Montana General vs Colorado OTC

[ppelham]

Debating on applying for the Montana general season, or just going the Colorado OTC route. Any recommendations? I’ve heard less hunting pressure in MT


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CoHiCntry]

I think Montana would be the better choice.

 

[ppelham]

I think Montana would be the better choice.

From a hunting pressure perspective or just all around ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bsnedeker]

From a hunting pressure perspective or just all around ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He's just saying that because he lives in CO. Never listen to someone that tells you to hunt other states than the state they live in.

You should absolutely go to Colorado.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[ppelham]

He's just saying that because he lives in CO. Never listen to someone that tells you to hunt other states than the state they live in.

You should absolutely go to Colorado.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Ha! Just looked at his @. Fair enough


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Silveroddo]

If you aren't currently putting in for Montana and have any aspirations of hunting it you should get familiar with their points system. If you don't have any points going into it your odds of drawing a general elk tag aren't great the first year. If you want to hunt it in 2 years you need to at least buy a preference point this year if you don't put it.

 

[bsnedeker]

Ha! Just looked at his @. Fair enough


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In all seriousness, do you have any points in MT? The general tag gets harder and harder to draw every year for NRs.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Dusek]

I would say Colorado, I have been to montana twice with a general tag and I am looking into Colorado Otc.

 

[ppelham]

In all seriousness, do you have any points in MT? The general tag gets harder and harder to draw every year for NRs.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I do not. My original intention was to buy points for MT this year and do CO otc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Aaronpaul14]

I’m in a similar situation myself.

I think we are going to get a point in MT to hunt it next year.

Is OTC CO a better option rather than trying to draw an “easy” unit in CO?

 

[Indian Summer]

You’ll have around a 75% chance of drawing in Montana. Not bad. I’d go there. There is good hunting in every state but you’ll surely have your work cut out for you trying to find a place with good hunting where you won’t be affected by other hunters in Colorado. That’s easy in Montana and without packing in.

 

[ppelham]

You’ll have around a 75% chance of drawing in Montana. Not bad. I’d go there. There is good hunting in every state but you’ll surely have your work cut out for you trying to find a place with good hunting where you won’t be affected by other hunters. That’s easy in Montana and without packing in.

Plan is to pack in, so hopefully that helps, but seems at this point that’s what everyone is doing haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dirtytough]

Montana has a very long general season which is a huge pro if you can utilize it.

 

[Indian Summer]

Plan is to pack in, so hopefully that helps, but seems at this point that’s what everyone is doing haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can always pack in if you want to. But if the hunting is worth a shit you shouldn’t have to.

 

[bsnedeker]

You’ll have around a 75% chance of drawing in Montana. Not bad. I’d go there. There is good hunting in every state but you’ll surely have your work cut out for you trying to find a place with good hunting where you won’t be affected by other hunters in Colorado. That’s easy in Montana and without packing in.

It was 65% last year with 0 points. It will almost certainly be lower next year.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[cnelk]

You’ll have around a 75% chance of drawing in Montana. Not bad. I’d go there. There is good hunting in every state but you’ll surely have your work cut out for you trying to find a place with good hunting where you won’t be affected by other hunters in Colorado. That’s easy in Montana and without packing in.

Colorado hunters love it when Indian Summer refers them to other states - keep banging that drum!
[But it doesnt seem to be working ]

 

[Preston]

I’ve hunted both states and I would personally recommend drawing a 1st season tag in Colorado, bc they are still rutting and easier to locate. Post-rut hunting is very difficult for bull elk. I have killed bulls most every year in Colorado in either the first or 3rd rifle seasons in low point draw areas in 2-5 days of actual hunting. In Montana I hunt for 7-10 days a season, and most seasons never see a bull, but do kill a bull or cow about 75% of the time. I just see one or two bulls the entire season, or get a cow. Montana is a very big state and some areas get overran with hunters and some areas see no one. Not the same in Colorado, people and hunters are everywhere. Elk in Montana get extremely pressured due to the long seasons and will go mostly nocturnal, until it gets sub zero blizzard weather.
If you can draw a limited unit tag in Montana or have access to a private ranch, hunting will be great, not so much on the heavily hunted public land. Colorado has more elk per area too. Good luck in your decision

 

[ppelham]

I’ve hunted both states and I would personally recommend drawing a 1st season tag in Colorado, bc they are still rutting and easier to locate. Post-rut hunting is very difficult for bull elk. I have killed bulls most every year in Colorado in either the first or 3rd rifle seasons in low point draw areas in 2-5 days of actual hunting. In Montana I hunt for 7-10 days a season, and most seasons never see a bull, but do kill a bull or cow about 75% of the time. I just see one or two bulls the entire season, or get a cow. Montana is a very big state and some areas get overran with hunters and some areas see no one. Not the same in Colorado, people and hunters are everywhere. Elk in Montana get extremely pressured due to the long seasons and will go mostly nocturnal, until it gets sub zero blizzard weather.
If you can draw a limited unit tag in Montana or have access to a private ranch, hunting will be great, not so much on the heavily hunted public land. Colorado has more elk per area too. Good luck in your decision

Nice name and great advice. Elk p/area is a big number I’m interested In as well. This was helpful information. Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Indian Summer]

Colorado hunters love it when Indian Summer refers them to other states - keep banging that drum!
[But it doesnt seem to be working ]

Never mind that tons of guys from Colorado flee the home state to hunt up there. Including Cnelk. Lol

I’m just giving solid advice... and I know you agree with it. You should hook them up with a honey hole Brad!

 

[Wiscohunter]

I am assuming this is for rifle, but I've hunted both for September archery and am sharing my experience. I found the hunting pressure and elk numbers to be similar in both states (at least where I hunted). I was able to get away from people and find (not kill) elk in both states. There were a ton of camps and we did run into hunters, but not everywhere, in both states. Also, locals in both states said rifle season is a zoo with blaze orange everywhere.

The biggest difference for me was dealing with grizzly bear related restrictions in Montana on camping. I didn't run into any grizzlies, but it was less convenient then in Colorado.

If I were you, I would decide how I want to hunt (base camp, backpack, etc.) and if you are okay hunting with grizzlies as they're in most of Montana's popular elk units. Then pick the unit in either state you like best. Then, keep going back. I'm quickly finding jumping around to different states and units isn't a great way to kill elk.