Colorado deer tag prices......Wow

huntindude · Jun 27, 2006

Most of the draws are over and I'm the biggest looser, so I decided to buy a landowner deer tag in Colorado expecting prices to be up a little but wow, you can go on a guided hunt in Mexico for what a good tag is bringing this year. even the so so tags are what the good ones were before. pay to play I guess so I'm in the market if anyone has a tag to sell, if not I'll be doing alot of chucker hunting this year. I'm not one to whine about the cost of hunting but with the new nonres fees and everything like this going on it is going to price some good people out, I know it's supply and demand but I hate to see it come to this.

sageman · Jun 27, 2006

Have you thought about leftover tags for Colorado? they can be viewed July 19. on the DOW site and sell for the reg price.

legendsguide · Jun 27, 2006

guess you can join my new club!! check out the details in the elk forum.. i have to same sorrows!

BUCKSPY · Jun 28, 2006

The quality in units(like most of the rest of the state) that have not been managed for higher numbers of mature deer like 54,55,61,21 etc is pretty consistant statewide. Most of them have been hunted pretty heavily. That being said there are a handfull of big bucks in every unit and only the really, really lucky and the really dedicated come home with them. Don't expect to purchase a voucher and set foot in the unit for the first time come hunting season and have a reasonable chance at getting a mature buck. Its unrealistic at best and borderline delusional at worst.

I have seen vouchers prices as high as $3000 in units that you couldn't give me a leftover tag in. The hype is simply unbelievable and the demand is fueled by the implication that you going to miss the boat unless you get on board and write the check.

Unless your paying upwards of $6000-$8000 fo a voucher for a premium unit, BUYER BEWARE!!

Vouchers for 2nd season hunts are typically much lower for a reason. No rut, big mature bucks are scared out of their minds by the previous months hunting pressure of archery, muzz and early elk hunts, and usually there isn't much snow to get them moving down to lower ranges. Most of them are almost completely nocturnal at that time period also.

huntindude · Jun 28, 2006

Buckspy,
I couldn't agree more, probably the top tags will hold thier price next year but the so so and junk tags will come way down after guys pay $ 4500 fight the crowds then come home with a dink. Colorado is hot right now no doubt about it but I think things are a little over blown in most units do to some of our favorite guys ( I wont use any names ). my wife drew a fair tag last year and I was impressed with what we saw but I'm not going to pay $ 4750 to hunt 150-170 class deer. I'd pay 2 -3 thousand for a fun hunt with a chance at a nice buck but these prices are a little high in my opinion so we'll see if they get them all sold , if they get thier price I guess they're worth it. I'm not wanting to sound like a cry baby I could step up to the plate if I wanted and the land owners have the right to charge what they want but I just find the marketing of tags and hunting in general interesting.

Zilla34 · Jun 28, 2006

I am a resident of CO and I didnt draw in any of the three areas that I applied for. These were all areas that usually draw without any preference points. So therefore I am the biggest loser this year, and they raised in state licenses too!!

Califelkslayer · Jun 28, 2006

Huntin Dude. I'm with you. Just checked our Id results. Now the boy and I are offically 1 for 32 and the draw odds in Id were only 1 in 4 (deer) and 1-7.5 (elk). Not the best units but I was just looking for an above average tag. One Co elk hunt and chase chukar all fall and winter

Good news. I saw my first hatch of quail today. Atleast 14 chicks and 2 weeks earlier than usual. Haven't been in the desert recently but the chukar usually do as the quail do.

Not sure if I'm gonna take the voucher plunge again this year.

coyote13 · Jun 29, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Jun-29-06 AT 09:41AM (MST)[p]I talked a friend who outfitts in CO #53 & 63 last night and he was telling me the prices for 06 compared to 05
2005 2006
archery $500 $1500
2nd rifle $1000 $3000
3rd rifle $1500 $4500
Thats nuts!! All because of the tag whores calling land owners and telling them that is what they should sell for. I think the worst part is that someone will pay that price. Dont get me wrong the landowner making a couple bucks doesn't bother me one bit, but these guy are selling these tags with contracts where the buyer refuses permission to hunt on their land. And these units are not that good lots of deer but a 180 class is really top end ,but the tag whores will tell that 200+ is very easy to find any way now I'm rambling.

Just my .02 cents, Jon

cabinfever · Jun 29, 2006

I agree that the price of CO LO voucers are out of control, but c'mon guys do a little research. There are areas that can be drawn with 0-2 points that are very good. There are also areas that go undersubscribed that are very good as well. I know a few areas where LO vouchers are under $1000 and a guy could have a great hunt. Reasarch+Scouting+scouting+scouting=big bucks. Sorry, I'll get off my soap box.

Mike

Prism · Jun 29, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Jun-29-06 AT 10:35AM (MST)[p]It is what it is.

For several years Colorado was the best value out there for landowner vouchers. Words out on how good the hunting is, and the overinflated tag prices from Utah and Nevada have finally made their way eastward.

It's all supply and demand, and if the market is willing to bare these prices there is nobody to blame but the buyers for driving prices up.