Don't know what to do with my 5 Colorado points

[okie archer]

Im 49 years old and have never killed an elk. I have gotten close in the past but couldn't close the deal. I've never elk hunted in Colorado.
Thinking about burning my 5 points in unit 5 unless someone has a better idea.
Honestly a little intimidated on a solo hunt but know it is more rewarding. A guide is still a possibility depending the cost.
I want one for the wall but I know that's a tall order. I have points in other states (Arizona, Wyoming, and my home state of Oklahoma.)maybe I should pay for a guide on those states and just try to get a bull in Colorado. I don't know though.
I have killed a few whitetail with a recurve as well as two black bears and would love to kill an elk with the recurve as well.
Maybe find a wallow and do that, not sure.
I know this is a scattered post but just looking for ideas.
Thanks for reading.

 

[Donjuan]

I'm in the same boat. I'll follow along and hopefully we don't get ridiculed here

 

[Scoot]

Good luck, fellas. I wish you good luck on your hunts and the use of your points.

 

[sndmn11]

Why do people say "burn"?

 

[GunsAreFun]

A five point unit in Colorado isn’t what it used to be. We hunt a unit that is a 3-4 point unit now that just a few years ago was a 1-2 point unit. It is decent but still hard.

We hunted a unit in NM a couple years ago that was like an 8% NR draw odds unit. We saw FAR more elk there than anywhere we’ve been in Colorado…not even close…talking three people split up to glass or call and all three people find elk on day one and pretty much the same the rest of the trip.

If you can afford a guide, I’d do that in NM or WY in a remote area. Cash in your CO points whenever and enjoy the hunt.

 

[NW Hunt€r]

Unit 5 is a lot of private property. All the elk we saw were always on private.

 

[TheLastFrontier]

Doubt anyone is going to point you in a specific direction unit wise. I think your best bet is to either burn the points and go hunt and see what happens or hunt an OTC/left over tag unit a few times and save your points until you know what you want to do with them.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I would burn them before the changes in '28. 5pts-8pts will be no man's land. Go hunt!

 

[5MilesBack]

Why do people say "burn"?

Because once you use them, they're gone.

 

[Maverick1]

Thinking about burning my 5 points in unit 5 unless someone has a better idea.

We don’t talk about units. Per the Rokslide forum rules.

 

[prm]

Use them somewhere where you can get back reasonably often. Knowing an area goes a long way towards success.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

We don’t talk about units. Per the Rokslide forum rules.

He didn't ask for specifics like trailheads, where to go, or anything like that, this is perfectly allowable

 

[Mturney]

I grew up in Oklahoma hunting whitetails and have killed a couple of bulls. I think they are all wall hangers compared to Ok whitetails. Id say to use your points and have fun. Ive come close with a bow and have killed with a rifle and decided I like to shoot an elk over getting close on a harder hunt so my points will be used on a 1st season unit going forward. Do what makes you happy. Dont over think it.

 

[MallardSX2]

Unit 5 for sure!!! Excellent choice!

 

[sndmn11]

Because once you use them, they're gone.

Burn implies they are useless. That's five years, or more if they skipped some, of paying for fuel to scout, miles hiked, hours glassed, etc. If it's not, 7 points with two years invested in scouting would be an easy win.

Deer/elk/phorn 5 points = 100% shot opportunity on day 1 whether R or NR, that's definitely not a throw away result.

 

[CMF]

Why do people say "burn"?

why does it burn you up?

Thinking about burning my 5 points in unit 5 unless someone has a better idea.
Honestly a little intimidated on a solo hunt but know it is more rewarding. A guide is still a possibility depending the cost.
I want one for the wall but I know that's a tall order. I have points in other states (Arizona, Wyoming, and my home state of Oklahoma.)maybe I should pay for a guide on those states and just try to get a bull in Colorado.

I'd burn the points and go diy in colorado and save the guided hunt for when you hit in AZ...

 

[HornPorn]

Why do people say "burn"?

Statistically most go on a camping trip and may as well have left their weapon at home, and basically get nothing, like setting money on fire. I'd rather say "cash in" my points, because I plan on getting something. It's a subconscious mindset thing

Also it's part of the hipster, online influencer, hunting-bro vocabulary. Like what kind of gear you "run". I "harvested" this animal. "Smoked" him too. I'm "sick for it", and can't wait to get back to the gym and "keep hammering". Check out my new flatbill bro

 

[cnelk]

Find a unit that took 4 PP last year to guarantee a tag and go hunt

 

[highcountrymuley]

Not what it used to be... burn points....

Omg do you guys like to hunt or not?! Go hunting. Nothing is ever what it used to be. Do some research, make a decision , do some work and have some fun!

 

[sndmn11]

why does it burn you up?

It highlights the silliness of how most people view what points to draw as. Same with the term "quality" in any reference to antlers/horns. Neither tell of likelihood of fun, likelihood of shot opportunities, type of hunt, etc. They are just ways for other people to assign a value, and they've become a focus for how people validate their own hunts.

People are "burning" points because they've been tricked into believing things above a make believe level entitle them to "quality" and anything below is a throw away. So, they don't scout, they don't put effort into answering their own questions first hand, and rather than cashing in (good one @HornPorn ) they ask for hand outs.

There was a post on here last year with a resident hunting a 10+ point hunt code not two hours from his own residence. He was literally asking where ANY of that species were for the duration of the season. I think it's a great example of that silliness, and when I read "burn points" it's usually followed by an ask of charity.