Colorado OTC research help

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

As the New Mexico draw passed and I was yet again unsuccessful, it appears more and more likely that I won’t draw a tag this year. I’m still waiting on Utah and Nevada, plus a couple of sheep draws, so there’s still a chance. But I feel like I need to start seriously considering other options. I seems to me that my choices would be a leftover tag in Wyoming, or an OTC in Colorado.

I looked in the Colorado regulations brochure and found a map of all the OTC units, but that is all I found. Apparently I’m bad at interneting. Could someone point me in the right direction to actually find some information about these units? Perhaps population numbers, harvest success, anything really. At this point, I feel like my only option is to throw a dart at the map and run with that unit. But there has to be a better way to choose. Let me be clear, I don’t want you to tell me what unit you hunt, and all the pertinent info. I just need to no where I can go to do the research myself.

 

[sndmn11]

Home page for all big game species stats https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Statistics.aspx
Elk page https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Statistics-Elk.aspx
2018 Elk Draw Recap Reports (irrelvant now, but maybe not later) https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/Statistics/Elk/2018ElkDrawRecap.pdf
2018 Elk Harvest Statistics https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/Statistics/Elk/2018StatewideElkHarvest.pdf
2017 Elk Population Estimates https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Hunting/BigGame/Statistics/Elk/2017ElkPopulationEstimates.pdf
Free CPW Hunt Planning Assistance 303-291-7526

Enjoy!

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

CPW website. Everything you need is there. Just gotta dig. Once there and found, you may dig to China. I didn’t like their interactive map as well as OnX, so I went that route last year in picking the unit and fine tuning plans A-F. Also has all you need to know for migrations, etc.


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[Blackdirt Cowboy]

Wow! Thanks, I’ll get to digging. That was fast service.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

Also keep in mind that Colorado also has a leftover draw system in place. That might help you get a unit that isn’t OTC.

 

[cnelk]

Want to hunt a draw unit instead of OTC?

Just wait to buy a license until AFTER your season starts.
Last year MANY limited entry leftover tags were re-issued the day before season.

If you already have an A list tag, you must relinquish it before you buy a different A list tag.
And that takes time. Someone else can jump in and buy it under from you

 

[wannakillabigbull]

Last year MANY limited entry leftover tags were re-issued the day before season

Or a couple days after, especially archery tags. It was almost sickening watching all the great tags that dropped but I had other plans and couldn't snag one.

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

Wow. I didn’t know that was an option. I figured once the tags were gone, they were gone. I’ve done a fair amount of research and have a few units picked out as well as specific areas in those units. I sure don’t want to broadcast that over the interwebs. If there is someone who has some experience hunting the San Juan mountains, I’d like to converse with you via PM. That is if your willing to help an FNG. I don’t want to talk specific areas. I’d like to know about the terrain and ruggedness of the areas I picked out.

 

[Newtosavage]

Also keep in mind that Colorado also has a leftover draw system in place. That might help you get a unit that isn’t OTC.

This is what I've done the past two years with good success. I plan to hunt the leftover draw again this year. If I don't get something I want, I'll just go OTC.

 

[CoffeeGoat]

I've had good luck with leftovers the last few years, it's a function of being flexible and looking for seasons that aren't popular. Many of the tags that you could pick up with a draw aren't "worth" the points since they go to leftover anyways, particularly cow tags. Until the draw is out you won't know what this year looks like, but looking at the 2018 draw report should give you a good idea of what previous years looked like.

 

[Newtosavage]

Many of the tags that you could pick up with a draw aren't "worth" the points since they go to leftover anyways, particularly cow tags.

Precisely.