CPW 2026 Draw Stats are out

[LongWayAround]

Are any tags that don't require a guide unlimited?

Yes. Moose, caribou, deer, black bear, wolf...

 

[Esetter77]

NO, its not more generous than Alaska which has NO cap to Non-Resident tags. An in case you forgot geography Alaska is more western than Colorado

Alaska is still a state?? I thought we land-swapped that for Greenland with Russia or Denmark or someone.

But seriously if Alaska residents are getting pushed out of hunting opportunities, facing crowded hunting conditions while non-residents are getting a significant percentage or majority of the tags I feel for you and I also don't think that is right.

On one hand I would think the distance/cost to get to AK would keep your NR numbers somewhat in check, on the other I can see how the outfitter/guide "lobby" could really push to maximize NR tags at the expense of residents. Not to completely derail this CO thread but if I had my way I'd make any guiding on public land illegal and ban outfitters directly participating/voting on any game commissions. In many ways modern outfitters are akin to market and hide hunters of the past: They have a personal financial incentive to maximize their "take" of wildlife. I'm not saying guides are bad people, or they want to push species to extinction, but their profession puts them in an inherent conflict of interest when it comes to the management and conservation of a public resource.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Alaska is still a state?? I thought we land-swapped that for Greenland with Russia or Denmark or someone.

But seriously if Alaska residents are getting pushed out of hunting opportunities, facing crowded hunting conditions while non-residents are getting a significant percentage or majority of the tags I feel for you and I also don't think that is right.

On one hand I would think the distance/cost to get to AK would keep your NR numbers somewhat in check, on the other I can see how the outfitter/guide "lobby" could really push to maximize NR tags at the expense of residents. Not to completely derail this CO thread but if I had my way I'd make any guiding on public land illegal and ban outfitters directly participating/voting on any game commissions. In many ways modern outfitters are akin to market and hide hunters of the past: They have a personal financial incentive to maximize their "take" of wildlife. I'm not saying guides are bad people, or they want to push species to extinction, but their profession puts them in an inherent conflict of interest when it comes to the management and conservation of a public resource.

Absolutely! If Ak could be driven too easily/ cheaply it would be a nightmare situation for the R, plus a lot of good hunting areas there require, boat/ plane to get to… hence pretty restrictive in getting there and too the good hunting grounds, I’m sure they complain plenty about mainlanders heading up from WA but still a drop in the bucket. heck there is a thread on here where POW guys are pissed that Ketchikan guys are ruining their deer hunting and got them restricted on harvest #’s hahaha it’s not all rainbows up north, I would absolutely vouch for them to give more R preference if they needed it.

Completely agree on outfitters, I hunt around several and man it can be frustrating when you are dealing with those guys who think they own the woods cause they are permitted for that chunk of NF… they should go away just like the influencers and the hunting world would be a far better place for it

 

[bz_711]

Sure, but these animals should not be treated as pure money makers otherwise why not just double or triple the cost of tags along that line of thought? Heck don’t have to sell many tags if a NR tag costs 3000 bucks

Managing wildlife as a public trust resource is definetly not the same as running a for-profit business but your point is still valid. I think this is why a lot of western game commissions struggle. The want to appease the residents because that is their job and who they are supposed to represent but they also want to maximize Non Resident dollars (without ever saying that part out loud).

I know plenty of CO residents would not agree with me, but personally I would welcome a pretty steep price increase for resident big game tags IF it meant significantly reduced hunting pressure and better draw odds.

I think what is more likely though is moderate resident price increases AND higher hunting pressure and worse draw odds.

We're all in agreement...I was just stating a fact. Seeing who is running CO right now we're lucky it's not much worse. CO needs governmental change in a bad way!

 

[Hnthrdr]

We're all in agreement...I was just stating a fact. Seeing who is running CO right now we're lucky it's not much worse. CO needs governmental change in a bad way!

A big amen to that man!!! But goodness it’s like the biggest losers in your highschool all got together and decided to be R candidates for governor. The D’s are running god awful folks as expected, but it’s like R’s try to lose on purpose in this state

 

[fulldraw1972]

Dang after the thread I had on here about how to use my elk points it thought I had a plan.
Well that unit jumped almost 3 points this year. Guess it’s on to plan B.

The deer unit I was going to burn my points in jumped a point as well. Looking at the pool for the same amount of points I have and the one below that will be the same now kicks me out for next year. Guess I am off to plan B on that one as well.

 

[KsRancher]

Much appreciated and I don't blame you one bit for taking advantage of the system available.

I blame CPW for pissing on my back (allocating 65%+ of draw tags to NRs) while telling me it's raining ("well only up to 25% of tags go to NRs unless there is not enough resident demand")

Where has Colorado allocated 65% of draw tags to NR?

 

[il_cop]

Managing wildlife as a public trust resource is definetly not the same as running a for-profit business but your point is still valid. I think this is why a lot of western game commissions struggle. The want to appease the residents because that is their job and who they are supposed to represent but they also want to maximize Non Resident dollars (without ever saying that part out loud).

I know plenty of CO residents would not agree with me, but personally I would welcome a pretty steep price increase for resident big game tags IF it meant significantly reduced hunting pressure and better draw odds.

I think what is more likely though is moderate resident price increases AND higher hunting pressure and worse draw odds.

I might be in the minority of other residents, but I think it's important that it stays a reasonably low price that's accessible for most hunters regardless of income. If that comes with pressure, I think it's a fair trade. You can always get away from the pressure but you can't hunt every year or teach your kids to hunt if you can't afford it.

Scary proposition to me, on a variety of fronts, if it becomes a pay to play game.