Refining my elk application strategy

[timber_ghost]

I've been getting serious about elk hunting over the last few years and am looking to refine my application strategy.

Current Setup:

• I am a Colorado resident.
• In Colorado, I get a 0-point draw A-list archery tag, where I’m into bugling bulls almost daily.
• I usually pick up a B-list rifle tag (secondary/leftover) or a B-list archery tag for a meat cow hunt.
• I also help a friend during 1st or 4th rifle.
• For the last few years, I hunted a ranch in Unit 36 in New Mexico through a family connection, but that place got sold.

I've put in a lot of time the last few years and am feeling excited by the thought of having a little more skin in the game with application cost and the potential for expensive non-resident tags in an area I don't know. What other states should I be prioritizing applying in and building points in? Which ones have the best bang for your buck in terms of solid archery hunts during the rut? I probably can't justify the cost of applying for every state so right now the shortlist is Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. I used to live in Montana and like the idea of being able to hunt a general tag every 2 or 3 years and already have good spots there. Other than that, I think I would like to continue hunting Colorado twice a year and then focus on drawing solid units in other states whenever possible. I am very open to other ideas and strategies so would love some feedback

 

[johnsd16]

Given your situation and ability to Elk Hunt every year, I would say definitely yes to Montana and Wyoming. You could do the preference point game in Montana and be able to hunt probably every third year. Whether you want to play the $25 per year bonus point game is up to you. If you do that, you can always have your name in the hat for a limited entry tag on the years you draw your general tag. For the archery hunter there are some easier to draw limited entry hunts compared to rifle opportunities in Montana.

For Wyoming, you can buy your points, but would advise putting in every year, and on the years you know you do not have enough points to draw a general tag you could aim high For units that have at least one random tag, and always have your hat in the ring for a great tag, but then be able to general tag hunt once every few years (assuming you are willing to pay for the special tag).

As far as other states go You probably would have to choose between New Mexico or Idaho as far as random states. The investment in Idaho every year is a little bit higher just because the nonrefundable license price is higher. You could always play the game in December and try to get a tag, but for someone trying to hunt the same area year after year Idaho is very unpredictable. The draw odds for non-residence for top controlled hunt tags are pretty bad, similar to New Mexico, which is a cheaper state to apply to year over a year. It would be reasonable to choose either one, both, or neither of these.

I would not do Utah, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, or the Dakotas given your situation.

Arizona is worth a look given that you can buy/build points, and you always have a chance at a tag. Archery options are more open in Arizona than the rifle only Hunter.

 

[timber_ghost]

Cool thanks for the detailed response. I should also mention that I’ve thought about just applying for points as my first choice in Colorado then either hunting a reliable 2nd choice, secondary draw, leftover license or OTC for the foreseeable future but it feels silly to leave an area that I can consistently draw and know how to hunt well already. It is tempting though to have Colorado elk points with the 2028 changes since I would have a chance to draw some of the “once in lifetime” archery elk hunts from the 50% random allocation without needing 20 points.

 

[bz_711]

I've finally been elk hunting long enough to know that things are always changing (and tags getting harder to get). If you have a great local spot with easy to get tags I'd absolutely make the most of that in the near future. Keep having great hunts and getting better as a hunter. Odds are things will change there at some point which would be a good time to cash in on some other states you've built up points for. If you pick 2-3 states now and build points you'll have some great options in the future...and if you've sharpened your hunting skill you'll have the highest odds of being successful going to a new state/unit.

"Don't leave elk to find elk!"

Good Luck!

 

[KHNC]

No way im messing with a GEN WY tag again with the years i have left to elk hunt. Wasnt worth it. Im going for random LE tags from here on. Sounds like in your situation, you should stick to CO and play it out.

 

[Zzyzx]

As a Colorado resident, your best use of time and money is to work on tightening up your resident allocations in Colorado.

You have a long way to go to come even close to matching other states. That would be a way better use of time and money than pursuing the expensive and limited opportunities as NR in other states.

 

[Riplip]

Colorado resident here as well. OTC Archery elk every year while building points (10) for LE archery tag, although with creep I may be waiting for a long time for the unit I want. I have been buying points in several states over the years and I am basically in no mans land on most. Not sure how old you are but age certainly plays a factor in your strategy.

WY - 10 Points (point creep is stupid there, and I will most likely cash these in for Gen Tag at some point, and will not enter the point game there again unless something changes with the system.
AZ - 5 Points. Play this every year because of the very very small odds of the random. Not sure that I will ever draw a decent tag but will continue for a while then revaluate.
MT- Cashed in 10 BP's last year and drew a LE archery tag last year. Rebuilding again to for a future LE tag.
NM - I apply every year and have drawn some great tags over the years. (34, 6, 16B)

Once again age comes into the equation, but I would certainly continue with OTC CO and buys points as a resident to take advantage of any future DOW allocation changes. I think MT currently offers the best combination of opportunity, odds and trophy quality for someone just getting into the points game, or wants to hunt every few years. Definitely apply in NM every year, as I think the quality and access if much better than Idaho personally, for states with no points. WY only if you are interested in waiting 4-5 years for a General Tag. AZ is a crapshoot unless you are willing to wait a long time for a quality tag and/or good with applying for the small random chance. If you do start in AZ you can get a lifetime point for completing the online hunters safety.

Just my .02

 

[Indian Summer]

No way im messing with a GEN WY tag again with the years i have left to elk hunt. Wasnt worth it. Im going for random LE tags from here on. Sounds like in your situation, you should stick to CO and play it out.

Always interesting to hear a different opinion. I managed to punch 11 general tags in a row. One was a cow but I on had a cow tag that year. A couple were by luck. Friends have done nearly as well. We’ve killed some nice bulls up to about 320 inches. Elk hunting is that way. Feast or famine. You just need to find a different area. Maybe a different strategy too depending on what you’re doing. I can definitely say I know some general areas not worth hunting. Or at least until really late in the season and IF. the weather gets wicked.

I think a Wyoming general license is worth it as often as you can draw one. As long as you do your homework. It’s getting tough! And with as tough as it is to draw license, I would definitely do my homework, including a trip or two out there to put boots on the ground. No luck for me last year and in the regular random this year. Have a reduced price cow tag app in as well.

 

[Neckbone]

Always interesting to hear a different opinion. I managed to punch 11 general tags in a row. One was a cow but I on had a cow tag that year. A couple were by luck. Friends have done nearly as well. We’ve killed some nice bulls up to about 320 inches. Elk hunting is that way. Feast or famine. You just need to find a different area. Maybe a different strategy too depending on what you’re doing. I can definitely say I know some general areas not worth hunting. Or at least until really late in the season and IF. the weather gets wicked.

I think a Wyoming general license is worth it as often as you can draw one. As long as you do your homework. It’s getting tough! And with as tough as it is to draw license, I would definitely do my homework, including a trip or two out there to put boots on the ground. No luck for me last year and in the regular random this year. Have a reduced price cow tag app in as well.

How often are you drawing that WY general tag? I scored in 2019 with zero points. Have an app in for West Gen with 5 currently with fingers crossed.

 

[timber_ghost]

Colorado resident here as well. OTC Archery elk every year while building points (10) for LE archery tag, although with creep I may be waiting for a long time for the unit I want. I have been buying points in several states over the years and I am basically in no mans land on most. Not sure how old you are but age certainly plays a factor in your strategy.

WY - 10 Points (point creep is stupid there, and I will most likely cash these in for Gen Tag at some point, and will not enter the point game there again unless something changes with the system.
AZ - 5 Points. Play this every year because of the very very small odds of the random. Not sure that I will ever draw a decent tag but will continue for a while then revaluate.
MT- Cashed in 10 BP's last year and drew a LE archery tag last year. Rebuilding again to for a future LE tag.
NM - I apply every year and have drawn some great tags over the years. (34, 6, 16B)

Once again age comes into the equation, but I would certainly continue with OTC CO and buys points as a resident to take advantage of any future DOW allocation changes. I think MT currently offers the best combination of opportunity, odds and trophy quality for someone just getting into the points game, or wants to hunt every few years. Definitely apply in NM every year, as I think the quality and access if much better than Idaho personally, for states with no points. WY only if you are interested in waiting 4-5 years for a General Tag. AZ is a crapshoot unless you are willing to wait a long time for a quality tag and/or good with applying for the small random chance. If you do start in AZ you can get a lifetime point for completing the online hunters safety.

Just my .02

Thanks for the thoughts. I am 27 right now. I currently do not have any Colorado elk points since I have been hunting a 0 point draw archery tag the last few years. I hunt a zone where I am into elk almost every morning and evening so it feels hard to leave that behind for OTC archery. With that said, if that unit becomes a 1-point draw, I will definitely start hunting OTC archery and building points. If I kill a bull again early this year, I will probably return whatever B list cow rifle tag I end up with for an OTC cow archery tag so I can start to learn some Colorado OTC units better. I have only hunted OTC archery once before in Colorado. I plan on hunting Montana whenever I can draw a general tag as well so every 2-3 years.