The point Creep is ridiculous

[CHIEF CRNA]

So, I just checked GoHunt and it seems I need 27 points for an archery tag in Colorado 201 Archery as a resident. I have 18 now, and don't think I will ever catch up. When I started drawing for this unit, it only took 13. You would think that the high points folks would start dropping off. Frustrating for sure. Not sure of another area where I could get that quality of a hunt. 61 would be a good choice, but still not like 201.

 

[Trogon]

Hybrid draw?

 

[StupidLightweight]

Yes, the point system was a good idea at the onset but a horrible mistake in the long run. I don't know how they right this wrong, either. Hybrid draw is maybe the only option, but it still screws over the people who played the long game, because the long game then gets even longer.

 

[WCB]

Yes, the point system was a good idea at the onset but a horrible mistake in the long run. I don't know how they right this wrong, either. Hybrid draw is maybe the only option, but it still screws over the people who played the long game, because the long game then gets even longer.

One way maybe is to stop collection of points. Everyone is froze at current points and HAS to apply every year or lose your points. Also, 1st and 2nd selection eats your points. pickup a left over tag...points gone.

 

[The Guide]

No points. Straight lottery draw. It was better before they started with points.

Jay

 

[dirtytough]

So, I just checked GoHunt and it seems I need 27 points for an archery tag in Colorado 201 Archery as a resident. I have 18 now, and don't think I will ever catch up. When I started drawing for this unit, it only took 13. You would think that the high points folks would start dropping off. Frustrating for sure. Not sure of another area where I could get that quality of a hunt. 61 would be a good choice, but still not like 201.

I bet in those 18 years you never hunted elk either did you? (Sarcasm)

Everyone wants to hunt every year and hunt primo units. It just can’t work that way. Also starting in 2028 point creep will double.

There aren’t enough high point holders to offset all the low point holders when it comes to bonus tags. So most of the primo unit bonus tags will go to low point holders. Say hello to major point creep.

 

[Ucsdryder]

One way maybe is to stop collection of points. Everyone is froze at current points and HAS to apply every year or lose your points. Also, 1st and 2nd selection eats your points. pickup a left over tag...points gone.

Yep. Every A list tag requires points used.

Or all current and future points turned into bonus points, use the moose/goat/sheep method.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

So, I just checked GoHunt and it seems I need 27 points for an archery tag in Colorado 201 Archery as a resident. I have 18 now, and don't think I will ever catch up. When I started drawing for this unit, it only took 13. You would think that the high points folks would start dropping off. Frustrating for sure. Not sure of another area where I could get that quality of a hunt. 61 would be a good choice, but still not like 201.

At least you have wolves now…that will make everything better…

 

[ElDiablito]

I have 18 now, and don't think I will ever catch up.

Think? No, you will absolutely never catch up to 201.

As stated, with the new draw system changes, point creep will double or more per year starting in ‘28. And the odds are gonna get funky before that as well as guys scramble to burn points before the change.

 

[CorbLand]

There is no fixing the issue of point creep and not drawing. The only way is to 1. reduce the number of hunters, 2. increase the number of tags 3. a combination of 1 and 2.

Plenty of states have tried to adapt their point systems (hybrid, squaring, etc) to make it work and none of them have been successful.

The only solution to eliminate point creep is to convince people that having a chance every year with a random draw is better than getting a participation trophy when you dont draw. Even at that, you wont solve the problem, you just change the name from "point creep" to "decreased probability of drawing."

Its probably only going to get worse as the baby boomers that have been stacking points do one of two things. 1. They actually start applying as they are retiring and have more time. 2. Realize that they wont draw the unit they have been trying to for 18 years and jump to "lesser" unit/hunt and burn their points.

What you really need to be watching, especially if your a Utah resident, is the push to now turn your general season hunts (or whatever your state calls them) into more limited entry hunts (or whatever your states call them). As the middle age and up demographic realize they will never draw their one good tag, there is going to be increased push to get more units managed to produce better animals so there is more chances to draw that one good tag.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

That tag has been creeping up 1 point every 1-2 years for a long time. You’re too far behind to ever accumulate enough preference points to be guaranteed to draw. When the 50/50 preference/bonus hybrid goes into effect, you will have a chance at drawing…but so will a lot of other folks.

 

[Jethro]

Unfortunately you’ve most likely been chasing an impossible dream since you set your sights on 201, 15-18 years ago.

 

[bergie]

Write your commission with all your buddies and ask them to get rid of the point system completely. To my knowledge only Idaho and New Mexico are the western states to avoid all that BS, thankfully.

 

[ElDiablito]

Write your commission with all your buddies and ask them to get rid of the point system completely. To my knowledge only Idaho and New Mexico are the western states to avoid all that BS, thankfully.

The Colorado Commission just revamped our system last week (to take effect in ‘28). They won’t be making any more major changes for years I suspect.

 

[BluMtn]

In Washington I am in the top 1% of points for Branched antler Elk tags. I have 25 points, without poacher points and yet to get drawn. I am not sure how it works, but once you get drawn it becomes extremely easier to get drawn. I have 3 friends who have been drawn 3 different times. I have encountered a gentleman who was on his 4th tag and I met a group last year who were helping a gentleman on his 5th tag. Second tag holders are a dime a dozen anymore. And now because of the mismanagement of the game dept. and the wolves, tags are getting decreased in Southeastern Washington. Then the youtubers have to come in and blown up our mountains.

You could say I am a little bitter about the whole point system. When the game dept came around back in the 80's getting support to start the point system, they stated that if you were not drawn in 10 years you would be awarded a branched antler tag. Our Game Dept is nothing but a bunch of used car salesman.

 

[3forks]

I know units become premium through carefully managed processes, however I wonder about the ability of some of these premium units to accommodate a slight increase in allocated tags.

I ask this, because I know guys who have hunted premium units that require 20+ points. These guys are accomplished hunters and have spent an enormous amount of time trying to kill a bull over 400”. None of them have, and they report that a 360+” bull is even hard to find. But, they do see a ton of really good bulls that are huntable.

Granted, that’s a small sample size - but I wonder if a few more tags issued for these premium units would matter at all as far as affecting the trophy potential of the unit? I also wonder what a few more tags being made available would provide in terms of point creep… probably not a lot, but maybe enough so guys with 18+ could have a marginally better chance of eventually hunting the unit they want.

 

[wapitibob]

Unfortunately you’ve most likely been chasing an impossible dream since you set your sights on 201, 15-18 years ago.

People have no idea how draws work when points are involved. I saw a guy recommend a 13 point unit to a guy with 8 points and the guy asked if it was worth waiting 5 years for the tag.

 

[bergie]

The Colorado Commission just revamped our system last week (to take effect in ‘28). They won’t be making any more major changes for years I suspect.

I would hope that if enough people wrote in they would change their minds, unfortunately I understand that is rarely the case.

 

[dirtytough]

There is no fixing the issue of point creep and not drawing. The only way is to 1. reduce the number of hunters, 2. increase the number of tags 3. a combination of 1 and 2.

I actually think there is a 4th option Colorado could use to fix point creep. They issue a ton of tags. If you get an elk tag you lose your points. Pretty simple.

 

[wapitibob]

I actually think there is a 4th option Colorado could use to fix point creep. They issue a ton of tags. If you get an elk tag you lose your points. Pretty simple.

Not a bad idea. Give everybody with points a tag, points are gone whether you take the tag or not, and be done with points if that's the goal. Pull the band-aid off in 1 year and move on.