Question about colorado unit 74

[Darrick McPhee]

Guys i have a general question about this unit. I see that it takes 10 NRP to draw this tag early rifle, so why does it not take any points to draw any of the other hunts, archery, muzzeloader etc? Seems like it holds big deer if you look at the record books. Just kinda find this odd.

 

[Bambistew]

I think this is one of the early rifle hunts. The big deer are still above timberline and "easier" to kill. By the time muzz seasons rolls around they've moved a bit lower and are harder to find. Archery and muzz hunts are generally always an easier draw because odds of killing are much less than with a rifle.

 

[Eric Bailey]

The tag, DM074E1R is for one week before muzzleloader season (9/7 - 9/15). There are only 20 of them and you can use a rifle, but you have to shoot the buck above timberline. There are 80 tags for muzzleloader season the next week (DM074O1M) and it is good for the whole unit.

You need one preferrence point to draw the Muzzleloader tag as a non resident. There were 46 first choice NR applications last year. 23 drawn. 8 of the 23 had 2 or more points. 21 NRs applied with 1 pt and 15 of these were drawn (71%).

I've never hunted the area, but it sure is pretty.

 

[Eric Bailey]

I should add that there is an either sex elk muzzleloader tag for the same unit and season (EM07401M). But you need ~4 pts to draw it as an NR. There is a cow tag for muzzleloader season which you can draw as a second choice, even as a non resident.

These tags are on my list to consider. The success rate for elk is very good. The buck:doe ratio is 31:100 which is decent.

 

[robby denning]

for the rifle seasons, many of the deer have left by then due to snow. That is why those rifle tags are so easy to get. I think some years the 4th season tag was like one point to draw. It's an early season unit. Great bucks there.

 

[Darrick McPhee]

Thanks for the info guys, My brother and started hunting colorado last year, i drew in 2012 and he drew this year, We are back in the waiting game for now, hoping to be back in 2015. As of now we are planning to go back to the same unit, and hunt back to back again, just toying with the idea of changing units to get back on a quicker turn around. Thanks again.