CPW 2025 Regs Online

Joined
Jun 29, 2020
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361
Win for residents starting in 2028. Nonresident allocation applies to first and second draw but gain a point if first choice not drawn.
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
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2,987
You mean from a crowding standpoint?

Our buck quality has decreased. They come out with more buck tags for a season that has been historically elk only and it is busy with with elk hunters at that. So there is something of a crowding point.

Then, add some doe tags to a season that has the appeal of very few hunters out. Personally, I see zero reason to be shooting mule deer does in the areas that I know. There just are not that many deer.
 

Acorn

FNG
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Jan 30, 2025
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1
^^ Yep. They eliminated a lot of B List cow tags in the wolf areas.
I’m curious if they eliminated some of those cow tags altogether or just switched them to list A. I can’t imagine the few wolves we have now are already making that big of an impact.

Perhaps I am underestimating how much damage wolves can do? Maybe it’s CPW bracing for future impacts?

This will be my 3rd year elk hunting as a resident in CO, trying to get over the learning curve this year! I was hoping to pick up a list B rifle cow tag to help increase my chances at filling the freezer, but it looks like I won’t have too many opportunities to do that now.
 

ericF

WKR
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Oct 4, 2016
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CO
I’m curious if they eliminated some of those cow tags altogether or just switched them to list A. I can’t imagine the few wolves we have now are already making that big of an impact.

Perhaps I am underestimating how much damage wolves can do? Maybe it’s CPW bracing for future impacts?

This will be my 3rd year elk hunting as a resident in CO, trying to get over the learning curve this year! I was hoping to pick up a list B rifle cow tag to help increase my chances at filling the freezer, but it looks like I won’t have too many opportunities to do that now.
The move from list A tags to list B isn't because of wolves. It is because of the hard winter kill from a couple years ago. The elk numbers are still under objective so they switched the tags to list B. These are also most of the units where they dropped Cow tags by 90% over the last couple years because of that winter kill.
 
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cnelk

cnelk

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Mar 1, 2012
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Colorado
The move from list A tags to list B isn't because of wolves. It is because of the hard winter kill from a couple years ago. The elk numbers are still under objective so they switched the tags to list B. These are also most of the units where they dropped Cow tags by 90% over the last couple years because of that winter kill.

Yeah - the CPW wouldnt want any competition with tag holders and wolves would they ? ;)
 

Hnthrdr

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Jan 29, 2022
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The West
The move from list A tags to list B isn't because of wolves. It is because of the hard winter kill from a couple years ago. The elk numbers are still under objective so they switched the tags to list B. These are also most of the units where they dropped Cow tags by 90% over the last couple years because of that winter kill.
They already started cutting tags in units where wolves “have been” in the ballpark of 10% the welfare hounds are already taking tags
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
2,987
Are you familiar with buck location and movement in the units that now have a first rifle buck tag? Ever hunted bucks there in the later seasons?

Not all of the areas.

I would say that my familiarity is relatively high for my typical area. I have not had a deer tag for third/fourth, but I have elk hunted those seasons since 2015. I don't build enough points for the late seasons.

Deer numbers and quality are down while tag "opportunities" are up.
 

fishslap

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Jan 8, 2017
Messages
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Location
Longmont, CO
Not all of the areas.

I would say that my familiarity is relatively high for my typical area. I have not had a deer tag for third/fourth, but I have elk hunted those seasons since 2015. I don't build enough points for the late seasons.

Deer numbers and quality are down while tag "opportunities" are up.

Some of these units are migration hunts with very early deer migration. One year when I hunted one of the units there were lots of deer moving through early then a ghost town during 3rd rifle. If a guy hunted then, he might say deer numbers are
down.
I think a first rifle option is a reasonable idea if they manage total tag numbers and adjust distribution across seasons once they see what the first rifle harvest is. Adding another season doesn’t always mean increasing total tags or harvest.
 
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