Boonjg
FNG
I drew out out for 1st riffle unit 74, but might hunt otc in a different area.
I hunted there last year during muzzleloader. An outfitter beat me to the bull I was on. Cool area.I drew out out for 1st riffle unit 74, but might hunt otc in a different area.
one of the unlucky 11 that did not draw with 23 pts for unit 61 archery
I hunted 74 muzzle last year. I think the limited archery draw this year will improve the area. I felt the pressure there, but less so than my otc 12 two years ago—that place was packed. 74 has some strengths. I wish the FS would not provide that outfitter with a extended use permit in the wilderness area—seems like making house there all season defeats the wilderness purpose.I drew out out for 1st riffle unit 74, but might hunt otc in a different area.
I hunted 74 muzzle last year. I think the limited archery draw this year will improve the area. I felt the pressure there, but less so than my otc 12 two years ago—that place was packed. 74 has some strengths. I wish the FS would not provide that outfitter with a extended use permit in the wilderness area—seems like making house there all season defeats the wilderness purpose.
Put in for unit 49 archery elk with 5 points. Did not draw.
Gohunt has odds on that at 62% last year with 5 points, 100% at 6. Curious to see draw statistics to see how much it crept this year and if tag allotment changed. Had been creeping ~40% in past years if I remember right.
Stats are out. 49 jumped a whole point for nonresident and resident I think. I think last year was an anomaly with nonres being able to pull with 5...less than resident! LOL. I'm in your boat. I didn't draw with 5 either. Maybe next year, maybe not. This point creep sucks.
Colorado should split the archery season into 2 x 2week seasons like NM (early and late archery). That would draw out twice the points every year and keep point creep to a minimum. Harvest stats would essentially be unchanged but it would allow twice the tags to be drawn. Who actually hunts more than 2 weeks anyway? I know a lot of people hunt a couple days here and a couple days there the whole season but the split would be a good compromise. Ugh...
I don't recall the name of the outfitter, but you can see on google earth his white canvas tent glaring in middle of prime wilderness on the south side of the area. I think it was on hermosa creek. When I heard they were in there for the long haul and how many of "their hunters" were in there with not exceptional success, I opted out of that basin. Lots of area to hunt in there, but I tallied 9 hunters that I knew were in there so I searched elsewhere.We hunted 74 archery last year and had a hard time finding an elk, I sure hope the limited draw helps the area improve. I think the elk numbers in that area have been on the decline for several years, we at least saw more elk 10 years ago. I wasn't aware that outfitters in the area had extended use permits.
Good luck! I've never tried hunting 3rd season, I would imagine most of the elk will be pushed to lower elevations from snowfall by then.Drew a limited entry 3rd rifle season tag which was my first choice. Been planning and scouting the unit for past 3 years. Hopefully, the hard work will pay off and I can become one with the spirit of the mighty wapiti...
Good luck! I've never tried hunting 3rd season, I would imagine most of the elk will be pushed to lower elevations from snowfall by then.
Following a thread from 2020?Follow
With the 12th message in 6.5 years...smhFollowing a thread from 2020?