Rise of popularity in elk hunting

[4rcgoat]

If your lucky enough to be in the mountains. ....your lucky enough.

 

[Bar]

Hell, i'm in the mountains everyday. I have no complaints but I need elk meat to keep up my strength.

 

[ncstewart]

This is why as hunters we fail to the "other guys". We won't stick together and fight for what actually matters. Habitat, land management, federal lands staying public........ Just my opinion but people need to step back and look at the whole picture and not just have this me me me attitude.



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[Bar]

Way to stick together and understand.

 

[Gobbler36]

Not sure what your talking about here? What's wrong with podcasts getting people motivated to get into shape and enjoy the crisp fresh air and experiences we all enjoy while we're in the woods.

People who grew up in non-hunting family's are not lucky enough to have that "ORGANIC INTEREST" like so many of us have had the privilege of receiving from our elders who hunt. As far as the $1100 bow thing, non hunters don't have any hunting gear and haven't been able to accumulate weapons and gear like many of us have been able to since we started from a young age, so ya many might spend that much on a bow but then they'll be able to have a quality piece of gear for years to come.

Also don't understand your irritation with companies marketing to people in the 20-35 age group, companies have to pay the bills and that's most likely who as a whole is going to purchasing new hunting gear. If people have money to blow on hunting gear every year, good on em that's more revenue for the economy...

Dude if it sounds like I'm condemning people who get involved in a later stage of life over the key board I'm sorry but I'm not I am however answering the OPs question as to why I believe the popularity of elk hunting has risen. I also go on to say that I do see benefit of hunting growing as well as downsides, not sure if you read that part..... if you don't agree that's cool but I am simply stating that I don't feel the answer to huntings problems is always more people, sure more products, tags, and gadgets get sold, but at the end of the day it all falls back on how that state manages THAT STATES resources.
Ive spoke my piece on this topic hope everyone had a great father's day

 

[maninthemaze]

Yes, the NR spends some money when they come here. Keep in mind we spend that money year around. If you're judging by who spends the most most in the state. Who do you think deserves the tags first? I won't even bring up taxes.

NR really have nothing to worry about. You're only listening to a few of us residents. Nothing is going to change. The DOW is greedy and can't manage money. They'll always want more and more and the residents will get the crap end of the stick. Money talks. Loyalty isn't worth squat to the DOW.

I hear ya on the DOW having no loyalty. Here in KY we have the 10% NR tags, which from the sound of it, Colorado needs some work on their allowable amounts. Kentucky's problem is its a straight lottery. No preference point, no bonus points, no loyalty to those of us who have been buying chances year after year. I think if KY would get some kind of point system, more people would be willing buy the tickets.

And I apologize if I came across as confrontational. It really wasn't my intention. I just know that my home state apparently doesn't want me hunting elk, and from the sound of it, other states don't want me hunting their elk either. I'm feeling no love at all. ☺☺☺

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[BroodBuster]

My 13 yr old cousin got into elk hunting thanks to Cabelas big game hunting video games. A bow for him and one for his dad and now both are hooked.

 

[5MilesBack]

But would I pay TEN TIMES as much for that same tag? Hell no. And so it would appear that you want to deny me my ability to hunt so that you can have more solitude. Seems a bit selfish to me.

First off, I'm not a liberal. I don't believe that everyone has to have the same access, the same income, the same house, or whatever else they expect everyone to have in equality.........and that includes access to hunting. It's like the argument against Augusta National Golf Club for not allowing women (prior to them caving a few years ago). There are 1000's of golf courses across the country, why does everyone think they have a right to be a member of THAT particular club. They don't.

Well, there are 50 states and a whole world out there with hunting opportunities. Just because you can't afford one opportunity, doesn't mean anyone is "denying you your ability to hunt". I just stated what I'd be willing to pay for exclusive access..........and that happens all the time these days with leases. Nothing new there.

But here's a better question for the "NR hunting tag access crowd". Are you OK with a million Chinese and Japanese citizens coming over and filling our public lands with hunters? They have just as much right to hunt here as you do. Would you be OK with that, if all million of those came to CO every fall? I guarantee you that the first thing you'd do is hunt elsewhere........because you have that choice. That's all that residents are doing, is expressing their displeasure of being over-run with NR's and residents alike...........so what do we do........we move on.

 

[5MilesBack]

They have that. Its called leasing private land.

Sure they do, but even $5k isn't going to get you exclusive access to good elk hunting land.

 

[Bar]

You guys are just hearing from a few of us. You need to hang out at a local gun shop to get the feelings from the majority of hunters here who never go to forums. I'm holding back and trying to stay civil. They wouldn't. Not being able to hunt where you live is just not right. I don't know anybody who it wouldn't piss off.

As I said though. I'm not blaming the NR hunters who come here. I blame the fact that the tags are available to you in such large numbers while residents don't get a tag. The only reason you get them is you're willing to pay $600 for a tag. It goes back to the ones with money get the rewards. It makes me puke!

 

[flatlanderhuffandpuff]

I'm certainly not trying to be inflammatory with any of my comments here. I believe the residents of a state should have first crack. It really doesn't make sense to me that they wouldn't. The unit I drew this year had residents that didn't make the cut.


With that being said, how do you view hunting in USFS wilderness. Is there any state funding going to those areas or is it all federal? If its federal land I would argue that any US resident has the exact same rights to access that land and the animals on it.

PA has one of the most dense hunting populations in the country and we host loads of NR hunters on our public lands. All tags are OTC except for elk, which non residents have an equal opportunity at. It really doesn't bother me in the least that other hunters from all around try and draw our tags.

 

[Bar]

I'm almost positive that no matter who owns the land in Colorado that Colorado will always own the animals.

In your PA example the tags are OTC. I'd have zero complaints if it was that way here, except the crowds would be ridiculous. Crowds bother me, but not that much. I know how to get away from them.

The only satisfying answer I can see is to let us have our pick first on tags and the rest to NR. It would mean less money for them. They couldn't accept that, so nothing will change. As a matter of fact they want to raise our tag prices and give us nothing for it.

 

[flatlanderhuffandpuff]

I'm almost positive that no matter who owns the land in Colorado that Colorado will always own the animals.

In your PA example the tags are OTC. I'd have zero complaints if it was that way here, except the crowds would be ridiculous. Crowds bother me, but not that much. I know how to get away from them.

The only satisfying answer I can see is to let us have our pick first on tags and the rest to NR. It would mean less money for them. They couldn't accept that, so nothing will change. As a matter of fact they want to raise our tag prices and give us nothing for it.

That's a tough break. PA is increasing prices here dramatically over the next several years. The elk tags here obviously are still a draw which residents have no preference over NR.

I would think it would be a disaster for preference points to go out the window for Non res just so locals could draw on a whim. (not saying that's the case). I would think allowing residence to build points faster than NR would be a more suitable option.

Bar- I hope you are able to draw your preferences and hunt in solitude. That's all anyone could hope for.

 

[maninthemaze]

You guys are just hearing from a few of us. You need to hang out at a local gun shop to get the feelings from the majority of hunters here who never go to forums. I'm holding back and trying to stay civil. They wouldn't. Not being able to hunt where you live is just not right. I don't know anybody who it wouldn't piss off.

As I said though. I'm not blaming the NR hunters who come here. I blame the fact that the tags are available to you in such large numbers while residents don't get a tag. The only reason you get them is you're willing to pay $600 for a tag. It goes back to the ones with money get the rewards. It makes me puke!

So are you saying that you can't get a tag at all? Or that you can't get a tag for a specific unit or a certain season, or you need more preference points than a NR resident needs?

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[Tejasbow]

I have no hard feelings towards non-residents, but when I can't get a tag where I live and somebody from out of state can. Something is wrong. Let the residents have their tags first, and then what's left give to non-residents. This will never happen, but most residents feel this way. The crowds don't bother me. Not being able to hunt bothers me.

phew never thought of it that way. That would suck . I could not imagine seeing vehicles loaded to the gills with hunters and me sitting there going man I wish I could hunt. Crappy deal.

As far as hunters hunting their state. Obviously that is a pipe dream as you stated. A dream that I do not share. Even though in Texas out of state money flows through the state buying up easy Whitetail hunts. I have gotten to where I do not even deer hunt in Texas unless someone invites me to go shoot doe somewhere.

 

[Danny Hoey]

I hear ya on the DOW having no loyalty. Here in KY we have the 10% NR tags, which from the sound of it, Colorado needs some work on their allowable amounts. Kentucky's problem is its a straight lottery. No preference point, no bonus points, no loyalty to those of us who have been buying chances year after year. I think if KY would get some kind of point system, more people would be willing buy the tickets.

And I apologize if I came across as confrontational. It really wasn't my intention. I just know that my home state apparently doesn't want me hunting elk, and from the sound of it, other states don't want me hunting their elk either. I'm feeling no love at all. ☺☺☺

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You DO NOT want a straight points system!!!

 

[Bar]

So are you saying that you can't get a tag at all? Or that you can't get a tag for a specific unit or a certain season, or you need more preference points than a NR resident needs?

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Because of my age and some medical problems I won't whine about I don't camp anymore. So, I need to stay within driving distance that I can do every morning of a hunt. That limits me on what units I can hunt. So, in my case i'm much more limited than most residents. Basically, I just want to hunt the unit I live in and a few surrounding units. I have no other options.

It doesn't seem like a lot to ask that I can hunt where I live. I've been paying the DOW since 1954. Throw me a bone.

 

[hi2u]

A lot of hunters I know aren't willing to trek miles to hunt something. Being in the Midwest a lot of ppl can get multiple deer tags. Their meet will last them a full year and no need or desire for elk.

I grew up hiking/camping and missed that part of it. This Is the main reason I want to go big game hunting. Its not the meat, but the fun I have.

A lot of the Midwest hunters I know are 300 pound and don't wanna walk a mile, let alone hike it. Numbers maybe higher, but I feel like opportunity for the backpack hunter is still there.

 

[vanish]

For Colorado, the numbers suggest that elk hunting has NOT risen in popularity, but rather ARCHERY elk hunting has.

For all seasons ~10% decrease

2005: Colorado 246,521 elk hunters
2016: Colorado 223,745 elk hunters

For archery seasons ~30% increase

2005: Colorado 35,628 archery elk hunters
2016: Colorado 47,721 archery elk hunters

I think that 18-35 bracket is more likely to

1.) hunt harder and farther than ten years ago, before the "wilderness athlete" fad
2.) be a bow hunter, as so much social media is focused on archery

When I do meet other elk hunters in the field, I don't meet many in the 40-55 age bracket. I often see large camps of 55-70 y/o hunters and pairs of 25-35 y/os.

I don't think I've ever met a woman over 35 in the field, but my wife hunts and I've met several other 25-35 y/o women in the field, too.

I predict a huge crash in hunter numbers in 10 years as the baby boomers start losing the energy and the "wilderness athlete bowhunter" fad passed. I'd even bet that baby boomers (most retirees have plenty of time) and millennials (especially those who haven't started on a family) make up a large part of multi-state hunters.

 

[vanish]

Bar - I'm not knocking your desire - I'd love to be able to get a tag where I live to hunt every year, just playing devil's advocate, but isn't complaining that you can't get a tag for the units you want every year the definition of "entitlement" - something I'd think you would be very much against? Wouldn't the "conservative" answer be that you should move somewhere you can get a tag locally every year, or buy your own land so you can get PLO tags?

What about the people who live in unit 2? They can only hunt their own unit once every 20 years. Should they be entitled to hunt it every year just because they live there. There's not even enough tags for the population there, so none of us other CO residents would ever hunt it. Where do you draw the line?

I know you blame CPW, but what can they do about supply vs demand? Wouldn't the "conservative" push for a free market - the result of which would be elk tag prices most of us ( except 5MilesBack apparently ) couldn't afford? Heck, the stupid low prices for resident tags right now almost feels like an entitlement!