Folks, it is that time of year again where everyone’s dreams get a little closer! It is time to apply for Big Game tags in Colorado and everyone’s favorite is hands down, the Rocky Mountain Elk. Today’s focus will just be elk and how the draw works for Colorado. If you have ever had the interest in going out west, this one is for you.
In order to get out in the field, you will need to start at the foundation which will be securing a tag for yourself in order to even have the opportunity to hunt in the great state of Colorado. Colorado boasts the largest Rocky Mountain Elk heard in the country which is also why they have such liberal tag limits and everyone dreams of getting out there. First let‘s begin with how the application process works in Colorado.
Application Process
Colorado is what we call a “true preference point” state in my business. It basically means that whomever has the most points, will get the desired tag. So how do you gain preference points exactly? Well, you would jump into the application process and either apply for a preference point only or you would apply for a season date of choice and for the species you would like to hunt. If you apply in a unit that requires more preference points that you currently have, then you would not draw the tag and then gain a preference point this year to use towards next years draw cycle. When you apply to Colorado, you have multiple choices that you could put on your application with your first choice being your primary choice of area you would like to hunt and your second choice being a backup option. You also could just put in your primary option as the area you really desire to hunt and leave it at that. In the event you do not draw, you gain a preference point for next year. Your third option is to put in for your preference point as your primary option and move on to another species as you know, you wont be drawing anything there. I will give you a real world scenario example below that we can build upon as we go along.
Let’s use a real example. My example client, let’s call him Joe, wants to hunt Colorado but has 0 preference points. He wants to shoot a Bull Elk and is set on hunting a unit his step-father lives in. However, this unit requires 3 points to draw based on prior year’s draw odds. So I let Joe know that realistically, he has no chance in the draw this year but we could get him a preference point and then look at other opportunities if he is Dead-Set on still hunting Colorado this year. Since we never know what would happen with Joe in the draw (maybe everyone stops applying except Joe 😀), I would still put Joe in for the chosen area that he originally wanted knowing that Joe will highly gain a point for next year and not draw anything else. I will put focus on getting an OTC tag for Joe later on in the application season if he doesn’t draw anything else this year.
Now, if Joe goes 3 years of applying for preference points and the draw odds stay at the same level that his unit of choice is (currently a 3 point unit) after 3 years, his 4th year will likely mean he is going to get that tag because he has the preference points to do so! Year 4 of the game, Joe will be in the field with his step-father hunting away!
Q: So what happens if I don’t draw and only gain a preference point for Colorado? Am I out of luck until next?
A: Not Exactly! You might be out of luck for hunting in your area of primary choice but you always have other options because Colorado has so many OTC tags available. ⬇️
OTC=Over the Counter
Colorado in my opinion is the OTC King when it comes to opportunity. If you do not draw a tag or you just bank preference points, you can still go out and hunt every year on their OTC tags. Colorado offers Archery 🏹 OTC units for Cow Elk, Either Sex and Antlered Only. WOW!
For the folks that enjoy hunting with a firearm, you have the option to purchase an OTC 2nd or 3rd rifle tag for “Antlered Only” elk.
One thing I really want to make sure you are aware of: You have specific units that you must be in with those OTC tags. You cannot hunt all units in the states. I have attached 3 pictures below that show you the specific units catered to the specific tags that you would want to purchase.
Now, lets talk about the season dates that are available for you to hunt.
Archery is really gaining momentum as one of the most sought after seasons in the elk woods. If you were not aware, most of the time, states will put their most primitive weapon hunts smack dab in the middle of the breeding seasons. This means it might be harder to shoot further and you have to be more detailed and attentive but you also will get to hunt Bulls in the Rut. You can call elk in at this time and have a better chance locating them but you also have to work super hard to even get an opportunity for the shot. When it comes to Colorado, you can apply for units that are on a draw system or you can go in and get yourself an OTC archery tag. *Hunting Pressure will likely be much higher in OTC units than units with draw applications only*
Muzzleloader season is another more primitive way of getting an elk tag in Colorado. Please pay attention to the details of what you can and cannot do with a muzzleloader in the state of Colorado as they have specifics of what projectile, powder and sights you can use when you are hunting. The Muzzleloader seasons are also going to be in some really great dates where you could potentially hit some of the rut and get some screaming bulls in front of you.
Rifle is the most sought after weapon choice but it also means the most pressure in the elk woods. This is especially true with the OTC hunts out there. The positive with a rifle is that you can shoot a long ways away if you are accurate and have practiced in the offseason. Because hunters feel more confident in their longer range abilities, there are more hunters trying to apply for these tags as well on the draw systems. With that said, Colorado is one of those states that has plenty of opportunity and plenty of elk so if you can find them and you are willing to work hard, you will be rewarded. The key with the Rifle seasons is knowing what to expect in each one.
First Rifle This Season is in Mid October where you can expect to see a bit less pressure due to all of these tags being draw only. You cannot get these OTC and some may believe, you will get slightly better weather.
Second and Third These 2 seasons are very highly prized over the counter and you will see lots of hunters afield. I have hunted these seasons before and while I enjoy hunting, I dislike the amount of hunter pressure in areas. I have figured out how to hunt in the crowds and how to get away with them.
Fourth Rifle Expect the cold weather and have yourself some heat. While this is a super late hunt and the Elk have been hit hard with pressure, there is a secret to these hunts that many don’t want to do. Hunt hard and far while others would be miserable out there and you will likely see success. Plus, more snow means more hoof prints to follow 😉
Elk Season Dates
Archery September 2-30
Muzzleloader September 11-19
First Rifle October 16-20
Second Rifle October 30-Nov 7
Third Rifle November 13-19
Fourth Rifle November 24-28
Colorado is split by I-25 as their major highway which puts a distinction of eastern state hunts and western state hunts. Eastern hunts can be very fruitful but know that you will most likely need to know somebody to gain private access or hire an outfitter. If you are considering going on a DIY hunt, you should really look at the western side of the I-25 split. I am not stating that you should not go with a guide or outfitter on the western side of the state because the pros that are out there all the time will know their areas much better than you will and their experience will come in handy if you choose to go that route!
So let’s revisit my client Joe: Joe knows he is going to likely not get drawn for his elk tag of choice so we wait for his results. I have to complete applications for clients between March 1st and April 6th. I find out that in June, Joe didn’t draw his Elk tag and instead he received 1 preference point for next year. Now, I could look into leftover tags that Colorado has or we could just plan for an OTC hunt. Colorado used to have what they called a leftover list and it used to be a first come first serve basis for those tags to sell out on a certain sale date. Now, Colorado goes through a secondary draw where those leftover tags go through another application process. I go ahead and consult Joe based on what we originally spoke about and form the decision that the best choice right now would be for Joe to hunt in the Archery OTC timelines. Once we have a clear decision because we know there are no other states or species that Joe would have drawn from other states, I will go ahead and purchase the tag for Joe and he will have that head to his mailbox 📫
This is a great way to know for certain where you are going to be spending your time and there can be a definitive factor for knowing which areas to focus on hunt planning.
All in all, it looks like Joe will be out in the woods having a good ole time this year. If you or someone you know has questions or is looking to get involved with an elk hunt, please feel free to reach out and connect with me. ✌️
Don’t forget to check out my friends over at MTN OPS for your energy and performance needs. I’ve fallen in love with their new performance bars that absolutely taste amazing. They are in my pack at the gym and on my adventures outside.
Scout, Hunt, Repeat
Alex
@east2westhunts
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