Likely Overcrowded OTC Due to Changes in Southern CO

[spike camp]

Out of curiosity if you hunted these units OTC in the past and built points elsewhere trying to draw a specific unit would you no longer be able to hunt this area unless you were willing to burn all the preference points previously accumulated?

That is correct.
Points are not unit specific, they’re species specific.

 

[Phaseolus]

That is not correct. If you draw a unit with your second choice you will gain a point and hunt your unit. If I were guessing I’ll bet you can do that this year because a lot of people will avoid these new draw units this season

 

[mattfly77]

Which already crowded OTC units do you think are going to see a sharp increase in pressure with the recent handful of units going Limited Draw? I've hunted 80-81 a handful of times and those units already get pounded beyond belief. I have a feeling 80-81 is in for a huge jump. The winners are the local businesses from Antonito to Alamosa. What other units are going to take a big hit in pressure?

Ha. I'm a perfect example of this. I'll probably be heading to unit 81 for the first time myself as my other units are not longer OTC. I've been thinking about this very thing a lot lately and wonder if it's going to be a circus in this unit. I recently spent about 20 mins on the phone with a CO game warden down in that area and he said unit 81 has a great elk herd but that he would imagine there will be an influx of people due to the other OTC closures. I'm trying to decide whether or not to find an outfitter who could do a drop camp for me and my buddies to get away from the roads and the rest of all the other hunters.....

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Ha. I'm a perfect example of this. I'll probably be heading to unit 81 for the first time myself as my other units are not longer OTC. I've been thinking about this very thing a lot lately and wonder if it's going to be a circus in this unit. I recently spent about 20 mins on the phone with a CO game warden down in that area and he said unit 81 has a great elk herd but that he would imagine there will be an influx of people due to the other OTC closures. I'm trying to decide whether or not to find an outfitter who could do a drop camp for me and my buddies to get away from the roads and the rest of all the other hunters.....

Curious, did you attempt to draw in your old OTC unit? If not, why?

 

[mattfly77]

Curious, did you attempt to draw in your old OTC unit? If not, why?

No I didn't attempt the draw because I had no idea at the time that the unit had been moved to a draw unit. Totally my fault for not seeing that, but someone at CPW told me there will likely be left over tags for that unit so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[NMframed]

I know of myself and 5 other guys that are headed to 81 for the first time this year. We have horses and mules so hopefully that will help us get away from the crowd but I guess we’ll see.

 

[Sapcut]

81 had a couple Amish groups both times I've hunted there. They hunted for several weeks at a time. Killed elk and left lots of trash at their campsite as well.

 

[trophyhill]

I know of myself and 5 other guys that are headed to 81 for the first time this year. We have horses and mules so hopefully that will help us get away from the crowd but I guess we’ll see.

Don't count on it

 

[cuerro viejo]

Curious, did you attempt to draw in your old OTC unit? If not, why?

I drew one of the new draw units, third choice. What’s that tell you about tag Numbers. I doubt there will be much difference in pressure. I didn’t think pressure was the issue. Been hunting unit for 30 years. The biggest difference is Bear cub recruitment is unreal

 

[apkleinschmidt]

I drew one of the new draw units, third choice. What’s that tell you about tag Numbers. I doubt there will be much difference in pressure. I didn’t think pressure was the issue. Been hunting unit for 30 years. The biggest difference is Bear cub recruitment is unreal

This. By my math (which is suspect) the new draw units (old OTC) have roughly the same number of tags this year as OTC hunters last year.

BUT I'm not sure how accurate CO's OTC hunters per unit numbers are considering they don't have mandatory harvest reports. I'm pretty sure their numbers are based on surveys and total OTC tags bought. If anyone knows how they actually figure out OTC hunters numbers per unit please let me know.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Next Ridge]

Out of curiosity if you hunted these units OTC in the past and built points elsewhere trying to draw a specific unit would you no longer be able to hunt this area unless you were willing to burn all the preference points previously accumulated?

If you put in for the primary draw, yeah you would burn your points. If you wait till the secondary draw, no preference points are used, so you could still get the tag and keep your points. Or buy it on leftover list.

 

[Next Ridge]

Just some numbers to consider. The number of tags per unit group is almost identical to the number of hunters per unit group last year, it appears CPW just rounded to the nearest 5 and made that the tag limit. Only 41% of the tags for these units went in the first draw. Will be interesting to see the results of the secondary draw and how many are on the left over list. Agree with what others have said - if you want a tag for these units you can still easily get them and do so without burning points. The alternate scenario is that a lot of folks don't realize this and do bail for OTC units, or they want to hunt either sex tags, and the result is the SW units are left with a much lower hunter count.

 

[Zeke6951]

I think there is still some confusion on drawing a tag for one of the new draw units, or any draw unit for that matter. If you put in for a tag (any tag, new draw unit or existing unit) primary draw as your first choice, yes, you burn your points. You may put in for a great unit for first choice, if you draw great. If you do not draw your first choice tag, you get a point. You can put in for one of the new draw units as a second or third choice and if you draw great. You will not loose any points, you will in fact gain the point mentioned above for not drawing your first choice tag. If you draw no tag in the primary, you can put in the secondary draw, for any of the tags listed, and if you draw, no points used. If still did not draw left over list become available first week or so in August. If you see a tag listed that you want, be the first to call in or apply on line. If you get the tag no points used.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I think there is still some confusion on drawing a tag for one of the new draw units, or any draw unit for that matter. If you put in for a tag (any tag, new draw unit or existing unit) primary draw as your first choice, yes, you burn your points. You may put in for a great unit for first choice, if you draw great. If you do not draw your first choice tag, you get a point. You can put in for one of the new draw units as a second or third choice and if you draw great. You will not loose any points, you will in fact gain the point mentioned above for not drawing your first choice tag. If you draw no tag in the primary, you can put in the secondary draw, for any of the tags listed, and if you draw, no points used. If still did not draw left over list become available first week or so in August. If you see a tag listed that you want, be the first to call in or apply on line. If you get the tag no points used.

Or just put in for preference point as first choice.