Elk hunting tactics/logistics/advice

[TitsMcGee]

TLDR; should my hunting partner and I apply as a group, or apply individually to increase the chances of getting approved for multiple hunts?

A work buddy and myself will be going on our first ever Elk hunts this year. We're Colorado residents. Since we're both new my suggested plan has been to hunt as many of the 4 rifle seasons as we possibly can to gain as much experience in the woods, as quickly as possible. We both grew up in rural areas and white tail hunted growing up but no backpack hunting experience. For context in Colorado you can apply as a group, or individually. In order to get tags for a group application there must be 2 tags available for that game/unit. So if we both apply as a group for a particular game/season/unit it theoretically halves our chances, but doubles the harvest potential.

He won't be able to go the first 3 days of Second Rifle(8 day season) so that one is pretty much out the window from my thinking. My question is what's the best way forward? I'll lay out some options below:

EDIT: I've learned a thing or two since this OG post. Mule deer probably out of reach unless snagging leftover. Bear I don't think can be combo'd with rifle elk.

EDIT: Best route forward from the collective is I'll put in for a preference point first, then second choice put in for a 100% draw odd unit Class B cow tag, then for the secondary draw, leftover, or OTC tag I can get another Class B or A tag bull for the same unit/season and then have the option to get a cow and a bull in one season. If I only am able to tag out one of those I'll be happy, but it makes it to where I don't have a tag for a bull or cow in hand and only seeing the opposite sex. We'll be applying indvidually for season 2 & 3 and going together for both seasons with only the one of us that has tags actively hunting.

Option 1:
Group Elk + bear tag Season 1 or 3
Group Mule dear Season 4

Option 2:
Individual(Me) Elk+Bear S1
Individual(him) Elk+Bear S3
Group Mule dear S4

In the individual application route I could apply for S1 and S3, potentially doubling the chances of approval since if I don't draw S1 I could draw for S3, same goes for him.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

I’m guessing you have no PP so a 4th season deer tag is going to be out of reach. You also need to think about backpacking during the rifle seasons it can turn dangerous very quickly.

You are residents so applying for a group doesn’t really matter you need to choose seasons and tags that give you high chances of drawing. Have you read the entire CPW brochure to better understand the regulations and draw?


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[Soj51hopeful]

You are way over thinking this. The majority of 3rd season elk units are over the counter meaning you just buy the tag without a draw. Both of you get elk tags near where you live and go hunt!

Ps I was expecting a better profile pic.

 

[justinspicher]

Id suggest that you both apply for points and hunt otc. You hunt S2 and then he hunts S3.

You can cram “more” hunting in like this and two guys trying to fill one tag per season is much easier than two dudes trying to fill two tags in the same season.

 

[TitsMcGee]

Have you read the entire CPW brochure to better understand the regulations and draw?

I can't recite it front to back but I have read through it. Can only keep up with so many rules and regulations, the more I look into it the more muddled the water gets and confusing/complicated it seems. Personal property for S4 mule is something new, I'll look into that.

I'm planning on applying for 60% or better draw odds. What do you mean when you say applying for a group doesn't really matter since we're residents?

 

[TitsMcGee]

You are way over thinking this. The majority of 3rd season elk units are over the counter meaning you just buy the tag without a draw. Both of you get elk tags near where you live and go hunt!

Ps I was expecting a better profile pic.

Nature of the beast. Diving into Colorado's hunting systems and process feels like being thrown in the deep end.

That's good to know about 3rd Season being OTC.

That OC spray is a b*tch.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

I can't recite it front to back but I have read through it. Can only keep up with so many rules and regulations, the more I look into it the more muddled the water gets and confusing/complicated it seems. Personal property for S4 mule is something new, I'll look into that.

I'm planning on applying for 60% or better draw odds. What do you mean when you say applying for a group doesn't really matter since we're residents?

PP is preference points, not personal property. And most mule deer tags are going to require you to have atleast 1PP.

Applying as a group being residents you have high chances of drawing anyways but as stated above hunting separate seasons to maximize your time in the woods is a good idea. Also as stated 2 first time guys trying to kill elk at the same time is tough, even if you do get into a couple having the patience and experience to get both guys on target and shoot g at roughly the same time is very very rough.

Whitetail hunting is completely different t from elk, especially backcountry backpack hunting. Archery season is going to give you the most time to play with it. Missing 3 days of the 9 day second rifle season isn’t really a big deal most beginners can’t hunt the full 9 days straight anyways. My clients usually hit the 5 solid day mark and are at their limits.


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[TitsMcGee]

Missing 3 days of the 9 day second rifle season isn’t really a big deal most beginners can’t hunt the full 9 days straight anyways.

So him not being able to make the first 3 days of S2 isn't a huge deterrence for us trying to hunt then as well? I've heard it's best to be in the area a day or 2 before season starts in hopes of finding them before the season starts so on opening day hopefully you can tag out.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

So him not being able to make the first 3 days of S2 isn't a huge deterrence for us trying to hunt then as well? I've heard it's best to be in the area a day or 2 before season starts in hopes of finding them before the season starts so on opening day hopefully you can tag out.

When I hunt 2nd rifle I skip opening weekend, it’s usually still warm; and covered in orange. I’ll go in Sunday afternoon and hunt the rest of the week.

Btw not to be a jerk but if you didn’t know why PP or the OTC tags were you need to read the book again. That should have been known especially if you’ve done research on 60% units, unless you meant 60% success, but at that point you’re not going to draw those tags because they are high pp units.

So here’s some help, archery elk is OTC Either sex for quite a few units, some units require a draw but are usually low PP. 2nd and 3rd rifle bull is OTC for almost half the state. Many cow elk draw tags for 2nd and 3rd rifle are 0PP. Mule deer tags for earlier rifle seasons are typically lower pp, sometimes even being able to get a 2nd rifle mule deer tag with 0-1PP.

There is a PP issue from CPW you can get to navigate the draw odds easier than online.


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[Jethro]

you need to read the book again.

This is the most helpful information you are going to get.

 

[Indian Summer]

If you don’t mind hunting where one guy has a license and the other doesn’t then apply individually, which will increase your odds simply because you have more than one application in. You’ll get the same amount of experience.

If you don’t like that scenario and prefer either both of you draw or both of you don’t so you’re on the same page then you will have to apply as a party.

 

[TitsMcGee]

This is the most helpful information you are going to get.

The whole purpose of having a hunting forum, or any forum for that matter, is a collective of people with common interests. One of the benefits is that those people can share information/stores/methods/whatever. I got it lol, I'll read the book again. But just saying "Go read the book" isn't very helpful in itself. Especially when said brochure is nearly 100 pages. I don't have a problem with him suggesting that. What I don't agree with is you adding nothing of value, and actively discouraging use of a public forum, specifically for it's intended use.

Bouncing ideas off of and asking people questions is helpful to me. Telling someone "go somewhere else" isn't very helpful, to them or the long term health of the forum. While I appreciate pointing to a reference one of the great benefits of the internet is that people here probably have read, and have a deep understanding of the brochure. So me being able to come here and ask people questions is a valuable resource.

 

[TitsMcGee]

If you don’t mind hunting where one guy has a license and the other doesn’t then apply individually, which will increase your odds simply because you have more than one application in. You’ll get the same amount of experience.

That's what I was thinking. Thanks! Seems like a few people here have alluded to the fact that trying to fill both tags in one season as beginners might be a tall order anyways.

 

[Jethro]

Better understanding of the regs and draw process will allow you to ask better questions and have a better grasp of the answers you get. Trust me, it’s that important if you’re serious about this.

 

[Phaseolus]

Nature of the beast. Diving into Colorado's hunting systems and process feels like being thrown in the deep end.

That's good to know about 3rd Season being OTC.

That OC spray is a b*tch.

Second season is OTC to in many units too. Consult your Big Game Brochure for those units.

 

[Indian Summer]

That's what I was thinking. Thanks! Seems like a few people here have alluded to the fact that trying to fill both tags in one season as beginners might be a tall order anyways.

Depends on what you’re hunting. You can easily fill two antelope tags. Mule deer maybe. But elk… for a variety of reasons it might be a good idea to go with one tag the first time. It would be different if you could just buy a license every year.

 

[sndmn11]

I've heard it's best to be in the area a day or 2 before season starts

Your hunting should start now if you are a rifle hunter, especially if you are wanting to hang out a fourth season critter.

 

[ethan.s.miles]

TLDR; should my hunting partner and I apply as a group, or apply individually to increase the chances of getting approved for multiple hunts?

A work buddy and myself will be going on our first ever Elk hunts this year. We're Colorado residents. Since we're both new my suggested plan has been to hunt as many of the 4 rifle seasons as we possibly can to gain as much experience in the woods, as quickly as possible. We both grew up in rural areas and white tail hunted growing up but no backpack hunting experience. For context in Colorado you can apply as a group, or individually. In order to get tags for a group application there must be 2 tags available for that game/unit. So if we both apply as a group for a particular game/season/unit it theoretically halves our chances, but doubles the harvest potential.

He won't be able to go the first 3 days of Second Rifle(8 day season) so that one is pretty much out the window from my thinking. My question is what's the best way forward? I'll lay out some options below:

Option 1:
Group Elk + bear tag Season 1 or 3
Group Mule dear Season 4

Option 2:
Individual(Me) Elk+Bear S1
Individual(him) Elk+Bear S3
Group Mule dear S4

In the individual application route I could apply for S1 and S3, potentially doubling the chances of approval since if I don't draw S1 I could draw for S3, same goes for him.

I'm not super familiar with colorados system but if it were me I'd apply individually. I've never been a part of a group application, but to me it makes sense when you have one or two guys with more points than the others applying and it gives more opportunity to those who wouldn't draw otherwise. If you're wanting experience, each of you apply on your own and you'd still be able to go even if only one of you draws. Some of my best learning moments have been when I don't have a tag in my pocket.

 

[TitsMcGee]

Your hunting should start now if you are a rifle hunter, especially if you are wanting to hang out a fourth season critter.

What do you mean by it should start now?

 

[TitsMcGee]

I'm not super familiar with colorados system but if it were me I'd apply individually. I've never been a part of a group application, but to me it makes sense when you have one or two guys with more points than the others applying and it gives more opportunity to those who wouldn't draw otherwise. If you're wanting experience, each of you apply on your own and you'd still be able to go even if only one of you draws. Some of my best learning moments have been when I don't have a tag in my pocket.

Colorado group applications are based off of the lowest preference point holder, assuming preference points are being used. It's kind of a nightmare system. People here keep alluding to me needing to read the brochure as if the brochure is a straightforward answer sheet for everything, and it is not lol. I read through it again after people kept saying it and honestly I think I have more questions now than I do answers.

I'm pretty convinced of going the route where we both apply individually but still hunt together (only one of us would have the rifle).