Do I buy an elk tag too?

[AirborneEScouter]

I have a mule deer tag for second season in CO. Pretty good odds of finding a buck based on historical statistics, previous scouting and history with the units I'm in, and the fact that I'm young-ish and in good shape for this trip. I haven't considered buying a bull elk tag up until lately - the odds of killing a bull in the same general region are about 10% according to CPW. My plan is to pack in about 5-6 miles from the nearest trailhead and hunt from a basecamp there, and have a few other backup spots if plan A sucks. I am not very enthusiastic about paying another $600+ for the tag but I would kick myself if I had a chance encounter and unable to pull the trigger.

Surely odds are skewed - I would imagine X% of hunters buy tags and never even make it out, X% buy tags to hunt within a mile from the road due to health, X% only hunt the weekends, etc. I don't even know how the DNR determines the number of hunters in a designated in each unit given OTC tags don't require you to name what unit you're hunting (unless they use a small sample and extrapolate the results). But for those that have had success in general, are these odds (specifically during 2nd rifle) a decent measure of your odds of success?

I'm trying not to encourage e-scouters anymore than this post already will, so feel free to PM me your thoughts. I'm really just trying to be objective about whether buying the tag is an economic enterprise since I already have an easier target to chase. I'll be there a week, hunting 6 days. As my best friend said, it's just money

 

[AGPank]

Depends on the unit.


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[sndmn11]

If you aren't enthusiastic about it, you can always pick one up weekdays during business hours during the season at an actual CPW office. If there is one near by, that might be an option for when you get to the truck after packing out your mule deer.

 

[justinspicher]

I say do it, yolo and stuff.

 

[tyeager2964]

I say it depends on your commitment to the Muley tag. If you want the best buck possible then skip the Elk tag and focus on mule deer. If you are going to shoot the first legal buck or would rather shoot a small to mediocre elk over a nice Mule deer then get the tag.

 

[Indian Summer]

Game checks are pretty much a gray area between what info they have through game checks (part time) and mail surveys (voluntary).

The other thing about success that you should ask yourself is who is killing the elk? I can tell you that in the % of successful hunters are people going 80-100% and so they make up some of the success rate every year.

Myself I believe that 10% of hunters kill their elk 3 or 4 times in every 5 years. The law of averages catches everyone now and then but I bet the year they “didn’t kill one” they had a plan for a cow, maybe late season, and killed one that year too. They know their area and know from experience, kills and mistakes over the years where the elk like to hang.

How will you hunt the mulies in the area? If you’ll be up high doing lots of glassing I’d say buy the tag because you have as good a chance as anyone to spot a bull. But if you’re still hunting in an area where it pays to know what’s going on and the money is tough for you to swing then skip the elk tag. Besides.... if you really want a nice deer hunt deer with no distractions and you’ll do better. Best of luck to you!

 

[Dakota Dude]

I like to think that 10% of the hunters kill 90% of the elk. If you have the heart, will, and know withall you will get a chance.

In other words, the CPW percentages are not the best indicator. Many hunters kill a bull every year on the public.

With that said, it will take away from your mule hunt and you may not be able to focus on one species.

 

[Indian Summer]

I say it depends on your commitment to the Muley tag. If you want the best buck possible then skip the Elk tag and focus on mule deer. If you are going to shoot the first legal buck or would rather shoot a small to mediocre elk over a nice Mule deer then get the tag.

Exactly! Well said. Typing at the same time.

 

[cnelk]

Maybe save a few $$ and get a cow tag (if that option is available in that unit)

That way you can still hunt your deer and if you happen to see a cow elk, bang.

 

[elkduds]

How long do you suppose it will take to pack out an elk solo from "5 or 6 miles back in?"

Will that leave enough time for the quality of deer hunt you envision?

 

[jolemons]

How long do you suppose it will take to pack out an elk solo from "5 or 6 miles back in?"

Will that leave enough time for the quality of deer hunt you envision?

If it's a moderate elevation gain one way, I'd say to devote an entire day to day and a half of breaking down and packing out. Then realize that you'll probably need a bit of a recovery day afterwards. My pace in moderate terrain with a heavy pack is ~2 mi per hour, especially if I startgetting won out. So 6 mi for me is 3 hr one way. A bull and my camp would be 4 loads. So that's 3 6 hr round trips and one 3 hr one way trip if breaking camp for a total of 21 hr day.

I would not kill an elk solo that deep. Much of the time, if you kill elk that deep, you're hiking by elk to get to the elk. My $0.02.

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[davsco]

all the time and money you're spending coming from ks, i'd say go for it. i've just hunted first rifle on my first elk hunts last and this year and have considered 2nd season just to have more options.

 

[woodson]

Dude, we talked about this... it is just money! You will turn you rifle on yourself if you have a bull in range and no tag.

Sincerely,
Your Hunting Buddy

 

[Fridaythe13th]

If you're worried about tagging a mulie on the 1st day and haven to go home, maybe a bear tag is the answer I'm hearing there only a $100. But we have no idea what zone your in.