Please help me decide!

[Warren1726]

I had my heart set on a Colorado OTC archery hunt this year. Now I'm not sure. The more I research, the more I realize that there are a lot of other opportunities. Idaho A and B tags, Montana general, Colorado 1st rifle, Wyoming, etc.
Here is my situation. It will be me and a buddy. Neither of us have hunted out west. We are both fit and have backcountry and medical training. I'd like a backcountry hunt (hike in 2-4 miles, hunt from there, not too many people) I have no points so it would be OTC or 0 points. I'm good with the bow or rifle. We are realistic about the fact we may not kill an elk but I'd like a good chance to come in contact with the game I'm hunting. I'd like to avoid Grizzly Bear, just one thing I don't want to deal with on my first western hunt. It's all so confusing! Thanks yall

 

[Ross]

Tough to be beat the Montana combination. You can hunt the entire state and you get three months to hunt. If I was choosing just one that would be my choice.

 

[Warren1726]

Thanks Ross. Would you still choose Montana if you only had a week to hunt?

 

[Ross]

Any possibility of a second trip if needed? If not Idaho has good options with a and b tags as noted and they let you buy one of each which I partake in. Tough decision if just one week.....would start looking at harvest data and comparing states to see which one suits your needs better.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'd choose Colorado OTC archery 100% of the time over Colorado OTC rifle.

 

[dotman]

I'd go with either MT or ID, CO is getting expensive when you consider the overall hunting pressure and short season plus weapon limitations, really the MT combo costs the same as a deer and elk tag in CO but less NR pressure. Like Ross said you also will get a better window of time to plan your trip vs a 5 day season for CO 1st rifle and a month for OTC archery in CO. Might be possible to get two trips in but maybe not, hard to in CO and well you aren't even given the op for 1st season rifle.

I'm skipping elk in CO, only hunting deer and bear and am going to MT for elk and deer.