Points only this year, as with the next 5. Ill have a loyalty point by then, and I plan on takin the Hunter Ed class one January on a Coues Hunt out there, so that will put me at 8 points when I graduate College here in 6 years...A very good jumpstart on the points, add a few years after that and 2-3 years after I graduate college I will be able to pull one of the better units available in AZ. Dubbs, I forgot to mention...there are good draw units in CO, just have to have 100 years of points to get in them. LOL
Sounds like you're doing all the right stuff. Don't underestimate the voodoo of the whole draw system though - a buddy of mine drew a bull tag last year in unit 27 with only his one hunter ed point. Pretty uncommon, yeah, but it can happen. I PM'd you as well
Isn't all Muzzleloader tags on a draw system in CO? When I was out there for bow season I never heard a shot. In facted I never saw anybody other than my buddy while hunting. We saw some guy's camp that was muzzleloader hunting but never saw him. There is so much land out there 1 or 2 guy's with guns isn't going to alter elk movement that much.
We also hunt CO during the muzzleloader season and have not run into many issues. Some of this takes some scouting to find areas less pressured than others and also means reading maps to find where there are tracts of land without forest roads and trails. I would say in general (based what I have seen out there) a muzzleloader hunter is even less likely to pack in to hunt and will hunt as far out as they can to be able to return to base camp that night. IF you pack in, that just means they are pushing the elk farther from the road and guess what, thats where you are camping!
If you have a few years to plan this, you might want to get a subscription to Eastman's Hunting Journal. In the back they have a great guide to public land out west that details everything from trophy potential to how to draw tags. I have some friends that go to Montana every year chasing elk and live by this quide and they always return with elk.
what are draw odds for units around RMNP? How many years of preference points are you looking at needing on average?
Dubbs, I concur, mzldr season does not have much bearing on my archery season here. I actually enjoy having the few extra bodies moving game for me. This land is vast! During the archery season I rarely see anyone in the woods outside my group-on/along the roads is a whole nother story. There is absolutely no way a single man can cover what he needs to in a given season. The extra bodies are welcome in my book. Secondly, The last week of the archery season, which has been historically prime rut, is hunted by archers only. IMO, the first and last week of the season are the best-(archers only during these two time periods). This applies to both the limited and unlimited areas that I hunt. Hunters ed is required for anyone born after Jan. 1st, 1949. Any hunter ed certificate will work (it does not need to be specifically a "bow hunters ed certificate"-this does work for our archery season however). BZ, around RMNP...good luck buddy! Many points req'd. You'll have a better chance if you find a private landowner. Keep in mind the time of year. During August and September, the elk are as high as they can possibly get-your hunt may be more miss than hit. The elk rarely venture outside the park and remain in the high country. The units around the park are killer later in the year. You can use a bow during our rifle seasons. Just a general tip about hunting Co. Try the wilderness areas if you're looking for solitude. Limited road access has a way of keeping people away from these areas. Remember the high thing...elk do not like being hot! Equipment: In shape legs and lungs positive attitude a desire to hunt like you have never hunted excellents well broken in boots with a medium vibram sole (good on rocks) Cotton is your enemy-wicking boot socks are best Prepare for every condition possible (sun, rain, cold, snow)....layers! a GPS saves steps providing you know how to read it- I take a compass as well. I've been on mountains which have caused weird readings on my GPS. Pay attention to your landmarks as you travel. Let people know where you're going and give them a plan (even your wife). Stick to the plan...changes are allowed providing people are informed. Take the mountains seriously-they can and will kill you! Good binocs...you will be glassing vastness. Camel back for water and water purification tablets as a back up. You will suck down water in our arid landscape. I have three cotton laundry bags in my pack which serve as game bags. Upon killing, I dissect/de-bone my elk, leaving evidence of sex naturally attached to a hind quarter, and haul out what I can. They're big! Plan on several trips-the laundry bags keep the meat clean and free of fly larva. Make sure everyone has a survival kit in their pack-everyone! Dads, yours is not enough for you and your son if for some reason the two of you are seperated! Teach your child to be responsible for their own gear. Like I said, I am here and will gladly help anyone wanting to come. Just PM me
Will, I had intentions of looking you up when I came out there, but if you're sleeping with some guy, I'm not sure I want to!!! :d The overall success rate for the state is about 14% last time I checked, but there are some areas that are OTC that are as high as 23-25% according to the CDOW site. NR Bull tag is going to run about $560 this year and NR cow tags can be had for $260(conservation stamp or whatever runs another $10 and change). Will is right on with the equipment list I believe, that you need to make sure that you have a survival/first aid kit and know what to do in the case that you need it. Acclimation takes a couple days as well, after about 48hours my body was adjusted, but it puts some HURT on the lungs initially, especially if you have a little asthma or lung problems.
No worries Doug, the relationship I have with my friend is pretty tight. We don't share ourself with anyone but my wife. I have never really understood how our DOW accurately comes up with those success rates. It's not like the CDOW mandatorily check everyone. They simply do a phone interview to collect data. It is a random polling at best. Last year, we had 12 hunters take 2 elk (17%). But, of those twelve, everyone had an opportunity-4 bulls and two cows were cleanly missed. Two years ago, 9 hunters arrowed 7 elk (78%) and the two hunters who were unsuccessful both missed opportunities. In two years, not a single person (to my knowledge), that's 21 hunters, was ever asked if they harvested an elk. So where/how do they get their info?
They've called my twice about last year. So, do they count me as unsuccessful twice MT did the same thing. It was weird when they asked me "What type of deer did you shoot?". I said "a buck" (there are only buck tags). she said "No, what TYPE of deer?". "OH, a mule deer." First time I have ever had to distinguish between whitetail and mule deer:d She was really impressed by my stupidity I think.
LOL...I hear you Jim, but nah. Now, if you would have said a "big" one, she would have been really impressed! I play little attention to success rates. The tracks on the mountain tells me more. Besides, maybe the other 75-80% cannot shoot if hteir life depended on it. It's not like they compare skilled hunters to other skilled hunters. For all I know, 90% of the tags in a given area went to first timers. I'm 26 for 33, or 78% in my lifetime.
