OTC ELK Utah vs Colorado vs Anywhere Else

[jeg9792]

So our hunting group is divided. We’ve been going to SW Colorado for several years, Unit 77 specifically archery hunting. This year one guy in our group is working in SW Utah and can’t quit talking about us going to Utah this year. I’m just looking for opinions from those of you who’ve hunted both, PM if you want. Going to SW Utah adds 6 hours to our drive vs Colorado.

Also, does an “Any Bull” OTC tag allow you to hunt “Spike Only” units? My understanding of the rules is that you would need to buy a separate “Spike Only” tag to hunt those spike only units.

Thanks in advance.

 

[idahohikker]

Here's my advice after living in Utah temporarily for school for a few years: go to Colorado for OTC elk. Many of my UT buddies go elsewhere instead of messing with the crappy Utah general elk hunting. Randy Newberg said he thinks Utah OTC is really bad also.

 

[mfllood3800]

Yes go to Colorado, no elk in Utah...


You hunt the unit you buy a tag for in Utah.
A lot of any bull units have been hit hard for years, some units are depleted completely of elk.

The Utah OTC hunts are viewed mostly as freezer filling tags (Cow or spike).
But I suspect anyone traveling to an out of State unit on a Gen OTC tag is after meat any way.

Listen To Randy N- go to Colorado, largest herd in Nation, friendliest hunters, hikers and hippies as well.

 

[CorbLand]

OTC elk in Utah is nothing more than giving people the illusion that they actually get to go elk hunting every year in Utah.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Lol if someone says go to Colorado I’d read that as a sign to go to Utah. And vice versa.

 

[mtnrunner260]

I'll offer an alternative,
Go to a spike unit in UT. You'll only be able to shoot a spike but you can hunt in one of the top LE units in the country and see big bulls.
Just try to keep in mind that the big bull hunters have been applying for 20+ years for their tag.

 

[johnhenry]

I was up in the hills yesterday and all our elk were heading to Utah.

 

[jeg9792]

I appreciate all the super helpful comments. If you don’t have anything productive to add to the conversation please troll along to the next thread. If you feel like this is a classified top secret subject feel free to not comment at all. I’m just simply trying to start a discussion on Pros and cons of OTC elk hunting Colorado vs Utah.

 

[Ucsdryder]

You tell them jeg!


The reality is not a lot of residents or non residents that hunt a certain state want to post on rokslide for thousands to see telling the world how great otc would be and possibly convince more people to come to already crowded units. So take anything you read with a grain of salt.

 

[johnhenry]

You tell them jeg!


The reality is not a lot of residents or non residents that hunt a certain state want to post on rokslide for thousands to see telling the world how great otc would be and possibly convince more people to come to already crowded units. So take anything you read with a grain of salt.

What he said!

 

[Back Country Hunter 2]

Have you been successful in CO? If so, I see no reason to change states. On a side note, it takes many people quite a few years to figure out a OTC unit.

 

[mfllood3800]

The truth was written
Just gotta read the comments right

Utah otc tags are tough
Colorado has more elk

Spike only units, unless archery, is a low% success rate
Even archery is around 11% success

He mentioned Sw Utah
That's a tough unit, dry
Never mentioned season choice

I personally would not choose Utah elk for any weapon other than archery

If you think these comments are trolling, well thats on you

As Corb said, Utah tags are difficult
The other comments were guys just being humorous.

Maybe op should lighten up a bit, might Get Better info privately

No one's trolling nothing, just telling the truth

You tell them jeg!


The reality is not a lot of residents or non residents that hunt a certain state want to post on rokslide for thousands to see telling the world how great otc would be and possibly convince more people to come to already crowded units. So take anything you read with a grain of salt.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[jeg9792]

I understand that completely. And I encourage those people to not participate in this conversation. Each state has its own pros and cons, and those are just additional information that go into the equation of choosing where to hunt. I’m certainly not going to head to Utah just because “Bob” said it’s great. I’m still going to do my own research. And I’m certainly not looking for anyone’s favorite Unit or coords to their favorite water hole. This was just supposed to be a general discussion about the two states. I expected it to be a wash and really come down to a personal preference.

 

[jeg9792]

Yes, Colorado has been good to us. But the one guy in our group is in Utah for Work and wants us to come up there this year. I’d like to see new scenery but I’m of the opinion that you don’t leave elk to go try to find elk.

Have you been successful in CO? If so, I see no reason to change states. On a side note, it takes many people quite a few years to figure out a OTC unit.

 

[mfllood3800]

I understand that completely. And I encourage those people to not participate in this conversation. Each state has its own pros and cons, and those are just additional information that go into the equation of choosing where to hunt. I’m certainly not going to head to Utah just because “Bob” said it’s great. I’m still going to do my own research. And I’m certainly not looking for anyone’s favorite Unit or coords to their favorite water hole. This was just supposed to be a general discussion about the two states. I expected it to be a wash and really come down to a personal preference.

Give us more info, - what's your weapon/season and what's your area- don't put unit just area, N/S/W/E etc.
No one on here will give unit info publicly. You asked a general question and got general answers- all were spot on, some with humor.
That's all it was

 

[Riles1050]

-If you want to fill multiple tags on a branch antlered bulls go to Colorado.
-If you want a great experience to potentially see a lot of mature 300+ bulls. Go to a spike only Unit in Utah.
-If you went and hunted hard and killed one rag horn bull within your group in an any bull unit in Utah that would be a great success.
-You might get lucky in an any bull unit, but I doubt it. They are tough, low density-low average maturity units that generally take knowing the unit pretty well.

 

[jeg9792]

Archery, I believe that season in Utah is middle of August to first week of September. My buddy is working in the SW corner of Utah so would most likely be hunting one of the SW units.

To be able to hunt into the “Any Legal Weapon” season with a bow we would need to have an extended archery tag/permit?

Give us more info, - what's your weapon/season and what's your area- don't put unit just area, N/S/W/E etc.
No one on here will give unit info publicly. You asked a general question and got general answers- all were spot on, some with humor.
That's all it was

 

[idahohikker]

Jeg, you should chill out. Get with the culture of Rokslide and not Monster Muleys. I really think Utah general elk is a waste of time as do many others. A spike hunt isn't a bad idea but there are many good OTC areas in Colorado that offer quality and quantity. It's not a close call at all for anyone I've ever talked to. Literally zero of the big hunting guys--Randy, Corey, etc.--have ever done Utah general. You're not the only guy that's come in here and asked the same question and doubted these same answers. Utah just manages for trophy units and lets their general areas go to crap.

 

[jeg9792]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

-If you want to fill multiple tags on a branch antlered bulls go to Colorado.
-If you want a great experience to potentially see a lot of mature 300+ bulls. Go to a spike only Unit in Utah.
-If you went and hunted hard and killed one rag horn bull within your group in an any bull unit in Utah that would be a great success.
-You might get lucky in an any bull unit, but I doubt it. They are tough, low density-low average maturity units that generally take knowing the unit pretty well.

 

[Riles1050]

Archery, I believe that season in Utah is middle of August to first week of September. My buddy is working in the SW corner of Utah so would most likely be hunting one of the SW units.

To be able to hunt into the “Any Legal Weapon” season with a bow we would need to have an extended archery tag/permit?

If you have any archery tag you can hunt the extended archery after doing the ethics course. To hunt "Any Legal Weapon" you have to buy that tag. This will only allow you to hunt during the "rifle" season. Not archery or extended. There is also the option for the triple season tag which will allow you to hunt all for triple the price. Not sure the cost for NR