk and deer hunting…. Killed this bull on day 3 of my OTC 3rd rifle elk hunt, what I fail to mention is the 12 guys behind the scenes making it happen for me. I had guys scouting for me or paid outfitters for information. Many sell these 3rd choice leftover tags for the state and guys see a 30 minute clip of a 30 day hunt. They don’t realize the scouts they had out, the 7 days of hiking over their “day 3” kill, they sell a false false experience and then guys get out here and are almost traumatized by the terrain and physical effort.

Also you all aren’t realizing what’s happening to CPW, if you listens to the wolf meeting part of Wednesday’s meeting you’d see that your ag reps and sportsperson reps do t care about representing you or the wildlife of the state. Polis has stacked that board and it will
Soon be Colorado Parks and Wolves. That board voted for the wolves to come back or keep coming in despite even Jeff Davis saying terms like we believe, it may, and we speculate. Every single meeting has a wolf update, but rarely do they have a wildlife update, just like they said they are looking to release on state or private land with a healthy and growing elk herd for the wolves to eat. Then want to release them on the E-15 elk herd (avalanche creek) that’s stable but 3 years ago they were trying to find out why the calf crop and recruitment age was so low…. With no info as to why still but hey let’s drop wolves there when the district manager said one big event and that herds f
Gone.


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