Info for elk hunting points

warpheagle · Jan 23, 2011

If you were planning to start trying to buy a preference point each year, with the
plan to go on a Western elk hunt in 3-5 years, which state would you recommend? Also, if you buy a point, is it good for any species, or just elk? Meaning if I changed my mind to deer hunt instead, would points transfer to deer? Thanks for your help.

muzzhunter · Jan 23, 2011

If you are only after opportunity I would definitely say Colorado. Colorado has a tremendous amount of elk and you could draw a pretty decent area within your suggested time frame. However if you after a trophy I would look elsewhere. If a trophy is what you are after you are probably looking at a longer time period to draw a tag. The states I know about have species specific points and they are not transferable to different species, but the simple solution is just buy points for both. Hopefully that helps a little.
Dave

Twoshooter · Jan 23, 2011

Part of that depends on what kind of hunt you want and how big a bull you want to shoot. Starting with nothing and looking to hunt in that short of time frame I would look at WY and CO. Most states are species specific on points. You can usually switch the hunt area or weapon type, but not the species.

pirogue · Jan 23, 2011

Not all western states have preference points. Some have bonus points, and NM has neither(just luck of the draw).

rmanwill · Jan 23, 2011

Coorado!!!

Zim · Jan 24, 2011

Yes, I'd suggest Colorado & Wyoming first off for opportunity. However, if you want to take a 320+ bull you should start saving points in Arizona & Utah now also. They will take 5-7 years to have good chance to draw. All that aside you should study New Mexico now because with their system you can hunt 320+ bulls immediately with a little luck in the draw.

Elkhunter96 · Jan 24, 2011

Are you an archery hunter by chance? If not, it will take a lot longer than 5-7 years for a decent elk tag for Utah, Nevada or Arizona. I have to agree that Colorado provides the probably the best chance to get a tag every few years, lots of elk but very low trophy quality. Wyoming is good as well. New Mexico is a straight draw, should look there. For trophy hunting with a rifle, Utah, Arizon or Nevada are sure hits, but plan on putting in for many years. It was taking max points for most if the good units in Utah last year, around 17 pts...Arizona is about the same.

TOPGUN · Jan 24, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-11 AT 12:35PM (MST)[p]Wyoming! The PPs cannot be moved from one animal to another there either. However,the cost is only $50 for elk, $40 for deer, and $30 for antelope, so buying a PP for each animal every year is not going to break the bank because you don't have to buy anything else besides the PPs each year until you actually apply in the draw for an animal. Then the money and $14 application fee is fronted at the time of said application. The PP application period is from 7/1 to 9/30 each year when you are only buying PPs.

warpheagle · Jan 24, 2011

I do some bow hunting here, but I do not plan to bow hunt out West. It will be either ML or rifle for me.

Elkhunter96 · Jan 24, 2011

For ML, it is at least 10+ years and creeping up for any decent units in Utah and Arizona. If you are in it for the long haul, once in a lifetime hunt, you could build points in one of those states. New Mexico is a straigh draw, so your application is as good as anyone elses. Wyoming is at 4 bonus points going into this year, so you are behind on the game for that state, but would not be a bad choice to start with. I would suggest doing as many as you can afford each year and hope to get a good tag every once in a while. But, that is just me...