Elk hunting tactics/logistics/advice

[sndmn11]

What do you mean by it should start now?

You two will learn more about elk and deer by being out now and understanding where they end up after being pressured. This will be better for a third and fourth season rifle hunter than pre season scouting.

Apply as individuals.

Forget the bear tags.

Forget backpacking.

Learn to use glass.

Learn to take 90 degree turns.

Good luck.

 

[TitsMcGee]

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

All right I read through it again. I'm going to ask you because well I can right now, and you seem to be pretty familiar. I'd appreciate the clarification here.

1) During the primary or secondary draw I can put down that I want a preference point first, and then still apply for high % draw odd units, so that I can bank a PP, and still hunt a unit that I choose?

2) Say I enter the primary draw, and I get a Class A tag(let's say Bull Elk GMU 42 S2), can I enter the secondary draw, left over, or even go OTC for a Class B tag (Cow Elk GMU 42 S3)? Could I just put in for a PP then get very lucky with left over tags and snag a Class A and B(or 2 B's)? Should I even bother doing this or just keep it simple and go OTC?

3) About OTC tags, when you said there are OTC tags available for over half the state (assuming mostly West of I-25 here), if I go to the store, or online, or whatever and get an OTC tag instead of trying the draw process. Are those available for specific GMU's or (I'm looking at page 40 here) all of the yellow highlighted units are eligible to be hunted with an OTC tag? As in if I get an OTC tag I can hunt most of the states GMU's with the OTC tag instead of applying for and being restricted to say 2-5 gmu's by entering the draw?

 

[TitsMcGee]

Learn to take 90 degree turns.

Good luck.

Like physically turning 90 degrees when walking? wtf are you talking about man

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

All right I read through it again. I'm going to ask you because well I can right now, and you seem to be pretty familiar. I'd appreciate the clarification here.

1) During the primary or secondary draw I can put down that I want a preference point first, and then still apply for high % draw odd units, so that I can bank a PP, and still hunt a unit that I choose?

2) Say I enter the primary draw, and I get a Class A tag(let's say Bull Elk GMU 42 S2), can I enter the secondary draw, left over, or even go OTC for a Class B tag (Cow Elk GMU 42 S3)? Could I just put in for a PP then get very lucky with left over tags and snag a Class A and B(or 2 B's)? Should I even bother doing this or just keep it simple and go OTC?

3) About OTC tags, when you said there are OTC tags available for over half the state (assuming mostly West of I-25 here), if I go to the store, or online, or whatever and get an OTC tag instead of trying the draw process. Are those available for specific GMU's or (I'm looking at page 40 here) all of the yellow highlighted units are eligible to be hunted with an OTC tag? As in if I get an OTC tag I can hunt most of the states GMU's with the OTC tag instead of applying for and being restricted to say 2-5 gmu's by entering the draw?

1. Yes that is correct for the first (primary draw), th secondary draw will not let you bank a PP or use pp

2. Can have easily 1 class A and 1 class B tag for each species. Personally I apply for a PP then second choice 3rd rifle cow and buy an otc bull tag 3rd rifle. Works for me every single year in my unit.

3. Yea you are correct the OTC tag for bull covers all those units listed on the map. It will give you more freedom of more areas to choose from. Your typical cow tag is going to put you into a select 1 or 2 units.


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[TitsMcGee]

@BigAntlerGetter thanks man. I know most people probably just prioritize units closer to home but I'm in Colorado Springs, and I feel like most good hunting units are west of the mountains. So it's going to take a bit of travel anyways. I'm going to try prioritizing a balance of amount of elk harvested# and harvest rate%, and amount of public land available.

If you were to branch out from your typical unit are there magic numbers you're looking for? Like >60% public land, should I even consider harvest%? I saw some units have over 40% harvest rates but usually low harvest#, a lot of that could just be private land.