colorado tags and point system

[oiltycoon]

hey everyone, i know that it can be complicated trying to figure out the point system/lottery/otc situation for elk in colorado can someone please help me?! i have a limited knowledge and i think that i am more confused than acctually know.

[CodyDawg]

i can help. whaddya confused on?

[oiltycoon]

well me and a buddy are trying to plan a hunt most likely the two of us should we go for group tags? what is considered a trophy units a unit with a big herd/ trophy class elk come out of there or what i have heard both. can group points also be for an individual? can you add or change hunters in a group after a few years? will you basically start over if they have no points?

and much more.

[00rowe]

Group preference is the person with the lowest amount of points in the group, so if someone joins your group in the future with no points, then you all start over. You can add or change the people in your group at anytime. As far as trophy units go, the northwest units 2,10,201 are out of everyones reach that don't already have 12-13 points, even then you may be waiting another 10 years, and that's for all methods of hunting. The next tier of units are 40?,76, and 61, these are also good units for number of animals besides decent trophy potential, archery points are around 9-10 for nonres, more points for muzzy and rifle.

If you are an archer, that's the best opportunity, many either sex tags are available over the counter and that way you can hunt and accumulate points. The season is longer, so you have a little flexibility in when you can go.

There are also bull rifle tags over the counter for the second and third seasons, weather and hunting pressure are your 2 main obstacles with these seasons.

A few questions you should answer:

How often do you want to go out?

What type of weapon do you want to use?

How good of shape are you in, this may be the key to your success?

Can you afford to hire an outfitter for your first hunt?

Keep asking questions, you have few months before the draw deadline.

Mike

[CodyDawg]

mike nailed most of it. One slight wording change....you dont start over if someone later joins your group....you just use the lowest point total. If not drawn, you would still have your points and if you told the latecomer with no points the next year to take up needlepoint instead of elk hunting, you would then have all of your points. For instance, if you have 6 points and Billy the Packer Backer wanted to come with and he had 0, your group would be considered on the basis of 0 points. The next year, when Billy is at home with his sewing hobby, the rest of the group would have 7 points and would be considered as such.

I had 13 pref points and used them on a unit 76 hunt last fall....and it was awesome! I shot a 300" bull and had a blast.

i would recommend that everyone put in for pref points and then you can get leftover or over the counter licenses and hunt on those while accumulating points.